University of Innsbruck
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck
A 1669 university in the middle of the Alps where more than half the students come from abroad.
- Students
- 27,436
- International
- 52%
- of students
- Tuition
- €1,453
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1669
About UIBK
The University of Innsbruck grew out of a Jesuit grammar school and was chartered as a university by Emperor Leopold I on 15 October 1669. Reduced to a lyceum in 1782 and re-established by Emperor Franz I in 1826, it carries both founders in its official name, Leopold-Franzens-Universität. It is the largest university in Tyrol; its medical faculty became the separate Medical University of Innsbruck in 2004.
In winter semester 2024/25 the university had 27,436 students, 52.1% of them international, and 5,689 staff, including 4,018 academic staff and 322 professors. It offers 132 study programmes across 15 faculties and a School of Social and Political Sciences, from Architecture and Engineering Sciences to Catholic Theology, Law and Business and Management. Physics is its best-known research field: it runs the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information jointly with the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and it has produced three Wittgenstein Prize winners.
All bachelor's and diploma programmes are taught in German, so international students need German at B2 level to be admitted. Innsbruck suits students who want a large, broad university in a compact city where the mountains start at the edge of town, and who are ready to study in German.
Why students choose UIBK
More than half of the 27,436 students are international, with almost 500 cooperation agreements in 50 countries.
Tuition is free for EU/EEA and Swiss students within the standard study period plus two semesters, and non-EU students pay EUR 726.72 per semester.
Physics students learn in an environment shaped by quantum research, including the joint Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information.
Almost everything in Innsbruck is within a 20-minute walk or 10-minute bike ride, with ski resorts and mountain pastures close by.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 (with summer semester 2027 as the current open round)
Selectivity
Austria has open admission to most bachelor's programmes: applicants with a recognised university entrance qualification and the required German are admitted. Some programmes, including teacher training, have admission procedures with separate registration.
Typical entry requirements
| General university entrance qualification | School leaving certificate with list of grades that qualifies for university study, legalised and translated by a sworn translator if not in German or English; some countries' certificates (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh) require two further years of study |
|---|---|
| German language | German at A2 at the time of application and B2 at the time of admission for all bachelor's and diploma programmes (e.g. ÖSD, Goethe, telc or DSD certificates, no older than two years) |
| English language | All bachelor's programmes are taught in German, so German proficiency (B2 at admission) is the key language requirement. English certificates apply only to selected English-taught master's and doctoral programmes. |
Deadlines
- Non-EEA applicants, summer semester 2027 Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026
Application period 1 September to 15 October 2026; admission period 11 January to 5 February 2027.
- EU/EEA applicants, summer semester 2027 (programmes without selection) Non-binding In ~4 months5 February 2027
Online application 1 September 2026 to 5 February 2027; general admission period 11 January to 5 February 2027, with exceptions to 31 March 2027.
- Non-EEA applicants, winter semester 2027/28 Non-binding15 May (2026/27 date; 2027/28 dates not yet published)
For winter 2026/27 the non-EEA application period ran from 1 April to 15 May 2026. EU/EEA applicants could apply until 5 September 2026.
The university has published dates up to summer semester 2027. Deadlines for winter semester 2027/28 are not yet online; the 2026/27 pattern (non-EEA 1 April to 15 May; EU/EEA until 5 September) is shown as a guide.
How to apply
Apply online directly to the university within the application period, uploading your school leaving certificate and grade list (legalised and translated where needed), proof of German, a passport photo, ID and a tabular CV. Non-EEA citizens have an earlier application window than EU/EEA applicants and must then complete admission in person during the admission period.
What admissions looks for
- A school leaving certificate that gives general university access in Austria, with any required supplementary exams.
- German at B2 level by the time of admission (A2 at application).
- A complete, verifiable application with legalised and translated documents.
- For programmes with admission procedures, success in that programme's selection.
Tips for applying to UIBK
- 1 Non-EEA applicants have a much earlier deadline than EU applicants: 15 October 2026 for summer 2027 entry.
- 2 If your German is only at A2, you can still apply and take the supplementary German exam through the university preparation programme.
- 3 Check the country-specific rules first: school certificates from some countries are not enough for bachelor's admission without further study.
- 4 Check whether your country is on the least developed countries list: those students are automatically exempt from tuition.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Students from least developed countries are automatically exempt from tuition fees. Third-country nationals with permanent residence or an Austrian affiliation can apply for equal status with EU citizens. Otherwise, fees are low and there is no general university scholarship for international bachelor's students listed on the fees page.
- EUR 726.72
- Tuition fee, non-EU/EEA (per semester)
- EUR 26.20
- ÖH student union fee 2026/27 (per semester)
- Automatic tuition exemption
- Least developed countries
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter: early October to early February; summer: March to late June)
Physics
Taught in the faculty that hosts Innsbruck's quantum physics research and the joint Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information.
Business and Management
The Faculty of Business and Management had 3,621 programme enrolments in 2024/25, one of the largest at the university.
Law
One of the largest faculties, with 3,167 programme enrolments in 2024/25.
Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences
Alpine research on the doorstep, including a university research centre in the Alpine village of Obergurgl.
Architecture
A faculty with 2,032 programme enrolments in 2024/25.
Psychology and Sport Science
2,764 programme enrolments, with sport science suited to the Alpine setting.
Research
- The Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information is run jointly with the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
- The university coordinates one FWF-funded Austrian Cluster of Excellence and takes part in two others; three Wittgenstein Prize winners have come from Innsbruck.
- Research is organised in 8 research areas, 1 platform, 40 centres and 23 doctoral colleges, including the Centre for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI) and the Digital Science Center (DiSC).
- Publications rose to 4,450 in 2024, and 71.3% of Web of Science papers were co-authored with international scholars.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Business and Management
- Faculty of Economics and Statistics
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science
- Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture
- Faculty of Catholic Theology
Student life
Students make up about a quarter of Innsbruck's population, which gives the Tyrolean capital the feel of a university town. University buildings are spread across the city but close together: almost everything is within a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bike ride. The mountains are part of daily life, with ski resorts, lakes and Alpine pastures a short trip away, and the university's USI sports programme on offer. With more than half of students from abroad classes are international even though teaching is in German.
- Around 52% international students.
- USI university sports programme.
- Almost 500 exchange and cooperation agreements in 50 countries.
- Ski resorts and mountain trails within easy reach of the city.
Housing. The university does not guarantee rooms; students rent privately or in student residences, and Innsbruck net rents start at about EUR 14 per square metre.
Location
Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, had 133,157 residents in April 2025 and sits in the Inn valley surrounded by Alpine peaks, with a mountain railway running from the city centre. The main university buildings are on Innrain, along the river. Housing is expensive, with net rents from about EUR 14 per square metre.
Nearest airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
Notable alumni
- AV Alexander Van der BellenPresident of Austria; studied economics at Innsbruck and later taught there
- JA Josef AschbacherDirector General of the European Space Agency; master's and PhD in natural sciences
- AW Armin WolfAustrian journalist and ORF news anchor; doctorate in political science
- MS Matthias StrolzFounder of the Austrian party NEOS; studied international economics and political science
- IS Ivo SanaderFormer Prime Minister of Croatia; studied comparative literature and Romance languages
- AN Alois NegrelliCivil engineer and railway pioneer whose plans shaped the Suez Canal; studied in Innsbruck in 1817, when the institution was a lyceum
Frequently asked questions
Can I study a bachelor's in English at the University of Innsbruck?
No. All bachelor's and diploma programmes are taught in German, and you need German at B2 level by the time of admission. English is used in selected master's and doctoral programmes.
How much does the University of Innsbruck cost for international students?
Non-EU/EEA students pay EUR 726.72 per semester plus the ÖH fee (EUR 26.20 in 2026/27). EU/EEA and Swiss students pay only the ÖH fee within the standard study period plus two semesters.
What is the application deadline for non-EU students?
For summer semester 2027, non-EEA applicants must apply between 1 September and 15 October 2026. For winter 2026/27 the window was 1 April to 15 May 2026; the 2027/28 dates are not yet published.
Is there an entrance exam at the University of Innsbruck?
Most bachelor's programmes have open admission. Some programmes, such as teacher training, have admission procedures with earlier registration.
How international is the University of Innsbruck?
Very: 14,307 of its 27,436 students (52.1%) were international in winter semester 2024/25.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to UIBK in the QS World University Rankings 2027.