School Scholarships and Support in Austria in 2026

Austria offers several forms of financial support for pupils whose families are facing financial difficulty. Some grants are intended for secondary-school pupils, while others support students living in boarding accommodation or working adults attending evening school.

Who can receive student support?

Support is not limited to Austrian citizens. Eligible applicants may include:

• Austrian, EU and EEA citizens;
• third-country nationals with a long-term residence permit (Daueraufenthalt-EU);
• third-country nationals or stateless people who, themselves or through at least one parent, have been subject to income tax in Austria for at least five years and whose centre of life was in Austria;
• refugees covered by the Geneva Convention.

For every form of support, social need is a basic requirement. This is assessed using the income, marital status and family size of the pupil, the parents and, where applicable, the spouse.

For Schulbeihilfe and Heimbeihilfe, the pupil must also have started school before their 35th birthday, or before their 40th birthday under certain conditions.

How much support is available?

• School grant (Schulbeihilfe): basic amount of 1,895 euros per year;
• Boarding grant (Heimbeihilfe): basic amount of 2,315 euros per year;
• Travel-cost grant (Fahrtkostenbeihilfe): 178 euros per year;
• Support for school programmes: up to 302 euros, paid once;
• Reduction of day-care and boarding fees: between 10 and 100 percent;
• Special support for working students: basic amount of 1,200 euros per month.

The basic amounts for Schulbeihilfe and Heimbeihilfe may increase in particularly deserving circumstances. They may also be reduced by the expected maintenance contribution from the parents or spouse and by part of the pupil’s own income. The amount actually paid can therefore differ from the basic amount.

School and boarding grants: which one applies?

Schulbeihilfe

Schulbeihilfe is available from the 10th year of secondary-level schools (mittlere or höhere Schule). It is also available at schools divided into semesters, such as an Abendkolleg or Tageskolleg.

Heimbeihilfe and travel support

Heimbeihilfe is available from the 9th year of school. It can apply when a pupil must live away from the parental home because daily travel would be too far and the pupil was not accepted at a similar state school closer to home. This also includes a Polytechnische Schule.

When Heimbeihilfe is awarded, the annual travel-cost grant of 178 euros is awarded automatically. The two applications may be submitted together.

Support for ski camps, project weeks and day care

School programme support

Support for school programmes applies to events held away from the school premises and lasting at least four days, such as ski camps, project and sports weeks or language camps. Pupils at grammar schools (AHS), vocational secondary schools and certain federal institutions may apply.

Pupils at state compulsory schools—Volksschule, Mittelschule, Polytechnische Schule and Berufsschule—are not covered by this support. Their families should ask the school authority, such as the municipality or federal province, about possible assistance.

Reduction of day-care and boarding fees

This reduction applies to care fees at federally administered all-day schools, day care in the lower level of a grammar school and boarding accommodation. It does not cover the cost of meals, including lunch and other food services.

The reduction cannot be requested for Volksschule or Mittelschule.

Deadlines for 2026/2027

• Schulbeihilfe and Heimbeihilfe: 31 December of the current school year;
• Schools divided into semesters: winter semester—31 December; summer semester—31 May;
• School programme support: 30 April, preferably before the programme;
• Reduction of day-care and boarding fees: within one month of admission.

In subsequent school years, applications for the fee reduction must be submitted before the start of the school year. If the application is late, the reduction is payable only from the month in which the application was submitted.

Late applications for Schulbeihilfe or Heimbeihilfe result in a proportionate reduction of the support.

Where and how to apply

For most secondary-school pupils, the responsible authority is the relevant provincial education directorate (Bildungsdirektion). For certain federal institutions, the responsible authority is the Federal Ministry of Education (BMB). For agricultural and forestry vocational schools, the provincial government office decides.

Applications for the day-care reduction must be submitted on paper to the school or boarding management.

Other applications may be submitted on paper or online using ID Austria. For an online application, upload the school confirmation signed by the school (Schulbestätigung). For a minor, the parent or legal guardian submits and signs the application.

If you received a status identification number by email, you can follow the processing status at status.schuelerbeihilfe.at.

The Online-Ratgeber Schülerbeihilfe is available in 18 languages and helps users check the general requirements and find the correct form. Applications cannot be submitted through the guide itself.

School supplies support

Under the Schulstartklar programme, families receiving social assistance (Sozialhilfe) receive a voucher worth 150 euros per child for school supplies at the beginning of the 2026/2027 school year. The voucher can be activated in the Schulstart-App until 31 October 2026 and redeemed at Libro and Pagro stores.

Practical steps

1. Check whether the pupil, family and residence conditions are satisfied.
2. Identify the relevant support: Schulbeihilfe, Heimbeihilfe, travel support, school programme support or a fee reduction.
3. Check the deadline for the 2026/2027 school year, especially 31 December for Schulbeihilfe and Heimbeihilfe.
4. Ask the school for the signed Schulbestätigung.
5. Prepare income evidence. Foreign income must be supported by translated proof of income.
6. Submit the application to the responsible Bildungsdirektion, the relevant authority or the school/boarding management, depending on the type of support.
7. If applying online, use ID Austria and keep the status identification number so that progress can be checked at status.schuelerbeihilfe.at.

This information is based on online sources and is not legal or professional advice. For individual advice, contact a relevant qualified professional. Source: oesterreich.gv.at.