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North-South Dialogue Scholarship Programme (OeAD)

The North-South Dialogue Scholarship Programme is an Austrian government scholarship, administered by the OeAD and funded through Austrian Development Cooperation, aimed at students from developing countries pursuing studies relevant to sustainable development at Austrian universities. It provides a monthly stipend of around EUR 1,150 (LKR 397k+) plus accident and health insurance, a possible tuition-fee waiver, and support with accommodation, for the duration of a Master's programme (or the completion phase of a degree) in development-relevant fields. Sri Lanka is an eligible partner-country context for Austrian development cooperation, so Sri Lankan graduates in areas such as environmental management, water and sanitation, renewable energy, agriculture, public health, social sciences or development studies can be well placed. Because eligible fields, partner institutions and quotas are defined per call, and priority partner countries are reviewed periodically, confirm current eligibility and deadlines on the OeAD (Grants.at) website before applying.

Calls are published periodically on the OeAD Grants.at portal with fixed application windows — confirm the current North-South Dialogue call and your country's eligibility on grants.at

OeAD (Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation)

Government-funded

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Value

~EUR 1,150/mo + Insurance

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Level

Master's / Degree Completion

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Focus

Development-relevant Study

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

OeAD (Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

EUR ~1,150/mo Stipend + Insurance + Fee Waiver. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Developing-country Applicant

Aimed at graduates from developing countries in the context of Austrian development cooperation. Sri Lankan applicants should verify that Sri Lanka is on the current call's eligible-country list before applying, as this is reviewed periodically.

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Development-relevant Field

Your intended Master's must be relevant to sustainable development — for example environment, water, energy, agriculture, health, education, economics, or social/development studies. Purely commercial or unrelated fields are typically excluded.

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Strong Academic Background

A good Bachelor's degree (typically upper-second/first-class) from a recognised Sri Lankan university in a relevant field, plus admission (or admissibility) to a participating Austrian university programme.

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Language Proficiency

English-taught Master's require IELTS/TOEFL evidence (~6.5); German-taught programmes require German. Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degrees may qualify for English-taught programmes via an MOI route — confirm with the host university.

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Check the current call and eligibility

Review the current North-South Dialogue call on the OeAD Grants.at portal, confirming that Sri Lanka is eligible, the field fits, and you meet the criteria.

Secure Austrian university admission

Apply to a participating Austrian university programme relevant to development, and obtain admission or proof of admissibility as required by the call.

Submit the OeAD scholarship application

Apply through Grants.at within the call window, with CV, motivation letter, transcripts, degree certificate, admission evidence, references and any required development-relevance statement.

Selection and Austrian visa

Selected scholars are notified by the OeAD; you then apply for the Austrian student residence permit/visa using your admission and scholarship confirmation.

Why the North-South Dialogue Programme?

Run by the OeAD and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation, this programme specifically supports talented students from developing countries to gain development-relevant qualifications in Austria. For eligible Sri Lankan graduates, it combines a solid living stipend with insurance and fee support — a purpose-built alternative to the general Ernst Mach grant.

OeAD

Austrian Government Agency

EUR 1,150

Approx Monthly Stipend

Development

Programme Focus

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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