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Austria Applications are generally accepted in defined periods each semester — confirm the current window and terms on oeh.ac.at

ÖH Scholarship (Austrian Students' Union Support Fund)

The ÖH Scholarship (Sozial- und Sonderstipendium der Österreichischen HochschülerInnenschaft) is a needs-based support fund run by Austria's national students' union, the ÖH. Unlike merit scholarships that help you get to Austria, this is a hardship grant for students who are already enrolled at an Austrian university and hit unexpected financial difficulty — and, importantly, it is open to international students, including those from outside the EU, who are otherwise excluded from many Austrian state grants. Awards are typically one-off payments sized to the applicant's documented need rather than fixed amounts. For Sri Lankan students already studying in Austria who face an income shock, an unexpected cost, or a funding gap, the ÖH fund is a genuine safety net. It should be understood as emergency/needs support, not a route to fund your whole degree — plan your primary financing separately. Confirm current eligibility, required documents and amounts on the ÖH website before applying.

Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft (ÖH)

External Organization-funded

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Value

One-off Need-based Grant

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Level

Enrolled Students (Any Level)

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Basis

Documented Financial Need

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Enrolled at an Austrian University

You must already be a registered student at an Austrian university or university of applied sciences. This is support for current students, not a pre-arrival recruitment scholarship.

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International Students Included

The fund is notably open to international students, including non-EU nationals such as Sri Lankans, who are excluded from many Austrian state study grants. Confirm the specific conditions in the current call.

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Documented Financial Hardship

Awards are needs-based: you must show genuine financial difficulty with supporting documentation (income, expenses, and the circumstances of your hardship). Amounts are set case by case.

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Meeting Study Requirements

Applicants are generally expected to be making satisfactory academic progress. Check the current ÖH criteria for any minimum credit or enrolment conditions.

account_tree Application Process

Confirm the current ÖH terms

Review the current ÖH scholarship/support-fund page for eligibility, required documents and the application window, as conditions and amounts change.

Prepare your evidence

Gather proof of enrolment, income and expenses, and documentation of the financial hardship you are applying on the basis of.

Submit the application

Apply through the ÖH within the semester's application window, providing the completed form and all supporting documents.

Assessment and payment

The ÖH assesses need and, if approved, pays a one-off support grant. This complements — it does not replace — your main study financing and visa proof-of-funds.

Why the ÖH Support Fund?

The Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft is Austria's official national students' union, representing all students at Austrian higher-education institutions. Its needs-based support fund is one of the few Austrian grants explicitly reachable by non-EU international students, making it a valuable emergency backstop for Sri Lankans already studying in Austria.