Road and red-brick university buildings on the University of Manchester campus.

Austria Applications open at the start of the Winter and Summer semesters; deadlines typically late October (WS) and late March (SS)

University of Vienna Performance Scholarship

The University of Vienna Performance Scholarship (Leistungsstipendium) is an annual award of EUR 750-1,500 (LKR 259k-518k) per semester for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance during the previous academic year. The University of Vienna (Universität Wien) is Austria's largest and most distinguished university — founded 1365, the oldest German-speaking university in the world. Tuition for non-EU Master's students is approximately EUR 727/semester, so the Performance Scholarship at its top tier covers double the tuition cost plus contributes to living. Note: this scholarship is typically awarded for ongoing students (Year 2 of Master's onward) — incoming first-year students should also explore separate Vienna scholarships like the OeAD Ernst Mach grants. Sri Lankan applicants who can demonstrate strong first-year performance at Vienna are well-positioned for this award.

University of Vienna

University-funded

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Value

EUR 750-1,500 (Per Semester)

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Duration

Annual (Renewable)

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Basis

Prior-Year GPA Performance

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Enrolled Vienna Student

You must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD programme at the University of Vienna. Incoming first-year applicants are NOT eligible for the Performance Scholarship in their first semester — you must have completed at least one semester at Vienna first.

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Outstanding Prior-Year Academic Performance

Eligibility requires a GPA in the top 10% of your cohort during the previous academic year — typically a weighted GPA of 1.5 or better on Austria's 5-point scale (1 = best; 5 = fail). For Sri Lankan applicants this translates to maintaining first-class equivalent grades at Vienna.

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Open to All Nationalities

Open to all Vienna students regardless of nationality — Austrian, EU, and non-EU. Sri Lankan students at Vienna are exactly the target profile.

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Apply Within Deadline

Applications must be submitted within the published deadline at the start of each semester. Late applications are not considered. Each semester is treated independently — performance in WS doesn't automatically renew the scholarship for SS.

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Complete first semester at Vienna

Sri Lankan applicants must first enrol at the University of Vienna via the standard admissions process (separate from this scholarship). Apply to a Vienna Master's by the relevant deadline (typically 5 September for Winter Semester, 5 February for Summer Semester).

Establish strong academic record

During your first semester, focus on academic excellence — the Performance Scholarship is awarded based on completed coursework and GPA. Aim for a weighted GPA of 1.5 or better.

Submit Leistungsstipendium application

At the start of the second semester (or whenever your prior-year GPA qualifies), submit the Performance Scholarship application via the Vienna scholarship portal. Required: transcript of records, brief statement, and confirmation of enrolment.

Annual review + renewal

The scholarship is awarded annually. Each year, eligible students can re-apply based on the previous academic year's performance. Successful awardees receive the EUR 750-1,500/semester directly into their bank account.

Why University of Vienna?

The University of Vienna was founded in 1365 — the oldest German-speaking university in the world and one of Europe's most distinguished research institutions. 16 Nobel laureates count among its alumni and faculty, including Erwin Schrödinger, Sigmund Freud, and Friedrich Hayek. With around 90,000 students, it offers an enormous range of disciplines, with particular strength in philosophy, theology, sociology, political science, biology, and physics. The city of Vienna is consistently ranked the world's most liveable city.