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.
Applications open at the start of the Winter and Summer semesters; deadlines typically late October (WS) and late March (SS)
University of Vienna
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
EUR 750-1,500 (Per Semester)
Duration
Annual (Renewable)
Basis
Prior-Year GPA Performance
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University of Vienna — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
EUR 750 - EUR 1,500 (Per Semester). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
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.
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.
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.
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.
account_tree Application Process
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.
#137
QS World Ranking 2026
16
Nobel Laureates
1365
Year Founded
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.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for AT, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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