Study or Conduct Research in Austria with a Scholarship: Ernst Mach Grants 2026 Open to International Students and Researchers
Overview
The Ernst Mach Grant programme provides funding opportunities for international students, graduates, PhD researchers, and postdoctoral academics to undertake study or research stays in Austria. Funded by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research and administered by the OeAD, the initiative consists of several distinct funding streams.
The available funding schemes include the Ernst Mach Grant Worldwide, the Ernst Mach Grant for Austrian Universities of Applied Sciences, the Ernst Mach Follow-Up Grant for former scholarship holders, the Ernst Mach Grant for ASEA-UNINET, and the Short-Term Research Grant for ASEA-UNINET Researchers. Because the initiative comprises multiple programmes, eligibility criteria, duration, age limits, and application deadlines vary depending on the specific scheme.
Who can apply
Eligibility depends on the specific funding stream. The Worldwide programme is open to young researchers from all disciplines and countries except Austria who are 35 years old or younger. The Universities of Applied Sciences scheme targets undergraduate and graduate students from non-European universities who are 35 or younger.
The Follow-Up Grant is for postdoctoral researchers and lecturers from non-European developing countries who previously received an OeAD-administered scholarship and are 45 years or younger. The ASEA-UNINET grant covers applicants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam across various academic levels, with an age limit of 35 for undergraduates, graduates, and postgraduates, and 45 for postdoctoral applicants. The Short-Term Research Grant for ASEA-UNINET targets postdocs and lecturers at member institutions in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What you get
Successful applicants receive financial support to undertake study or research stays in Austria. The duration of support varies by programme, ranging from one to three months for the Follow-Up Grant, one to two months for the short-term ASEA-UNINET research grant, one to nine months for the Worldwide scheme, four to ten months for the Universities of Applied Sciences option, and varying lengths up to 36 months for specific categories under the ASEA-UNINET programme.
How to apply
Applications for the Ernst Mach programmes are submitted online. Applicants must select the correct programme based on their nationality, academic level, research status, age, and intended duration of stay, and review official eligibility rules before applying.
Key dates
The application period for the Worldwide programme runs from September to 1 December. The application period for the Universities of Applied Sciences scheme and the Follow-Up Grant runs from October to 1 February. The application deadline for the ASEA-UNINET grant is 1 March, while the application deadline for the Short-Term Research Grant for ASEA-UNINET Researchers is ongoing.