Fully Funded University of Vienna PhD Funding 2026 – Apply Now for 40+ Positions
- Epicrich Gadgets
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
Program Overview
Institution: University of Vienna, Austria
Established: 1365 (the oldest university in the German-speaking world)
QS Ranking: Top 150 globally
Location: Vienna, Austria (ranked the world's most livable city)
Tuition Fees 2026
EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens
Status | Tuition Fee |
Within program duration + 2 tolerance semesters | €0 (FREE) |
Beyond tolerance period | Fees apply |
Students' Union fee (all students) | ~€22/semester |
Non-EU/EEA Citizens
Item | Cost per Semester |
Tuition fee | €726.72 |
Students' Union fee | ~€22 |
Total | ~€750/semester |
Annual cost for non-EU students: ~€1,500/year
Fully Funded PhD Positions 2026
SSH Doctoral Recruitment Call 2026
Positions Available: At least 40 fully funded positions
Duration: 4 years
Application Period: January 7 - March 2, 2026 (14:00 CET)
Start Date: October 1, 2026 (early start from July possible)
Funding Details
Employment Contract: Collective bargaining agreement (§48 VwGr. B1)
Working Hours: 30 hours/week
Salary: Competitive (based on Austrian collective agreement)
Status: Employee (not student)
What's Covered
✅ Full salary for 4 years
✅ Social security coverage
✅ Health insurance
✅ Pension contributions
✅ Employment benefits
Participating Doctoral Schools (SSH Call 2026)
Advanced Research School in Law and Jurisprudence (Ars Iuris Vienna)
Doctoral School of Philological and Cultural Studies (PhilKult)
Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior, and Neuroscience (CoBeNe)
Doctoral School of Social Sciences
Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies
Doctoral School of Education
Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Religious Studies
Doctoral School of Philosophy
Eligibility Requirements
Academic
Completed or completing Master's degree by June 30, 2026
Subject-related to proposed PhD research
Strong academic record
Meet University of Vienna doctoral admission requirements
Language
Required: C1 level in German OR English
Accepted proof:
Previous degree in German/English
TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent
Language certificate
Nationality
All nationalities eligible (international candidates encouraged)
Important Restrictions
Cannot be admitted to University of Vienna PhD before winter semester 2025/2026
Must not be enrolled in another doctoral program at University of Vienna
Application Process (SSH Call 2026)
Timeline
Date | Event |
January 7, 2026 | Applications open |
March 2, 2026 (14:00 CET) | Application deadline |
March-June 2026 | Selection process & interviews |
July-October 2026 | Employment start |
Required Documents
Master's degree certificate (or proof of completion by June 30, 2026)
Bachelor's degree certificate
Academic transcripts
Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages)
Letter of motivation (max 1 page)
Research proposal (max 4 pages + references)
Language certificate (C1 level)
Two recommendation letters
All documents must be apostilled or consular-certified
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