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OeAD (Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation) is the gateway for all Austrian government scholarships including OeAD Scholarship (EUR 1,050/mo), Ernst Mach Grant (EUR 1,150/mo), ASEA-UNINET, Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, and Marshall Plan Scholarship. All applications go through the grants.at portal by March 1 each year. Step-by-step process from profile creation to result notification.
OeAD Application Step-by-Step — Quick Facts (2026)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Portal | grants.at |
| Annual deadline | March 1 |
| Result announcement | June-July |
| Studies start | October (year same as application) |
| Application fee | FREE |
| Documents required | 12+ items |
| Acceptance rate Indians | ~25-30% for OeAD; 15-20% Ernst Mach |
| Sponsor letter from | Austrian university supervisor (CRITICAL) |
| Time to prepare | 3-6 months before deadline |
What’s in this guide
- Step-by-Step Application Process
- Required Documents
- Selection Criteria + Tips
- Quick Answers
Step-by-Step Application Process
- October-December (5-6 months before deadline): Identify Austrian university + research area + potential supervisor
- December: Email 5-10 Austrian professors with: CV (1-2 pages), summary of your research interest, why their lab
- January: Get formal acceptance letter from supervisor (critical for OeAD success)
- January-February: Create grants.at profile (registration takes 1-2 days for verification)
- February: Fill OeAD application form online with all required fields
- February: Upload all required documents (CV, transcripts, SOP, LORs, supervisor acceptance)
- March 1 EOD: Submit application before midnight
- March-May: Selection committee review
- June-July: Result announcement via email + grants.at portal
- August: Apply for Austrian student visa with OeAD scholarship letter
- September: Visa approved, book flights
- October: Arrive in Austria, register with OeAD office, start studies
Required Documents
- CV/Resume (Europass format preferred)
- Project description / Research plan (3-5 pages, very important)
- Acceptance letter from Austrian supervisor (formal, on letterhead)
- 2 LORs (1 academic + 1 from supervisor possible)
- Bachelor’s + Master’s transcripts (English-medium or translated)
- Bachelor’s + Master’s diplomas
- IELTS / TOEFL score
- Passport scan
- Publications list (if applicable)
- Statement of Purpose (1,000 words)
- Personal photo
- Application form (online filled)
Selection Criteria + Tips
- Strong supervisor acceptance: critical — differentiates you from generic applicants
- Original research proposal: 3-5 pages with specific outcomes, original contribution
- Match Austrian research strengths: AI/ML at JKU, cybersecurity at TU Graz, applied math at TU Wien
- Strong LORs: from professors with international publications
- Apply EARLY: rolling review, last-minute apps weaker
- Multiple applications: apply for OeAD + Ernst Mach + ASEA-UNINET in same year (all from grants.at)
Quick Answers (Voice & AI Search)
Q: What is OeAD?
A: Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation — manages all Austrian scholarships for international students.
Q: When to apply for OeAD scholarship?
A: March 1 each year via grants.at portal. Result by June-July.
Q: Can I apply for multiple OeAD programs simultaneously?
A: Yes — OeAD, Ernst Mach, ASEA-UNINET, Marshall Plan all from same portal.
Q: Acceptance rate for Indians?
A: ~25-30% for OeAD Scholarship. ~15-20% for Ernst Mach Grant.
Q: Most important document?
A: Acceptance letter from Austrian supervisor — differentiates you from competition.
Q: When to start preparing?
A: 5-6 months before March 1 deadline (October-November year before).
Q: How to find Austrian supervisors?
A: Browse university websites, Google Scholar for researcher publications, ResearchGate, LinkedIn.
Q: Time from application to start?
A: March application → June-July result → October studies start in same year.
Q: What if my supervisor doesn’t respond?
A: Email 5-10 different professors. Wait 2 weeks each. Be persistent but professional.
Q: Cost of OeAD application?
A: FREE — no application fee.
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About the Author
Saumitra Rajput — Founder, Kadamb Overseas. 14+ yrs Europe expert. WhatsApp: +91 99133 33239.
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Saumitra Rajput
Saumitra Rajput is the founder and lead counsellor at Kadamb Overseas, India's trusted Europe education consultancy based in Ahmedabad. With 14+ years of hands-on experience, he has personally guided 500+ students to universities across Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. Saumitra has visited partner universities across Europe, holds deep expertise in European visa processes, scholarships, and student life, and has achieved a 97% visa success rate for his clients. He is the host of the YouTube channel "Europe with Saumitra", where he shares first-hand insights on studying and living in Europe. His mission: make Europe accessible to every Indian student, with zero consultancy fees.
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