“How do I get to Austria?” was the question I received by email some time ago as an international student ambassador at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). At first I wanted to answer “by bus, ha ha ha!” (only joking, of course), but then I realised that despite all the information available on the TU Graz website, this step is still a big problem for many potential students. What are all the things I have to do? Will I miss any deadlines? What documents do I need? Do I first have to register for the degree programme in my home country? And so on. There are a thousand questions and fears that come with studying abroad. Well, you don’t have to have them! It probably seems very complicated and impossible to you right now – at least it was for me, but it’s really quite simple. I study Electrical Engineering at TU Graz and will now explain to you in a few simple steps what you need to do to start your studies.

The first thing you need to think about is: What do you want to study? I definitely recommend that you take a look at the degree programmes offered by TU Graz where you will find exciting videos, personal stories and explanations of what each degree programme can offer you and what it’s all about. I’m sure you’ll find something exciting and suitable for yourself. If your journey is not too long, you could also come to the TU Graz Open Day in April. There will be information sessions, tours and a special stand for international students.

Once you have decided what you would like to study, the next step would be to complete the admission procedure for your degree programme. Please note: you do not have to register for a degree course in your home country, instead you register directly at TU Graz with all the necessary documents. It is very important to keep an eye on both the submission deadlines and the list of required documents.

Keep an eye on the submission deadlines for the admission procedure, the list of required documents and the necessary language skills.

If you decide to study in German, you must provide proof of German language skills at level A2 or higher for admission. However, you need level C1 for admission to the degree programme as a regular student. If you do not yet have a C1 certificate, you can apply for admission to a degree programme and then study as an irregular student. You will first be sent to the so-called “University preparation programme” (Vorstudienlehrgang) to bring your German up to the desired level (you have two years, i.e. four semesters, to do this – most people manage it much earlier). After that, all you have to do is present your certificate to the university and you will be admitted as a regular student.

All your documents must be translated into German. I recommend that you find a certified translator in your home country in good time to avoid time problems. I should also mention that it can sometimes be expensive to have documents translated – just so you don’t get a fright when you have it done for the first time. In some countries, the documents also have to be additionally certified. If you still have questions, please send them either by email to the Registrar’s Office of TU Graz or to an international student ambassador from your country. TU Graz also provides frequently asked questions for international students and a lot of other useful information on its website. You can then send the required documents by post or hand them in in person at the Registrar’s Office of TU Graz.

The necessary documents have to be translated into German and in some countries additionally certified. Answers to your questions can be found in the FAQs for international students on the TU Graz website by email from the Registrar’s Office or – for some countries – from the international student ambassadors. The Welcome Center is also a great place if you need any help with your stay in Austria even before arrival.

After some time – usually four to six weeks – you will receive notification of your admission to the degree programme. Congratulations! And now back to the question at the beginning “How do I get to Austria?” So now the time has really come. You can pack your things and buy a bus, train or flight ticket and move to Graz. But before that, you need to find accommodation. Veronika’s blog post about accommodation in Graz will help you here.

And now you’ve finally arrived in Graz! What exactly do you need to do now? Get your certificate of registration of address (Meldezettel), open a bank account and go to the Registrar’s Office to complete your university registration and get your Student ID Card. You can find more information on this in Matko’s blog post. To open a bank account, all you need is your certificate of registration of address and passport. If you come from outside the European Union, you need a residence permit. You can obtain this from the Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung – Abteilung 3 at Paulustorgasse 4, 8010 Graz. You can find more information about this on the website of the State of Styria.

Once you’ve done everything, you can now enjoy the city, meet new people and look forward to a few incredible and valuable years in Graz! If you need further support during your studies, the Student Union and your student representatives can help you.

It takes a few weeks for the application for admission to a degree programme to be processed. To move to Graz, you still need accommodation and a few formal requirements such as a certificate of registration of address or a bank account. Then it’s time to enjoy student life to the full!