Before leaving home
Gathering personal documents
In advance of leaving your home country, you will want to collect a few (translated) official documents that you will need later on:
- Translation of documents required for PhD admission in case they are not in English or German. Depending on the country of issuance, documents may also need legalisation beforehand.
- Legalisation and translation of documents are required for visa and residency permit if moving to Austria from a so-called third country - see section Applying for visa.
- Proof of insurance: If coming from an EU country, you may need this for your Austrian insurance e-card. For more information see section Health insurance.
- International driving license: For more information, see section Driving in Austria.
Applying for visa
As a national of a state that is a member of the EU, the EEA or of Switzerland, you are entitled to visa-free entry to Austria for a maximum of 90 days, in case of no gainful employment. As a national of other countries you might need a visa to be allowed to entry the Schengen area or the Austrian territory. In case you are unsure which of the cases applies to you, have a look at the table of visa requirements in Austria. Information about the regulations depending on the country of origin for (future) employees can be found on the webpage of the HR Department at the University of Vienna. Information about the regulations depending on the country of origin for PhDs coming to Austria as a student can be found on the webpage of the OEAD.
Finding your accommodation
Compared to other large cities, it should not be too difficult to find an apartment in Vienna. You can find both student dormitories and private flats on the following websites: studium.at, wg-gesucht.de, immobilien.derstandard.at, immobilienscout24.at, or willhaben.at. It is also possible to find accommodation by searching Facebook groups: Try entering terms such as "WG Zimmer Wien", "Wohnungen Wien", or "student housing Vienna" in the search bar. Although most pages are in German, many people post announcements with an attached English translation.
When looking at the available rooms, you should already have an idea about your preferred price range, the available public transport connections to the faculty, what kind of opportunities you would like to have nearby (e.g. supermarkets, gym, etc.) and whether you want to have your own flat or a flatshare (in German "Wohngemeinschaft", or short: "WG"). Note that some student housing companies have an age limit.
Rent for small private flats is typically 500-800 € without electricity and gas, depending on the size and district. Rent in old buildings ("Altbau") is often regulated by the municipality and cheaper than new builds. Contracts are typically 3-5 years with a deposit of 3 month's rent (excluding expenses).
When you've finally found the ideal advert, you may need to share certain documents, such as proof of income. If you choose a student dormitory, you would need to share a proof of enrolment or employment at the university.
Checklist
- You have gathered all listed documents and had them, if necessary, translated.
- You have applied for a visa, if necessary.
- You have started looking for a suitable apartment.
Links
Visa and University Admission
Description of PhD admission process on university webpage
u:space university webportal for admission
Code of Good Practice of Doctoral Schools
Information about entry and residence regulations for students on the webpage of OEAD
Information about entry and residence regulations for future staff members at UniVie
Table with visa requirements for each country
Accommodation in Vienna
Student apartment houses in Vienna on studium.at
Apartment listings on wg-gesucht.de