Ministry

The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) creates the best possible environment for schools, universities and research institutions, and represents the interests of Austria as a location for science, research and business on the international stage. The Ministry’s tasks are performed by the individual Directorates-General focusing on the following areas:

Education

The BMBWF is responsible for the entire education system, from early childhood education and primary schools to the Matura (higher education entrance examination), university colleges of teacher education and adult education.
In close association with academic and vocational schools, key areas of responsibility for the BMBWF include educational research; school quality development; school legislation issues; personnel matters at academic secondary schools, schools and colleges for intermediate and higher vocational education, and relating to administrative staff; employment and salary law; and school maintenance.
Further information early childhood education
Further information school
Further information adult aducation

Science and higher education institutions

Universities, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) and research institutions bring international knowledge to their regions. They train highly qualified specialists for business and society, and are magnets for innovation and creativity.
The BMBWF helps Austria’s scientific institutions to establish their strategic regional competence and develop their profile. The Ministry channels public investment into scientific research and helps its institutions to play an active part in their environment as attractive partners.
Further information

Research

With regard to research, the BMBWF’s responsibilities include strategy and knowledge transfer from universities and public institutions in the fields of research, technology and innovation, basic research in the STEM field, and research structures at national and international level.

At the same time, Austria is involved in establishing a European Research Area designed to help the European Union develop promising sustainable concepts for the challenges of the coming decades.
Further information

For detailed information about the individual areas of responsibility, please see the relevant menu items.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research provides a comprehensive range of services. We invite you to make use of these services and to get in touch with us.
You can find an overview of the previous education and science ministers here (in German only).