Ukraine FAQs

Like the Republic of Austria, Ukraine is a member state of the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Declaration) and has also ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention. This means that all degrees from Ukrainian universities and qualifications from higher education institutions are also valid in Austria and are recognised as such here. Therefore, in principle, no further steps need to be taken in this regard.

An exception to this is if someone with a Ukrainian university degree or higher education qualification wants to exercise a regulated profession in Austria for which there needs to be evidence that special qualification requirements are met. These include, in particular, health professionals such as medical practitioners or nurses, but also, for example, lawyers, notaries and schoolteachers (a list of professions is available in a European Commission database). Such persons must submit their university degrees or higher education qualifications to a process of validation in Austria, which compares the Ukrainian university or higher education degree with the corresponding Austrian degree (Art. 90 University Act, Art. 68 Higher Education Act, Art. 6 para 6 University of Applied Sciences Act). An application for validation can be made to any public university, university college of teacher education or university of applied sciences at which a comparable Austrian degree programme exists.

In addition, individuals with foreign degrees can submit them for assessment on a voluntary basis. The assessment process comprises an official assessment by the BMBWF or its National Academic Recognition Information Centre ENIC NARIC Austria and describes the foreign higher education qualifications and certifies their possible use for professional purposes. The process aims to facilitate access to the Austrian labour market for individuals with a foreign higher education qualification.
 
The assessment identifies the degree programme at an Austrian university or higher education institution to which the degree or qualification obtained abroad is roughly equivalent.
Example: If someone has completed a Master's degree in "Informatics and Digitalisation" at a Ukrainian university, it is helpful to know the extent to which this corresponds to a degree in informatics or computer science at a university or higher education institution in Austria. 

More detailed information on the validation and assessment of foreign degrees can be found on the BMBWF website in German and English. In addition, the website www.berufsanerkennung.at has compiled all the information relevant to recognition of professional qualifications in Austria. It is available in German, English and partly also in Ukrainian.
 

Application for validation can be made to any public university, university college of teacher education or university of applied sciences at which a comparable Austrian degree programme exists. The validation procedure cannot, however, be carried out at a private university.

In many cases, there may be several universities and/or higher education institutions that would be suitable. It is then up to the individual applicant to decide which one they want to apply to. However, the same application for validation can only be submitted to one university or higher education institution.
 
If the university or higher education institution approves validation of the relevant university or higher education degree, the applicant is certified as having an Austrian degree. In most cases, however, this is subject to the passing of certain supplementary examinations because the courses of study for the regulated professions at Austrian universities and higher education institutions are very much oriented towards the requirements of the domestic labour market.

This includes, in particular, evidence of appropriate German language skills, which play a decisive role especially in regulated service professions, such as doctors or notaries. For example, independent practice of the profession of medical practitioner requires "sufficient knowledge of German", which according to the requirements of the Medical Act must be at level C1 (proficient user) at least.

Normally, such a validation procedure takes between six months and three years. 

Further details on the validation of foreign qualifications can be found on the BMBWF website, in German and English. 

For the validation process, in addition to a passport, the original diplomas (or certified copies) documenting successful completion of the degree programme and award of the associated academic degree, and, if available, the Diploma Supplement or Transcript of Records must be submitted.
The Diploma Supplement  is an additional document in the national language and in English, in which the content and level of the completed degree programme and the diploma are explained in simple terms. Because Ukraine – like Austria – is a participating state in the European Higher Education Area, Ukrainian universities and colleges usually issue a Diploma Supplement. It is therefore structured in exactly the same way as a Diploma Supplement from an Austrian university or higher education institution. 
The Transcript of Records is evidence of academic achievement, i.e. a transcript of all course details (course units taken, exams passed and credits gained). 
Further details on validation can be found on the BMBWF website, in German and English. 
 

The validation tax is EUR 150, plus fees and administrative charges. The Austrian Integration Fund refunds these costs to immigrants. 

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre, ENIC NARIC AUSTRIA, which currently operates under the BMBWF, is responsible for this procedure. It issues assessments of qualifications from recognised higher education institutions from all countries around the world. Assessments cannot be issued for higher education qualifications that have not been completed, or for educational programmes that cannot be assigned to the higher education sector. It supports displaced Ukrainians with academic qualifications by fast-tracking and prioritising their applications for recognition.

Applications for assessment of higher education qualifications must be submitted online at www.aais.at.

For general enquiries to ENIC NARIC Austria, please email naric@bmbwf.gv.at.

More information on the assessment of foreign degrees can be found on the BMBWF website, in German and English. In addition, the website www.berufsanerkennung.at has collated all information relevant to the recognition of professional qualifications in Austria. It is available in German, English and partly also in Ukrainian.

The assessment contains information on the academic level (Bachelor's, Diploma, Master's or Doctorate/PhD programme), the standard duration of the course of study and the NQF level of the Austrian educational qualification to which your foreign higher education qualification is comparable within the National Qualifications Framework. In addition, it compares the content of your qualification against a corresponding Austrian degree programme and provides information on the possible use for professional purposes. It should be enclosed with your application documents and should make it easier for employers or the employment agency (e.g. AMS) to assess your foreign higher education qualification.

No legal claims can be made on the basis of this assessment. Please also note that the assessment does not make any statement about the use of a foreign academic title in Austria.

More information on the assessment of foreign degrees can be found on the BMBWF website, in German and English. 
 

 

In principle, the same recognition rules for academic achievements and examinations apply to Ukrainian students as to all other students, see Art. 78 University Act , Art. 56 Higher Education Act, Art. 12 University of Applied Sciences Act. Art. 8 para 4 Private University Act . 

If you have been admitted to a specific degree programme, you can apply for recognition of the academic achievements (i.e. the course units and examinations taken) that you have previously completed at another university or higher education institution. Whether and to what extent they are recognised, as well as the procedure actually used for determining recognition, are decided independently by the individual university or higher education institution. The academic departments of the individual universities or higher education institutions check how closely these completed course units and examinations correspond in content to those that have to be taken as part of the curriculum of the desired degree programme at the individual university or higher education institution.

On the basis of this decision, the university or higher education institution issues a certificate of academic achievement, indicating which academic achievements it recognises and to what extent.

Many universities and higher education institutions offer specific advice and information on recognition of academic achievements. Please contact the university or higher education institution of your choice for more information.
 

This is laid down by the individual university or higher education institution, as well as the general conditions of the recognition procedure itself. Certain legal requirements (University Act and General Administrative Procedures Act) must be observed. The individual university or higher education institution then checks whether the successfully completed examinations submitted are equivalent to the examinations prescribed in the curriculum. The applicant must submit all the relevant documents required for the assessment.

Normally, all available certificates and other documents – in particular the Transcript of Records – must be submitted. Ukrainian universities and higher education institutions often issue these in English, which then do not require a German translation.

You should therefore find out from the university or higher education institution of your choice how it handles the recognition of academic achievements in detail.
 

In principle, the same recognition rules for academic achievements and examinations apply to Ukrainian students as to all other students, see Art. 78 University Act, Art. 56 Higher Education Act, Art. 12 University of Applied Sciences Act Art. 8 para 4 Private University Act. 
If you have been admitted to a specific degree programme, you can apply for recognition of the academic achievements (i.e. the course units and examinations taken) that you have previously completed at another university or higher education institution. Whether, to what extent and the procedure actually used for determining recognition is decided independently by the individual university or higher education institution.
The academic departments of the individual universities or higher education institutions check to what extent these completed course units and examinations correspond in terms of content to those that have to be taken as part of the curriculum of the desired degree programme at the individual university or higher education institution. Whether they proceed similarly to the admission procedure and dispense with the provision of evidence in the form of individual documents and instead rely on a plausibility check lies at their discretion. This decision here is, of course, up to the individual university or higher education institution, which in turn issues a certificate of academic achievement indicating which academic achievements it recognises and to what extent.
You should therefore find out from the university or higher education institution of your choice how it handles the recognition of academic achievements in detail.
 

Do I have to have my certificates of completed course units and examinations translated into German?

This, too, is stipulated by the individual university or higher education institution, as well as the general conditions for the recognition procedure itself. Certain legal requirements (University Act and General Administrative Procedures Act) must be observed.
A Transcript of Records (i.e. evidence of previous academic achievements) is often issued by Ukrainian universities and colleges in English, for which no German translation is necessary.
If a German translation of the Transcript of Records is necessary, please note that the Austrian Integration Fund will reimburse you for these translation costs. 
You should therefore find out from the university or higher education institution of your choice how it handles the recognition of academic achievements in detail.
 

The best thing to do is to contact the relevant academic department of the university or higher education institution at which you would like to study. You can reach them via the website of the university or institution. You will usually also find information there specifically for Ukrainian students (and researchers). At the BMBWF, the National Academic Recognition Information Centre, ENIC NARIC AUSTRIA, is available to answer your questions. You can contact it at naric@bmbwf.gv.at. 

Basically, a distinction needs to be made whether someone wants to be admitted to a regular degree programme or only to individual course units in the form of a non-degree programme.

Only in the case of admission to a regular university or higher education degree programme is evidence of a general university entrance qualification required. Proof of a general university entrance qualification is usually provided by presenting a secondary school leaving qualification. In this context, "secondary school leaving qualification" means any foreign certificates, attestations or diplomas which, in principle, confer the right of admission to university studies in the country of issue. These may take the form of matriculation certificates, secondary school graduation diplomas, national final examination certificates, university entrance examination certificates (i.e. right to university entrance without matriculation) or others.

At universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), there is also the possibility of gaining admission to a degree programme through a relevant professional qualification.

By contrast, attendance of individual course units, in the form of a non-degree programme, requires neither evidence of a university entrance qualification nor knowledge of German.

Knowledge of German only has to be proved in the case of admission to a regular university or higher education degree programme at level B2 (independent use of language) to C1 (proficient).

Individuals who do not (yet) have such language skills can take appropriate language courses. The Austrian Integration Fund offers such courses free of charge to displaced Ukrainian persons, from level A1 (beginners) to C1 (proficient). From language level A2 (elementary language skills), they can also be taken as part of a university pre-study course.

During participation in these German language courses, it is possible to be admitted as an extraordinary student at the university or higher education institution of your choice. 

Since the individual university or higher education institution carries out the admission procedure, please contact them directly. 
 

The BMBWF continues to help Ukrainian students in the winter semester 2023/24. Ukrainian students do not have to pay tuition fees at public universities or university colleges of teacher education. At universities of applied sciences and private universities, the tuition fees may be waived or reduced. As third-country nationals Ukrainian students would normally have to pay EUR 726.72 per semester, twice the standard amount. Since the summer semester 2022, these students are exempt from having to pay tuition fees. For this purpose, the  Tuition Fee Ordinance will be amended again for the winter semester 2023/24. The student fee of EUR 21,20 per semester must be paid and includes accident insurance cover. 

Please note that waiver of the obligation to pay tuition fees for Ukrainian students only applies to admission to a regular degree programme. However, the universities and university colleges of teacher education have the option of also applying this waiver in respect of admission to non-degree programmes, i.e. to waive tuition fees for Ukrainian students in general.

Please contact the university or higher education institution at which you would like to study to find out about its tuition fees and relevant conditions.

First of all, your status under aliens law has to be determined. Only then can you be admitted to an Austrian university – either from Austria or from your home country. 

According to the Regulation on Displaced Persons, only Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members and asylum seekers already recognised in Ukraine are granted a right of residence if they came to Austria after the outbreak of the war (24 February 2022). The possibility of studying in Austria is linked to the right of residence of such displaced persons, provided other requirements (e.g. university entrance qualification) are met.

For reasons of aliens law, third-country nationals who have studied in Ukraine cannot continue their studies immediately. They must first of all travel back to their home country and contact the Austrian representation (embassy) there, which will then initiate the normal procedure for obtaining a corresponding residence permit (student visa).
 

Due to the current situation, the obligation to pay tuition fees has been suspended solely for Ukrainian students in the winter semester 2023/24, but not for other foreign students. However, there are nationals of other countries who also – albeit for different reasons – do not have to pay tuition fees at public universities and university colleges of teacher education in Austria. These are listed here.

Universities of applied sciences and private universities themselves determine who has to pay tuition fees and who is exempt. There are no statutory provisions laid down by the BMBWF in this regard.

An application for admission has to be submitted to the individual university or higher education institution. At public universities and university colleges of teacher education there may be admission procedures for some degree programmes. Universities of applied sciences and private universities also have admission procedures. For more information, please contact the university or higher education institution at which you would like to study.

In all cases, admission normally requires:
-    A secondary school leaving certificate or other evidence of a general university entrance qualification
-    Personal ID or passport 

Proof of sufficient language skills (German or English) is also required for admission to a regular degree programme. For admission to a regular German-language degree programme, proof of German language skills at level B2 (independent use of language) or C1 (proficient) is required. Individuals who do not (yet) have this level of competence can attend appropriate language courses (from language level A2 = elementary use of language) in the form of a pre-study course and will be admitted as a non-degree student for this period. 

Apart from language skills, the individual university or higher education institution can also stipulate specific supplementary examinations – and additionally for certain degree programmes, the passing of certain admission procedures – for admission to a regular degree programme. This was often the case for Ukrainian students in the past, particularly as their period of school education is one year shorter than in Austria (11 instead of 12 school years before the school-leaving examination).
 
Due to the current situation, universities and higher education institutions may waive the requirement to submit documents.

It is best to contact your university or higher education institution of choice directly to find out their particular requirements. 
 

You do not need to have a knowledge of German for admission to English-language degree programmes, only the required level of English. The individual university or higher education institution determines this level. 

For German-language degree programmes, proof of German language proficiency (B2 (independent use of language) to C1 (proficient)) is required, depending on the particular university or higher education institution and the degree programme. Individuals who do not (yet) have this level of proficiency can acquire it in a pre-study course. For admission, a language certificate at level A2 (elementary use of language) gained within the past two years must be submitted. 

More information on the pre-study courses in Vienna, Graz and Leoben can be found on the website of the OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation). For pre-study courses in the other federal provinces, please contact your chosen university or higher education institution. 

The Austrian Integration Fund also offers its own free language courses, from A1 (beginners) to C1 (proficient), for all people displaced from Ukraine. 
 

The language courses offered by the Austrian Integration Fund or managed via the Fund are available free of charge to people displaced from Ukraine. The situation is different for language courses taken as part of a pre-study course. There is a charge for such courses, which may vary. Please contact the individual course provider directly about how much you will have to pay. They will also be able to tell you whether there is any possibility of financial assistance.
 
The waiver of tuition fees for Ukrainian students does not include costs incurred for participation in pre-study courses.
 

If you only want to attend individual course units but do not intend to complete a whole degree programme in Austria, it is sufficient to apply for admission to a non-degree programme. In this case, evidence of a general university entrance qualification (by submitting your secondary school leaving certificate) and presentation of your personal ID or passport are sufficient. You do not need to provide evidence of your language skills. However, you will need the necessary language skills if you want to pass the course units you attend.

Please note that the waiver of the obligation to pay tuition fees for Ukrainian students only applies to admission to a regular degree programme. However, the universities and university colleges of teacher education have the option of also making this waiver in respect of admission to non-degree programmes, i.e. to waive tuition fees for Ukrainian students in general. 

Please contact the university or higher education institution at which you would like to study.

We are currently working on developing additional support measures for Ukrainian students. So far they include:

•    Tuition fee waiver for Ukrainian students as emergency assistance:
Ukrainian students do not have to pay tuition fees for the winter semester 2023/24. Third-country nationals normally have to pay EUR 726.72 per semester, i.e. twice the normal tuition fee.

•    Faster assessment of academic degrees: the National Academic Recognition Information Centre ENIC NARIC Austria is currently prioritising applications from Ukrainian students for assessment of academic degrees. More information on the assessment of foreign degrees can be found on the BMBWF website, in German and English.

•    Special scholarship for Ukrainian students (and researchers) – Ernst Mach Scholarship - UKRAINE
The BMBWF, together with the OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation), has set up a special scholarship to support Ukrainian students and researchers, who want to start or continue their degree programme or research work at an Austrian university or higher education institution. Bachelor’s, master’s, diploma and doctoral students, graduates, postdocs and also established academics receive € 715 per month with the scholarship. The application period for new applications ended on June 30. Previously awarded scholarships may be extended until the end of February 2024. Further details can be found on the websites of the BMBWF and the OeAD.

This varies greatly. We advise you to get in contact directly with the individual university, higher education institution, research institution or other institution where you would like to study and/or do research. 

We would like to point out the following initiatives in particular:
1. Initiative MORE of Universities Austria: Universities Austria (uniko) is resuming its Initiative MORE, launched in 2015, which provides refugees with low-threshold access to lectures, courses and artistic study opportunities. Details can be found at https://uniko.ac.at/themen/more/angebot/.

2. Austrian National Union of Students Consultation:

The Austrian National Union of Students has a dedicated email address, ukraine@oeh.at, that you can contact at any time with your questions. In addition, the Austrian National Union of Students offers advice in Ukrainian and Russian..

3. „Help Ukraine“ – Info-Website of The University of Graz: The University of Graz has set up a website, which offers prospective students from Ukraine information and answers to current questions. The website can be found under the following link: https://refugees.uni-graz.at/en/.

4. Initiative „roomTUlearn“: The TU Wien has expanded the project „roomTUlearn“ for Ukrainian students by opening its centrally managed teaching rooms as learning spaces, so that they can continue their studies at their home university via online teaching. Details can be found at https://www.tuwien.at/en/studies/teaching-at-tu-wien/central-room-management-for-teaching-and-learning/roomtulearn-learning-rooms

In addition, the European Union, through its EURAXESS initiative, has set up its own ERA4Ukraine platform, which lists and continuously updates all support services for Ukrainian students and researchers throughout Europe. Austria is also involved in this through the OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation), which acts as the first point of contact for Ukrainian students and researchers in Austria.

Of course, you can also contact all other major scientific and research organisations, especially the individual universities, higher education and research institutions.

You can find advice and support directly at all central service points that have been set up in all federal provinces, for example at primary care facilities,  Austrian Integration Fund integration centres and the regional offices of the Public Employment Service Austria.

Specific contact points for students are: 
•    OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation)
•    Austrian National Student Union 
•    Psychological Student Counselling Services for psychological support and counselling
•    Student Ombudsman Services for questions, problems and complaints relating to study at an Austrian university or higher education institution
Of course, you can also contact all universities and higher education institutions. We have compiled a list of their websites, as well as those for the other, primary contacts in the fields of science and research, on a separate page. 
 

The central contact point for Ukrainian students is the OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation). It handles numerous scholarships, including in particular, the Ernst Mach Scholarship – Ukraine, the new special BMBWF scholarship to support Ukrainian students and researchers. EUR 715 will be paid to Ukrainian nationals who wish to continue their degree programme or research work at an Austrian university or higher education institution, or who wish to start a new degree programme or research work. This special scholarship is currently planned for the summer semester 2023. Further details can be found on the websites of the BMBWF and  OeAD . 

The Austrian National Student Union also provides help with financial issues. It has a dedicated email address, ukraine@oeh.at, that you can contact at any time with your questions. You can find more information on the Austrian National Student Union website. 
In addition, as is the case for all students in Austria, you can of course also contact the Austrian Study Grant Authority, which has six offices in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. 
Please note, however, that in order to receive the study grant you must meet a number of specific requirements, which only a few of you will actually be able to meet.
These include: 
-    Admission to a regular degree programme
-    Timely application within the deadline for applications: for the winter semester 2022/23this is  15 December 2022
-    Equality of status with Austrian nationals (at least five years residence in Austria)
-    Compliance with age limits: study grants are only available up to the age of 30, in exceptional cases up to the age of 35.
-    Social eligibility 
-    Favourable academic record
Further information can be found on the website of the Austrian Study Grant Authority. 

The staff of the Student Psychological Counselling Service, most of whom are psychologists, are available at its six counselling centres in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. They offer not only psychological counselling but are also able to advise on choice of degree programme – in person, by telephone or online. If necessary, they can also refer Ukrainian students for emergency counselling to specialist institutions that offer psychological support in Ukrainian.

Further information and contact details for the six counselling centres can be found on the website of the Student Psychological Counselling Service.

Some universities offer their own psychological support measures for Ukrainian students:

1. The University of Vienna offers a psychological counselling service for Ukrainian students at the University of Vienna, which is based on the principles of crisis intervention. Further details can be found on the website in German, English or Ukrainian or under https://ukraine.univie.ac.at/.
2. The psychological outpatient-clinic of the Sigmund Freud University offers – in cooperation with the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH) – crisis intervention for Ukrainian students. The offer is available in German and Ukrainian. Details can be found on the website of the Sigmund Freud University.

Please contact the Austrian National Student Union, which represents the interests of all students in Austria. On its website it has set up a separate Ukraine information page and a separate contact email address at ukraine@oeh.ac.at.

The initial point of contact for accommodation for Ukrainian displaced persons in Austria is the Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services (BBU). It has its own telephone hotline on +43 1 2676 870 9460 and has set up an info point in English, Ukrainian and Russian on its website. 

The website also includes addresses and contact details for reception centres in the individual Austrian provinces, which can then direct you to other, longer-term accommodation. 

The Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services and the initial reception centres in the provinces also provide information on the availability and location of accommodation offered by private individuals and institutions to people displaced from Ukraine. This includes student halls of residence, some of which provide places specifically for Ukrainian students.

If you are a Ukrainian student requiring assistance with accommodation, please contact the BBU or the relevant coordinating office of the province in which you are staying. This also applies if you would like to offer accommodation to Ukrainian students, researchers and their families.

In addition, the Austrian National Student Union can provide information on accommodation. The non-profit organisation Homes for Ukraine also offers help with its website Homes For Ukraine – Offer & Find Shelter. 

The OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation) has also compiled a list of FAQs on this subject, see https://oead.at/en/the-oead/information-about-ukraine.

Just like all other students, you have to sign a contract with the hall of residence provider. The contract also specifies the fee and any discounts. In the case of student halls of residence that are funded by the federal government, however, according to Art. 4 Student Residence Act only regular students at public universities, university colleges of education, universities of applied sciences and private universities are entitled to a place in a hall of residence ,but not students on non-degree courses. However, the providers are free to accept them as residents 

Please contact the hall of residence or provider to find out the conditions under which they accept Ukrainian students.

No, there is generally no entitlement in this regard. Places in halls of residence are allocated on the basis of a residence contract. 

There are no general discounts or subsidies. However, the individual provider may offer places in the halls of residence at a reduced price.

Please contact the individual hall of residence to find out about the conditions under which it accepts Ukrainian students.

Here, too, it is down to the individual provider of the hall of residence to decide to what extent they will accept extended payment periods or deferrals based on the current individual situation.

Please contact the individual hall of residence to check on their current procedures. 

The OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalisation has also compiled a list of FAQs on this subject, see: https://oead.at/en/the-oead/information-about-ukraine.
 

At present Russian and Belarussian students who have been admitted to a degree programme in Austria for the summer semester 2023 can currently continue to study. The Austrian university, higher education or research institution will always be responsible for this decision. It may be appropriate to consider each case individually for Masters, Doctorate and PhD students in particular.

Please always contact your university, higher education or research institution about this.

Yes, in principle, Russian and Belarussian students can currently continue a period of residence abroad that has already commenced, especially those that have been organised via the Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps programmes. On the other hand, no decision has yet been taken at European level whether new periods of residence abroad can commence in the future, in other words from the winter semester 2022/23. 

If you have any questions about this, please contact the OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation, which is the central point of contact for this issue. The OeAD also has its own FAQs on its website. 

 

It is not possible to provide a generalised answer; it depends on the decision taken by the Austrian university, higher education or research institution responsible for the research project in question. This may depend on financing, for example, or the specific field of research in which the student is involved.

In principle, Russian and Belarussian students due to complete their course or period of residence in Austria in the summer semester 2023 can currently continue their course or period of residence.

The Austrian university, higher education or research institution will always be responsible for this decision. It may be appropriate to consider each case individually for Masters, Doctorate and PhD students in particular.

Please always contact your university or higher education institution about this.

This is decided by the university, higher education or research institution in question. The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research, Martin Polaschek, has encouraged universities, higher education and research institutions to make a discriminating assessment of relations with the Russian Federation and to review individual contacts critically. 

What is certain is that payments to Russian institutions as part of existing EU agreements have largely been stopped following individual review by a European Commission task force. Until further notice the EU Horizon Europe  research programme and the EU Erasmus+ mobility programme will not approve any new projects or conclude agreements with Russian partners.

Where cooperation between and mobility of people, organisations and countries such as the Russian Federation and Belarus, which are subject to sanctions, are concerned, cooperation on higher education, science and research must be subjected to rigorous examination. 

Amongst others, the following stipulations must be observed: 
•    General sanctions at EU level
•    Consolidated list of people, associations and corporations on which the EU has imposed financial sanctions - Data Europa EU
•    EU terrorist list - Consilium (europa.eu)
•    Military goods according to the Austrian Foreign Trade Act, which can be downloaded from the Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO) website.

The brochure titled “Die Rolle der Exportkontrolle für Wissenschaft und Forschung” [The role of export control in science and research] published by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) can be used as an initial guide. 

If in doubt an effort should be made to obtain a review of the individual case by the competent authority. Please contact exportkontrolle@bmdw.gv.at with any questions. 

The initial point of contact for accommodation for Ukrainian displaced persons in Austria is the Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services (BBU). It has its own telephone hotline on +43 1 2676 870 9460 and has set up an info point in English, Ukrainian and Russian on its website. 

The website also includes addresses and contact details for reception centres in the individual Austrian provinces, which can then direct you to other, longer-term accommodation. 

The BBU and the provincial reception centres also provide information on the availability and location of accommodation offered by individuals and institutions to displaced persons from Ukraine. 

If you are a Ukrainian researcher requiring assistance with accommodation, please contact the BBU. This also applies if you would like to offer accommodation to Ukrainian students, researchers and their families. 

The OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation, otherwise acts as the point of contact for all researchers from Ukraine. 

According to the Regulation on Displaced Persons
 
•    Ukrainian nationals, 
•    their immediate family members (spouse, registered partner, minor children and other close relatives who have lived in the same household) and
•    all asylum seekers recognised in Ukraine,

who have had to leave their country due to the outbreak of war on 24 February 2022 are entitled to a right to reside and work in Austria, initially limited to one year. 

After they arrive in Austria, displaced persons must get registered and will then be given a displaced persons identity card. They must ensure that they are properly registered at their Austrian address (registered with the Central Register) so they can be issued with this identity card, which entitles them to all social welfare benefits in Austria and provides access to the Austrian labour market. It is essential, though, that displaced persons apply for and obtain a work permit from the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) before commencing work. 

This is also the case for researchers to which the above applies and who have had to flee Ukraine.
 
You can obtain further information about this from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) website, which has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to aliens and asylum, from the Austrian Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) and from the AMS website. 

 

According to the Regulation on Displaced Persons 

•    Ukrainian nationals, 
•    their immediate family members (spouse, registered partner, minor children and other close relatives who have lived in the same household) and
•    all asylum seekers recognised in Ukraine,

who have had to leave their country due to the outbreak of war on 24 February 2022 are entitled to a right to reside and work in Austria, initially limited to one year. 
 

After they arrive in Austria, displaced persons must get registered and will then be given a displaced persons identity card. They must ensure that they are properly registered at their Austrian address (registered with the Central Register) so they can be issued with this identity card, which entitles them to all social welfare benefits in Austria and provides access to the Austrian labour market. It is essential, though, that displaced persons apply for and obtain a work permit from the AMS before commencing work.
 

This is also the case for researchers to which the above applies and who have had to flee Ukraine. They can therefore apply to any universities, higher education and research institutions or other scientific and research institutions for a job. 

Numerous universities, higher education institutions, research and other institutions in the fields of science and research are in the process of setting up their own funding programmes, as well as posts for Ukrainian researchers. You can find an initial overview of these on our Ukraine feature page. The OeAD also provides information. 

You can make enquiries of any university, higher education institution, research or other institution where you are applying for a job. 
 

The Regulation on Displaced Persons does not cover citizens of third states unless they are asylum seekers recognised as such in Ukraine, who have fled because of the war in Ukraine. 

The provisions under asylum and aliens law that generally apply to nationals of their home countries will apply to all other citizens of third states. 

They require both a valid residence and a valid work permit, which may be issued in the combined form of the “Red-White-Red Card”.

More detailed information is available from the websites of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) and the Federal Ministry of Labour (BMA). 
 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this; it depends on the specific job that the Ukrainian researcher is applying for. Basically, the working languages at universities, higher education and research institutions are English and German.

You should therefore enquire of the respective university, higher education or research institution to which you are applying about their language requirements.

The Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) offers a wide range of German courses specifically for people displaced from Ukraine, especially those who need basic German lessons from Level A1 (elementary use of language) to B1 (independent use of language). It has created a separate information page with FAQs about this. 

Some universities and higher education institutions have announced that they will open up their language courses to students and researchers who have fled Ukraine. You can find out about this from the university or higher education institution in question. 

Basically, in order to have a good command of the standard of German required for daily use, you will need a knowledge of German equivalent to Level B2 (independent use of language) to C1 (proficient user). In order to take a regular degree programme at an Austrian university, you will need C1 level German. 
 

You should get in touch with the OeAD, which acts as the first point of contact for Ukrainian students and researchers in Austria. Of course you can also contact all the other major scientific and research organisations, especially the individual universities, higher education and research institutions. 

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) is continually updating its overview of research funding programmes in the field of science and research programmes for Ukrainian researchers on the BMBWF Ukraine focus page. New initiatives and funding programmes from individual universities, higher education and research institutions are being added regularly.

The European “EURAXESS” programme has set up a separate platform, “ERA4Ukraine”, which collates and lists all the support available to Ukrainian students and researchers throughout Europe. Austria is also involved in this – through the OeAD. It acts as the first point of contact for Ukrainian students and researchers in Austria. Of course, you can also contact all the other major scientific and research organisations, especially the individual universities, higher education and research institutions.

The BMBWF is continually updating its overview of research funding programmes in the field of science and research programmes for Ukrainian researchers on the BMBWF focus page. New initiatives and funding programmes from individual universities, higher education and research institutions are being added regularly.

You can already contact the OeAD, which acts as the point of contact for Ukrainian students and researchers in Austria. Of course, you can also contact all the other major scientific and research organisations, especially the individual universities, higher education and research institutions, such as the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). 

It is not possible to give a generalised answer to this. It depends on the decision taken by the university, higher education or research institution responsible for the research project in question. The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research, Martin Polaschek, has encouraged universities and research institutions to make a discriminating assessment of relations with the Russian Federation and to review individual contacts critically.

What is certain is that payments to Russian institutions as part of existing EU agreements have largely been stopped following individual review by a European Commission task force. Until further notice the EU Horizon Europe  research programme and the EU Erasmus+ mobility programme will not approve any new projects or conclude agreements with Russian partners.

Where cooperation between and mobility of people, organisations and countries such as the Russian Federation and Belarus, which are subject to sanctions, are concerned, cooperation on higher education, science and research must be subjected to rigorous examination.

Amongst others, the following stipulations must be observed: 

•    General sanctions at EU level
•    Consolidated list of people, associations and corporations on which the EU has imposed financial sanctions - Data Europa EU
•    EU terrorist list - Consilium (europa.eu)
•    Military goods according to the Austrian Foreign Trade Act, which can be downloaded from the Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO) website.

The brochure titled “Die Rolle der Exportkontrolle für Wissenschaft und Forschung“ [The role of export control in science and research] published by the BMDW can be used as an initial guide. 

If in doubt an effort should be made to obtain a review of the individual case by the competent authority. Please contact exportkontrolle@bmdw.gv.at with any questions.

At all events you should enquire of your university, higher education or research institutions regarding how to handle your specific partnership with the Russian Federation.