
Vienna’s universities are set to receive €7.9 billion in funding for 2025–2027, an increase of €1.8 billion compared to the previous three-year funding period.
This represents nearly half of the €16.2 billion allocated to all Austrian universities. With nine public universities and over 151,000 students, Vienna remains Austria’s largest academic hub.
“The budget increases under the performance agreements for 2025–2027 send a strong signal for Austria as a science hub and will allow us to further strengthen our international position,” said Sebastian Schütze, Rector of the University of Vienna, in a press release.
The largest beneficiaries of the funding include the University of Vienna (€2.2 billion), the Medical University of Vienna (€1.9 billion) and TU Wien (€1.2 billion). While these institutions lead in total funding, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) recorded the highest percentage increase at 32.7%, followed by TU Wien with 31.2% and the Medical University of Vienna at 30.7%.
From 2025, the University of Vienna and TU Wien will establish Austria’s largest AI research centre, focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration across STEM subjects, humanities, and digital ethics. By 2027, Vienna will also host the Austrian Science Communication Centre, a partnership between the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the University of Vienna, and TU Wien, aimed at making science more accessible to the public.