by Philipp Steger

Over many decades, Austrian Universities have consistently provided free, high quality education to a broad range of students. Anyone with the “Matura,” the Austrian equivalent of a high school diploma, could choose one or more of the many Austrian universities offering a myriad of disciplines ranging from law and medicine to more exotic ones such as tibetology or oceanography (exotic only in landlocked Austria). And money was not an issue: universities didn’t charge tuition, and the state provided an elaborate system of scholarships and other financial assistance to allow students from lower income families to cover their expenses without having to work while attending university. It was, undoubtedly, a system which benefited many, making university education accessible to people from varied backgrounds and improving their chances of creating successful professional lives.

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