Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide

Overview

The Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide is a mobility scholarship funded by the Austrian government and administered by the OeAD, Austria's agency for education and internationalisation, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research. It pays for a short research or study stay at an Austrian university or research institution. It is named after the physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach, and it sits within Austria's broader effort to bring early-career researchers from around the world into its academic system for a defined period.

This particular line of the Ernst Mach programme is open worldwide. It targets PhD students, postgraduates, postdocs and young university lecturers who are based at an institution outside Austria and want to spend between one and nine months working with an Austrian host. It is not a degree scholarship. You use it to carry out part of your doctoral research, gather data, use specialist equipment or libraries, or build a research collaboration, while staying enrolled at your home university.

If you are a doctoral or early postdoctoral researcher and you have an Austrian institution willing to host you, this grant covers your living costs and removes most of the financial barriers to spending a research period in the country. It matters because it lets you access Austrian labs, supervisors and networks without paying tuition or carrying the full cost of relocation yourself.

Key Facts at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

You should be a PhD or doctoral student, a postgraduate, a postdoc with a clear academic career focus, or a university lecturer working abroad. The stay is meant for research or study work that connects to your existing academic path, such as part of your doctoral project or a defined research collaboration. You normally need an Austrian host institution that agrees to take you for the period you propose.

Nationality Requirements

The worldwide line is open to applicants of all nationalities, with one exclusion: Austrian citizens cannot apply. You should be based at a university or research institution outside Austria at the time you apply.

Language Requirements

You will need to work in the language of your host and your field, which in practice usually means English or German depending on the project. Confirm with your host what level of language they expect for the research you plan to do.

Age & Other Requirements

The programme sets a maximum age of 35. The grant funds a visiting stay of one to nine months only. It does not fund a full Austrian degree, and it is not designed for people who simply want to enrol in an Austrian programme from scratch.

What the Scholarship Covers

• A monthly grant of between EUR 940 and EUR 1,040 to cover living costs during your stay
• Health insurance arranged through the programme
• Support with finding accommodation, including access to OeAD housing where available
• Exemption from tuition fees at the Austrian host institution
• Travel support for grant holders coming from non-European developing countries
• A defined stay of one to nine months at an Austrian university or research institution

How to Apply

1. Find an Austrian host: Identify a supervisor, research group or institution in Austria that fits your project and is willing to host you for the period you have in mind. A confirmed host is central to a strong application.
2. Check the current call: Visit the OeAD Ernst Mach pages and the grants portal to confirm the open call, the exact deadline and the documents required for the current cycle.
3. Register on the grants portal: Create an account on the OeAD grants portal (grants.at / oead.grants.at), where Ernst Mach applications are submitted online.
4. Prepare your research plan: Write a clear, realistic plan for what you will do during the stay, how it links to your doctoral or research work, and what you expect to achieve.
5. Gather your documents: Collect your CV, transcripts, degree certificates, letter of acceptance or invitation from the host, references and any language evidence your host asks for.
6. Submit before the deadline: Upload everything through the portal ahead of the published closing date. Late applications are not considered.
7. Wait for the selection decision: Applications are reviewed and selected after the call closes. If awarded, you will receive instructions on insurance, accommodation and your start date.

Required Documents

• Completed online application form on the OeAD grants portal
• Curriculum vitae
• A research or study plan for the proposed stay
• Letter of invitation or acceptance from the Austrian host institution or supervisor
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Letters of recommendation from academic referees
• Copy of your passport or identity document
• Evidence of language ability where requested by the host

Key Dates & Deadlines

The Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide runs on an annual call administered through the OeAD grants portal. The deadline is published each year and typically falls early in the year. Because exact dates shift between cycles, check the OeAD pages and the portal for the current closing date before you plan your application. Your research stay then takes place within the academic year following selection, for the one-to-nine-month period you proposed and agreed with your host.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Secure a clear, written commitment from your Austrian host before you apply
• Write a focused research plan that shows exactly how the stay advances your doctoral or research work
• Match the length of your stay to what the project actually needs
• Ask referees who know your research to write detailed, specific letters
• Start early so you have time to register on the portal and assemble documents

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without a confirmed host institution
• Treating the grant as a way to fund a full Austrian degree, which it does not cover
• Submitting a vague research plan that could apply to any host
• Missing the portal deadline or uploading incomplete documents
• Overlooking the age limit of 35

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

It is an Austrian government mobility scholarship, administered by the OeAD, that funds a one-to-nine-month research or study stay in Austria for PhD students, postgraduates, postdocs and young lecturers from outside Austria.

Is the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide fully funded?

It covers your core costs: a monthly living grant of EUR 940 to EUR 1,040, health insurance, accommodation support and a tuition-fee exemption. Applicants from non-European developing countries also receive travel support. It is built for a defined visiting stay rather than a multi-year degree.

Who is eligible for the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

PhD students, postgraduates, postdocs and university lecturers based at an institution outside Austria, in any field, of any nationality except Austrian, up to a maximum age of 35.

How much does the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide pay per month?

The monthly grant is between EUR 940 and EUR 1,040, depending on your status, alongside the other benefits.

Does the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide cover tuition fees?

Yes. Grant holders are exempt from tuition fees at the Austrian host institution for the period of the stay.

What is the deadline for the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

The grant runs on an annual call through the OeAD grants portal, with the deadline published each year, usually early in the year. Confirm the current date on the OeAD website before applying.

Can I use the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide to fund a full degree in Austria?

No. It funds a visiting research or study stay of one to nine months. It is not intended to pay for a complete Austrian bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree.

How long is the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

You can be funded for between one and nine months, for the period you agree with your Austrian host.

Do I need an Austrian host before applying for the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

In practice yes. The stay is built around working with an Austrian institution, so you should secure a host or supervisor willing to take you before you submit.

Can Austrian citizens apply for the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide?

No. Austrian citizens are excluded from this grant.

Where do I submit the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide application?

Applications are made online through the OeAD grants portal (grants.at / oead.grants.at), where you register an account and upload your documents.

Which fields of study does the Ernst Mach Grant - Worldwide accept?

All fields are eligible, including the natural sciences, technical sciences, medicine, agriculture and forestry, veterinary medicine, social sciences, law, economics, humanities, theology and the arts.