Studying at IT:U, Kunstuni, Bruckner Uni, KU Linz or SFU Linz? The city guide is for you too, and you can choose your university to get its own steps in your checklist.
A practical guide by Student Network of Linz. It gives general information, not legal advice, and official rules and decisions take priority. Read the disclaimer.
Make this guide yours
Pick your university and what fits you. Your choices only change the checklist and mark relevant sections. Every section stays available to you, and nothing is decided about your eligibility.
Your choices and ticks are saved only in this browser on this device, never sent to SNL or any analytics. Saving is unavailable in this browser, so your ticks will disappear when you close the page.
Part 1Start here
01 · Your plan
My next steps
Tick things off as you go. Suggested timing is a planning aid, not a legal deadline; items marked Legal deadline have official time limits.
Studying at another Linz university? Its steps and contacts
Your university
IT:U Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria
Website (opens in a new tab) · IT:U Education Campus, Altenberger Straße 66c, Science Park 4, OG 2, 4040 Linz, Austria
Your university handles admission, fees, your student account and course registration. The steps for IT:U are in your checklist; the JKU sections of this guide don't apply to you. The city steps (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) do.
Fees
The official FAQ says tuition is free for all students, regardless of country of origin. Tuition of €600 per semester may apply after the recommended programme length plus two tolerance semesters, and all students pay the ÖH fee (Austrian Student Union fee) of €26.20 each semester.
Your university handles admission, fees, your student account and course registration. The steps for Kunstuni are in your checklist; the JKU sections of this guide don't apply to you. The city steps (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) do.
Fees
EU and EEA citizens pay the ÖH student union fee each semester within the allotted study time. Students with other citizenships pay higher tuition unless a waiver applies. You pay by bank transfer with your own reference number, not in cash. Check the current amounts on the university's tuition page.
Your university handles admission, fees, your student account and course registration. The steps for Bruckner Uni are in your checklist; the JKU sections of this guide don't apply to you. The city steps (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) do.
Fees
Tuition per semester for Bachelor's and Master's students: €450 for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, €900 for other citizenships, plus the ÖH student union fee. The fee page is dated April 2025, so check the current amounts. Exchange students pay only the ÖH fee.
Your university handles admission, fees, your student account and course registration. The steps for KU Linz are in your checklist; the JKU sections of this guide don't apply to you. The city steps (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) do.
Fees
The 2026/27 fee sheet lists tuition of €450 for degree students (ordentliche and außerordentliche) and an ÖH fee of €26.20; the pages make no EU/non-EU distinction. Pay in SInN by eps or by bank transfer with your reference number; incoming exchange students are exempt from tuition.
Your university handles admission, fees, your student account and course registration. The steps for SFU Linz are in your checklist; the JKU sections of this guide don't apply to you. The city steps (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) do.
Fees
From winter semester 2026/27, tuition is €7,719 per semester for the Psychology Bachelor and the Psychotherapy Science Bakkalaureat, and €8,349 per semester for the Psychology Master, plus a one-off admission procedure fee of €550. The pages state one rate with no EU/non-EU split, and total tuition is capped at the standard study length.
Your university college or school handles admission, fees, accounts and course registration: use its own pages for those. The city steps in your checklist (address registration, residence, insurance, housing, transport) apply to you too.
01Before arrival 36 steps
Degree, exchange and preparation routes have different steps and deadlines. Your qualifications and citizenship category decide which one applies.
EU/EEA/Swiss students, third-country degree students and exchange students follow different procedures. Already hold another residence status? Use the selector.
Degree students search themselves. Exchange students follow their host university's accommodation instructions; at JKU they do not book directly with dormitories.
IT:U only accepts applications through its online portal. Emailed or posted applications are not considered. Applications run in two cycles (1 Jan to 31 Jul and 1 Aug to 31 Dec), and you can apply once per cycle.
The MSc needs a bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS. You upload an English CV, ID, bachelor's certificates and transcripts, a one-page motivation letter and a video of 2 to 3 minutes in your own voice. Shortlisted applicants may get an interview.
All teaching is in English and IT:U requires C1 (CEFR). No certificate is needed when you apply, but one may be set as a condition of admission. German is not required.
PhD places are tied to open calls and are full-time jobs (30 hours a week, €2,832.10 gross, 14 times a year). Each call lists its own deadline and documents. You apply with the IT:U application form.
Unofficial copies are fine for applying. For formal admission and enrolment you need legalized or apostilled documents (unless your country is exempt) and certified translations attached to the originals.
All admitted master's and PhD students are invited to an info session. It covers accommodation and visa applications. Non-EU students should start the residence permit early, since it can take months.
IT:U holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021-2027. The International Office is the contact for exchange students. The site does not yet describe an incoming exchange procedure.
Most programmes admit you only after an entrance exam (Zulassungsprüfung). You register and upload your portfolio online; the main round opens in mid-March and some programmes run extra rounds. A passed exam stays valid for 20 months.
Architecture, Industrial Design, teacher training, Media Culture and Art Theories and Cultural Studies need German B2 before admission. Most artistic programmes need German B1 by the start of the 3rd semester; some Master's accept English B2 before admission instead.
Teacher training has a three-stage admission. Modules A and B run through the LiLeS service center; only Module C takes place at the Kunstuni. LiLeS also handles your enrolment.
Your partner university nominates you through CALLS, then you get a link to the application form. The page lists yearly windows: nomination 1 to 30 September and application 1 to 31 October for the summer semester; nomination in March and application in May for the winter semester.
Create an applicant account in UFGonline and enter your personal data under 'My Applications'. Send your documents to the Student Service Center by email in advance so they can check them.
ABU accepts applications once a year, for the winter semester. Online registration in Bruckneronline is the first step for every programme, and you then get an exam invitation by email.
Every Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programme needs an entrance exam or audition. Music Bachelor exams have a video round, an on-site audition and a theory exam. Passing does not guarantee a place, as places are limited.
Most programmes need German B1 (Bachelor) or B2 (education Master). Pedagogical programmes need it at initial enrolment. Artistic Bachelor and Master students can hand it in by the 3rd semester. Certificates must be originals and no older than two years.
ABU emails the admission contract in mid-July. Send all pages as one PDF to studienservice@bruckneruni.at and pay the first tuition fee. If either is missing on 1 September, you lose your place.
Your home university must have a partner agreement with ABU and nominate you. Apply in EASY with a study plan, transcript, motivation and recommendation letters, CV and audition or video recordings.
International applicants need a university entrance qualification, German at B2 level, proof of classical language knowledge, passport, birth certificate, CV and an Austrian residence permit. KU Linz offers no German courses. Without a Matura, check the Zulassungsprüfung.
Admission is only possible on site, not online. Hand in your complete documents at least 3 weeks before the admission period ends. A €450 processing fee is charged before the admission decree and counts toward your first tuition.
Partner students are nominated by their home institution, then KU Linz contacts them. Free movers need B2 German and can stay one or two semesters. Most courses are in German; KULIS courses are in English.
SFU Linz runs information evenings on the Psychology programme, in person or on MS Teams. They cover content, admission requirements and costs. Next dates are not yet published.
All Bachelor, Bakkalaureat and Master applications start in the online tool. Upload your school-leaving certificate, last two school reports or Bachelor certificate, ID, e-card copy, photo, Europass CV and the programme task sheet. Former SFU students contact the Studien Service Center first.
All Linz programmes are taught in German. Non-native speakers need German B2 for the Psychology Bachelor and German C1 for the Psychology Master. All Master applicants need English B2.
Psychology: one selection interview that tests cognitive and language skills, booked by email or phone. Psychotherapy Science: two interviews and an admission seminar, results by email within 14 days. Psychotherapy Science takes no new students for winter 2026/27, except Propädeutikum graduates for Systemic Family Therapy.
After you pass, SFU assigns a study place if places are free and sends a training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag). The admission procedure fee is €550. Then you enrol and register for the programme.
Only students from Erasmus+ partner universities can come for an exchange semester. Your home university's international office emails the nomination to internationaloffice@sfu.ac.at. This office is run centrally by SFU Vienna.
Admission status: Admissions Office or International Office. Study plan: SIBS or your Studienvertretung. Open course places: the course organiser. No late place is guaranteed.
Bring your passport and original certificates during the admission period. Admission is only possible in set periods each semester. Non-EU applicants can ask the Student Service Center for a visa confirmation.
After your documents are checked you get a payment slip. Pay by transfer with the exact reference number; cash is not accepted. Once the payment arrives, you receive an activation code by email.
UFGonline is the campus system for study admin, courses and exams. Log in with 'm' plus your matriculation number. The same login opens Moodle, WLAN and printing; set security questions at passwort.kunstuni-linz.at.
Bring your original ID or passport, a copy, and the signed rights and privacy declaration. Your photo is taken on site for the BrucknerCard student ID, and you receive a TAN by email to activate your account.
Enter your matriculation number, date of birth and TAN (valid 150 days), then set a password and fill in the UHStat1 survey. The same login opens webmail, Moodle, eduroam and building access. Official messages go only to your ABU email.
Welcome Days are mandatory and take place a few days before the semester starts. Bring your photo ID and a copy, the enrolment form, proof of the ÖH fee transfer and the signed data protection page. You get your Bruckneronline access there.
The admission decree comes by post. Then go in person to the Studienadministration. Your first-semester registration happens there, and you get your SInN login data and start information.
Fees appear in SInN after admission. Pay by eps in SInN, or by bank transfer with the reference number shown under Zahlungen. Your card and study confirmation work only after payment is booked.
SFU Linz Psychology lists academyFIVE, SFU Management Service, Moodle, MS Teams and the SIGI cloud as student portals. For login data or technical problems, contact central IT in Vienna.
The Welcome Center helps with entry and residence rules, housing, transport, healthcare and life in Linz. It publishes a Master's and a PhD Student Guide.
Use 'LV-Anmeldung' for courses and 'Prüfungs-An/Abmeldung' for exams. Register for exams at least two weeks ahead. Course material is on Moodle (moodle.ufg.at) with the same login.
Use the My Studies application for curricular courses once you are enrolled. You need a registration to get a grade, and many courses have limited places.
Upload a JPG photo (max 15 MB) in your SInN profile, then pick up the card at the Studienadministration. Validate it at the terminal near reception once fees are paid. It is also your library and copier card.
SFU offers merit and support scholarships with their own calls. SFU students can apply for the Austrian state study grant (Studienbeihilfe) like students at public universities.
Tuition is free, but every student must pay the ÖH fee every semester. Tuition of €600 per semester may apply if you exceed the programme length plus two tolerance semesters.
You stay enrolled only if your fee is credited by the re-registration deadline. Check the amount and status under 'Studienbeitragsstatus' in UFGonline. If you need German B1, submit it by the start of your 3rd semester.
You get an email when the fee can be paid. Transfer it with the payment reference before the enrolment period ends, or pay a €100 late fee. After renewal, update the date on your BrucknerCard at the machine in the foyer.
Submit the Fortsetzungsmeldung in SInN within each admission period and pay the fees. Then print your study record and extend your ID card at the terminal. Skipping more than two semesters in a row can end your admission.
Tuition is due at the start of each semester after you receive the invoice. Payments are handled centrally by SFU Vienna. You can choose monthly (2% fee), two instalments (1% fee) or a yearly payment in September (1% discount).
Four steps, four different things: an application, a notification of admission, semester enrolment (paying for the semester) and course registration. Finishing one does not complete the next.
01
Create an applicant account
You get a VK account for the application. It is not your student account.
02
Choose your programme in MyAdmission
Upload the documents your route asks for. Some programmes have their own admissions or entrance procedure.
03
Complete the admission process
JKU tells you in writing whether you need to come in person. Assessment takes the time it takes; plan with the deadlines, not the form.
04
Pay the ÖH fee and any tuition
That enrols you for the semester. Courses are registered separately in KUSSS.
Bachelor's or Diploma with international qualifications
Requirements depend on your school qualifications, your citizenship category and the programme. Typical documents are your passport or ID, school-leaving certificate and transcripts, proof of a university entrance exam or preliminary studies where your country requires it, language proof and a photo for the JKU Card.
You can usually upload documents first. Originals or certified copies are needed only when the Admissions Office asks. Legalisation (none, apostille or full diplomatic legalisation) depends on the issuing country, and documents not in German or English need a court-sworn translation.
Third-country applicants who are not treated as nationals apply in a fixed window: 6 February–31 March for a winter start and 6 September–31 October for a summer start. Missing it means you cannot start that semester. These windows are different from the general enrolment periods.
Country-specific conditions apply. For example, JKU lists a mandatory competence check for applicants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan starting in summer semester 2027 or later. Check the official page for your country rather than a summary.
JKU separates four Master's routes: JKU graduates continuing into a related programme, JKU graduates changing to a different programme, graduates of other Austrian or German universities, and applicants with other international qualifications. Each programme's curriculum lists the degrees that qualify, and admission can come with conditions such as extra courses or a language exam.
Third-country applicants use the same windows as above (6 February–31 March for winter, 6 September–31 October for summer). Do not reuse the Bachelor's document list as a rule for Master's applications.
JKU's calendar lists doctoral admission as open all year, but each doctoral programme has its own requirements and assessment. Start from the doctorate page and your programme's requirements, and talk to a potential supervisor early.
Language requirements and the preparation programme
Language requirements are set per programme. JKU checks German at A2, B2 or C1 and English at B2 or C1 depending on the programme. An English-taught degree does not remove the need for German in everyday life, but nobody expects you to arrive fluent.
If your admission letter requires supplementary examinations, JKU's pre-study programme offers fee-based German modules at B1, B2 and C1. After passing the required exams, you register for your intended degree programme at the Admissions Office. This formal route is different from ordinary extracurricular German classes.
You apply at your home university and need an official nomination. After nomination, JKU's International Office emails detailed instructions and the online application. JKU lists application deadlines of 1 June for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester; your home university may set earlier internal dates.
Your enrolment is completed when you register with the International Office during orientation. The International Office arranges exchange accommodation and asks you not to contact the dormitory directly for a reservation.
ÖH student union contribution, Winter semester 2026/27.
Tuition categories
€726.72 per semester: third-country nationals
€363.36 per semester: beyond the prescribed duration plus tolerance semesters
€363.36 per semester: non-degree students
Winter semester 2026/27. Exemptions, equal treatment and waivers can apply, so your nationality alone does not tell you what you owe.
How to pay
Bank transfer or online banking, using the 12-digit payment reference shown in myJKU under Tuition. It changes every semester. Partial payments are not accepted, and missing the deadline leads to disenrolment. Payment status appears in myJKU.
Residence and address registration: three separate tasks
Choose the guidance that matches your citizenship, current status and length of stay. Check the official checklist before applying.
Legal deadline
A · Register your address
Everyone who moves into a home in Linz.
Within three days of moving in, register at the Bürger*innen-Service in the Neues Rathaus or a listed city library service point. Dornach/Auhof library (Sombartstraße 1–5) is the closest to JKU. An appointment at the Neues Rathaus is recommended.
Bring the completed Meldezettel form (German only), your passport or ID, and the signature of your accommodation provider where required. Online registration with ID Austria is limited to adult Austrian citizens who already have a main residence in Austria, so most international students register in person.
Apply in person within four months of arrival at the residence authority for where you live. You show ID, your admission or enrolment, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient means. OeAD states a fee of about €22. You do not need a work permit.
This is a separate step from address registration and from the third-country student permit.
The most common route for full-degree students staying more than six months is the Residence Permit – Student (no mobility programme). Exchange students, short stays and people who already hold another status may need a different route: use the OeAD selector instead of assuming.
Student permit (no mobility programme): what OeAD lists for 2026
These are residence requirements, not a student budget.
Financial means of €722.58 per month under 24, or €1,308.39 per month from age 24, normally shown for twelve months in an account in your name accessible from Austria.
If your rent is above €386.43 per month, and for health insurance, you need additional funds.
Application fee: €218.
Documents include your passport and an ICAO photo, the admission letter, accommodation evidence, all-risk health insurance and financial evidence. First applications may also need further documents such as a police clearance, with legalisation and translations.
Renewal: apply before your permit expires and no earlier than three months before. Renewals generally need continued enrolment and academic success of 16 ECTS or 8 semester hours per academic year; doctoral students show progress confirmed by their supervisor. Special cases are checked individually.
Applying in Linz: appointments, timing and what does not help
Students lawfully in Austria whose main residence is in Linz can apply at the city's residence office. A first application does not extend your visa or visa-free stay. Booking an appointment is not the same as submitting an application.
For renewals when no appointment is available, Stadt Linz describes a walk-in procedure no later than one week before your permit expires. Read the current instructions on the city page. Do not wait until after expiry: contact the authority urgently.
Abteilung Aufenthaltsrecht, Hauptstraße 1–5, 4041 Linz · +43 732 7070 · ar@mag.linz.at. Competence follows where you live: if your main residence is outside Linz city, your district authority is responsible. Vienna's MA 35 is not your office.
Main or secondary residence: what is the difference?
Your Hauptwohnsitz (main residence) is the place your life is centred on; any other registered home is a Nebenwohnsitz (secondary residence). Register the situation truthfully. Your choice can affect residence procedures, transport discounts and the ORF household contribution, so if you are unsure, ask the Bürger*innen-Service or ÖH ReMI before registering.
“Meldezettel” is used for both the form you fill in and the registration confirmation you receive afterwards. Keep the confirmation: many offices ask for it.
Three different kinds of cover. One does not replace another.
Travel and entry insurance
Covers your journey and a visa. Stadt Linz states that travel health insurance alone is not enough for a residence title or EU residence documentation. Repatriation may need separate cover.
EHIC holders: ask your home insurer what is covered in Austria before you travel. Other students: arrange insurance valid in Austria that covers all risks. ÖGK student self-insurance costs €78.84 per month (2026) for students who meet its conditions; it is not automatic.
Kassenarzt / Vertragsarzt: a doctor with a contract with your insurer. With Austrian insurance you show your e-card.
Wahlarzt: no contract; you pay the bill first. ÖGK refunds up to 80% of what it would have paid a contracted doctor, which is usually much less than 80% of your bill.
e-card: your Austrian insurance card. Its back works as an EHIC.
Pharmacies: find open and on-duty pharmacies with the official pharmacy search. Night service may carry a surcharge.
Not sure where to go? Call 1450, the health advice line, for non-emergency questions.
Not all treatment is free, and private insurance works differently. Check your coverage before you need it.
Log in to KUSSS and confirm your email address via the link JKU sends you.
04
Mail to k[number]@students.jku.at is forwarded to the private address in KUSSS. There is no separate student mailbox, so keep that address current.
05
For Wi-Fi (eduroam), log in as k[number]@jku.at with the separate eduroam password you set in the Account portal.
Something not working?
I only have a VK account
That is the applicant account. Student services open only after admission, with your k-username. Check your admission status in MyAdmission or with the Admissions Office.
I have a student account but cannot access a service
Check that you activated the account and follow JKU Help. Still stuck? Contact the IT Service Desk. Never type your password into anything that is not a JKU login page.
I can't see my course in Moodle
Moodle access and a course place are different things. Check your allocation in KUSSS and the course's own access instructions, then ask the course organiser.
My fee payment isn't showing yet
Check myJKU under Tuition and that you used this semester's reference. If it is still missing, contact the Admissions Office. There is no guaranteed processing time.
My student emails are missing
Check the forwarding address recorded in KUSSS and your spam folder.
Wi-Fi login fails
Use the eduroam identity k[number]@jku.at (not your students.jku.at address) and your eduroam password, then follow the eduroam instructions.
Find the courses recommended for your first semester, including StEOP courses.
03
Read each course's prerequisites, language, assessment and attendance rules.
04
In KUSSS, search the correct semester (by course title, number, instructor, room, language or day of the week).
05
Choose suitable groups and a few alternatives.
06
Submit your registrations within the registration period.
07
After allocation, check your status: a request or waiting-list spot is not yet a place.
08
Find the room and the course on its learning platform. Register for exams separately where the course says so; exams are not always booked automatically.
Registration windows
Winter 2026/27's main registration ran 7–25 September 2026. Summer 2027's main registration is 8–19 February 2027, starting on 8, 9 or 10 February depending on faculty. Some courses have their own dates; KUSSS shows them.
The JKU page still shows older semester labels above the new dates; rely on the dates themselves. Sources: Course registration (opens in a new tab)(JKU) · content reviewed 13 Oct 2026
How places are allocated
JKU uses four procedures: by priority number (priority/random), by sequential order, direct allocation and manual allocation. The first click does not decide every course. In sequential allocation, editing and re-saving your registration gives it a new, later timestamp.
The Studies Introduction and Orientation Phase: newly enrolled Bachelor's and Diploma students generally must complete its courses, and other courses may be restricted until then. Exceptions include Human Medicine, Cultural Studies and Transformation Studies: Art x Science. “Meine Steop” in KUSSS shows your overview. StEOP exams can be repeated three times (four attempts in total).
JKU Card, Mensa prices, the library, sport, books, language courses and accessibility support.
JKU Card
Your student ID, library card and copy card. After your semester payments, print the new validity date at a JKU Card terminal, for example on the ground floor of the Bank Building or in the Kepler Building corridor near HS 1. The digital student ID does not replace the plastic card everywhere, including some exams and internal services. Lost card? Contact the Admissions Office.
Since 5 October 2026, cafeteria meals are subsidised for all students; the old Mensa bonus no longer exists. Link your student ID to a payment card or digital wallet once. The ÖH lists a vegan menu below €4 and a traditional menu below €4.50. Check current prices and setup on the ÖH page.
Your JKU Card is your library card. Search with LISSS. Scanners and printing are available; fees are posted at the machines. The Learning Center has individual and group spaces.
JKU German courses are for enrolled students; first-time registration needs proof of your level, and fees depend on the course. Exchange students have their own free German courses with pre-semester conditions for some levels. More on learning German.
Accessibility on campus
JKU's Institute Integriert Studieren advises on access, exam arrangements and assistive technology. You decide what to share.
Furnished room, shared facilities, contract per semester or year
Own room, shared kitchen and bathroom, flatmates decide together
Most privacy, often unfurnished, longer contracts
Ask about
Waiting lists, minimum stay, what the price includes
Who signs the contract, house rules, how costs are split
Kaution, Betriebskosten, notice period, kitchen and furniture
Registration
Ask whether the residence signs your Meldezettel
Ask who signs your Meldezettel
Ask the landlord to sign your Meldezettel
Before you sign
Total monthly cost: rent, Betriebskosten (operating costs), heating, electricity, internet
Kaution (deposit) and any one-time fees
Move-in date, contract duration and notice period
Furnished or unfurnished, and what exactly is included
Whether the provider will sign your registration form
Save the agreement and photograph the condition when you move in
Rental-contract questions: the ÖH offers counselling; start with the Social Department.
Watch for rental scams
JKU warns about scams. Be careful with unusually low prices, pressure to decide fast, requests for money before a viewing, untraceable payment methods and vague addresses.
Verify the property, the person and the contract before sending money. If you can't view in person, ask for a live video tour. SNL never takes deposits or rent.
Fill in your own numbers. For orientation, Study in Austria gives an approximate Austria-wide total of about €1,300 a month: accommodation about €450–700, food about €300, and study and personal needs about €500. These are rough national estimates, not a Linz quote, and not the amount required for a residence permit.
The ORF household contribution
Austria's ORF contribution is charged per address where at least one adult is registered with their main residence, whether or not you own a TV. In Upper Austria it is €15.30 per month (Rate table 'from 1 Jan 2024', still shown on 13 Oct 2026). Being a student is not an automatic exemption; exemptions depend on specific benefits and income. In a shared flat or residence, ask the provider how the address is handled before anyone pays.
Getting to Linz and to campus, the student semester ticket, bikes and night transport.
Your arrival card
Plan your train or flight to Linz with live information (ÖBB Scotty). From Linz Airport, bus 601 runs to Linz Hauptbahnhof (about 22 minutes, according to the airport).
Plan the next leg to your accommodation, not only to campus (LinzMobil).
Check disruptions and your ticket before you travel.
Save your accommodation's key handover instructions offline.
JKU's main campus is at Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz (Auhof). Trams 1 and 2 toward “JKU | Universität” connect the main station with campus in about 25 minutes. Some courses, for example in medicine, are taught elsewhere: always use the room in your course details.
For degree students studying in Linz who are under 26 on 1 September or 1 March. It covers six months (September–February or March–August) in the Kernzone Linz, including the Pöstlingbergbahn.
€89 with a main residence in Linz or Leonding
€214.90 with a main residence in a qualifying neighbouring municipality
€269.60 regular price
Prices are for Winter semester 2026/27; the discounted prices are part of a promotion running until the end of 2026. Buying in person needs a printed enrolment confirmation, your Meldezettel, a photo and official photo ID; you can also buy in LinzMobil. The ticket cannot be cancelled. If you are 26 or older, or live outside the qualifying area, €89 does not apply to you: compare other tickets with the operator.
The Kernzone Linz is the core zone covering the LINZ AG network. If you commute from outside Linz, a city ticket may not cover your whole trip. Regional and Austria-wide annual tickets (KlimaTicket OÖ, KlimaTicket Ö) have their own age rules and prices; check them with the operator for your travel area before buying.
Cycling: the city publishes a bike map and lists more than 400 public bike-parking facilities. JKU has bike racks, fix-it repair stations and a city-bike station at the Altenberger Straße entrance. Use lights after dark.
At night: LINZ AG night lines run on nights before Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; line N82 serves the Universität stop. There is also a bookable shared night taxi (Nacht-AST). Check the current times before you go out, and plan your route home.
Accessible travel: ask LINZ AG LINIEN (Infocenter, Hauptplatz 34) about step-free routes and vehicles, and JKU's Integriert Studieren team about access on campus.
Entry prices, discounts and opening times vary; check before you go. The free Visit-Linz app covers sights and events (LinzMobil is for transport).
Learning German
JKU German courses need university enrolment and, the first time, proof of your level; fees vary by course. Exchange students get free German courses, and the pre-semester course is a prerequisite for in-semester A1/A2. The Volkshochschule Linz at the Wissensturm also teaches German from A1.
Useful phrases:Grüß Gott / Servus (hello) · Können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen? (Could you say that more slowly, please?) · Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?) · Ich bin neu hier. (I'm new here.) Asking for help is completely normal.
Everyday life
Shops close on Sundays and public holidays; some shops at the main station are allowed to open. Plan your groceries for Saturday. Student tip.
Recycling: separate your waste as LINZ AG describes. Drink bottles and cans marked with the deposit logo carry a 25 cents deposit; return them empty and uncrushed to a shop instead of the yellow bin.
Bank account: anyone lawfully resident in the EU has a right to a basic payment account (Basiskonto). Compare fees, the ID and address documents each bank asks for, and how to close the account. SNL has no bank partnerships.
SIM or eSIM: compare contract length, cancellation rules, data and EU roaming. Providers set their own ID requirements.
Public library: the Wissensturm library near the main station; registration needs official photo ID.
Weather: winters are cold; pack layers and use bike lights. Official forecast.
Working while you study, scholarships, and what to renew every semester.
Working while you study
EU, EEA and Swiss students do not need a work permit.
Third-country students usually need an employment permit that the employer applies for at the AMS before you start. According to OeAD, students with a student residence permit can get permission for up to 20 hours a week without a labour-market check; above 20 hours, the AMS may check the labour market. A residence permit does not automatically cover every job, freelance contract or internship.
Eligibility differs for every programme. Start with JKU's overview, Austria's study grants authority and the OeAD database. Joining SNL does not give you a grant or Erasmus funding.
The ÖH JKU is the student union: it advises and represents students. JKU offices make the university's administrative decisions. SNL is a student community. Ask the right one and you'll get an answer faster.
Studienvertretung
Students elected for your programme. Best for course and programme questions.
Fakultätsvertretung
ÖH representation for your faculty.
Universitätsvertretung
ÖH representation for the whole of JKU, with departments for social, international and study questions.
Who should I contact?
Admission, enrolment, official document requirements, JKU Card
JKU Admissions Office
Decides on admission and enrolment. International qualifications: admission@jku.at. Austrian qualifications, JKU Card and registration: zulassung@jku.at.
The ÖH runs free first-semester mentoring, with English-speaking groups when available; first-semester Master's students are welcome too. Sign-up depends on the current semester.
Free psychological counselling for students is available through the Psychologische Studierendenberatung, and the ÖH Social Department offers its own helpline and support funds with conditions. You don't need to explain anything to SNL to use these services.
Short answers to questions new students often ask.
I have admission. Am I already enrolled in courses?
No. Admission, semester enrolment and course registration are separate steps. After admission you complete the enrolment steps your letter describes and pay the ÖH fee and any tuition. Courses are then registered one by one in KUSSS during the registration period, and places are allocated afterwards. Check your status in KUSSS after allocation.
It depends on your route. Third-country applicants who are not treated as nationals apply earlier: 6 February–31 March for a winter start and 6 September–31 October for a summer start. The general admission periods in JKU's calendar apply to other applicants, and Master's, Doctorate and exchange routes have their own rules. Use the route pages, not last year's calendar.
Can I start this semester if I missed the general deadline?
Possibly not. The general winter 2026/27 Bachelor's period ended on 5 September 2026; extension to 31 October is only for special cases, and for third-country applicants a late application means you cannot start that semester. Contact the Admissions Office about your specific situation before making plans. Nobody can promise a late place.
Degree students apply directly to JKU through MyAdmission and complete a full programme. Exchange students apply at their home university, are nominated, and then follow the International Office's instructions; their enrolment is completed at registration during orientation. Housing, deadlines and residence routes differ too, so follow only the guidance for your route.
Why does my VK account not work in KUSSS or myJKU?
The VK account is your applicant account. It does not give access to JKU's student services. After successful admission you receive a username starting with k plus your matriculation number. Activate that account in the JKU Account portal, then log in to KUSSS and confirm your email address.
What is the difference between KUSSS, myJKU and Moodle?
KUSSS is the comprehensive student portal for course and exam registration and academic administration. myJKU is JKU's student web app, designed mainly for mobile use, with your overview, documents and tuition status. Moodle holds course materials, activities and submissions. They overlap in places; the systems table in this guide shows where to start.
Open myJKU and go to Tuition. It shows whether your ÖH fee and any tuition have been received. If a payment does not appear, check that you used the current payment reference, then contact the Admissions Office. There is no guaranteed processing time, so pay early in the period.
In myJKU under Tuition. It is a 12-digit number and changes every semester, so never reuse an old one. Pay by bank transfer or online banking following the payment instructions shown there. SNL does not publish bank details for university payments.
StEOP is the Studies Introduction and Orientation Phase. Newly enrolled Bachelor's and Diploma students generally must complete its courses, with exceptions such as Human Medicine, Cultural Studies and Transformation Studies: Art x Science. Your curriculum defines the courses, and “Meine Steop” in KUSSS shows an overview. StEOP exams allow four attempts in total.
Is a waiting-list place the same as a course place?
Treat it as no. JKU allocates places by several procedures, and a waiting-list spot only means you may get a place if one becomes available. Check your allocation status in KUSSS and follow the course's own instructions. For sequential allocation, note that re-saving a changed registration gives it a new, later timestamp.
Is address registration the same as a residence permit?
No. Address registration (Meldezettel) tells the city where you live and is due within three days of moving in. Residence documents are a separate procedure: the Anmeldebescheinigung for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, or a residence permit for many third-country students. You often need the registration for other steps, but it does not give you a right to stay.
Do EU/EEA/Swiss students need an Anmeldebescheinigung?
Yes, if you stay longer than three months. Apply in person at the competent residence authority within four months of arrival, with ID, admission or enrolment evidence, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient means. OeAD states a fee of about €22. In Linz this is the Abteilung Aufenthaltsrecht.
Which residence guidance applies to an exchange or short stay?
It depends on your citizenship, length of stay and whether you come through a mobility programme. OeAD lists visa routes for third-country stays of up to six months, residence permits for longer stays, and a separate permit for mobility programmes. Do not assume the no-mobility student permit applies. Use the OeAD selector and ask the International Office.
Does submitting a first permit application extend my allowed stay?
No. Stadt Linz states that applying does not entitle you to stay beyond your visa or visa-free period. Booking an appointment is also not the same as submitting an application. Plan early, and contact the residence authority urgently if time is running out.
No. Part of your ÖH fee pays for accident and liability insurance under the policy's conditions. It is not health insurance and does not meet residence requirements. You still need health insurance valid in Austria, for example an EHIC with confirmed cover, ÖGK student self-insurance if eligible, or suitable private insurance.
Only if you meet the conditions. In winter 2026/27, the MEGA student ticket costs €89 for degree students studying in Linz who are under 26 on the relevant start date and have their main residence in Linz or Leonding. Other students pay €214.90 or €269.60 depending on residence. The promotion runs until the end of 2026.
How do I use Mensa 2030? Do I still apply for the old bonus?
No bonus application any more. Mensa 2030 started on 5 October 2026 and replaced the Mensa bonus for all students. You link your student ID to a payment card or digital wallet once. The ÖH lists a vegan menu below €4 and a traditional menu below €4.50; check current prices on its page.
How do I arrange housing as a degree student versus an exchange student?
Degree students search themselves: start with JKU's residence-hall directory, the ÖH housing exchange and SNL Rooms. Exchange students follow the International Office, which arranges accommodation and asks students not to reserve directly with the dormitory. Either way, check the offer before paying anything.
JKU publishes its admission, international and IT guidance in English, and the International Welcome Center serves international degree students. ÖH ReMI counsels international students, and ÖH first-semester mentoring has English-speaking groups when available. Some city forms, such as the Meldezettel, are in German only; ask ReMI or the International Welcome Center if you are unsure.
Who can help with money, disability, discrimination or personal difficulties?
Money and social questions: ÖH Social Department. Disability or chronic illness: JKU Institute Integriert Studieren. Discrimination or harassment: the JKU Committee for Equal Opportunities (AKG) or ÖH FemRef. Personal difficulties: the Psychological Student Counselling Service. In an emergency, call 112 or 144.
EU/EEA/Swiss students do not need a work permit. Third-country students usually need an employment permit that the employer applies for at the AMS before you start; up to 20 hours a week is granted without a labour-market check according to OeAD. Freelance work and internships have their own rules, so ask ReMI or the International Welcome Center first.
How do I meet people if I arrive after Welcome Week?
Join ÖH mentoring if a group is still open, try USI sports, visit SNL's activities, and look at student clubs listed by the ÖH. Exchange students can also contact the ÖH international affairs department. You don't have to figure everything out alone: say hi and ask.
Which parts of this guide apply if I study outside JKU?
The city information applies to everyone: address registration, residence routes, insurance, housing, transport, daily life and emergency numbers. University procedures here, such as MyAdmission, KUSSS, fees and the JKU Card, are specific to JKU. Your own institution's admissions and international office are your source for those.
Use the “Report outdated information” link at the end of any section. It opens an email to office@snlinz.com with the section name filled in. Please include the official page that shows the change. We check the primary source before updating the guide.
The process that assigns course places after registration. A request is not yet a place.
Anmeldebescheinigung
Confirmation of registration: the residence document for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying more than three months. Not the same as address registration.
Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student
Residence permit for third-country students staying more than six months.
Betriebskosten
Operating or service costs of a building, often charged on top of the rent.
Curriculum
The official study plan for your programme, published in the study handbook.
e-card
Your Austrian social-insurance card, used at contracted doctors. Its back works as an EHIC.
ECTS
European credit points measuring workload.
Fakultätsvertretung
The ÖH representation for a faculty.
Fortsetzungsbestätigung
Confirmation that you continued your studies for a new semester.
Hauptwohnsitz / Nebenwohnsitz
Main residence / secondary residence. Your main residence is where your life is centred; register truthfully.
Kassenarzt / Vertragsarzt
A doctor with a contract with your insurer. You show your insurance card and usually pay nothing directly.
Kaution
Deposit paid to a landlord, returned at the end of the tenancy minus justified deductions.
Kernzone Linz
The core public-transport zone covering the LINZ AG network.
KUSSS
Kepler University Study Support System: course and exam registration and academic administration.
LVA / Lehrveranstaltung
A course. Each has a type, a number and its own rules.
Matriculation number
Your student number. Your username is k plus this number.
Meldezettel
The address-registration form, and in everyday speech also the confirmation you receive after registering (Meldebestätigung).
Mensa
University cafeteria.
myJKU
JKU's student web app, mainly for mobile use: overview, documents, tuition and payment status.
Pfand
Deposit on drink containers, refunded when you return them.
Prerequisites
Courses or exams you must complete before you may take another course.
Recognition (Anerkennung)
Crediting courses or exams you already completed elsewhere.
Semesterstunden (SSt)
Weekly hours of a course per semester; also used in some progress rules.
StEOP
Studies Introduction and Orientation Phase: required introductory courses in most Bachelor's and Diploma programmes.
Studienbestätigung
Confirmation of enrolment for the current semester.
Studienbuchblatt
A semester record listing your enrolled programmes; often requested by authorities.
Studienvertretung
The elected ÖH representatives for your programme.
Universitätsvertretung
The ÖH representation for the whole university.
VK account
Applicant account used in MyAdmission. It does not open KUSSS or myJKU.
Wahlarzt
A doctor without an insurer contract. You pay first and may get part of the cost refunded.
Waiting list
A queue for a course place if one becomes free. Being on it does not guarantee a place.
WG
Wohngemeinschaft: a shared flat where each person has their own room.
ÖH
Österreichische Hochschüler_innenschaft: the student union. ÖH JKU represents JKU students.
In an emergency
Emergency numbers in Austria
For immediate danger to life, health or property. Calls are free. For everyday problems, use the contacts above instead. SNL's inbox is not an emergency service.
Guide text last edited 13 Oct 2026. Each source shows when its content was actually reviewed; legal and financial figures also name the year or semester they apply to.
Apply now (opens in a new tab)· Bruckner Uni Content reviewed 14 Oct 2026. Application steps, Bruckneronline, once-a-year intake, KMA Orchestra Academy window
Erasmus+ incoming (opens in a new tab)· Bruckner Uni Content reviewed 14 Oct 2026. EASY application, documents, recordings, Welcome Days, arrival enrolment
General FAQs (opens in a new tab)· IT:U Content reviewed 14 Oct 2026. Application cycles, MSc deadlines (no year shown), documents, C1 English, legalization, fees, ÖH fee, info session for admitted students
Exchange students (incoming) (opens in a new tab)· JKU International Office Content reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Nomination, deadlines 1 June / 15 November, accommodation arranged by the International Office
Student Network of Linz (SNL) is a volunteer, non-profit student association. We wrote this guide to help new students find their way around. It gives general information only and is not legal, immigration, tax, financial or medical advice.
SNL is not part of JKU, ÖH JKU, the City of Linz, OeAD, ÖGK or any other authority, and we can't speak or decide for them. Their official rules, websites and decisions apply. If anything here differs from an official source, follow the official source.
We check our sources and show the date we reviewed each one, but rules, fees and deadlines change, and we can't guarantee that every detail is complete, correct or current. Before you act, confirm the details with the office responsible. This matters most for deadlines, residence and visa matters, insurance and payments.
You use this guide at your own responsibility. As far as the law allows, SNL accepts no liability for decisions you make, or for damage or loss, based on this guide or on the websites it links to. Nothing in this disclaimer limits liability that the law does not allow us to exclude, such as liability for intent or gross negligence.
The websites we link to belong to their operators, who are responsible for their content. We remove a link once we learn it is wrong or unlawful.
Your checklist ticks and filter choices stay in your own browser. SNL doesn't receive them. Found a mistake? Email office@snlinz.com.
