Politics & International Relations

• 18 years of age 
• In good standing at your home school 
• Sophomore, junior, or senior standing when program begins
• 2.75 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale 
• No previous German language study required for students enrolling in English-taught courses
• 4 semesters or the equivalent of college-level German required for students enrolling in German-taught courses

NOTE: Applicants whose GPA is under 2.75 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis (additional application materials are required).

Submit Your Online Application 

• Applications may be considered after the published deadline on a space available basis. Please note that late applicants may be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit upon acceptance in order to secure a place in the program. Please contact us with questions about applying after the deadline. 

After your Online Application is processed, submit the following in your Student Portal: 

1. Home School Authorization — Your on-campus study abroad advisor can either complete the Home School Authorization electronically through IES Abroad’s PartnerPortal system, or by filling out the PDF form. Consult your study abroad advisor to determine how they would prefer to complete your Home School Authorization. 
2. Transcript(s) — Submit transcripts from each college/university you have attended since high school. If you have multiple transcripts, IES Abroad will average the GPAs for all colleges/universities you have attended and use that cumulative GPA when reviewing your application. (Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. must obtain a professional course-by-course transcript equivalency report. You may choose any organization that provides professional international transcript equivalencies.)
3. (If Applicable) English Language Proficiency Exam — Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. may need to submit English language proficiency exam results. Contact your IES Abroad Representative for more information. 

If your cumulative GPA is below 2.75, submit the following in your Student Portal: 

1. Professor Recommendation — Although there is no length requirement, the recommendation must indicate a professor’s opinion of the applicant’s academic ability to pursue university-level coursework in a foreign country, in addition to any information that would help IES Abroad gain a better understanding of the applicant. 
2. Personal Academic Essay — Although there is no length requirement, the essay must address your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, reasons you chose this IES Abroad program, and how it fits into your academic career. 

Start Application

Renew (or Apply for!) Your Passport ASAP 

Passport applications and renewals are taking longer than normal these days. Save yourself from the last-minute stress by making sure: 

1. You have a passport 
2. The expiration date is at least six months after your study abroad program ends 

Visit travel.state.gov to locate U.S. passport agencies in your area. 

Visa Requirements 

U.S. citizens in possession of a valid passport need to obtain a visa prior to departure in order to study in Austria for more than 90 days.

Learn more about applying for a visa for Austria.

Not a U.S. citizen? Consult the consulate website of your passport country and  contact your IES Abroad Advisor.