Go Styria Scholarship Programme (University of Graz)

Overview

The Go Styria Scholarship Programme brings outstanding researchers from South-Eastern Europe to the University of Graz in Austria for a short, focused research stay. It is built for master's students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers who already have a thesis or research project underway and want to spend one or two months working on it in Graz. Rather than a full degree scholarship, this is a research-mobility grant aimed at deepening a project you have already started back home.

The funding is generous for a short stay. Master's and doctoral students receive EUR 900 per month and are exempt from tuition fees at the University of Graz. Postdoctoral researchers receive EUR 1,200 per month, without the fee exemption since they are not paying tuition. Across all three groups the stay runs for one or two months, so you plan a concentrated block of research, archive work, lab access, or supervision with a Graz academic.

Eligibility is tied to nationality and to where you are based. The programme is for applicants from a defined list of South-Eastern European countries who are enrolled or employed at a university in that region. High academic standards are the deciding factor in selection, so a clear research plan and a strong record carry real weight. Applications run through the Mobility-Online platform after you confirm your eligibility.

Key Facts at a Glance

Item	Detail
Funding Body	University of Graz
Host Country	Austria
Degree Levels	Master's, PhD (and postdoctoral researchers)
Value	EUR 900/month plus tuition-fee exemption for master's and doctoral students; EUR 1,200/month for postdocs (no fee exemption); for a 1-2 month stay
Deadline	Annual call; the summer-semester 2027 round closed 12 October 2026 at 1pm
Eligible Nationalities	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey
Official Website	Go Styria Scholarship Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Where you come from

You need to be from one of the eligible South-Eastern European countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, or Turkey. You should also be enrolled or employed at a university in the region rather than at the University of Graz itself.

Master's and doctoral students

You must already be working on your master's or doctoral thesis. You cannot be a degree student at the University of Graz, and you cannot hold a concurrent employment contract at the university during the stay. The scholarship is meant to fund a research visit, not to enroll you in a Graz degree.

Postdoctoral researchers

Postdocs need to hold an academic position at a university in an eligible country and to have completed their doctorate with excellent results within the three years before applying. The doctorate cannot have been awarded by the University of Graz.

Academic standard

Selection turns on academic quality. High academic standards are described as a deciding factor, so your track record and the strength of your proposed research are central to a competitive application.

What the Scholarship Covers

• EUR 900 per month for master's and doctoral students during the research stay
• Exemption from University of Graz tuition fees for master's and doctoral recipients
• EUR 1,200 per month for postdoctoral researchers
• Funding for a research stay of one or two months
• Access to a University of Graz supervisor and the resources tied to your project

How to Apply

1. Confirm your eligibility. Send the required eligibility-verification email by the date in the call so the International Office can check that you qualify before you build a full application.
2. Find a supervisor at Graz. Line up an academic at the University of Graz who will host and support your research, since the application asks for a supervisor invitation.
3. Enter your data in Mobility-Online. After your access is activated, log in to the Mobility-Online platform and complete the personal and project data fields.
4. Request the supervisor invitation letter. Use the platform to request the invitation letter from your Graz supervisor as part of the workflow.
5. Submit your documents. Upload the required documents and submit the full application through Mobility-Online before the deadline.

Required Documents

• Eligibility-verification email sent by the stated date
• A research or work plan for the one-to-two-month stay
• A supervisor invitation letter from your University of Graz host
• Proof of enrollment or employment at a university in an eligible country
• Academic records and, for postdocs, evidence of the doctorate completed within the last three years
• Any further documents listed in the current call and the Mobility-Online workflow

Key Dates & Deadlines

Milestone	Date (Summer Semester 2027 round)
Information session	24 June 2026
Eligibility-verification email	7 October 2026
Application deadline	12 October 2026, 1pm
Mobility period	1 February - 31 August 2027

These dates are for the summer-semester 2027 round. The programme runs on an annual call, so check the official page for the current cycle's dates.

Tips for a Strong Application

What helps

• Send the eligibility-verification email early so a missing detail does not cost you the round
• Secure a Graz supervisor whose work matches your project before the deadline
• Write a tight research plan that shows what one or two months in Graz will achieve
• Lead with your academic record, since high standards decide selection

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a degree scholarship; it funds a short research visit, not enrollment at Graz
• Leaving the supervisor invitation to the last minute
• Holding a University of Graz employment contract or degree place, which rules you out
• Submitting a vague plan that does not justify the stay length

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

Outstanding master's students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers from the listed South-Eastern European countries who are enrolled or employed at a university in the region and already working on a thesis or research project.

How much does the Go Styria Scholarship Programme pay?

Master's and doctoral students receive EUR 900 per month plus a tuition-fee exemption. Postdoctoral researchers receive EUR 1,200 per month without the fee exemption.

How long is the Go Styria Scholarship Programme stay?

The research stay lasts one or two months for all applicant categories.

Which countries are eligible for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey.

Does the Go Styria Scholarship Programme waive tuition fees?

Yes, for master's and doctoral recipients. Postdocs do not receive a fee exemption because they are not paying tuition.

How do I apply for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

You first confirm your eligibility by email, then apply through the Mobility-Online platform once your access is activated, entering your data, requesting a supervisor invitation, and submitting your documents.

Do I need a supervisor at the University of Graz for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

Yes. The application includes a request for a supervisor invitation letter, so you should line up a Graz host whose work fits your project.

Can I apply for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme if I study at the University of Graz?

No. Master's and doctoral applicants cannot be degree students at the University of Graz, and postdocs cannot have earned their doctorate there.

What is the deadline for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

It runs on an annual call. For the summer-semester 2027 round, the deadline was 12 October 2026 at 1pm, with the mobility period from February to August 2027. Check the official page for the current cycle.

Can postdoctoral researchers apply for the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

Yes. Postdocs need an academic position in an eligible country and a doctorate completed with excellent results within the three years before applying, and not awarded by the University of Graz.

Can I work at the University of Graz during the Go Styria Scholarship Programme?

No. Master's and doctoral recipients cannot hold a concurrent employment contract at the university during the stay.

What academic standard does the Go Styria Scholarship Programme expect?

High academic standards are a deciding factor in selection, so a strong record and a well-argued research plan are important.