Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the PhD program, including application and admission and student life

Track core courses (3-6 ECTS credits) are designed to convey a broad view of topics to students within their specific field of research and to encourage them to think beyond the boundaries of their primary research focus. These courses also fulfill a community-building role, promoting exchange and collaboration between students affiliating in different research groups.

Currently, track core courses are offered in: Biology, Chemistry & Materials, Computer Science, Data Science & Scientific Computing, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Physics.

Tracks are a loose, flexible organizational structure within the ISTA Graduate School. Every student is assigned to a track based on their choices of rotations and courses, later on on the thesis project you are working on. It helps us nd to advise you best during your unaffiliated phase, and to discuss you and your project in the right forum in phase 2.

Your track assignment does not limit which courses you can choose from, nor which courses will count towards your course credit requirement.

The core project is the ISTA signature course designed to foster competency in interdisciplinary scientific communication through tailored, hands-on sessions. The course is rooted in collaborative learning. It conveys best practices on how to fruitfully exchange about research with peers of different scientific backgrounds. You will practice how to overcome domain/field-specific jargon and how to convey feedback effectively.

You will widen and deepen you conceptual understanding of your scientific field by practicing in small, moderated groups. You will develop proficiency in communicating overarching concepts and ideas by explaining ground breaking papers in your fields to colleagues from different scientific backgrounds, and by presenting your rotation project(s).

The course allows you to connect with your peers from vastly different scientific backgrounds. This network can serve as the foundation of potential future research collaborations.

The Essential Skills for Scientists series supports students in developing key research and professional skills. In Phase 1, all students receive training in research integrity & ethics, scientific writing, and navigating the PhD at ISTA (core essentials skills course, 2 ECTS credits).

Beyond this, students can choose from a wide variety of additional workshops, including communication and presentation skills, data visualization, teaching and outreach, research data management, and career development. These workshops offer flexibility, enabling students to tailor their learning to skills most relevant to their personal career goals (4 ECTS credits before graduation).

The subject areas in which you can do a PhD are closely related to the research topics which our faculty members specialize in. You will conduct your research within the framework of the research group, so your research specialization should fit alongside with the work of the group in general. The ISTA Grad School set up also supports co-affiliation between two groups, and encourages interdisciplinary student-driven project-based work with other groups on campus

A good starting point is to browse through the scientific research topics being conducted at ISTA, and see which area suits your background and interests best, as well as whether you have the relevant experience. If you cannot find a group in the area you are most interested in, then ISTA is not a good academic fit for you.

Ultimately, however, you will be awarded a PhD from ISTA: no subject specialization will be listed on your diploma.

All our PhD students are fully funded, at internationally competitive salary levels, and receive full social security coverage.

There is also financial support for students to cover travel expenses for attending scientific conferences and workshops.

See our funding page for more information.

ISTA does not charge any tuition fees.

The PhD program is typically 5 years in length, depending on the student’s individual progress and the conventions of the field. Doing a PhD in an experimental lab typically takes longer, than in a theoretical group.

No, we do not.

You may be able to perform research for your bachelor’s and/or master’s thesis as a scientific intern in one of the research groups. Please check the page “BS/MS Thesis” for more information.

Additionally, ISTA now offers the Master’s degree en-route to PhD option. With this option, students can earn a “Master of Science (MS)” degree in addition to their PhD degree, under the condition that additional curricular components are fulfilled whilst working towards their PhD. Please see the “For BSc Students” page for more information.

The annual start date for the PhD program is 15 September. It is not possible to start your PhD earlier than September.

However, some students choose to do a research internship with a group of their choice before this date. For more information, have a look at the internship possibilities we offer.

Rotations are periods in which students spend time in an ISTA research group and work on a mini research project. You will need to do three rotations in three different research groups. The ultimate goal of the rotations are to find your academic home and the group you will conduct your PhD project in. A rotation typically lasts two months. Your performance in the rotation is the basis for your affiliation.

You should choose rotations in the groups at ISTA you are most interested in affiliating with. They are an opportunity for you to get to know your potential PhD supervisor and their supervision style, the lab culture, projects conducted in the group, techniques used, etc. You should use the time to learn new skill sets and build connections across groups. For the PIs they are an important component to get to know you, assess your research skills, imitative, motivation, work ethic and independence.

Rotations are typically done in your field of interest, but we also recommend that you do an rotation outside of your field. An out-of- field rotation allows you to experience research outside of their main area of scientific interest. It is also an excellent opportunity for you to learn to think across disciplines and build up cross-disciplinary skillsets.

It is possible to do a rotation at another institution; this is recommended, if you already have an agreement with a professor to affiliate you. An external rotation is useful to learn skills/ techniques/ method otherwise not available at ISTA and academically relevant to your PhD project.

It is on the basis of this experience that students and professors come to a mutual agreement on where the student will conduct their PhD work (affiliation).

For more information, have a look at our PhD program requirements page.

The purpose of the rotation system is to find an academic home and a supervisor. All ISTA students start as unaffiliated, i.e. they are not yet part of a research group. The first year is designed to allow you to explore and find the group you will do your thesis work in.

At ISTA, the PhD program is set up in such way that students do rotations with at least three different research groups, before they find a home with their thesis supervisor. This way, students experience what it is like to perform research in the respective research groups, and demonstrate their capability to a potential supervisor, while learning useful cross-disciplinary skills along the way.

Previous knowledge and skills also factor into whether or not you are considered a good fit to the research group. Some skills can be brought in or obtained by training at ISTA, as long as there is student-supervisor agreement.

Students may also choose to be co-supervised by two or more professors (subject to the agreement of these PIs).

If you’re thinking about applying for a PhD at ISTA, a good starting point would be to explore the different research topics that our faculty specialize in and think of whether you’d like to join any of the research groups to conduct your future PhD research.

Since it is quite a commitment to do a PhD and work towards a thesis, it is important that the student’s research interests match those of the PhD supervisor and the research conducted in their group.

A supervisor guides a student throughout Phase II of the PhD studies, when the student performs research towards their thesis.

At ISTA, students apply to the PhD program, rather than to individual research groups. They will only commit to their thesis supervisor at the end of the first year, after successful rotation and a mutual agreement that the student should join the respective research group.

Our experience is that even those students who already have a clear idea of whom they want to work with (and this intention is shared by the group leader in question) greatly benefit from the rotation process. In some cases, rotations confirm a student’s original choice, and in other cases rotations open up new horizons or help catalyze collaborations. In all cases, rotations help ensure a match between the student and their future thesis supervisor—one of the key requirements for a successful PhD experience

A qualifying exam is an exam which students need to pass in order to transition from Phase I to Phase II of the PhD studies.

In preparation, students need to appoint a thesis committee, prepare a research proposal, and a reading list. The qualifying exam trains students to establish a road map for their own independent research project, a first step to becoming an independent scientist.

A thesis defense is the final examination that decides whether a PhD student can successfully obtain a PhD degree. The thesis committee is the same as that for the qualifying exam.

After a student passes the thesis defense and submits the final copy of their PhD thesis, they will be awarded a PhD.

At ISTA, our mission is to equip students with the technical know-how and skills to communicate and perform research across disciplines. This interdisciplinary spirit is fundamental to the excellence of scientific research conducted at ISTA. The PhD program at ISTA is therefore designed with both breadth and depth of scope in mind.

Since it is quite a commitment to do a PhD and work towards a thesis, it is important that the student’s research interests match those of the PhD supervisor. In Phase I, students perform rotations, which allow them to gain research experience in three different labs and find a home for their thesis research.On the basis of this experience, students will ultimately be taken in by a PhD supervisor and join the respective research lab, as well as prepare a research proposal and reading list for the qualifying exam. Students also attend interdisciplinary courses, in addition to more specialized courses. Students also have the option to take courses at the University of Vienna or TU Wien: please see the Courses page for more information. This breadth of exposure helps students to gain a wide variety of skills and to identify their strengths and research interests.

In Phase II, students focus on their chosen specialization within the framework of their research group and perform research towards their PhD thesis. Students are also expected to offer teaching assistance (TA) for at least one half-semester course before graduating.

It is through the combination of these two phases that our PhD students obtain a well-rounded scientific education, which forms a solid foundation for a future career in science, but also equips them with transferable skills beyond academia.

Find more information on the structure of the PhD program here.

The best way is to browse the main ISTA website, the most up-to-date source for events and institute-related announcements.

“Like” our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter or on Instagram to stay in the loop about ISTA and the whereabouts of our scientists!

We also have a quarterly newsletter, which is a summary of the highlights of our institute, in a compact quarterly format. You can also choose to have it delivered straight into your (virtual) mailbox, by filling out this form.

Or, better even, visit us during the Student Open Day, or Open Campus Day, to experience first-hand ISTA’s excellent infrastructure, warm sense of community and the excitement we all share for science!

If you want to do a PhD program at ISTA, you need to have a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in science. You will need submit transcripts and degree certificates of all your previous degree(s) when applying.

Students who have a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in the following (or related interdisciplinary) areas are eligible to apply:

• Biology
• Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Neuroscience
• Mathematics
• Physics
• and interdisciplinary or related areas (f.ex. biochemistry, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, statistics, etc.)

We encourage you to use this resource as a first step, as all successful PhD applicants must find a match between the area of their own research interests and that of the professors working at ISTA. If you cannot find a group that matches your research interests then your application will not be successful.

Admission to the program is highly competitive with several thousands of people applying each year for approx. 60 to 70+ PhD positions we can offer. In order to find out whether you are suitable to join the program eventually, we have installed a multi-level and thorough application and evaluation process.

Successful applicants are typically within their top tier of their respective institutions and countries. Check the FAQs regarding GPA expectations and requirements.

The entire program is conducted in English and we expect you to be proficient in English oral and written communication.

Please have a look at the  to see if your skills and interests match one or more of those groups.

Please understand, that we cannot give you a more detailed answer to this question, based on brief information about an academic record you send us via e-mail.

Download the instructions manual here.

The selection committee will start its review process after the deadline for submission of the reference letters. The first part of the review process will be completed in late February.

Candidates will be notified about their status by early March at the latest..

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for further interviews. Interviews may be conducted either remote or on site. Interviews will take place in the course of late February to mid March..

The majority of offers will go out in the second half of March; candidates have to accept or decline by 15 April 2025. The start of the PhD program is uniformly on 15 September.

We do not have a fixed GPA requirement for applicants. However the GPA of successful candidates typically is in the top quartile of their field of study and institution. We expect a top 15% or better GPA from institutions and countries where we receive a high volume of applications such as Pakistan, India, Iran, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia.

Note that a top GPA in itself is not sufficient to gain a place. Entry to our program is very competitive and we are unable to make offers to many suitable candidates.

No. It is neither necessary nor recommended to contact group leaders directly at the application stage. In the online application, you will find a form in which you can list three to five research groups you are interested in. These professors will then review your application. The professors indicated need to be in the research fields you are interested in.

Download the instructions manual here.

You will typically interview with 3 professors (sometimes more). The decision is based on (a) your research interests in your application and (b) professors who have indicated an interest in talking to you.

The majority of interviews will be online. Some professors may reach out to you individually to invite you for onsite interviews. In case you are invited for onsite interviews, we will reimburse your travel and accommodation costs (up to a certain limit). The interview process should be completed by mid-March.

The interview format and interview styles will vary by field and by professor, ranging from one-on-one meetings with individual professors, to group interviews consisting of 2-5 professors. A typical interview slot will last 20-40 min, with group interviews typically lasting longer than one-on-one interviews. In most cases you will not need to prepare a presentation on previous work done and/or articles unless you are explicitly asked to do so by the interviewing professor(s). You can expect to be asked to talk about your past research experience, to explain some of your work and/or concepts on the blackboard, and to be asked why you want to do a PhD and what attracts you to this particular program.

The following documents are required:

• CV
• Statement of purpose
• Address all required questions listed in the portal
• University transcripts/score sheets and diplomas of ALL degree programs and ALL years you have attended and/or are currently enrolled in (in English and in original language)
• Contact details of 3 referees

All documents need to be in English; copies of university transcripts should also be uploaded in their original language. Make sure to combine multi-page documents into a single file PDF.

Upload all documents as PDFs. Other formats are not supported. Maximum size per upload is 39 MB.

A instruction manual is available here.

We typically admit around 60-70 students per cohort/ intake. The exact number hired per field depends on the quality of the applications.

You will be applying to the program as a whole, not to a particular group. We do not advertise individual positions. Professors are open to new students in every call, a few may only consider exceptional candidates, some may be looking for a student with a particular profile.

In the online application, you will find a form in which you can list any three to five research groups you are interested in. These group leaders should be working in the fields you are interested in. In the application portal you are asked to reflect on how you think about your affiliation destinations, in case your primary target group – for whatever reasons – turns out to be not an option. To this end, familiarize yourself with the research groups in your field of interest. Be explicit why you find their research interesting, what appeals to, and what you bring to the table.

We need ALL transcripts in English, provided that the working language of your university is in another language than English, This also for applicants coming from German speaking countries!

There is no need to have your certificates authenticated prior to the online application and you may provide the translation yourself for this purpose.

Applicants coming from the European Research Area we recommend to use the diploma supplement which are issued in the original and in English.

Download the instructions manual here.

Yes, ISTA does not have any quota on international students.

Yes you can. However you must finish your stated course of study before the start of the PhD program in Austria (15 September in the year of application). As a minimum requirement, you must be able to demonstrate that you have completed your first degree by August, before the program starts, at the very latest.

Download the instruction manual here.

ISTA does not have any age limit.

Yes you can, but you should be able to demonstrate significant additional experience and improvement.

Please also be aware that you will need to create a new application, submit all required documents and request letters of recommendation again.

If you have any questions about our PhD program, feel free to contact the Graduate School Office team.

We would be more than happy to tell you about our PhD program.

You can modify your application at any time up until the point of your final submission. Please fill out the form using a web browser on a desktop computer. Web browsers on mobile devices (i.e. Android, iPhone, iPad, etc.) are not supported.

After you have submitted your application, you will need to contact us detailing which changes should be made and/or which documents should be updated. Please note that this can only be done up to the submission deadline (8 January 2025, 2.59PM CET)! Requests for modifications received after the deadline will not be considered. Be mindful of the timezone you are.

Download the instruction manual here.

No, we will not accept supporting materials received via other channels after the deadline. The admissions team will not add or alter information within applications after the submission deadline. The deadline is firm and extensions are not granted.

No, we do not grant any extensions.

Note the application deadline and be mindful of the timezone you are in! Expect some heavy traffic on the site as we get closer to the deadline. Do not leave it to the last minute to submit your application, to avoid any technical problems.

The Statement of Purpose (SoP) is an important part of your application. It is the document in which you have full control over how you present yourself, your interests, and your strengths. It should be 1-2 pages, maximum. In it, please share with us anything that prepares you for graduate-level research.

For instance, you can describe your past research projects, your motivation to join the ISTA PhD program, as well as any skills and other background relevant to the research areas and groups you selected on the application form. Try to be as specific as possible about your experiences, with an emphasis on the technical skills you have mastered. You could also elaborate on your goals for the program and for your research in general.

Download the instructions manual here.

We require all transcripts/diplomas to be submitted in their original language AND in English. Translations do not need to be notarized. If available, please use English translations issued by your university.

We will not review application files that do not adhere to this requirement.

Download the instructions manual here.

Translations do not need to be notarized. If available, please use English translations issued by your university.

The fields referring to the grade and the year/month of graduation allow number entry only. Please make sure that you do not enter any letters or special characters in the fields that ask about the grading system used in your country (i.e. %, /, A,  etc.).

E.g. if you have a grade of 95%, mark this as 95, and the max. grade is 100. If you have a grading scheme of A-E, translate it into a 1-5 grading scale.

For the graduation month, enter 05 for May etc.

Please make sure you correct the fields that come up with an error message (marked in red). Fill out the form using a web browser on a desktop computer. Web browsers on mobile devices (i.e. Android, iPhone, iPad, etc.) are not supported.

If you are enrolled in a dual BS-MS program, please enter the same start and end dates for both programs.

Download the instructions manual here.

In this case, please indicate the percentage you obtained and which percentage is required to pass. Enter them in a number format only, i.e. 100.0. Special characters like % or letters (A, B, etc.) are not supported.

Yes, you can submit your application even when your referees have not responded yet. The portal for referees will remain open until the specified deadline.

No, you do not. A formal proof of competence in English (IELTS, CPE or TOEFL) is not required. The program language is English throughout. Therefore proficiency in written and oral English is expected and essential.

If selected for interviews we will evaluate your English skills in the interviews.

However, if you have valid results, you can upload any language tests you may have to the section: additional documents. Download the instructions manual here.

Make sure that the documents are according to the format specified in the application form (PDF files only). Text or photo files are not supported. The files need to be unencrypted, password free and allow document assembly. The maximum size per file is 39 MB.

You can upload one file per upload field. If your document (e.g. transcripts) consists of several files, you will need to combine them into a single PDF document.

Download the instructions manual here.

If you still experience problems with our online system, please contact the admissions team

We are using the Research Organization Registry (ROR). If your college is associated with a university and not listed as separate institution in the database, you need to indicate the university listed in the database. You can use https://ror.org/search to determine the nomenclature used in the list.

Please note that ISTA does not maintain this list and cannot add institutions to the list.

If the institution is not listed in ROR, you need to indicate another institution and mention this in the section: additional information

Please consult the PhD application instructions for applicants (here)

The following documents are required:

• CV
• Statement of purpose
• Address all required questions listed in the portal
• University transcripts/score sheets and diplomas of ALL degree programs and ALL years you have attended and/or are currently enrolled in (in English and in original language)
• Contact details of 3 referees

All documents need to be in English; copies of university transcripts should also be uploaded in their original language. Make sure to combine multi-page documents into a single file PDF.

Upload all documents as PDFs. Other formats are not supported. Maximum size per upload is 39 MB.

A instruction manual is available here.

We need ALL transcripts in English, provided that the working language of your university is in another language than English, This also for applicants coming from German speaking countries!

There is no need to have your certificates authenticated prior to the online application and you may provide the translation yourself for this purpose.

Applicants coming from the European Research Area we recommend to use the diploma supplement which are issued in the original and in English.

Download the instructions manual here.

Please do not try to rectify mistake by creating a second account/application. If you notice that you have made a mistake in your application or you want to make amendments for any other reason, please contact the admissions team. We can then reopen your application for you to make the necessary changes and resubmit. Please note that this can only be done up until the application deadline! Thereafter it is no longer possible make changes to your application.

NB. Please DO NOT reply to an automated email (e.g. an email confirming application submission) to request that changes be made, even if the email has come from the phd.admissions@ista.ac.at address. Replies to automated emails are automatically redirected to a storage folder: your email will not be reviewed or responded to. In every case where you have an enquiry, it is best to create a new email with a new subject heading.

We strive to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours, however at peak times you may need to wait longer for a response Please wait at least 72 hours before sending a follow up. Note our office hours: Monday-Friday 9.00-5.00PM

Please also check which email address you have sent your enquiry to (this should always be addressed to the admissions team). Please also check that you have not replied to an automated email sent by the application system (e.g. an email confirming application submission). Replies to automated emails are automatically redirected to a storage folder: your email will not be reviewed or responded to. In every case where you have an enquiry, it is best to create a new email with a new subject heading.

Choose your referees carefully. Choose 3 referees who have taught you or supervised your academic and/or research work and are therefore able to evaluate your academic and research performance. These can be professors, assistant professors, postdocs or equivalent positions. We will accept up to one letter from a non-academic/ non research environment. You are applying to an academic program at an institution that focuses on basic research. Therefore your referees should be familiar with your academic and research performance.

We recommend including the principal investigator(s) who supervised your thesis work.

When entering the names and e-mail addresses, make sure that the e-mail address is still valid and the spelling is correct! Do not copy/paste an email address from a website, as it may include invisible 4 byte unicode characters.

Yes. You can do this by saving your application and thereafter clicking on the “Contact referees” button  at the bottom of the application page.

The referee will then receive an email including a unique link to the recommendation form and instructions to complete the recommendation electronically.

Please note that as soon as you choose to contact a referee (or when you submit your application, if you have not already clicked the “Contact referees” button), he or she will receive this email. You should only contact referees when they are prepared to receive this email, and to submit a reference letter for your application. Please inform your referee to watch for the message to arrive.

Download the instructions manual here.

No. We require that letters of recommendation are submitted by the referee themselves.

Uploading a letter of recommendation by yourself will lead to an automatic disqualification and your application will no longer be considered.

E-mails to referees are sent automatically at two points: (a) when you submit the application, or (b) when you explicitly request the reference using the “contact referee” button while you are still working on your application.

Typical reasons for referees not receiving email notifications:

• spelling mistakes their email address
• mails are lost in either personal or institutional spam filters and firewalls. make sure your referee whitelists email requests from phd.admissions (at) ist.ac.at

Tips:

• inform your referee ahead of time and ask them to whitelist email requests from phd.admissions (at) ist.ac.at
• double check the spelling before sending the request
• take note of the timestamp when the request was sent to help your referee finding the request in their mailbox
• do NOT send a reminder within a few minutes or hours after the first request; give your referees time to respond

Solutions:

• misspelling: contact the admissions team to correct the spelling
• ask your referee for an alternative email address and contact the admissions team to correct it

Note: the deadline to exchange or update a referee is the same as for submitting your application. No changes will be made thereafter to allow the referee time to respond.

The reference letters need to be submitted by the deadline specified.

Two most common reasons:

(1) You have more than one application in the system and the referee received multiple requests to submit a letter of recommendation.

If this is the case, you are probably checking one application while your referee responded to a different application. Please check for all applications you may have and verify the status of each recommendation.

If your referee has used the wrong link to submit their reference, please ask them to resubmit using the correct link.

(2) The referee has only saved the reference in the system, but has not submitted their recommendation. They may have used an incorrect file format (PDF or a text entry). Once they have done so, the system will send an automated thank you email.

Please log in to your account and choose See status of referees.

The status “requested” indicates that the referee has been contacted, but the recommendation is not submitted yet.

The status “reminded” indicates that a reminder e-mail has been sent to the referee, but the recommendation is not submitted yet.

The status “submitted” indicates that the letter has been submitted and received.

Download the instructions manual here.

You need to enter the contact details of three (3) referees. If you enter fewer, you will not be able to submit your application.

Type the addresses manually. Do not copy and paste the e-mail address from a website, as it may include invisible 4 byte unicode characters. Make sure there is no space in front or end of the email address. If you notice a mistake, clear the column and re-type the email address using the keyboard.

Double check the spelling!

You may replace one referee with another. Please send all the required information regarding the referee you would like to add (name, institution, country, e-mail address). Indicate clearly

1. which referee should be replaced, and
2. the title, name, e-mail address, country and institution of the new referee.

Note: the deadline to exchange or update a referee is the same as for submitting your application. No changes will be made thereafter to allow the referee time to respond.

Keep in mind that we can only answer requests during standard office hours (Mon – Fri, 9 AM – 5 PM CET). Note the following public holidays in Austria: 24-26 and 31 December, 1 and 6 January. We aim to answer all inquiries within 48 hours, but expect longer processing times during peak times, in particular as we approach the deadlines.

Your application needs to be supported by a minimum of three reference letters submitted by a deadline specified in the application portal. Be mindful of the time zone your referee is in! Download the instructions manual here.

Two of the recommendations need to be from an academic/research environment, one can be from a work environment. We can only consider recommendations that are submitted via the online recommendation form and not via email.

It is not possible to add more than three referees.

Choose your referees carefully; you are applying to an academic and research program. Referees should be familiar with your research performance. Mere character references are not suitable. We recommend including the principal investigator(s) who supervised your thesis work.

ISTA strives to guarantee on-campus housing for the duration of your internship and/or for the first year of study as a PhD student, however this is not always possible due to demand. Certain groups, f.ex. those relocating from further afield, may be given priority.

Selected  ISTerns for the ISTernship Summer Program will have access to housing on campus or in Vienna.

There is a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports, student groups and social clubs. Read more here.

You can choose to have breakfast or lunch at the cafeteria. Other options include a café/pub, a Starbucks corner, coffee kitchens in each building, and vending machines. See more about Dining here.

At the moment, we have scientists from over 70 different countries and a very diverse and international student population. About a quarter of our students are Austrian.

ISTA is committed to promoting diversity and equality, and we encourage applicants from all over the world to apply to the PhD program at ISTA.

Austria has a statutory social security system; this means that you will be automatically covered by social insurance as soon as you start your PhD program or scientific internship at ISTA. ISTA will take the necessary steps to register you with the Austrian health insurance company (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse – ÖGK). Social insurance is funded by social insurance contributions, which are paid both by the employer – ISTA – and the employee – PhD student or intern. Insurance contributions are calculated on the basis of the employee’s gross income. Read more here.

The OeAD will support selected  ISTerns for the ISTernship Summer Program obtaining access to subsidized health care.

No. English is the language used for communication at the Institute.

However, being able to speak German makes a lot of things much easier in daily life in Austria. For this reason, ISTA provides free German courses for students enrolled in the PhD program.

If you are not from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you will need to apply for a visa in order to legally take up employment and register as a PhD student at ISTA.

When you get an offer from ISTA, you will be sent information on how to apply for your visa from abroad.

ISTA is located just outside of Vienna, in Lower Austria. The ISTA campus is a 25-minute bus ride from Vienna Heiligenstadt station (U-Bahn line U4) using the ISTA shuttle bus. Please see this page for directions to the institute.

Housing is available on the ISTA campus. International students are prioritized if they choose to live on campus.

There is a guesthouse with 38 rooms (24 single rooms, 6 single rooms equipped to be suitable for persons with disabilities, 4 double rooms, 4 junior suites), for short stays of up to 2 months. For longer stays (2 months to 1 year), there are 28 short term apartments and 90 long term apartments. There are both single and family/shared apartments.

A room or apartment can be rented for a period of up to one year after arrival, giving incoming international students time to find suitable accommodation for the subsequent years. Housing on campus is subject to availability.

Please find more information on the ISTA website.

Selected ISTerns for the ISTernship Summer Program can live on campus (subject to availability) or in Vienna on accommodation provided by the OeAD.

Many ISTA PhD students and staff actually prefer to live in the hustle and bustle of Vienna, since Vienna is consistently voted one of the best cities in the world to live in, with affordable accommodation and excellent public transport connections meaning there is no problem in commuting to campus.

Students also have the choice of living in the nearest town of Klosterneuburg (a quiet area with beautiful woods and close to the world-famous monastery Stift Klosterneuburg).

Our PhD students are an integral part of the scientific community, and apart from scientific research activities, they are also actively involved in various sports and other leisure activities.

There is the annual ISTA Institute Retreat, which scientists and staff of the whole Institute are invited to attend, and at which students are a significant presence.

Some of our students also live on campus, and are actively involved in all the activities that the Institute has to offer.