Funding Scholarship

Applications are invited twice a calendar year.

Applications must be submitted by the students themselves and can be handed in to the SOWI Dean’s Office on the following two dates:

• 1st deadline: 21 April – 30 May 2025
• 2nd deadline: 15 September – 24 October 2025

Please note that for applications within the SOWI doctoral programme, the first deadline in 2025 applies to the 2024/25 academic year and the second deadline to the 2025/26 academic year.

Funding scholarships are intended to support uncompleted academic work (diploma or master’s theses and doctoral dissertations) by full-time students that involves significant costs (e.g. a period of study abroad, extensive literature research, empirical studies).

In the SOWI doctoral programme, applicants may submit applications in two different academic years. In principle, funding for a specific activity may only be awarded once (cumulative funding for a single activity is not possible).

In accordance with the provisions of the Women’s Promotion Plan and the Equality Plan, women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Full-time students at the School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences (SOWI) who are Austrian citizens, as well as foreign nationals and stateless persons treated as equivalent under § 4 StudFG, are eligible to apply (eligible persons within the meaning of §§ 2 to 4 StudFG, as amended).

The duration of entitlement is to be extended accordingly under the conditions of § 19 StudFG as amended. The student must provide proof of the existence of an extension within the meaning of § 19 StudFG as amended.

Scholarships are awarded in the amount of € 750 to € 3.600 depending on the credible costs of the eligible activities that have been demonstrated in advance. Grants are awarded within the framework of private sector administration. There is no legal entitlement to a grant. The award is independent of the applicant's social need. A grant may also be paid out in several instalments over the course of an academic year.

• Commencement or undertaking of an uncompleted academic project
• The academic project must be eligible for funding in terms of both content and methodology
• It is not possible to submit applications for activities that have already taken place.
• In principle, funding is only granted for activities that are commenced within one year of the funding approval.
• Demonstration of satisfactory academic progress (= eligibility for student grant) in the relevant degree programme
• The applicant must fulfil the eligibility period under the StudFG (§ 18 as amended) for the relevant degree programme. The eligibility period is to be extended accordingly under the conditions of § 19 StudFG as amended. The student must provide evidence of the existence of grounds for extension within the meaning of § 19 StudFG as amended.

• the application form completed in full (the form must be completed digitally, except for the signature)
• current registration certificate
• copies of all Master's, diploma or rigorous examination certificates and, if applicable, proof of academic success for achievements that do not appear on any degree certificate
• current study record (printout from UNIGRAZonline)
• description of the planned work and the related activity(ies) to be funded
• detailed cost breakdown and financing plan. Should there be any changes to the activities, the cost breakdown or the financing plan, these must be communicated immediately!
• Expert opinion from a university lecturer (usually the supervisor) stating whether, based on the student’s academic record to date and the proposed approach to the thesis, the work is likely to be completed to a high standard and whether the costs are reasonable
• if the entitlement period is exceeded (§§ 18, 19 StudFG as amended, e.g. due to parental leave, illness, military service, stay abroad), appropriate evidence must be provided

• For PhD students – submission of the confirmation of acceptance of the research proposal

  Please email your application and all supporting documents to the SOWI Dean’s Office by the application deadline (sowi.foerderstipendium@uni-graz.at).

  Incomplete applications or applications with missing and/or inadequate supporting documents cannot be considered for the award of scholarships.

Scholarships are awarded by the Vice-Dean of Studies, ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Christian Klamler. Applicants will be notified in writing of the decision. There is no legal entitlement to the award.

25% of the amount will only be paid out once a report has been submitted confirming that the awarded funds have been used for their intended purpose.

The report on the proper use of the funds (together with supporting documents) must be submitted to the Dean’s Office of the School of Buisness, Economics and Social Sciences (SOWI) within the deadline specified in the scholarship agreement.

If a report on the proper use of the grant is not submitted within the specified deadline, or if the funds are not used for their intended purpose, the grant amount awarded will be reclaimed or will not be paid out.