DISCOVER GRAZ

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN GRAZ

GRAZ AT A GLANCE

Graz is well known not only for being the capital of Styria, a state in southern Austria, but also as a city with rather split personality. Its magnificent buildings have reflected the architecture of the city for over 850 years, which gives the place an ancient vibe. However, Graz has adopted much of the modern life which can be also seen in other edifices such as the local museum Kunsthaus Graz. The large student population also brings life to the city and makes it young and contemporary. The geographical location of the city allows its inhabitants to easily travel to other major European cities. Transportation inside Graz itself is also very accessible thanks to its reliable public transportation services. People can travel either by tram or use one of the 24 bus line services, few of which operate on a 24 hours basis. Graz is situated southeast of the Alps, which prevents the winds coming from the North Atlantic, causing the overall climate to be warmer and with more sunshine than other cities in Austria. The warmest months of the year are between June and September, whereas throughout winter it is cold and temperate. Although the majority of the population in Graz consists of locals, there are over 60 000 people from other nationalities and countries. Having this in mind, not only German is spoken here but also many other international languages, which makes the overall demographics of the city very diverse in multicultural terms. Graz is built around the Schlossberg castle, which is also the reason behind the name of the city. It is believed that the name was derived from the Slavic word gradec, meaning ‘’small castle’’. Schlossberg, which was built more than 1000 years ago and once was a mighty fortress that even Napoleon could not capture, is one of the main attractions for tourists.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: March – September / Winter Semester: October – February, March

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

289440

Living Costs

700 – 1000 EUR

STUDYING IN GRAZ

Graz has a long-established history of a ‘’ university town’’, being a home of six universities and having more than 50,000 students. Teaching in German is predominant, however there are the NAWI Graz study programs for those who wish to study exclusively in English. They have been created as joint programs both by the Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz and are focused in areas of Bioscience, Chemistry, Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics and Physics. These courses are only aimed at students who wish to obtain a Master of Science degree. Furthermore, there are some Bachelors programs for example at TU Graz that have courses taught in English along with the German ones. There are also multiple opportunities for Exchange or Study Abroad programs that students participating in Erasmus+, ISEP or are studying abroad at other partner universities can engage with. Graz has a huge range of student accommodation options, flats or rooms that can be found and compared online prior to arrival in the city. The average rent for a room in a student residence may vary between 150 and 400 EUR per month bills included depending on the residence itself. Students might also choose to share an apartment or a room, or rent a studio on their own directly from a landlord.

GRAZ LIFESTYLE

Life in Graz can be described as lively and calm at the same time. Students can choose from many and different events each week, or have a chillout with friends in one of Graz’s big parks. The city represents a smaller version of the overall life in Austria with a broad choice of restaurants, bars, clubs and various scenic spots. People living in Graz are very friendly and have adopted much of the Mediterranean lifestyle going out with friends for a drink or bite in some of the local restaurants or street food markets. Great fun is guaranteed in Graz whether it being in one of the city’s elegant clubs or in a lively student pub. Students can spend their evenings and enjoy pretty much every music genre in places like PPC, Club Motion, Monkeys and many other night clubs. For those who prefer more of a bar atmosphere Graz can offer traditional Styrian bars or the classical Irish or English pubs like Murphy’s Sports Bar, The Office Pub, or Flann O’Brien Irish Pub. For those who prefer to be more active during the day there is a range of outdoor activities in Graz. From hiking in the Schöckl mountain, through cycling around the city along the Mur river, to enjoying a fair when there is one in town. One can also grab a cup of coffee or tea on the artificial island Murinsel anchored in the Mur river and created to celebrate Graz as a ‘’Cultural Capital of Europe’’ in 2003. In terms of food there is a very strong focus on it and particularly local fresh products. The farms that are located in the surroundings of Graz contribute to the farmers’ markets with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat, and dairy products. Most of them may vary in abundance depending on the season.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN GRAZ

Although it might seem a fairly smaller city, the economy in Graz is thriving with growing cultural, scientific and educational sectors. With a big variety of businesses mostly small to medium size, Graz can be seen as the economical center of the southeast part of Austria. Many vehicle manufacturers are located in the city, which allows it to contribute to the Austrian automotive industry with the production in its industrial sector. The creative industry is also thriving in Graz, making design one of the top priorities of the city since it is a member of the UNESCO City of Design network. The environmental technology and energy sectors along with the human biotechnology and tourism sectors are also among the most developed and fastest growing industries in Graz. Students who are not from the EU/EEA countries and Switzerland and wish to continue living in Graz and working there after they have graduated will need to obtain a work permit. Although there is a chance for one to find a career with English around the major companies located in the city, knowledge of German might be essential for others. Working while studying is also a common practice among students as it helps them either to fund their studies, earn extra money on the side or simply gain additional qualification. Finding a part-time or a holiday job is easy with the help of Career Center located in the universities. For example, such Career Center at the University of Graz offers students individual career advice sessions, workshops and career events. On universitaet.com, users can find a “Career” section where relevant information about current job offers in Graz can be viewed.