Why Invest in Continuing Education?

The working world is changing rapidly: digitalization, artificial intelligence, climate change, and geopolitical shifts are demanding new skills. Professionals who invest in their continuing education can secure:

• Better career opportunities, such as promotions into leadership roles.
• New job possibilities when changing industries or fields.
• Greater job security in the labor market by obtaining in-demand qualifications.

To ensure these opportunities aren’t blocked by costs, there are many funding instruments available from the federal government, states, and professional chambers in Austria.

In Vienna, the Wiener Arbeitnehmer*innen Förderungsfonds (WAFF) – the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund – is the first stop for education and training grants. Two particularly attractive programs are:

• Bildungskonto (Education Account): Grants up to €5,000 for certified training programs, with a focus on courses related to digitalization and climate protection. (Income limits apply and each application is reviewed individually.)
• Chancen-Scheck (Opportunity Check): Designed for persons without a formal professional qualification or those with a foreign degree. It covers up to 90% of course costs (maximum €5,000), paid directly to the course provider.

For full details and application requirements, visit the official WAFF website, opens an external URL in a new window. All conditions (such as residency in Vienna, income criteria, etc.) are explained there.

At the federal level, an attractive new model has been introduced: the Skills Schecks 2025 program, opens an external URL in a new window by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Through this initiative, companies with a branch in Austria can get 50% of their employees’ continuing education costs reimbursed – specifically for courses in the areas of digitalization and sustainability. In practical terms, this means your employer could cover half of your program’s cost (via the FFG grant) while you gain valuable know-how for your job. The Skills Schecks 2025 are a great incentive for employers to invest in staff training, so it’s worth discussing this option with your company if you plan to enroll in a program.

Funding in Other Austrian States

Vienna is not the only region that supports continuing education – all Austrian provinces (Bundesländer) offer their own funding schemes for residents. For example:

• Lower Austria: “Bildungskonto” grants up to €2,500 for continuing education.
• Upper Austria: A special “Digi-Bonus” subsidy for digital skills training.
• Styria: Funding programs for professional qualifications, with a focus on fields facing skill shortages.

The availability, amount, and conditions of these grants vary by province. It’s definitely worthwhile to check with your provincial government office or Chamber of Labor (Arbeiterkammer) to find out the specific programs you can use in your region. Remember that most regional grants require you to have your main residence in that province or be employed there. 

Chamber of Labor Education Bonus & Tax Benefits

Aside from state-funded programs, there are two other key ways to reduce the financial burden of continuing education:

• AK Education Bonus: If you are a member of the Arbeiterkammer (Chamber of Labor), you can get annual subsidies for training – roughly €50 to €200 per year, depending on the province. You apply for this bonus through the Chamber of Labor office in your state. While the amount is not large, it can at least cover the cost of books or a seminar each year.
• Tax Deductibility: In Austria, many continuing education expenses can be claimed as work-related tax deductions. Course fees, professional literature, travel costs, etc., for vocational training can be listed as income-related expenses on your employee tax return. Depending on your income level, you can get back roughly 20% to 50% of the costs through tax refunds. In other words, the tax office essentially subsidizes up to half of your education costs. (Self-employed persons can likewise deduct training costs as business expenses.) 
  
  Tip: If your employer pays for your course instead of giving a bonus, it’s tax-free for you and also tax-deductible for the company – a win-win situation.

Funding Options for Expats and International Participants

What if you’re an expat or an international professional interested in continuing education in Austria? The funding landscape can still be favorable for you:

• Austrian Funding Eligibility: Many Austrian funding programs are based on your residency or employment in Austria, not citizenship. For instance, if you live and work in Vienna, you can apply to WAFF grants just like any Austrian citizen (assuming you meet the criteria), and if your company is in Austria, it can utilize programs like the FFG Skills Schecks. Likewise, paying taxes in Austria enables you to claim tax deductions for education costs. In short, expats working in Austria have access to most of the funding options above. Don’t let language barriers stop you – agencies like WAFF can often provide advice, and many forms are available in German (you might seek help if needed).
• International Scholarships & Grants: If you are coming from abroad or your main residence is not in Austria, you might explore scholarships or funding from your home country or international organizations. A good starting point is to search databases of scholarships and grants. For example, grants.at is Austria’s largest database for scholarships and research grants (it includes some opportunities for international students). The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship database is another resource for international education funding. Additionally, look at European initiatives like Erasmus+, which supports lifelong learning and can fund certain training or exchange experiences across Europe. While Erasmus+ is better known for student exchanges, it also has programs for adult education and vocational training that might apply in specific cases.
• Employer Support & Loans: Many expats fund their education through employer sponsorship or personal financing. It’s worth checking if your employer offers any tuition assistance as part of professional development – some international companies have internal programs to reimburse course fees. Also, Austrian banks and institutions offer education loans or education funds with income-dependent repayment (where you start paying back after finishing the program). These can be useful if you need to finance your studies upfront and pay gradually as your career advances. Always compare terms and consider consulting a financial advisor, especially if you’re new to the Austrian financial system.
• TU Wien Academy Scholarships: The TU Wien Academy for Continuing Education itself offers scholarships for certain programs to help talented participants who need financial support. For example, for MBA programs there are scholarships like the “Women in Leadership Scholarship” (for female professionals, offering up to 30% tuition reduction) and the “Future Leaders Scholarship” (offering up to 25% off the MBA tuition). These are merit-based and require a separate application demonstrating your motivation and financial need. Such scholarships can significantly lower the cost for international students who are self-funding their education.

Programs at TU Wien Academy Eligible for Funding

Funding programs are most effective when you invest them in high-quality education. The TU Wien Academy for Continuing Education offers a range of MBA, Master’s, and Compact Programs that align with the in-demand fields often targeted by grants (like digitalization and sustainability):

• Data Literacy & AI Essentials (Compact Program) – Learn essential data competencies and how to practically and efficiently apply Artificial Intelligence in everyday business. 
  This short program is ideal for professionals who want to become more data-driven. It falls under digital skills training, which means you could use grants like WAFF’s digitalization stipend or your company’s FFG Skill Scheck to co-fund it.
• MSc Renewable Energy Systems (Master’s Program) – Europe’s first interdisciplinary master’s program in renewable energy systems, equipping you with the know-how to actively drive the energy transition – covering technology, management, and sustainability. 
  Graduates gain expertise in clean energy, a field strongly supported by many funding schemes due to the climate focus. This program can often be financed with the help of state or WAFF grants and is a great option for those looking to pivot into the sustainability sector.
• Executive MBA Programs – Part-time MBA offerings blending technology and management. 
  TU Wien Academy’s MBA programs (e.g. Strategic Management & Technology, Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship, etc.) are designed for working professionals. They enhance leadership skills in tech-driven industries and typically run over ~18 months part-time. These MBAs can be financed through many of the options discussed: for instance, your employer might sponsor part of your MBA (taking advantage of tax exemptions for educational costs or FFG subsidies), and you can apply for the Academy’s own scholarships (which reduce tuition by 25–30% for selected candidates). Many students also utilize payment plans or deduct the tuition from their taxes over multiple years. In short, an MBA may be more affordable than you think when multiple financing avenues are combined.

Advice and Next Steps

We understand that Austria’s funding system can be complex – especially if you’re not familiar with the various grants. The good news is we are happy to advise you personally on which funding opportunities might fit your individual situation and how to successfully apply for them. Feel free to reach out to the TU Wien Academy for guidance.

Invest in your professional future – with the right funding strategy, continuing education doesn’t just become achievable, it becomes the smartest career decision you can make. Let funding lighten the financial load while you focus on propelling your career forward!