VFS Competence Check for Austria (2026): Test, Fee and Booking

The VFS competence check is a test you take in person at a VFS Global centre before you can apply to many Austrian universities. It is for students whose last school or degree is from Bangladesh, India or Pakistan. Some universities add Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. It costs around €100 and VFS sends your result straight to the university. It started with the winter semester 2026/27.

Passing does not admit you. It only lets the university look at your application. This guide lists every university that asks for it, what the test covers, how to book and what nobody has published yet, so you can plan without guessing.

The competence check in short

Which Austrian universities need the competence check?

These eight universities say so on their own admission pages (checked 4 October 2026). The rule depends on where you studied, not on your passport.

We did not find the check on the pages of TU Wien, WU Vienna or the University of Innsbruck. Rules change quickly, so open your university's own page before you plan. If your university is not in the table, ask its admission office by email and keep the answer.

Who has to take it?

What does the VFS competence check test?

At the appointment VFS checks three things:

It checks general knowledge, not your future subject. An engineering student is also asked about biology and history. Leoben lists six subjects without German because its programmes are taught in English.

What questions are in the VFS competency test?

No university and no VFS page publishes sample questions. They also do not say how many questions there are, how long the appointment takes or whether it is written or oral. Anyone who sells you "the real VFS questions" is guessing.

What we know is enough to prepare: it covers school knowledge in seven subjects and the University of Graz needs at least 50% of the maximum marks. Revise the basics of all subjects, not only your strongest ones.

How much does the competence check cost?

Around €100, paid directly to VFS when you book. Add your travel to the nearest VFS centre. The check is one cost of the move. These are the others:

How to book the VFS competence check, step by step

Step 1: Check that your grades are high enough

The check only makes sense if you meet the university's minimum grades. Each university sets its own. The University of Vienna's rules are in the next section. If you do not meet them, you will not be admitted, whatever your competence check result is.

Step 2: Get your documents legalised and translated

India: an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Pakistan and Bangladesh: full legalisation through your foreign ministry and the Austrian embassy. Both countries joined the Apostille Convention, but Austria objected, so an apostille is not enough. For Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, see our apostille guide. Documents that are not in German or English need a certified translation.

Step 3: Book your appointment with VFS

Open the competence check page of your university (links in the sources below). It links the VFS booking form. You name the Austrian university and the programme you want and you pay around €100 to VFS.

Step 4: Go to the VFS centre

Bring your passport and the documents your programme asks for, with their translations. VFS checks them and you take the test.

Step 5: Apply to the university

VFS sends your result directly to the university. What you upload depends on the university, so read its page carefully:

Step 6: Wait for your admission letter

The university checks your application and your result. This can take several weeks.

Step 7: Apply for your visa and residence permit

With the admission letter you can apply for your student residence permit. That is a separate process with its own documents, money and deadlines. Our student residence permit guide covers it step by step.

University of Vienna: minimum grades by country

The University of Vienna publishes its minimum grades on the same page as the competence check. Other universities set their own, so use this as an example and check yours.

Sections are the university categories of ENIC NARIC Austria, the Austrian recognition office. Your university's page explains how to find yours.

When should you book?

Book as early as you can. Count back from your university's application deadline:

Universities have different application periods for bachelor's programmes with an entrance exam and master's programmes with a selection procedure. Some take applications only once a year.

How to prepare for the competence check

What the competence check does not replace

What is still unknown

As of October 2026 no official page says how long the test takes, how many questions it has, whether you can take it again, how long a result stays valid or whether one result counts for several universities. If you apply to more than one university, ask VFS before you book whether one appointment covers all of them. We will update this guide when the universities publish more.

Sources

The universities' own competence check pages: University of Vienna (steps, upload rule, minimum grades), TU Graz, University of Graz (50% pass mark), University of Klagenfurt, BOKU, Montanuniversität Leoben, University of Salzburg and JKU Linz. Checked on 4 October 2026.