University of Graz - Summer Research
At over 400 years old, the Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (also called UniGraz) is the second-oldest university in Austria. Situated close to the Alps at the southern border, it's ideally positioned for the exange of cultural, economic, and scientific ideas across south-eastern Europe.
Numerous renowned academics, including 6 Nobel laureates, have ties with UniGraz as researchers and professors, and the student population of more than 32,000 makes UniGraz the second largest in Austria. The university is also internationally acclaimed; it was recently placed in the 351-400 band of the 2015 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, confirming its academic prowess as a Top 400 university worldwide.
Key information
Application information
Program details
For Summer 2025, research placements are being offered in: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Psychology, and Kinesiology.
Click here to download a document with detailed information about each research placement! Note, the document will download in Excel format.
Although Graz does not offer academic credit for this program, students may be able to negotiate receiving credit from their UCalgary faculty.
Most placements are either 8 or 12 weeks long and take place between May and July 2024. If you are offered a placement, you will find that some offer specific dates, while others are more flexible and will have you mutually decide on the dates with your Graz supervisor.
This summer research program can be coupled with an exchange after in Graz. If interested in doing this, it is strongly recommended to contact the UCalgary global learning advisor ASAP as there are some logistics to sort out, especially regarding the visa.
Summary about the visa process:
Students who wish to combine the summer research with a semester-long exchange afterwards will have to apply for two different visas. A ‘Visa C-Erwerb’ (2-month stay) or a ‘Visa D-Erwerb’ (3-month stay) for their summer research and a ‘Visa D’ for the semester study part. The application for the ‘Visa C- or D-Erwerb’ requires advance travel to the Ottawa embassy to submit documentation and take biometrics. Semester-long exchange students holding a Canadian or U.S. passport are able to submit their application for 'Visa D' after their summer research period at the Austrian Embassy in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and then also have to pick it up from there. Other citizens have to apply for the ‘Visa D’ through the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa at the same time they apply for the ‘Visa C- or D-Erwerb’, so that they have to make the trip to the Ottawa embassy only once.
-
Costs
It is recommended that students budget €750-€900 per month to pay for accommodation and living expenses.
Summer research students have to apply for a ‘Visa C-Erwerb’ (for a 2-month stay) or a ‘Visa D-Erwerb’ (for a 3-month stay), which requires travel to the Ottawa embassy to submit documentation and take biometrics. Visa Cost is approx. $110 CAD (as of Summer 2023).
Summer research students must also have sufficient health insurance coverage. They are free to choose their insurance as long as this insurance is in accordance with the requirements for an Austrian "Visa C or D-Erwerb" application. For details, students have to contact the Austrian embassy in Ottawa. The insurance must also cover their journey to Graz including medical evacuation and repatriation.
Finally, please note that summer research students will be charged 1 course of tuition at UCalgary.
Graz Cost Comparison vs Calgary: Click Here
Student Tip: "Buy a student transit pass at the beginning of the semester - it can save you about 40%. I didn’t and I would have saved a TON of money if I would have. Or better yet, buy a bike! Everyone around [Graz] rides bikes and you can buy a fairly inexpensive one and sell it back at the end of the semester. Also, cell phone plans are very cheap in Austria. I paid 10-20 euro a month for my plan, but you may have to budget for a router (or bring one) as wi-fi may be limited without one. Overall, I found Graz to be much less expensive than Calgary, but don't forget to keep the exchange rate in mind!"
See below for a budget template that may help you in your planning.
-
Funding
Students doing 12-week placements may be able to apply for Mitacs funding worth $6000. Please see the Mitacs page for more eligibility requirements and timelines.
Students on both 8- and 12-week placements can apply for an International Research Grant worth $3000. (Note, students receiving Mitacs cannot also receive the Research Grant.)
Also, since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while on this research program, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are normally eligible to receive from the university, as well as student loans.
Summer Research to UniGraz are not guaranteed housing, but are given multiple options. They may stay in off-campus dormitories (single or double occupancy), in flats shared with other students, or in private apartments. Due to the variety of housing options, prices vary. Graz will provide summer research students with a list of options and students can then look into the accommodation of their choice.
Because all of the student dorms at Graz are in residential areas of the city, students are expected to act responsibly and in a considerate manner towards their neighbours. All dorms are co-ed with responsibilities for cleaning & upkeep shared among the students living in the same apartment. Students are furthermore expected to abide by the rules of the dorm they are booked.
Student Tip: "I really recommend living in Neubaugasse. It has the best location and it is fairly new. Or Neutorgasse for its location as well."
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (B-). Interested students should have finished 3 years of study in their chosen field before the research placement.
Please also refer to the placement list - some placements have other requirements, such as academic background.
The application is submitted online (see the Apply Now link at the top of this webpage).
Within the online application, it will ask you to answer several short written questions about your interests and goals for the program. It will also ask you to list your desired research placement and a backup.
In addition to the online application, you will need to submit 3 documents:
- Your official UCalgary transcript. This can either be an official hard-copy transcript (dropped off at our office, MT 501, in a sealed envelope) OR an official e-transcript (you must log in to the UCalgary e-transcript platform and "share" it with study.abroad@ucalgary.ca). Note: if you are applying to multiple programs, only one copy of your transcript is needed. Click here for instructions on how to order your official transcript.
- Your CV. Note, the formatting for a European CV is slightly different from Canadian resumes; you should add a photo and a personal information section. You can find some advice here. This can be submitted by email to study.abroad@ucalgary.ca.
- Your motivation letter. Graz does not set a requirement for what this letter should include. However, we recommend aiming for 1 page, explaining your interest in your desired research placement, your motivation for participating in summer research, personal/professional/academic goals, and any other context you believe helpful for your application. (You are welcome to re-use your written answers from the online application in your motivation letter!) This can be submitted by email to study.abroad@ucalgary.ca.
Note: Students first apply to UCalgary for approval. We will check your eligibility and then nominate you to Graz. It is ultimately up to Graz whether or not you are accepted for your desired research placement.
What's so special about Graz?
Museums, armouries, and botanical gardens; annual music and art festivals; a vibrant cabaret scene. It's understandable that Graz was named the European Capital of Culture in 2003. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in part because of its well-preserved medieval city centre. Additionally, Graz's setting near the Alps has made it an active stop on the European train network. For instance, from here it's only an hour to Maribor, Slovenia, or four hours to Venice, Italy.
UniGraz's Disability Resource Centre provides comprehensive support for students with disabilities. They also offer support through their Integrated Service Centre for students that have chronic/ongoing illnesses, and physical disabilities. For information on accessibility and support services of campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.
Do I need to speak another language?
The summer research placement is offered in English. Having some familiarity with German may help with your adjustment to living in Graz, however it is not required to apply for the summer research program.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Flavien Niederst
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.