Technische Universität Graz Research - Schulich & Science Only
Wander through the beautiful historic city centre of Graz and enjoy some traditional pastry or visit one of the amazing restaurants in the official European "Capital of Delight".
Work and live in Austria (Europe) during summer!
Are you interested in a deep dive into cutting-edge research topics and working with highly skilled researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz)? Or do you want to experience the business world first-hand at one of our partner companies?
Then the OverSEAs Internship/Research Programme might just be the right fit for you. Complete your research stay or internship TU Graz or at a Graz based company to develop professional skills, gain insight into the business/research world, and experience the Austrian culture and business environment. The programme will be held in English, knowledge of German is not required.
This programme is a great opportunity to
- work on your professional skills
- develop your intercultural and social competences
- enjoy the vibrant and multicultural student city of Graz (in Austria)
- explore the surrounding countries, as Austria is located right in the heart of Europe!
TU Graz is a research-intensive university ranked among the top 151-200 universities worldwide in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, and in the top 250-300 for Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering (QS, 2016). The city of Graz, which is located close to the Alps and around 200 km from the Mediterranean Sea, also has a lot to offer. Visit the 1000+ year old castle on the "Schlossberg" in the middle of the city, which offers a marvelous view over Graz and the surrounding area, or check out one of the many museums and galleries.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Click on the image to read a testimonial from Frieda, a past UCalgary exchange student!
Program details
TU Graz has a variety of research programs in:
- Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, etc.)
- Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Geosciences
- Physics
- Biotechnology
- Computer Science and Information Systems
- Architecture, Structural Design & Infrastructure
- And more
CLICK HERE to view the research placements being offered for 2024!
Additional Academic Opportunities: This program can be combined with an exchange program at TU Graz, either before/after or during. Students who want to participate in research part- time can also combine the research stay/internship with taking courses at TU Graz to complete a full academic workload. In this case, students need to be present during the whole 15 teaching weeks. You can search for courses taught in English at: www.tugraz.at/go/search-courses
Exchange students at TU Graz are allowed to take both Bachelor’s and Master’s courses without any restrictions. Additionally, students may be able to take 50% or less of their courses at the University of Graz (about a 13 min walk away) through their intra-Graz academic network.
Research/Internship programs typically last one to six month(s), longer stays possible upon request.
Students who want to participate in the programme part- time can also combine the research stay/internship with taking courses at TU Graz to complete a full academic work load. In this case students need to be present during the whole 15 teaching weeks.
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning.
Students should budget an estimated €800 per month for accommodation, living costs and other personal expenses.
Please Note: Austrian visa applications may require advance travel to the Ottawa embassy to submit documentation and take biometrics.
TU Graz offers a "Mensa" (Cafeteria), and there are a variety around the various campuses of Graz. These offer a very different "cafeteria" experience, with a variety of nutritious and delicious meals for a very reasonable price. Mensa meals consist of a main course with salad and a soup or dessert for under 5 euros, with reduced costs for students. For more information, visit the Mensa page.
Graz Cost Comparison vs Calgary: Click Here
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Funding
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.
UCalgary International Funding options:
- The Undergraduate International Research Grant. As this grant is intended for research placements commencing over the spring/summer, the application deadline is usually in February.
- If you are participating in research combined with an exchange at TU Graz, you may be eligible for other credit-bearing awards, such as the Global Access Fund or the Global Learning Award.
- Note that students may only receive one UCalgary International award for their study abroad experience (e.g. you cannot receive both the Research Grant and the Global Learning Award).
Funding may also be available from your faculty, for example, the IDEAS Fund through the Faculty of Science. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Graz offers various accommodation options for exchange students including student housing and flat shares. For more information, visit the "Where will I live?" section of the Preparation page. Monthly accommodation costs range from €315 to €505 per month.
The earlier you start looking for accommodation, the more options you will have. Also be sure to make your payments in time, otherwise you cannot be guaranteed a place organized by TU Graz's International Relations and Mobility office.
There are a variety of options here:
- OeAD WohnraumverwaltungsGmbH provides in-depth descriptions of different student housing in Graz. You can register for a room directly on the website.
- The Austrian Student Union has a list of all student housing in Austria. In case you don’t know, the City of Graz is in the County of Styria (Steiermark).
- There are also external accommodation sites, which can be viewed on the "Where will I live?" section.
Student Tips: "With respect to climate: one day the temperature high was about -1 C, and the city issued an extreme cold warning. With respect to transit: it is a small city, and possible to get around on foot or by bicycle."
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in the Schulich School of Engineering and the Faculty of Science at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
Application is through a two step process:
First, apply online to UCalgary (see the Apply Now link at the top of this webpage). The application will ask you for your research interests and if you plan to take courses as well.
Next, we will guide you on applying directly to TU Graz. You will need to prepare the following documents:
- Portrait picture
- Official UCalgary Transcript
- A scan of your passport
- Letter of Motivation - this can re-use text from your UCalgary application to explain your interest in applying.
- 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.
- Bachelor Degree Certificate (if you are a graduate student)
- Language proof, if required*
*If you are planning to take courses as well as the research, for English-taught courses, no German skills are necessary. However, if you wish to take courses in German you must have completed at least two 300-level courses in German (4 semesters of German or equivalent language skills). A language level of at least B2, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR), is also acceptable. Certification of language proficiency may be required.
To complete TU Graz application form, you will be asked to state which research projects you are interested in.
You will be informed about the results of the matching process within a couple of weeks. Students who are successfully matched with a research project have to get in touch with their supervisor to arrange the details about their stay in Graz (start and end date, workload and other relevant details) and receive a Letter of Invitation for their visa.
Good to know: Some research supervisors might select candidates based only on the application documents; others might invite candidates to an online interview.
Do I have to speak German?
If you are taking courses in English, no prior knowledge of German is required for this exchange. If you wish to take courses in German, please review the eligibility section for more information.
What options are available for improving my German at TU Graz?
Before every semester Graz offers intensive German language courses at different levels. The courses cost €260 for exchange students. Students also have the opportunity to do German language courses during the semester for a cost of €60 per course.
What resources are available to new students?
TU Graz offers helpful orientation sessions before each semester explaining some of the formalities of your exchange, the Austrian university system, and tips for living and studying in Graz - it is mandatory to attend as important information and registration processes take place at this time. There is also an Intercultural Orientation session.
What supports or services are available at TU Graz?
TU Graz offers support for students and staff with temporary or permanent accessibility needs, and provides support for accessible learning as well as for those with chronic conditions. For information on accessibility of campuses across Europe, ESN has created Inclusivity Mobile which allows you to check the accessibility of universities and cities across Europe. 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.
What's 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.
For more information on food and dining in Graz, visit the "Life in Graz" page listing on Restaurants.
Please also view our student testimonial about TU Graz at the top of this webpage.
Student Tips: "Very extensive sports courses in a huge range of activities (skiing, diving, climbing) were all available at a very low cost to students. Lots of orientation activities were [also] planned. Additionally, the mayor hosted a reception for all incoming foreign students. Casual, bi-weekly meetups took place in a local pub."
TU Graz has a new online research program for Fall 2020. They are accepting applications for research in computer science, civil engineering, geosciences, electrical engineering and information engineering. Please choose at least three topics of research you are interested so the coordinators can work on the matching proccess.
Please see the online research flyer for more information.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Tara Jorgensen
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.