University of Vienna MSc Molecular Biology

Hi all,

I’m a UK citizen with no EU/Austrian citizenship. After working in the pharmaceutical industry for 5 years and gaining Foundation and Bachelors degrees via the apprenticeship route, I’m looking to pursue a Masters degree and I’m thinking of going abroad.

I know Masters will be twice as long (2y) in EU compared to the UK (1y) but I think it will be a great opportunity for a new life experience and you only live once, so why not.

However I have a major concern that Masters in Europe actually takes longer than 2 years, I couldn’t find statistics for this course that I’m interested in but seen for another similar but a bit more broad subject the median time to graduation is 6 semesters (3 years!!!!)

I was wondering if anyone had thoughts about this? Specifically, if you’re a student in Vienna, do most students take longer than 4 semesters? It doesn’t make sense to me why something us Brits do in 1 year takes so long in Vienna.

My concern is that it’s too long to be abroad and I will have limited funds. Tuition fee is not expensive but living costs can be significantly expensive.

By the time I hypothetically start this course in Oct 2025, I would have saved £35-40k (€41-47k), that would be an a decent income for 2 years I would’ve thought given that you can find student accommodation for as little as €400/£342 per month it should be a manageable but only for 2 years and not longer. Considering I have to travel to the UK every 3 months to get my insulin and I’m also looking to do frequent trips to nearby countries (mostly cheap Balkan countries) it would add further economic constraints.

For context, I’m not looking to work at all whilst I’m studying unless it’s for temporary periods in the research industry which I doubt I’d find in Vienna anyways.

My questions:
Do MSc programmes really take that long?
Do you think it’s feasible with the money I’ll have?
Anyone have any thoughts and opinions on the university itself?

Hey there!!
It’s great that you’re considering studying abroad—Vienna sounds like an amazing opportunity and I 100% agree with the whole you only live once vibe - I personally haven't studied abroad but do regret not doing so, and I have had mates who did move and loved it!
RE your concerns -
Length of MSc Programs: A large number of masters in the EU are designed to take 2 years, but the actual time can vary and can be course dependent. Some students might take longer due to thesis work, internships, or other commitments. Would suggest reaching out directly to the university or current students to get a clearer picture of typical timelines.
Finances: With your savings, it seems definitely manageable for 2 years, especially with affordable student accommodation. Also worth considering option of part time work like a cafe/bar job or something (useful from cash perspective as a bit of a buffer, and helpful to have a bit of extra work experience + having varied social life). Though of course it is wise to be mindful with budgeting and if you can make a list of various expenses you predict you'll need as well as luxuries/treats.
University Experience: If you haven't already, would be worth seeing if there are any forums on the student room, but also worth checking other places like Reddit/Facebook groups for students at the university which might give you some insider perspectives on the program and living in Vienna.
Overall, it sounds like an incredible adventure!! Just be sure to gather as much info as you can to plan ahead. Good luck with your decision!