Helmut Veith Stipend 2027 in Austria: Fully Funded Master’s for Women in Computer Science

Vienna has one of the strongest computer science schools in Europe — and a scholarship that exists specifically to bring more women into it. The Helmut Veith Stipend, run by TU Wien Informatics with the Vienna Center for Logic and Algorithms, hands exceptionally talented female students €7,000 a year for up to two years plus a complete waiver of all TU Wien tuition fees. It's awarded every November to women starting an English-taught Computer Science Master's at TU Wien — and this year's call is live right now.

In short: The Helmut Veith Stipend 2027 is a merit award for outstanding women admitted to an English-taught Computer Science Master's at TU Wien, Vienna — €7,000 per year for up to two years, plus a full tuition fee waiver. Applications for the current call close on 30 November 2026, covering starts in winter 2026/27, summer 2027, and winter 2027/28.

Quick Overview

• Host Country: Austria
• Host Institution: TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Faculty of Informatics
• Degree Level: Master's (MSc)
• Program Duration: Up to 2 years (duration of the Master's program)
• Funding Type: Annual stipend + full tuition fee waiver
• Deadline: 30 November 2026 (annual deadline)

Benefits of the Helmut Veith Stipend

The award package is compact but meaningful — it removes the two biggest cost barriers to studying in Vienna:

• Annual stipend of €7,000 — Paid to the recipient for a duration of up to two years, helping cover living costs in Vienna.
• Full tuition fee waiver — All tuition fees at TU Wien are waived for the duration of your studies.
• Academic community and mentorship — Recipients join TU Wien's logic and algorithms research community, with past winners presenting their work at the annual award ceremony alongside the Vienna Center for Logic and Algorithms (VCLA).
• Prestige and visibility — The stipend honours Helmut Veith (1971–2016), an outstanding computer scientist in logic, verification, and computer security who was a strong advocate and mentor for women in computing. Being selected places you in a small, high-profile cohort — recent rounds have named between two and four recipients from as many as 180 applicants.

Be honest with yourself about one thing: €7,000 a year is a stipend, not a living wage for Vienna. Most recipients supplement it with part-time work or family support. The real financial power of this award is the tuition waiver combined with the cash — it makes a world-class Master's genuinely affordable rather than completely free.

Eligibility Criteria for the Helmut Veith Stipend

The official criteria are precise, and the gender condition is absolute — male students are not eligible. To apply you must:

• Be a female student — This is explicit in the official call: the stipend is exclusively for women in computer science.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Mathematics (Bologna first cycle) or an equivalent degree — Engineering and adjacent technical degrees can qualify if the subject profile matches.
• Be eligible for admission to an English-taught Master's in Computer Science at TU Wien — The current qualifying programs include Data Science, Business Informatics, Logic and Artificial Intelligence, Media and Human-Centered Computing, Software Engineering, Quantum Information Science and Technology, Embedded Computing Systems, and Visual Computing. If you're unsure whether your degree qualifies for a specific program, the official page asks you to contact the program's dean of academic affairs.
• Have solid mathematical and technical knowledge and interest in at least one of Helmut Veith's research areas — Logic in Computer Science, Formal Methods and Verification, Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Complexity Theory, or Computer Security. You don't need all of them; depth in one matters more than breadth.
• Be proficient in English — The programs are taught in English; the stipend application requires proof (TOEFL or similar), though a confirmation from your university works if your Bachelor's was taught in English.
• Secure unconditional admission — You can apply for the stipend before or alongside your TU Wien admission application, but funding is only ever awarded to students unconditionally admitted to the Master's program. A funding application never replaces the admissions process.

There's no fixed minimum GPA, no work-experience requirement, and no nationality restriction — applicants come from around the world (recent recipients hold degrees from Serbia, Armenia, Colombia, Ukraine, Germany, Nepal, Egypt, and Russia, among others).

How to Apply for the Helmut Veith Stipend

Two processes run in parallel — the university admission and the stipend application — and you must handle both yourself. Follow these steps:

1. Choose your Master's program. Pick one of the English-taught Computer Science Master's programs at TU Wien Informatics and check its specific admission requirements, including any subject prerequisites (some programs may require supplementary examinations of up to 30 ECTS). 2. Apply for admission to TU Wien. Submit your admissions application through the university's process for your target semester. The stipend call covers starts in winter 2026/2027, summer 2027, and winter 2027/2028, so align your admission round with the November 30 stipend deadline. 3. Prepare your stipend application package. Assemble the documents listed below — the cover letter, CV, and motivation letter are where selection actually happens, so write them carefully and tailor them to the program and to Veith's research areas. 4. Submit via the TU Wien job portal. Applications are filed electronically through the official portal linked from the VCLA stipend page. Do not send your application by email — applications sent to the coordination email address are deleted unread per the data protection policy. 5. Arrange your referees. You need contact details of two referees, at least one from academia. Contact them well before the deadline — letters arriving late can sink an otherwise strong application. 6. Work toward unconditional admission. The stipend is only awarded once you're unconditionally admitted. If your admission is still conditional at decision time, you won't receive funding. 7. Wait for the decision. The selection committee reviews applications after the November 30 deadline; recipients are announced in spring (the 2026 cohort was celebrated at an award ceremony on April 30).

Required Documents

Per the official application instructions, submit the following in English or German (certified translation required for documents in other languages):

• Cover letter — Describing the type of funding you're applying for and anything else relevant to your application.
• Curriculum Vitae — Academic CV highlighting your technical background.
• Motivation letter — Why you want to study in the chosen program, why funding is necessary, and which faculty groups you'd like to work with during your Master's thesis — and why.
• Transcripts — Reports on university examinations.
• Diplomas and/or certificates — First degree/Bachelor's (or higher). If your final certificate isn't ready by the deadline, a signed and stamped preliminary certificate from your university (with expected graduation date) is accepted.
• Two referees' contact details — At least one referee must be from academia.
• English language certificate — TOEFL or similar; alternatively, a confirmation from your university if your Bachelor's was taught in English.
• Copy of passport.

Helmut Veith Stipend Deadline

The official deadline for the current call is 30 November 2026 — the stipend is awarded annually and this is the fixed yearly cutoff. This call covers students planning to start in winter semester 2026/2027, summer semester 2027, or winter semester 2027/2028. If you miss it, the next round will almost certainly run on the same annual rhythm (deadline 30 November 2027), but nothing about funding is guaranteed year to year — so treat this as the round to target.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Helmut Veith Stipend really fully funded?

Honestly, it's close but not complete. You get €7,000 per year for up to two years plus a waiver of all TU Wien tuition fees. In Vienna, €7,000 a year (~€583 a month) covers a meaningful share of rent and living costs but not all of them — most recipients plan for some additional income or savings. It's best described as a generous partial scholarship with zero tuition.

Can men apply for the Helmut Veith Stipend?

No. The official call states explicitly that the stipend is for female students and that male students are not eligible. The award was created in memory of Helmut Veith, who was a vocal advocate and mentor for women in computer science.

Do I need to be admitted to TU Wien before I apply for the stipend?

No, and this trips people up. You can file the stipend application before or in parallel with your admissions application. But funding is only awarded to students who end up unconditionally admitted to the Master's program — and applying for the stipend does not count as applying for admission.

Which Master's programs qualify?

One of the English-taught Computer Science Master's at TU Wien Informatics. The current lineup includes Data Science, Business Informatics, Logic and Artificial Intelligence, Media and Human-Centered Computing, Software Engineering, Quantum Information Science and Technology, Embedded Computing Systems, and Visual Computing. Check the TU Wien Informatics program pages for the definitive current list.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

No fixed minimum is published. Selection is based on talent, motivation, and fit with the program and Veith's research areas — but be realistic: with ~180 applications for 2–4 spots in recent rounds, successful candidates are academically excellent.

Can I apply if I already have a Master's degree?

The official FAQ addresses this scenario, so it isn't an automatic no — but the stipend is designed for students pursuing one of the qualifying Master's programs. If you already hold a Master's in a closely related field, your motivation letter needs a very convincing reason for a second one.

What do I have to do to keep the stipend in the second year?

Recipients must show good progress: on average at least 25 ECTS credits per term from the Master's curriculum, with a grade average of at most 1.5 (on the Austrian scale, where 1 is the best grade). Funding is provided for up to two years, subject to these conditions.

Do I have to live in Austria while receiving the stipend?

Yes. Recipients must reside in Austria during term time for the duration of their studies. Temporary interruptions — for example for internships or research visits — need prior approval; they're not automatic.

Can I work while receiving the stipend?

The official conditions focus on academic progress (25 ECTS per term, 1.5 grade average), not an employment ban. Many recipients do part-time work alongside their studies, which is also how they typically bridge the gap between the €7,000 stipend and Vienna living costs.

When will I know the decision?

The committee decides in the months after the November 30 deadline, with recipients traditionally announced in spring — the most recent cohort was celebrated at an award ceremony on April 30. Plan your housing and visa timelines around a spring decision.

Final Words

The Helmut Veith Stipend is one of those rare awards where the eligibility bar is narrow but the application itself is straightforward — no separate exams, no nomination gauntlet, just a strong dossier and a clear November deadline. If you're a woman finishing a CS or math Bachelor's with real depth in logic, algorithms, AI foundations, or security, this is worth your full effort. Start the TU Wien admission process now, line up your referees, and write a motivation letter that shows exactly which faculty groups you want to work with and why.