The Austrian federal government responded to Russia’s act of aggression in the Ukraine by offering the Ernst Mach Ukraine Scholarship, giving Ukrainian students an opportunity to continue their university studies in Austria, or start their studies at the beginning of Summer Semester 2022. In a surprise move, an announcement was made in July of this year that the scholarship program would expire at the end of the Winter Semester 2023/2024. The Ukrainian students enrolled at the Johannes Kepler University Linz now face an uncertain future, despite their outstanding academic record.

Funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science & Research (BMBWF), and managed by Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalization (OeAD), the Ernst Mach UKRAINE Scholarship provides students with €715 a month. The prerequisite includes admission to a degree program at an Austrian university. In order to apply for an extension, each semester students must show they have earned a minimum of 16 ECTS credits. Students are allowed to be minimally employed while receiving the scholarship.

JKU Rector Meinhard Lukas remarked: "It is very unfortunate that the Ernst Mach Scholarship program for Ukrainian students is set to expire at the end of the 2023/2024 Winter Semester. The funding, along with the many immediate measures the JKU has taken since the start of the war, have given Ukrainian students at the JKU an academic perspective. The Ukrainian students’ outstanding academic record confirms just how effective the scholarship is."

Outstanding Academic Record
A total of 69 JKU students were awarded the Ernst Mach Scholarship during the 2023 Summer Semester. On average, the students are approximately 20 years old. Three-quarters of them are pursuing degrees at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and 51% of those students are enrolled in the English-language undergraduate degree program, Artificial Intelligence (see Figure 1). Although it should be noted that some exams are still pending, approximately 61% of the students earned 16 ECTS credits or more during the past semester, meaning they have met the requirements; of these, approximately 36% of the students earned 24 ECTS credits (see Figure 2).

Univ. Prof. Johann Bacher (JKU Institute of Sociology), remarked: "This is an extraordinary accomplishment resulting from several factors. First and foremost, the students are highly motivated and eager to do well. Other factors include support services provided by the JKU’s International Welcome Center (IWC), and faculty support. In addition, students help each other and they have formed a community. That has also been important. However, to further support the students’ academic success, it is also important that they have the scholarship so they can concentrate on their studies. One of the main reasons for dropping out of college is having to take on a job."

Prof. Thomas Gegenhuber (Linz Institute of Technology) was very involved with the Ukrainian students forced to flee in the beginning and added: "We need to continue the scholarship program, or create an alternative program. The students integrated quickly into life on campus. The high number of English-language courses offered by the JKU also made it easier for them to begin or continue their studies. Many of the students are taking engineering and scientific subjects, thereby acquiring key skills and expertise at the JKU. This makes them highly qualified specialists, especially the kind currently in high demand in Upper Austria and elsewhere."

The Ernst Mach UKRAINE Scholarship is an Investment in the Future
If the scholarship program expires, the students can apply for basic financial aid for international students or asylum seekers. However, the amount will not cover dorm fees (basic financial aid for individuals is currently €165 per month in Upper Austria, and dorm rooms start at approximately €300). In addition, students may have to try to find a job. Prof. Gegenhuber explained: "Many of the students doing well in their studies would have to start looking for a job, or add hours to the job they already have. In terms of the integration policy, the fact that they are able to manage their studies and a job should be regarded as a positive thing otherwise, it could jeopardize their academic success at the university. If we are really desperately in need of skilled workers in Austria, then we need to also make it possible for these students to acquire the corresponding qualifications quickly. The Ernst Mach scholarship is giving Ukrainian students an opportunity to fully concentrate on their academic future. In addition, holding an Austrian degree improves their chances to successfully integrate into labor market."

Marta Mazurchak (18) is originally from Lviv and studies chemistry at the JKU (Chemistry and Chemical Technology). She spoke about just how important the Ernst Mach scholarship is in regard to her studies. In the Ukraine, she was at the top of her class, earning the highest score on her school-leaving exam in mathematics and also passionately pursuing karate. After Russia invaded the Ukraine, her life, like the lives of many others in the Ukraine, turned into a "before" and "after". She remarked: "After I fled to Austria, financial security was one of the biggest challenges. Not to exaggerate but for me, as well as most Ukrainians who want to earn a university degree, the Ernst Mach scholarship has been a true godsend. Thanks to this scholarship, I can cover essential expenses, focus on my studies, and, after I graduate, I can explore my career prospects as a chemist in Austria."

A number of the Ukrainian students simultaneously passed their last exams in Ukraine, then started studying at the JKU, and also began learning German. Despite the additional workload, many of the students are proving to be very successful. Originally from Kyiv, Varvara Toloknova (21) studied mathematics in the Ukraine and is now studying "Statistics and Data Science" at the JKU. The scholarship is vital for her: "The scholarship gave me the opportunity to not give up and to continue my studies to become an applied mathematician. I was also able to find a small apartment and focus on learning German so I can communicate better here. This is how I managed to pass the B2 level test in just one year. This scholarship is an opportunity for those who have lost almost everything. All of us are very grateful to Austria for the opportunity to focus on our education."

Rector Lukas concluded with an appeal to the Ministry: "The Ernst Mach Scholarship is an investment in the future of young people who have been displaced from their homeland, Ukraine, on account of Russia’s act of aggression. Keeping the scholarship in place can secure that future."

Click here for an overview of all of the JKU's emergency aid policies to support Ukrainian students.