Young people take examinations at universities and receive support with academic work.

The aim of Young Science initiatives is to support gifted and talented pupils with a particular interest in science at an early stage and to give them practical insights into scientific work.

"With the Young Science initiatives, we are giving young people direct access to research and higher education. One thing is clear: education should not be a question of background or financial means, and those who are able to engage in scientific work or gain initial university experience while still at school can gain self-confidence and new perspectives. By strengthening scientific skills, we also strengthen our democracy. Critical thinking and access to knowledge are central building blocks of a resilient society," says Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner.

With Young Science, the OeAD brings children, young people and schools together with science and research through a wide range of offers on behalf of the BMFWF. This creates an interface between school and science.

School pupils at universities: early study at partner universities

A key offering is the ‘School pupils at universities’ initiative. Motivated young people can attend courses at universities while still at school, take exams and thus gain their first experience of university life. The programme is aimed specifically at those who want to be challenged beyond the regular curriculum.

‘My teacher recommended this initiative to me because I am interested in physics beyond the school level. The university then enabled me to pursue this interest, and in this one semester I have learned more than in the previous years,’ says Olivia Tari (19) from ERG Donaustadt Vienna, who is studying physics at the University of Vienna.

The programme is currently available at 36 partner universities in all Austrian provinces, as well as at one partner university in Germany and one in Liechtenstein. Participating students benefit in several ways: they gain their first university experience, are exempt from tuition fees and can take exams that will later count towards a regular degree programme after they have passed their school-leaving exams. This can shorten the duration of their studies.

Austria's education agency OeAD has been coordinating the initiative since the beginning of 2020 and has been continuously expanding it ever since. While a total of 58 pupils took part in the 2019/20 winter semester, the 2024/25 winter semester saw a record number of 174 young people participating. In the current winter semester 2025/26, there are 170 participating pupils.

Young people particularly often choose fields of study such as computer science, economics and law, mathematics and natural sciences. Registration is handled centrally by the OeAD, which makes participation simple and uniform.

‘The sharp rise in participant numbers shows how great the interest in science and study already is in schools. With Young Science, we are creating concrete opportunities for (highly) gifted and particularly committed pupils to further develop their strengths. Our goal is to provide long-term support for young talent and actively open up the path between school and science,’ says OeAD Managing Director Jakob Calice, delighted with the success.

The partner university network has also been significantly expanded in recent years: from 19 partner universities at the beginning of 2020 to 38 partner universities today. Each university provides its own contact person to assist with questions about studying.

Since the 2022/23 winter semester, 22 buddies at seven partner universities have also been helping new students settle into everyday university life. These are former participants who are now regular students and can pass on their experiences directly.

Further information: www.youngscience.at/schuelerinnen-hochschulen

Talent promotion for final theses (ABA) and dissertations

Young Science supports school pupils not only through early study programmes, but also with scientific work in the context of final theses (ABA) and dissertations. Mentoring programmes and topic suggestions from ongoing research projects create a direct link to current research projects.

Physics mentoring in cooperation with TU Wien

In physics mentoring, physics students at TU Wien accompany school students in their final theses on physics topics. The mentors help with scientific writing and also provide practical support, for example with literature research, contacting experts or providing insights into university working methods. This makes scientific work tangible and achievable.

Information on registration: www.youngscience.at/physik-mentoring

Young Science Topic Platform: Research topics for final theses

On the Young Science Topic Platform, school pupils can find almost 1,000 topic suggestions from current research projects – including links and literature tips. Many researchers also offer contact opportunities. This creates valuable direct links to research, ranging from questions about methodology to interview opportunities or visits to research institutions.

Young Science Topic Platform: www.youngscience.at/themenplattform

Young Science Inspiration Award: When theses inspire science

The Young Science Inspiration Award recognises school students for their theses based on current research projects at Austrian research institutions that provide inspiring impetus for science. The winning theses receive an award of up to 400 euros.

The deadline for submissions is 30 April each year. After a technical review by researchers, theses are nominated and a jury selects the three best. These are presented by the students at the Young Science Congress in autumn.

Since 2019, 235 theses have been submitted, 118 of which have been nominated for the competition.

Information: www.youngscience.at/ysia