Scholarship Programme


20230820 172235 efa23 sem Keep It In The Ground EFA Andrei Pungovschi

3 Mar, 2025

EFA25

Would you like to be part of the European Forum Alpbach event? Apply for a scholarship with us: You're in for a lifechanging experience!

The EFA Scholarship Programme

Every year, hundreds of young talents from around the world travel to the picturesque village of Alpbach to take part in a truly unique event: the European Forum Alpbach (EFA). Students, young professionals, and changemakers come together to attend scientific, competence-based, and artistic seminars, engage in a high-level conference programme, and participate in a vibrant mix of social and cultural activities.

At the heart of this experience are the EFA scholarship holders — the only participants who stay for the entire duration of the Forum. Each year, around 350 scholarships are awarded to first-time participants by both the European Forum Alpbach and the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN).

Spending two immersive weeks in the Alps, this selected group is given access to thought-provoking content, meaningful dialogue with decision-makers and thought leaders, and countless inspiring encounters with peers and other generations alike. One former scholarship holder called it:

"An absolutely outstanding opportunity for young minds to interact, discuss, build friendships and collaborations – and promote positive change in the future."

More Than Two Weeks: EFA as a Lifelong Community

The EFA experience doesn't end in Alpbach. Through the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN), former scholarship holders stay connected long after the Forum is over. The network spans over 30 alumni initiatives in 21 countries, all committed to strengthening the Forum's mission year-round.

These organisations:
- Fund their own scholarships
- Host local events and discussions
- Support new participants in preparing for and navigating their EFA journey

The shared experience of EFA creates lasting bonds, cross-border friendships, and a growing community of people committed to shaping a better Europe together.

Everything You Need to Know About the EFA Scholarship

Scholarship services

A scholarship at EFA covers the participation fee and the accommodation for the entire duration of the event. Additionally, scholarship holders receive a daily allowance of 25 Euros per day.

Qualification criteria

Our scholarship programme is for students, young professionals and change-makers who want to have an impact and become active citizens in their region. A scholarship for the European Forum Alpbach event is available to applicants from all countries and disciplines. Artists and non-graduates are invited to apply, too.

Please note the following application criteria:

  • You have not received a scholarship from the European Forum Alpbach yet and therefore qualify as a first-time scholarship holder. If you attended the Forum virtually in 2020 or 2021, you may still apply.
  • The main language of the European Forum Alpbach is English. Therefore, fluent English language skills are required (English proficiency at a minimum level of B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference). You will be asked to provide supporting documents to prove your English proficiency (List of accepted documents at the FAQ section).
  • You are between 18 and 30 years of age (or between 18 and 35 for citizens of the Global South)
  • All applicants must be available and ready to attend the European Forum Alpbach event for a minimum of eleven days, including the Euregio Days, Alpbach Seminar Days and the Europe in the World Days.

We encourage candidates coming from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, members of ethnical or religious minorities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and refugees or displaced persons to apply for a scholarship. If you identify yourself as belonging to one of these groups, you may indicate this in your motivational statement. We will take it into consideration in our jury assessment.

Application process

You can either apply via EFA's application portal or via one of the FAN’s alumni clubs.

FAN clubs strive to make the Alpbach experience available to new scholarship holders from their clubs’ regions. If you have a regional affiliation (nationality or present/past residency status) with one (or more) of the FAN clubs that offer their own scholarships, we recommend applying there. You will benefit from smaller mentoring structures and immediate onboarding into our alumni network.

These are the FAN clubs who offer EFA-scholarships and have a separate selection process: CA Burgenland, CA Liechtenstein, CA Niederösterreich, CA Poland, CA Upper Austria, CA Salzburg, CA Senza Confini, CA Steiermark, CA Südtirol Alto Adige, CA Tirol, CA Vorarlberg, IG Wien.

If the club in your country does not offer scholarships, or if there is no club in your country, then we invite you to apply via the EFA. The EFA scholarship programme is open to international applicants from all regions of the world*, with a special focus on Europe (outside Austria). Please note that we cannot consider your application via the EFA if you have a connection to one of the above-mentioned clubs that have their own application process.

*except nationals of ROC Taiwan or permanent residents in Taiwan: Please apply via the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any further questions, please get in touch via scholarships@alpbach.org


Your EFA Contact

231117 DSC3432 web c Elisabeth Mandl

Melissa Német

Unit Communities | Stakeholder Manager | Scholarship Programme