Scholarship Programme

A scholarship of the EFA for the Forum covers the participation fee and accommodation costs. 

Should the remaining costs (food, transportation, special needs, etc.) pose a financial burden, applicants may apply for additional support. The allocation of such support is subject to the availability of funds and relies on the solidarity of other participants.  

In line with the principle of solidarity, applicants who have sufficient financial means are kindly encouraged to cover their own accommodation costs of €49.00 per night, i.e. a total of € 539 for the 11 nights of EFA26 (with bookings arranged by EFA). By opting out of accommodation coverage, you contribute to making participation at the Forum possible for individuals from less privileged backgrounds. 

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  
• Upload of the most recent qualification or academic record
• You are between 18 and 30 years of age (or between 18 and 35 for citizens of the Global South) at the time of the forum.
• All applicants must be ready to attend the full duration of the European Forum Alpbach. An earlier departure is only possible from 31 August onwards in exceptional, duly justified cases and must be approved in advance by the EFA team. Departures before this date will result in the withdrawal of the scholarship.

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. 

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

Application via the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN)

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 ask you to apply there.  

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 (Carinthia, Northern Italy and Slovenia), CA Steiermark, CA Südtirol Alto Adige, CA Tirol, CA Vorarlberg, IG Wien.

Please have a look at website of the respective FAN clubs for more information on their specific selection process/application criteria. 

Application via the European Forum Alpbach (EFA)

If the club in your country does not have a separate selection process (see above), 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.

If you apply for a scholarship via EFA, please apply via our online application platform. Please read the requirements carefully in order to make sure to submit a complete application. Incomplete applications or applications that reach us via e-mail will not be accepted. Late submission of missing documents will also not be considered.

*Please note there is a special application procedure for nationals of ROC Taiwan or permanent residents in Taiwan: Please apply via the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation.
 

Confirmation of B2 English Level

We accept the following documents:

• A language certificate (not older than three years) that indicates a B2 English level according to the Common European Framework of Reference (e.g., TOEFL with a min. score of 72, IELTS with a min. score of 5.5, Cambridge English Scale Score min. 160, MUET with a min. score of 4, Duolingo min. 115).  
• or proof that you studied or are studying in an English-speaking country  
• Proof that the applicant graduated in an English-speaking high-school (graduating only in the English subject does not count).
• or proof that your degree is taught entirely in English  
• or, if you are a native speaker, you can upload a copy of your passport. You are considered a native speaker if you come from one of the following majority English-speaking countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, The, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Canada, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Zambia, Solomon Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States of America, United Kingdom.
• or a confirmation by your school, employer, or university professor, explicitly stating that you have reached B2 or an equivalent to B2.  

Most Recent Qualification or Academic Record

• Latest diploma (university degree / apprenticeship / A-levels) or  
• Latest transcript of records if you are still studying (only transcripts from 2025 and 2026 can be considered) or  
• Proof of employment (including your latest diploma)

If your transcript or certificate is in a language other than German or English, you need to also attach a translation. This translation does not need to be certified.

On the EFA application platform you will be asked to fill out CV details and indicate your motivation to attend the EFA. 

Applications that do not meet the minimum criteria and contain a letter of motivation generated by Artificial Intelligence will be removed from the selection process and disqualified in advance.