ISTA PhD Program 2027 in Austria — Paid Five-Year PhD Contract

2027 PhD intake

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) offers an interdisciplinary PhD program with coursework and research-group rotations before thesis research. The current call is open for the 2027 intake. Applicants should check the live application portal to see which research groups are recruiting; ISTA notes that groups not listed in the portal are not accepting new students in this cycle.

Funding and costs

PhD students are employed by ISTA on five-year contracts. ISTA’s funding page lists a 2026 gross salary range of €3,053–€3,673 per month, paid 14 times per year; the amount depends on whether the student holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree at admission. This is the published 2026 range, so confirm the applicable salary for the 2027 intake with ISTA. The institute states that it charges no tuition and no application fee.

Important 2027 dates

Applicant deadline: January 8, 2027 at 3:00 PM CET. Referee deadline: January 12, 2027 at 11:59 PM CET. Program start: September 15, 2027. The referee deadline is later than the applicant deadline, but candidates should request references early.

Eligibility, documents, and application

Review ISTA’s current admissions instructions and FAQs for eligibility and the exact supporting documents required; requirements should not be inferred from older calls. Submit through the official 2027 application portal and ensure referees submit by their separate deadline. Admission is competitive, and the portal identifies the groups recruiting in this cycle.