The Federal Government intends to make just under 16 billion euros available to Austrian universities as a block grant for the years 2028–2030. Not only does this fail to compensate for inflation, but it also means that expenditure previously covered by special funds – such as doctors’ salaries and the new IT:U in Linz – must now be met from this budget. The consequences: a 10 per cent reduction in staff, a weakening of Austria’s position as a centre for business and science, and a deterioration in conditions for students – for example, in terms of teaching, support and counselling.
On 22 October 2026, ten thousand students and staff therefore took to the streets in Vienna to demonstrate against these cuts. Hundreds of students from Graz also travelled there specifically for this purpose by bus and train. The protests were also supported by the university rectors, who had called on staff to take part. The Rector of the University of Graz, Peter Riedler, also joined the rally in person.
Starting in front of the Vienna University of Technology, the protest march set off at 3 pm towards the University of Vienna. Waving creative placards, demonstrators of all ages chanted “Our universities, our education!” or “We’re here, we’re loud, because you’re stealing our education!”. Performers at the head of the procession set the mood with loud music, ensuring that the universities in the capital could not be ignored.
The budget must be finalised by 31 October; the government still has time until then to prevent these devastating consequences. Outside the University of Vienna, the President of the Austrian University Conference (uniko), Brigitte Hütter, therefore once again appealed to the government not to jeopardise Austria’s position as a centre for research or the future of students. ÖH President Viktoria Kudrna expressed the hope that the budget would be increased once more. The protest was largely peaceful, although during the closing rally, a few demonstrators clashed with the police.
A day before the demonstration, the university councils also addressed the government, demanding that the entire meagre budget be allocated to the universities. According to the university councils, doctors’ salaries and the IT:U in Linz should be funded from other sources, and the Ministry of Science should refrain from drawing on its reserves.
