Why Graz Is One of Austria’s Most Attractive Student Cities in 2026

Quality of Life as a Key Factor

Today, students are looking for much more than just excellent academic programs. Key factors include:

• affordability

• infrastructure

• safety

• leisure opportunities

• mobility

• and overall quality of life

This is exactly where Graz stands out.

According to the city’s latest quality of life survey, more than 92% of residents enjoy living in their district, while around 81% rate Graz’s quality of life higher than that of other cities.

Particularly well-rated are:

• excellent local amenities

• high recreational value

• efficient accessibility throughout the city

• and a strong sense of safety in everyday life

These aspects play a central role, especially for students.

Popular Fields of Study in Graz

Graz’s universities offer an exceptionally broad academic spectrum. Currently, some of the most popular fields include:

• Law

• Business Administration

• Human Medicine

• Nursing and Healthcare

• Computer Science

• Software Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Architecture

• Biomedical Engineering

Technical and scientific degree programs continue to gain importance. Graz University of Technology is considered one of Austria’s leading technical universities and offers more than 20 bachelor’s degree programs.

The Medical University of Graz and the University Hospital Graz also play a key role for the city. LKH-University Hospital Graz is among the largest hospitals in Europe, making Graz particularly attractive for students and professionals in the healthcare sector.

An International City with Continued Growth

Graz is becoming increasingly international. More than 20% of students at the University of Graz come from abroad, while the proportion is even higher at Graz University of Technology.

The city continues to grow steadily and now has a population of more than 306,000 inhabitants. Young people in particular continue to move to Graz to study, work, and live.

This development has a direct impact on the real estate market.

What Does This Mean for the Real Estate Market?

Graz’s strong appeal as a university city creates consistently high demand for residential properties. Particularly sought-after remain:

• smaller apartments

• modern new developments

• shared-flat-friendly floor plans

• and well-connected locations near universities

At the same time, topics such as energy efficiency, infrastructure, and recreational quality are becoming increasingly important.

One thing is especially clear in 2026: Quality of life remains one of the strongest drivers of sustainable demand in the real estate market. For property owners and investors, Graz therefore continues to be a stable and highly attractive long-term location.