Digital student ID 2026: More freedom and security for studies!

Digital student ID 2026: More freedom and security for studies!

The Science Committee has decided on a novella of the University Act that provides for the introduction of an Austrian digital student ID. This decision was announced on June 4, 2025. The aim of this measure is to improve the life of the students and to modernize the university system in Austria. The digital student ID is made available via the federal ID platform, whereby the data comes from the existing student register and integrated via the Register and System Association (RSV).

The digital ID card is introduced in the summer semester 2026 and applies to all courses at public universities, universities of applied sciences and universities in Austria in Austria. The students can call up the ID Austria and the app "Evis" on their smartphones. An important improvement is that students with ID Austria no longer have to submit physical documents since the digital study approval is implemented by an online-onboarding system that will be available from autumn 2025. This makes access to courses considerably easier, emphasizes Minister of Science Eva Maria Holzleitner.

data protection and security

The digital student ID guarantees the highest data protection, since all data are stored locally and encrypted on the devices of the users. A contactless check of the ID via the "Efeis Check" app is also possible without data being passed on. This represents significant progress in dealing with personal data and ensures that students always keep an overview of their information.

The introduction of digital ID can not only be seen as a technical innovation, but also as a measure that is intended to strengthen the international visibility and attractiveness of the Austrian universities. Students who participate in international programs should now be able to receive joint degrees without failing to fail to fail to provide minimum national requirements. This not only promotes the mobility of the students, but also improves cooperation with other European universities.

promote flexibility and creativity

In addition, the amendment to the University Act makes it easier to hire researchers from the United States for a limited period of time. The legal clarification is intended to provide universities more flexibility in the tender of professorships. The proportion of professorships that can be awarded by the so -called Opportunity Hiring is doubled from 5 to 10 percent. This is a direct reaction to interventions in the research freedom in the United States and aims to position Austria as a safe port for science and research.

The federal government underlines that the measures are aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and promoting innovations. The digital student ID is therefore a central element of digitization, which should benefit both the students and the universities. State Secretary Josef Schellhorn emphasizes that one tries intensively to facilitate the accessibility of educational offers and simplify administration at the same time.

A total of around 394,000 students are currently available in Austria, spread over 276,000 at universities, 59,000 at universities of applied sciences and 15,000 at universities of teacher. By introducing the digital student ID and the associated reforms, the study should not only be more flexible and easier, but also the quality of education at the universities should be further increased in order to meet the future requirements of the world of work.

More information can be found in the reports of OTS , bmfwf and Federal Chancellery .