Best of South-East is a scholarship scheme in collaboration with and funded by Steiermärkische Sparkasse aimed on excellent students from South-Eastern Europe. Its main objective is to offer a combination of academic and job training aiming at easier entry into professional life. The program includes
- one-year scholarship of up to 12.000 Euros
- enrollment at the University of Graz
- in combination with a traineeship OR internship at Steiermärkische Sparkasse
Call 2026.2027
- October 1, 2025 = application period opens
- by January 20, 2026 = contact us for access to the application tool ➜ instructions
- January 22, 2026, 1 pm CET = Application deadline
- call is subject to the final decision by the relevant committees
Info session (online, in English)
- session link: https://unimeet.uni-graz.at/b/gra-c29-vdh
- October 23, 2025, 1pm CET
- November 13, 2025, 1pm CET
- December, 18, 2025, 1pm CET
- January, 8, 2026, 1pm CET
International office
Mag. Christa Grassauer
Universitätsplatz 3, 8010 Graz
Telefon:+43 316 380 - 1254
E-Mail: incoming.exchange(at)uni-graz.at
Contact person at Steiermärkische Sparkasse:
Anja Schausberger, MBA
Telefon:+43 5 0100 - 35528
E-Mail: anja.schausberger(at)steiermaerkische.at
You provide the necessary personal information → click here for details.
For information on the application documents → click here
Which courses you will attend depends on your field and level of study, your interests and the availability of the courses. When uploading your intended courses to your online application, you will list courses from the field and level of study at University of Graz you are applying for.
Yes, you must have completed the data entry and uploaded your intended courses as well as all required documents in the online application by the application deadline at the latest. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
No, it is not necessary to send documents by post. You must have completed the data entry and uploaded your intended courses as well as all required documents in the online application by the application deadline at the latest. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Both options (internship and trainee program) last exactly 12 months (September - August of the following year). Shorter stays are NOT possible.
The internship programme focuses on studying: You attend courses at the University of Graz for 1 year and do a 2-month internship at the bank during the summer months.
In the trainee programme, the focus lies on practical experience: You will get practical insights into working at the bank for a year and at the same time complete some courses at the University of Graz.
If you are in a 4-years bachelor's programme and you are in the fourth year at the time of application, you can apply for the trainee programme - provided you can prove level B1 in German. You can also apply for the internship programme.
- Degree students of University of Graz selected for the programme will continue their degree at the University of Graz during their Best of South-East scholarship year.
- Selected students not enrolled at University of Graz yet, will be enrolled as exchange students for the duration of one academic year. At the end of their stay, they will receive a transcript of records and a confirmation of their participation in the Best of South-East programme. However, they will not receive a degree from the University of Graz.