European Forum Alpbach (EFA) offers around 350 scholarships for international applicants, including change-makers, students, and young professionals, who want to attend the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) for two weeks in Vienna, Austria. They will enjoy attending competency-based, scientific, and artistic seminars, participating in a high-level conference program, and social and cultural activities. Applicants from around the world can apply for this opportunity to attend the event. The European Forum Alpbach 2026 will take place from 24 August to 4 September 2026.

Background Information:

EFA is an interdisciplinary forum for science, politics, business, and culture. Founded in 1945, the yearly EFA and its events address socio-political questions and thoughts of our time.

The EFA event brings together international decision-makers from all sectors of society, including a passionate audience and committed youths. The Program aims to create a dialogue across generational, ideological, and other lines that distinguish us.

This scholarship program enables young people from around the world to come to Alpbach and participate in the Forum. Hundreds of scholarship holders from many countries participate annually in the European Forum Alpbach.

Important Details

Application Deadline: 22  March 2026 (noon CEST)

Duration: 11 Days

Result Announcement: Mid-June 2026

Program dates: 24 August – 4 September 2026

Host Organization: European Forum Alpbach (EFA)

Location: Vienna, Austria

Eligible Countries: All

Gender: Male/Female

Scholarship Type: Partially Funded

Focus Topics: Shaping Europe’s Future

These themes explore the foundational changes required for Europe to lead in a complex world:

• Capability & Renewal: Modernizing Europe’s institutions to ensure agile, decisive, and democratic governance in an era of geopolitical competition.
• Finance & Trust: Aligning the European budget (MFF) with long-term resilience, utilizing shared resources to foster solidarity, trust, and social cohesion.
• Technology & Society: Building sovereign, future-proof infrastructures—across energy, data, and technology—that safeguard democratic values and ensure European autonomy.
• Envisioning […]: A dynamic, responsive theme dedicated to strategic foresight, allowing the Forum to address emerging global shifts and translate complex challenges into collective action.

Core Tracks: Strategic Priorities

These tracks tackle the immediate, concrete challenges facing the continent:

• Climate: Driving cross-sector collaboration to meet the 2050 climate neutrality targets while capitalizing on the economic opportunities of the green transition.
• Finance & Economy: Strengthening European competitiveness, addressing slow growth and demographic pressures, and securing the funding needed for future prosperity.
• Security: Enhancing Europe’s defense capabilities, reducing strategic dependencies, and asserting geopolitical influence in a fragmented global landscape.
• Democracy & Rule of Law: Combating disinformation, polarization, and authoritarianism by fortifying democratic institutions and building resilient civic alliances.

Benefits of The European Forum Alpbach

A scholarship for participating in EFA will cover the following:

• Participation fee
• Applicants’ accommodation throughout the EFA26
• Should the remaining costs (food, transportation, special needs, etc.) pose a financial burden, applicants may apply for additional support. The allocation of such support is subject to the availability of funds and relies on the solidarity of other participants.

In line with the principle of solidarity, applicants who have sufficient financial means are kindly encouraged to cover their own accommodation costs of €49.00 per night, i.e. a total of € 539 for the 11 nights of EFA26 (with bookings arranged by EFA). By opting out of accommodation coverage, you contribute to making participation at the Forum possible for individuals from less privileged backgrounds.

• Applicants who apply through Clubs within the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN) may receive reimbursement for travel costs or daily allowances (please refer to their respective websites).

Who can apply?

Applicants are welcome from all countries of the world apply but must meet the following requirements:

• Applications are open to all citizens and nationalities in any discipline
• Priority goes to ethnic and religious minorities, disadvantaged socio-economic countries, artists and non-graduates, LGBTQIA, refugees, displaced people and people with disabilities.
• The age limit is between 18 and 30 years old. (35 for global south applicants)
• Commit to being present for at least 11 days of attendance (must include a week of the seminar).
• Provide minimum level B2 of English language proficiency: TOEFL 72, IELTS 5.5, CPE or CAE 162, MUET 5
• Confirmation from school, employer, or university professor stating level B2 or an equivalent.
• Be a first-time scholarship holder of the EFA.
• All applicants must be ready to attend the full duration of the European Forum Alpbach. An earlier departure is only possible from 31 August onwards in exceptional, duly justified cases and must be approved in advance by the EFA team. Departures before this date will result in the withdrawal of the scholarship.
• Upload of the most recent qualification or academic record

Note: Before applying for a scholarship, please thoroughly read the requirements.

Required Documents

Applicants should submit the following documents to apply for the European Forum Alpbach:

• Motivation Statement
• Updated CV
• Proof of English proficiency
• Latest Diploma, transcript of records, or proof of employment

Applications that do not meet the minimum criteria and contain a letter of motivation generated by Artificial Intelligence will be removed from the selection process and disqualified in advance.

How to Apply?

Applicants can apply via the EFA’s application portal or one of the FAN’s alum clubs. If available, visit the 30 existing FAN Clubs near the resident city. Also, check out if they offer scholarships, and if yes, apply there. If the Club in the country of residence does not provide scholarships, or if there is no Club in the home country, then apply via the EFA.

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For further information about this Scholarship, please visit the EFA website or read the FAQs.