Miss Ferguson is the first Otago Polytechnic student to be accepted into a new exchange relationship with the university of applied arts in Vienna.
The nine-month exchange will include instruction from Professor of Fashion Hussein Chalayan as part of her master of design.
Miss Ferguson staged an exhibition called "micropublic'' before she left, an interpretation of Dunedin fashion.
Maintaining an interest in fashion from a young age, she enrolled in a bachelor of design degree in fashion at Otago Polytechnic when she left school.
In her second year she studied in Milan for a semester.
After working in Auckland and Sydney she then returned to Dunedin to continue her study.
The 26-year-old said she never thought she would receive a place in the programme and was shocked to hear she had.
"It's an incredible opportunity and I can't believe I am going to be able to meet and work with one of the most influential fashion designers.
"I kind of put my eggs in one basket and hoped for the best with it, so it's amazing I got it.
"I do feel a bit apprehensive, I know no-one. I've been trying to learn German. There's no-one who has gone before me so it's all new.''
Her master's thesis would explore Dunedin's creative and cultural drivers and her own design practice, Miss Ferguson said.
"In order to more deeply examine some of the influences on Dunedin's creativity, I need to remove myself from here to gain a different perspective.
"My dream is to set up a business in a rural area and focus on quality over quantity with my work.
"I'd love to work on one item of clothing until it's absolutely perfect with no time or other pressures.''
EMMA.PERRY @alliedpress.co.nz
