Austrian Teenagers' Schooling Duration Explained

In Austria, there are nine years of compulsory education, which means that children can leave school at 15 years old. However, they must then continue their education through professional training or further schooling until the age of 18. This means that young people will typically finish their Matura exams when they are 18 or 19 years old.

Compulsory education ends at 15 years old

In Austria, compulsory education ends at 15 years old. This means that children are required to complete nine years of schooling. However, after this, all young people must continue their education until they are 18, either by staying in school or going into professional training.

Compulsory education in Austria starts in the academic year following a child's sixth birthday. This means that if their sixth birthday falls on 2 September, they will start school the following year.

After four years of elementary school, students move on to lower secondary education or grammar school for another four years. At this point, students who want to take up an apprenticeship and do not want to complete a degree need to attend a polytechnic institute for a year.

Austrian legislation prescribes five years of secondary education, usually for students aged 10 to 15. After this, students can continue their education or enter high school, complete vocational training, or forego further education.

After this, students must continue school or go into training until 18

In Austria, children start school in the academic year following their sixth birthday. Compulsory schooling is for nine years, so it is possible to leave school at 15 years old, but only to go into further training such as an apprenticeship. After this, students must continue school or go into training until 18.

There are 12 or 13 years of school in total, so young people will typically finish their Matura exams when they are 18 or 19 years old. The Matura is the general school-leaving examination. Intermediate vocational schools and higher vocational schools also conclude with the Matura, as well as a technical examination. On leaving vocational schools, pupils may have qualified for one or more professions or occupations.

Austrian legislation prescribes five years of secondary education, usually for students aged 10 to 15. After that, students can continue or enter high school, complete vocational training or a vocational secondary school, or forego further education. After finding an apprentice position, students must attend vocational school for three years. This can be done either in block release (five days a week for about four months) or day release (once a week in the same stretch of time as a normal school).

Schooling can last 12 or 13 years

In Austria, there are nine years of compulsory education, which means that children can leave school at 15 years old. However, they must then go into further training, such as an apprenticeship, until they are 18. In total, schooling can last 12 or 13 years, with young people typically finishing their Matura exams when they are 18 or 19 years old.

Compulsory education in Austria consists of four years in elementary school (Volksschule) and four years in a school for lower secondary education (Mittelschule) or grammar school (Gymnasium). After this, students who want to take up an apprenticeship and do not want to complete a degree need to go to a polytechnic institute (Polytechnische Schule) for a year.

Austrian legislation prescribes five years of secondary education, usually for students aged 10 to 15, i.e. up to the 9th school year. After that, students can continue or enter high school at an AHS, complete vocational training or a vocational secondary school, or forego further education.

Intermediate vocational schools (from age 14, 9th-11th or 12th school grades) conclude with a technical examination, while higher vocational schools (from age 14, 9th-13th school grade) conclude with a technical examination and the general school-leaving examination (Matura).

Students can attend intermediate or higher vocational schools

In Austria, there are nine years of compulsory education. After that, all young people must either continue their school education or go into professional training until the age of 18.

On leaving vocational schools, pupils may have qualified for one or more professions or occupations. The higher general secondary school and grammar school (from age 14, 9th-12th school grades) also conclude with the general school-leaving examination (Matura).

Apprenticeships are an option after four years of secondary education

In Austria, there are nine years of compulsory education. After four years of elementary school and four years of lower secondary education, students can choose to take up an apprenticeship. If they do so, they will need to attend a polytechnic institute for a year.

Apprenticeships are a popular option for students who do not want to complete a degree. They provide an opportunity to learn a trade and gain practical skills. Apprenticeships in Austria typically last for three years and can be completed in block release (five days a week for about four months) or day release (once a week in the same stretch of time as a normal school).

During an apprenticeship, students attend a vocational school (Berufsschule) where they learn the skills necessary for their chosen trade. There are also intermediate and higher vocational schools that students can attend from the age of 14. These schools conclude with a technical examination, and in the case of higher vocational schools, the general school-leaving examination (Matura).

It is important to note that while students can legally leave school after nine years of compulsory education, they must continue their education until the age of 18. This can be done through further training, such as an apprenticeship, or by continuing school education.

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