Starting School In Austria: Student Age Requirements

Education is highly valued in Austria, with the country investing heavily in primary education. Schooling is compulsory for nine years, from age six to 15, with the first four years of compulsory education taking place in primary schools (called 'Volksschule' or 'Grundschule'). Most children join primary school in the September after their sixth birthday, with the school year beginning on the first Monday of the month. Lessons are usually held between 8:00 and 14:00 and last for 50 minutes, with breaks of at least five minutes in between. While public primary schools are generally free, private schools are fee-paying institutions. Austria also offers a variety of religious schools, international schools, and homeschooling options.

Primary school

There are 2,865 public primary schools in Austria, as well as 106 private schools receiving government assistance. This means that Austrian primary schools can cater to over 340,000 students each year.

Lessons in Austrian primary schools typically start at 8 am and end at 2 pm, with lessons lasting around 50 minutes each. There should be breaks of at least five minutes between each class, and a one-week break between the two semesters in February. Students also get school holidays at Christmas (14 days), Easter (10 days), and Whitsun (4 days), as well as a longer summer holiday of around nine weeks between each year of instruction.

The goal of primary education in Austria is to teach children the basics in general subjects such as reading, writing, and math, as well as everyday skills such as responsibility, tolerance, respect, and participation in group settings. To progress to secondary school, students must pass German, reading, and mathematics.

While all public primary schools in Austria are free, there may be additional fees for activities like field trips. However, the quality of education at state schools is high, with Austria investing heavily in primary education. In 2015, the country spent US$11,689 per student, well above the OECD average of US$8,631.

In addition to state schools, there are also private schools in Austria, which account for about 8% of the total number of schools. Many of these are denominational schools affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, which provides a deeper religious education than in public primary schools. There are also Montessori and Waldorf primary schools, which emphasize creativity and a sense of independence in children's learning.

For expat families, there are also international schools in Austria, which offer instruction in non-German languages and follow British, American, and/or French curricula. However, these schools can be costly, with annual fees ranging from €5,000 to €50,000.

Homeschooling is also an option in Austria, with an estimated 2,000 children being homeschooled each year. Homeschooled students must pass final exams in each subject at the end of the school year to prove that the quality of their instruction is equivalent to formal education.

Secondary school

In Austria, children are required to complete nine years of schooling from the age of six to fifteen. The first four years of compulsory education are completed in primary schools (called 'Volksschule' or 'Grundschule'), which children typically join in the September after their sixth birthday.

After primary school, from age ten, children can attend either a junior high school or secondary school ('Hauptschule' or 'Kooperative Mittelschule'), or in certain provinces, a 'new middle school' ('Neue Mittelschule'), or the lower grades of a higher general secondary school ('Allgemeinbildende höhere Schule' or 'AHS', also called 'Gymnasium'). All school types comprise four educational levels.

The ninth school year (age 14-15) can be completed at a polytechnical school ('Polytechnische Schule'), which emphasises vocational orientation and preparation for an apprenticeship, or in other types of schools. There are also special schools for children with disabilities or special educational needs.

Austria has many educational opportunities for pupils whose native language is not German, including international schools, bilingual programs, and fast immersive German lessons. There are also private schools in Austria, which account for about 8% of the total number of schools. Most publicly authorised private schools are denominational schools, and there are also some schools that teach according to a particular system, such as Montessori and Waldorf schools.

Language support

In Austria, schooling is compulsory for nine years, starting from the age of six. The first four years of compulsory education are completed in primary schools, and from age ten, children can attend either a junior high school or secondary school. In the 2021/22 school year, more than 300,000 pupils in Vienna had a mother tongue other than German. In the same year, an estimated 14,968 pupils needed additional German lessons.

Austria has various language support options for students whose native language is not German. Firstly, there are international schools where teaching is conducted in a language other than German. Secondly, there are bilingual programs that offer instruction in both German and another language, such as English. Thirdly, there are fast-track immersive German lessons for students who need to develop fluency quickly.

Since 2020, the Austrian government has invested 4 million Euros annually in providing additional German support classes for pupils who have completed school in Austria but still need to improve their language skills. These remedial classes comprise 15 out of 24 hours per week for primary school pupils and 20 out of 32 hours for secondary school pupils. For pupils who are not yet fluent in German, special support is offered in preschool.

In the 2018/19 school year, the Austrian government introduced two segregative language support measures: German Language Support Classes (GLSC) and German Language Support Courses (GLSCO). These pull-out classes separate students who have not yet mastered the language of instruction from their peers. However, not all Austrian schools adhere to the segregated language support policy, and research has shown that 'good practice' in language support is best achieved through inclusive approaches in the mainstream classroom.

In addition to German support, Austria's education system recognizes the importance of linguistic diversity. Many Austrian schools offer mother-tongue teaching in more than 26 languages. Bilingual schools in Carinthia use Slovenian, while schools in Burgenland use Croatian and Hungarian, with these languages being used almost as much as German. This reflects Austria's centuries-old tradition of coexistence in multilingual areas.

School fees

In Austria, children who turn six years old before 1 September are required to attend school. Children who turn six after 1 September and before 1 March can apply for early admission.

In Austria, state schools are free of charge. However, there may be small costs for meals, supplies, and special activities. Private schools, on the other hand, can be quite expensive. Fees for international schools can be very high, with tuition fees starting from €5,000 per year. There are also additional costs for application deposits, meals, boarding, and other fees. Private kindergartens, for example, cost around €250 per month for full days.

For secondary school, private Austrian schools can cost more than €25,000 per year. Boarding schools are even more expensive, ranging from €30,000 to €50,000 annually, and that only covers tuition. There may be extra charges for enrolment, registration, food, and accommodations.

At the university level, EU students do not have to pay tuition fees. However, private universities can cost anywhere from €1,000 to €40,000 per year for both EU and non-EU students. Universities in Austria are subsidised by the government, so students only pay a small fee. Moderate tuition fees were introduced in 2001 to incentivise students to graduate more quickly.

Homeschooling

In Austria, schooling is compulsory for nine years (from age six to 15, first to ninth grade). The first four years of compulsory education are completed in primary schools (Volksschule or Grundschule), which cater to students aged six to ten. From age ten, children can attend either a junior high school or secondary school (Hauptschule, or Kooperative Mittelschule), or in certain provinces, a ‘new middle school’ (Neue Mittelschule).

Parents who wish to homeschool must inform their local school board, the Bildungsdirektion (educational head office for every Austrian state), at the beginning of July before the start of the school year in September of their intent to do so. A mandatory "reflection talk" is required between the school and the family before the end of the school year. Homeschooling parents must also ensure that their children take annual exams in all major school subjects to demonstrate that their knowledge meets the state curriculum requirements and is equivalent to the education provided in public schools. If a family's decision to homeschool is prohibited by the school board, it is possible to appeal the decision and go before the Bildungsdirektion.

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