Austria's Education System: Free Or Fee-Based?

Austria has a free and public school system, with nine years of mandatory education. After this, students can choose to follow a vocational or academic route. For those who opt for the latter, there are several free universities in Austria for EU, EEA, and Swiss students, including the University of Vienna, the University of Salzburg, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

Nine years of mandatory education

The Republic of Austria has a free and public school system, with nine years of mandatory education. After four years in elementary school (Volksschule) and four years in a school for lower secondary education (Mittelschule) or grammar school (Gymnasium), students have a choice to make. Those who want to take up an apprenticeship and not complete a degree need to go to a polytechnic institute (Polytechnische Schule) for a year. After finding an apprentice position, they must attend a vocational school (Berufsschule) for three years. This can be done through block release (5 days a week for about four months) or day release (one day a week for around 12 months).

At the end of those three years, they must take an exam, the final apprenticeship examination (Lehrabschlussprüfung).

Students who want to get a degree have to complete four to five years at an institution of higher education (Höhere Schule) or a vocational school with higher education entrance qualification (Berufsbildende Höhere Schule). Most of these schools require an entrance exam or demand high marks on your last school certificate. The final exam for either of these higher education institutions is matriculation (Matura). After that, students are free to go to university, though some subjects may require additional exams (e.g. medicine).

Compulsory primary education was introduced by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria (1740–1780), mandating in 1774 that all children of both sexes from the ages of six to twelve had to attend school. While this attendance policy was not strictly enforced, it established the statewide precedent that all children should attend school. To achieve this, Maria Theresa's regulations required that schools exist in all areas—even rural ones, which were required to have a one- or two-class elementary school (known as a Volksschule). Furthermore, textbooks were unified and teacher education was regulated. While these reforms handed educational authority from the church to the state to some extent, religious and moral education was still a large part of the curriculum; at this time, schools also taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Public vs private schools

Education in Austria is free for students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and developing countries. However, there are some exceptions, such as the University of Vienna, which charges tuition fees for certain postgraduate courses like Law and International Relations.

Public schools in Austria are free, whereas private schools typically require tuition fees. Only about 8% of schools in Austria are private, and many of these are run by the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic schools have a reputation for being more strict and rigorous than public institutions, and some are considered elite.

Public schools in Austria offer a range of education options for students at all levels. For example, secondary school is divided into academic and vocational routes to give children equal opportunities. Some 82% of 15 to 19-year-olds in Austrian schools are enrolled in vocational pathways.

Private schools, on the other hand, often follow a particular educational system or religious guidelines that differ from the mainstream. Tuition fees for private primary and secondary schools can be expensive, ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 EUR (5,500 to 44,000 USD) per year.

At the university level, private institutions are rare but have become more common in recent years. Private universities have their own tuition fees, which can cost anywhere from 1,000 to 40,000 EUR per year.

Overall, while both public and private schools are available in Austria, public schools offer a free and high-quality education with a variety of options for students, while private schools typically come with tuition fees and may follow different educational philosophies or religious affiliations.

University fees for EU/EEA students

Austria has a free and public school system, with nine years of mandatory education. After this, students can choose to pursue a vocational or academic route. For those who want to attend university, there are several options, including public universities, private universities, and Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS).

For EU/EEA students, public universities are free of charge. Students only need to pay a small fee of around 20 EUR per semester, which covers student union membership and student accident insurance.

Universities of Applied Sciences can decide whether to charge tuition fees. Most UAS charge EU/EEA students around 363 EUR per semester, plus the student union and insurance fees.

Private universities have their own tuition fees, which can range from 3,000 to 23,000 EUR per year, with some programmes costing even more.

Overall, EU/EEA students have several affordable options for pursuing higher education in Austria, with many universities offering free tuition or low fees.

University fees for non-EU/EEA students

Education in Austria is free for students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland. However, for non-EU/EEA students, the fees are much higher.

At public universities, non-EU/EEA students will have to pay a tuition fee of 726.72 EUR per semester in addition to the compulsory student union membership and student accident insurance fee of 20 EUR per semester. This means that non-EU/EEA students can expect to pay around 746.72 EUR per semester to attend a public university in Austria.

The fees for Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) vary. For non-EU/EEA citizens, costs range from 727 EUR to 7,500 EUR per semester. There are a few UAS, like the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, where courses are free for all international students. However, all students enrolling at a UAS must pay the student union and insurance fees.

Private universities have their own tuition fees, which are typically much higher than public universities. For non-EU/EEA students, fees can range from 3,000 EUR to 23,000 EUR per year, and some specialised programmes can cost 35,000 EUR per year or more.

It is important to note that many public universities make exceptions for students from developing countries, who may be exempt from paying tuition fees. Non-EU/EEA students should check the official university page to see if their country is on the list of exempt countries.

The Austrian grading system

Education in Austria is free for students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland. However, there are some fees that all students must pay, such as student union membership and student accident insurance, which cost around 20 EUR per semester.

Now, onto the Austrian grading system.

• Sehr gut (Outstanding performance with no or only minor errors)
• (Above-average standard but with some errors)
• (Average performance with a number of notable errors)
• Genügend (Adequate, the minimum passing grade)
• Nicht genügend (Unsatisfactory, the lowest grade)

Students must achieve at least a 4 to pass a course. A grade of 1 is typically awarded to the top 10% of students in a class. However, all passing grades (1 to 4) allow students to continue their studies at the university level.

The GPA is often used as a measure of academic success and is important for applications. Most employers will ask for your last school certificate when applying for an apprenticeship.

Frequently asked questions