Lyla Lindsey
Austria's school system is known for its high standards and strong vocational education sector. The country offers a wide range of educational opportunities for students, including public and private schools, international schools, and bilingual programs. Compulsory education in Austria lasts for nine years, from ages six to fifteen, with primary school lasting four years and lower secondary school comprising grades 5 to 8. After completing compulsory education, students must continue their education or undergo professional training until they turn eighteen. Austria's secondary academic school, known as Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule or Gymnasium, prepares students for university, although they can switch to a vocational program after eighth grade. The country also offers special needs education and support for children with learning difficulties.
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What You'll Learn
- Schooling is compulsory for nine years, from age six to 15
- There are many educational opportunities for pupils whose native language is not German
- After four years of primary school, children can choose which path to follow
- Secondary education is split into lower and upper levels
- Higher education requires passing the Matura exam
Schooling is compulsory for nine years, from age six to 15
Schooling is compulsory for nine years in Austria, from age six to fifteen. The first four years of compulsory education are completed in primary schools (known as 'Volksschule' or 'Grundschule'), for children aged six to ten. Public primary education is free in Austria, and the quality is widely considered to be very high. However, for non-German speakers, the options are more limited. Bilingual schools are available, offering instruction in both German and English, but there are a limited number of these, and they are mostly located in major cities.
After four years of primary school, children can choose which path they will follow and which school they would like to attend. There are around 1,200 public secondary schools and 72 private schools in Austria, with varying educational priorities. The lower secondary level (years five to eight) comprises lower secondary school (known as 'Mittelschule' or 'MS'), which is a compulsory Austrian public secondary school, and academic secondary or grammar school ('Allgemeinbildenden Höhere Schule' or 'AHS'). Lower secondary school prepares its pupils for professional or vocational training, and offers instruction tailored to the interests, abilities and skills of the pupils.
After the lower secondary level, pupils can transfer to a college for higher vocational education or the upper level of an academic secondary school. The Austrian AHS system offers a broad general education, and includes institutions known as 'Gymnasium', which provide different fields of specialisation that grant the diploma ('Reifeprüfung' or 'Matura') needed to enter university.
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There are many educational opportunities for pupils whose native language is not German
Austria offers a wide range of educational opportunities for pupils whose native language is not German. The country's education system can be divided into public, private, and international schools. While most Austrians attend public schools, there are still many options for non-German speakers in the other two categories.
International schools, for example, are a popular choice for expats due to their familiar language of instruction and continuity of study when students return to their home country. These schools are diverse and tend to welcome parental involvement. However, they are not cheap, with annual costs ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 depending on the school and grade level. International schools are also limited, especially outside major cities, so spaces fill up quickly.
Private schools, which account for about 8% of schools in Austria, also offer opportunities for non-German native speakers. These schools may have a particular affiliation, such as Catholic or Montessori, or they may have no affiliation. They vary in cost and admission policies.
For those who wish to attend a public school, there are still options available for non-German native speakers. Public schools accept children who speak very little German as "non-regular pupils." This means they attend school with the other children and can advance to the next level. Additionally, bilingual children can request books for German as a second language, as well as bilingual dictionaries. There are also bilingual schools (German and English) that offer the best of both worlds. However, these schools are limited in number and mainly located in major cities.
To improve language proficiency among non-native speakers, the Austrian government has invested 4 million Euros annually since 2020 in providing additional German support classes for pupils who have completed school in Austria but still need to improve their language skills. The curriculum for these remedial classes comprises 15 out of 24 hours per week for primary school pupils and 20 out of 32 hours for secondary school pupils.
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After four years of primary school, children can choose which path to follow
After four years of primary school, children in Austria can choose to attend either a lower secondary school (“Mittelschule – MS”), or a higher academic secondary or grammar school (“Allgemeinbildenden Höhere Schule – AHS”). Lower secondary schools are compulsory and must accept all pupils who completed the fourth year of primary school. They prepare their pupils for professional or vocational training, and offer instruction tailored to the interests, abilities, and skills of the pupils. Pupils can take advanced courses in German, mathematics, and foreign languages. After lower secondary school, pupils can transfer to a college for higher vocational education or the upper level of an academic secondary school.
The Austrian AHS system offers a comprehensive and broad general education. The German term “Gymnasium” normally encompasses all academic secondary schools (grammar schools). Children with special educational needs have a few different options in Austria. They may receive extra support alongside other students, or their parents may place them in a special needs school – a “Sonderschule” – or in a special pedagogical center – a “Sonderpädagogisches Zentrum”.
Vocational schools with a focus on either business and economics or technical subjects, such as commercial academies (HAK) and polytechnics (HTL), finish with the Matura, but last five years as opposed to the four-year Oberstufe of the Gymnasium. In vocational schools, an Ausbildungsschwerpunkt is chosen by all students, which then constitutes the main focus of their schooling and is a compulsory subject at the Matura examinations.
Austria has about 1,200 public secondary schools and 72 private schools which are supported by the government. Private schools account for about 8% of schools throughout the country.
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Secondary education is split into lower and upper levels
Secondary education in Austria is split into two levels: lower and upper. The lower level of secondary education, or "Unterstufe", covers grades 5 to 8 and can be completed at a lower secondary school ("Mittelschule - MS), or a compulsory secondary school. Lower secondary schools are required to accept all pupils who completed the fourth year of primary school with passing marks. These schools prepare students for vocational training and offer instruction tailored to their interests, abilities, and skills. Starting in the third level, pupils can take advanced courses in German, mathematics, and foreign languages.
After completing lower secondary education, pupils have the option of transferring to a college for higher vocational education or the upper level of an academic secondary school. The upper level of secondary education, or Oberstufe, lasts for four years and concludes with the general school-leaving examination ("Matura"). The Matura is a prerequisite for higher education, including university, academy, technical university, and college.
There are also vocational schools with a focus on business, economics, or technical subjects, which conclude with the Matura but last for five years. In addition, intermediate and higher vocational schools conclude with a technical examination, and the former also offers the Matura.
Austria has a strong vocational education sector, with many options for technical studies, humanities, arts, and other fields. Technical universities offer practical training and direct access to professions. The country also offers international schools, which are popular among expats, as well as bilingual schools for those who are not native German speakers.
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Higher education requires passing the Matura exam
Higher education in Austria requires passing the Matura exam, also known as the Reifeprüfung. This is a prerequisite for university, academy, technical university, or college. The Matura is a general school-leaving examination that students can take after completing a higher general secondary school or grammar school (from age 14, 9th-12th grades).
The Matura exam consists of written and oral components, and the document received after successful completion of these exams is called the Maturazeugnis. The grading system used for the Matura is the standard one across Austrian schools: 1 (sehr gut) is excellent, 2 (gut) is good, 3 (befriedigend) is satisfactory, 4 (genügend) is sufficient, and 5 (nicht genügend) means that the student has failed. To pass with distinction, a student must achieve an average of 1.5 or better, with no grade lower than a 3.
Students from vocational schools can also take the Matura exam. These schools have a focus on either business and economics or technical subjects, such as commercial academies (HAK) and polytechnics (HTL). Vocational schools' curricula last five years, in contrast to the four-year Oberstufe (upper stage) of the Gymnasium. In vocational schools, students choose an Ausbildungsschwerpunkt, which is the main focus of their schooling and a compulsory subject at the Matura examinations.
Additionally, qualified school-leavers from intermediate vocational schools or qualified apprentices can prepare for university entrance by taking the vocational qualifying examination (Berufsreifeprüfung or Berufsmatura).
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian school system is known for its high standards and strong vocational education sector. Schooling is compulsory for nine years, from age six to 15. After four years of primary school, students can choose between a compulsory secondary level or the first four years of an eight-year university preparatory track. There are also international and bilingual schools for non-German speakers.
After primary school, students can choose between a lower secondary school, also known as a compulsory secondary school, or an academic secondary or grammar school. There are also special schools for disabled children or children with special educational needs.
The primary level in the Austrian school system is for students aged 6-10 (grades 1-4), and the secondary level is for students aged 10-14 (grades 5-8). The secondary level is split into lower secondary and upper secondary, with students able to switch to a vocational program after eighth grade.
