Education and schools for expats in Austria | KOCH Moving Logistics

Moving to Austria presents families with many challenges, especially when it comes to their children's education. The Austrian school system differs from the German education system in many ways – above all in its federally uniform structure and its strong emphasis on practical, hands‑on training. In this article, we take a look at the Austrian education system, the best international schools in cities such as Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Linz, as well as options for younger children, so that you can emigrate to Austria well‑informed and prepared.

For families moving to Austria, international schools offer an excellent opportunity to provide their children with a high‑quality and familiar education. Especially in the larger cities, there are numerous top‑tier international schools that teach according to Western curricula and use English or other foreign languages as the language of instruction.

Vienna, the federal capital, is home to most of the country's international schools. The most renowned include the Vienna International School (VIS), which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) from primary level through to the diploma, as well as the American International School Vienna (AIS) with an American curriculum and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Also popular are the Danube International School Vienna, which focuses on the IB programme, and the Amadeus International School Vienna, which places a special emphasis on music and the arts alongside a challenging academic programme. The Lycée Français de Vienne offers a French curriculum leading to the French Baccalauréat..

In Graz, the second largest city in Austria, there are also high‑quality international educational institutions. The the Graz International Bilingual School (GIBS) offers a bilingual education (German/English) with an international focus and the IB diploma at upper secondary level. The International School of Graz (ISG) caters to students from pre‑school to grade 8 and follows the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The LISA – International School of Austria is an established institution with an IB curriculum and places great value on linguistic diversity (English, German, Spanish, French)..

 

In Salzburg, SALIS – Salzburg International School, run within an Austrian public school framework , is the country's first public international school , enabling young people to graduatewith two diplomas – the Austrian Matura and an international diploma. In St. Gilgen near Salzburg , the St. Gilgen International School is a renowned boarding school with a stunning Alpine backdrop and an IB curriculum.

In Linz the Linz International School Auhof (LISA) is one of Austria's oldest international schools and also offers IB programmes.

The Austrian school system is known for its high quality and its practical orientation. Unlike in Germany, school education in Austria is regulated by the federal government, which results in a uniform curriculum for all students throughout the country.

Compared to Germany, some differences are particularly noticeable:

 

– UNIFORM FEDERAL REGULATION: While in Germany educational sovereignty lies with the federal states, the Austrian school system is regulated by the federal government. This leads to a uniform curriculum for all students across the country.

 

– STRONGER EMPHASIS ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING: In Austria, a large proportion of students go through a practice‑oriented training system after the 8th grade, culminating in a vocational qualification. Higher vocational schools (Berufsbildende höhere Schulen) are very popular and offer a combination of theory and practice.

 

– DIFFERENT DURATION OF LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION: While in Germany lower secondary education usually goes up to grade 10, in Austria an important career path decision takes place after grade 8 (at age 14).

 

– LINGUISTIC COMMONALITIES: The language of instruction is German, which considerably facilitates integration for German‑speaking children. In public schools, extensive support services are available for children whose mother tongue is not German, including German support classes and courses..

For families with young children planning a move to Austria, there is a wide range of childcare facilities. Part‑time kindergarten attendance (at least 20 hours per week) is compulsory and free of charge for all children who have reached the age of five by 31 August. This regulation applies from September to June, excluding school holidays.

In addition to public kindergartens, many international schools offer their own preschool programmes, such as the Amadeus International School Vienna with a focus on music and the arts the Vienna International School (VIS) , and the Vienna International School (VIS) with a comprehensive early childhood programme. In Graz, the Graz International Bilingual School (GIBS) and International School of Graz (ISG) also offer bilingual and international preschool options.

For working parents, there are also all‑day care options in the form of after‑school care centres (Horte), which are offered in many municipalities..

The language of instruction in Austria is German. For children whose mother tongue is not German, there is a comprehensive system of language support. Before school entry, the language level of each child is assessed in early childhood education institutions. From the 2026/27 school year, schools will have the opportunity to design German support autonomously for students with insufficient language skills. In addition, participation in the summer school is compulsory for non‑regular students from German support classes, in order to specifically support the acquisition of German as the language of instruction.

The school authorities also offer special German support courses for non‑regular students, with the aim of enabling these children to follow regular lessons as quickly as possible.

Moving to Austria requires careful planning, especially with regard to your children's education. It is important to find out about the various options early on – depending on the federal state and the individual needs of your family. KOCH Moving Logistics is at your side to make the transition to the Austrian educational landscape for your children as smooth as possible.