School System
School attendance is compulsory for all children permanently resident in Austria irrespective of their nationality, and lasts for nine years.
Pupils are free to choose whether to attend a state or private school, attendance of a state school, however, is free of charge.
Compulsory schooling starts on the first of September following the child's sixth birthday. Children who celebrate their sixth birthday between September 1 (start of the academic year) and December 31, may start primary school prematurely, provided they are mentally and physically mature enough to follow lessons.
Compulsory schooling either starts with a pre-school year or a four-year attendance of an elementary school (years 1 to 4 of a primary or a special needs school).
Years 5 to 8 may be completed at a senior primary school, a lower secondary school, the lower level of a secondary academic school or a senior special needs school.
The 9th year may in turn be completed by attending a pre-vocational year, a secondary academic school or a technical and vocational school or college. Pupils may choose among a variety of secondary academic, technical and vocational schools and colleges.
The Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture informs you in detail about the Austrian education system.
A directory of Austrian schools is available at the Austrian School Portal (in German).
Detailed information on all schools in Vienna is provided in the "Wiener Schulführer", published by the Stadtschulrat in Vienna (Vienna City Council, Wipplingerstraße 28, A-1010 Vienna, Tel: +43-1-52525, Email: office(at)ssr-wien.gv.at).
For contact details of schools in the provinces please contact the appropriate provincial education authority (Landesschulrat/Stadtschulrat)!
