The education system in Vienna

In Vienna, your child between ages 0 and 6 can receive free childcare and early education. You only have to pay for meals and additional activities.

The childcare options in Vienna are:

• Day nurseries (crèche) (for children from 0 to 3 years)
• Kindergarten (for children from 3 to 6 years)
• Daycare with registered childminders (for children from 0 to 6 years)

New in Vienna: How to register your child for school

If you move to Vienna during the school year, your school-age child can start at a school immediately.  In this case please send an e-mail to: schulplatz@bildung-wien.gv.at

General compulsory schooling

Compulsory schooling starts the September following your child's 6th birthday and lasts for 9 school years.

Primary school

In the first 4 years of school, your child goes to primary school ("Volksschule"). You will receive a letter from the Board of Education in the December of the year before your child reaches compulsory school age.  Then you can register your school-age child at a primary school near your home in Vienna ("Einschreibung").

What happens after primary school in Vienna?

After the 4th grade of primary school, there are two different school options for your child.

Secondary school ("Mittelschule")

Secondary school lasts 4 years. Here your child will get a fundamental general education. 

Academic secondary school (AHS) - lower secondary

At an AHS, your child will get a comprehensive general education. The AHS is particularly suited as a preliminary stage for further higher education. To be admitted, your child needs good grades in their 4th grade primary school report. The AHS is also called "Gymnasium".

Options after 8th grade

In the 9th compulsory school year, pupils can go to

• pre-vocational school ("Polytechnische Schule")
• intermediate vocational schools (BMS) or higher-level vocational schools (BHS)
• upper secondary modern school (BORG)
• upper secondary AHS   

Pre-vocational school ("Polytechnische Schule")

Pre-vocational school lasts only one year. Pupils receive further general education, vocational education and basic vocational training.

Apprenticeship in Vienna: What is an apprenticeship?

Young people who have completed compulsory schooling can enter an apprenticeship to learn a trade. They have an apprenticeship contract with the company where they learn the trade. They spend most of the time (80%) learning at the company, and the rest of the time (20%) in vocational school.

It is also possible to complete the apprenticeship with a Vocational Matura ("Berufsmatura"), a higher education entrance examination.

Intermediate vocational schools (BMS)

Intermediate vocational schools last 3 or 4 years. For admission, your child must have successfully completed 8th grade. Some schools have an additional entrance examination.
The main types of BMS in Vienna are:

• Schools for technical professions
• Commercial schools
• Schools for occupations in the service and social services sectors (economics, hotel and catering, social professions)

Higher-level vocational schools (BHS)

Higher-level vocational schools (BHS) last 5 years. In these schools, your child will receive a comprehensive general education and higher-level vocational training.  They finish with a Matura or a Diplomprüfung.

The main types of BHS in Vienna are: 

• Higher-level technical schools (HTL)
• Higher-level commercial schools (HAK)
• Higher-level schools for occupations in the services sector (economic professions/tourism/fashion)

What is the Matura?

The Matura (school-leaving examination) is the final examination for upper secondary (higher-level) schools.  The Matura gives students the right to study at universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education, and academies. 

The Youth College (“Jugendcollege”) is a free education offer for young people between ages 15 and 25 who have recently arrived in Vienna. More information on the Youth College 

Not all degrees acquired abroad are recognised in Austria. Please contact the contact point for persons with foreign diplomas (Anlaufstelle für Personen mit im Ausland erworbenen Qualifikationen - AST) for a free appointment.

Schulinfo-Wien

Tutoring for pupils

• The Volkshochschule Wien (VHS) offers free learning centres for children at 18 locations.
• Free tutoring is available in the learning cafés of Caritas.