From the various educational pathways to learning German, internationals with children – or those planning a family – have a lot to get to grips with when it comes to the Austrian education system.
But Christiane Steinlechner, the Regional Director of Teach For Austria in Upper Austria, says parents shouldn't worry too much – as long as they do research thoroughly and support their kids through the different stages.
As part of her role at the non-profit Teach for Austria, which was founded in 2013, Steinlechner supports children from diverse backgrounds, helping them to realise their potential.
She says Austria's education system is viewed positively overall worldwide, but works best when parents are proactively involved.
"I would say that our public school system is a good one, but of course children who are maybe not getting support at home, they might have a more difficult time," she says.
"But in general with our school system – you don't have to pay for it. In the kindergarten you might have to pay a little fee, but school is free and most universities are free."
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'Nothing will change' on Austria's early separation tracks
Steinlechner says Austrian education depends heavily on students' grades, and this comes into play early on with the separation of children into different junior secondary school tracks after primary school.
As The Local has reported, many international parents in Austria struggle with this aspect of the education system.
From ages 10-11, a child moves to secondary school and is sent either to vocational training (Mittelschule, or MS) or academic (Allgemeinbildende höhere Schule), which is further divided into several types of training or study. They can apply for either, but need to be accepted.
Steinlechner says there are also "mixed views" among Austrians on this system – but it is deeply embedded.
"I would say that, for example, our current Minister of Education would like to change this system," she said. "But in the foreseeable future, nothing will be changed because there is absolutely opposite views in our political parties. I'm sure about that."
READ ALSO: 'Stuck in the '80s' - what international parents struggle with in Austrian schools
Vocational pathways to consider
Another transitional phase happens when children are around 14-15 (usually ninth grade) when they decide which educational path they will continue on.
Students can also move into vocational routes, which are a central part of Austria’s system and have a good reputation.
“It's called dual system because you receive a little bit of vocational schooling and you work at the same time at a company," says Steinlechner.
These routes still allow for future study if the student changes their mind. "At the end… you can also then take an exam which allows you to go further to university," she adds.
There are also shorter options leading directly into work.
It's "really very important that parents inform themselves and that they get a little bit oriented" with all the different options, says Steinlechner.
Support for students who don't speak German
Steinlechner says children not speaking fluent German in classrooms is one of the biggest challenges facing teachers in Austrian schools at the moment.
"Especially in the centres, like for example Vienna, in certain suburbs or also in my field here in Upper Austria, in Linz; in all these major cities – there are definitely areas where there's a very high percentage of non-German speakers in schools."
Although this isn't a problem, it can make it difficult for teachers to give all students the attention they need, she said.
However, Austria is increasing its language support.
"Our current Education Minister is pushing a lot of resources into German teaching," she says.
"Just in this school year 2025 to 2026, he is increasing German language teachers from 577 to 1,324. So that's a really huge push because he wants those children who are not sufficient in German to receive chances.
"So it can't be the case that if a child doesn't speak German, their future is destroyed. So I wouldn't say that just because a child is not speaking German, that this is an exclusion to further academic or career paths."
READ ALSO: How well are foreign school pupils integrating into Austrian schools
Encourage children to learn German
Schools can choose how they add in German support. In some cases, children are separated into different German-learning classes while in other schools, German-learning support remains in the classroom.
"There are different models and it's up to the school to decide which model is better," says Steinlechner.
Regardless, Steinlechner recommends that foreign parents encourage their children to do different activities in German as much as possible. "If their children are in separate classes, this makes learning German, I would say, more difficult," she says.
"What is usually very supportive for children is to engage in free-time activities where there are German speakers."
Steinlechner highlights that students gaining advanced German isn't always the most important thing. In fact, in many professions other subjects are more important.
"For example, if you want to be in a technical profession, then you need to be good in mathematics, not necessarily in German," she says.
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