Schools
All the news and essential information about schools in Austria.
What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?
Vienna offers a wide range of affordable childcare options. Here’s what international parents need to know about the different types of kindergartens and how they work.
Four things you should know before registering your child in a kindergarten in Vienna
Moving to a new country can be challenging, but the stress of finding care for a young child can make it even harder. Here are a few tips and things you should know about Viennese kindergartens.
Austria's school headscarf ban sparks protests and resistance
As the new school year gets under way in Austria, a headscarf ban for girls under 14 has sparked protests on the streets and in the classroom, with dozens of pupils refusing to comply.
Schul-Scan vs Bildungskompass: Which school comparison tool should you use in Austria?
Two online tools can help families search for and compare Austrian schools. One launched this October, while the other has been expanded. Which should you use?
Austria plans to introduce special classes in secondary schools for gifted pupils
The Austrian government plans to introduce a new educational model for high-achieving pupils, allowing them to progress faster through school and receive support tailored to their needs.
What will change for pupils and families under the new education reforms in Austria?
The Austrian government has agreed on education reforms affecting secondary school leaving examinations, state-subsidised laptops and tablets, and university safety rules. Here's what you need to know.
How Austria’s new tool can help parents choose a school
A new public platform now publishes detailed information about Austrian schools, giving parents more data to compare schools before deciding where to enrol their children.
What if my child doesn't speak German well when they start school in Austria?
Foreign parents in Austria who don't speak German at home - or parents who move to Austria from a non-German speaking country, are often concerned about the start of school life. What happens if their child's German is below standard?
Why Austria is still struggling to keep new teachers in the classroom
Austria has made progress filling teaching vacancies, and its teachers are unusually satisfied with their pay. But new OECD figures point to a very different problem at the start of the profession.
Austria 'ghetto' language classes leave children to repeat school
For two years after he first arrived in Austria, Iraqi pupil Abdlrahman Aljanabi didn't follow maths, science and other subjects like the rest of his peers.
Could university fees for some non-EU students in Austria rise to €2,500?
One of Austria's governing parties wants to more than triple the standard fee many third-country students pay. Could this actually happen soon?
'Stuck in the 80s': What international families struggle with at Austrian schools
Foreign residents who come to Austria with children or begin a family face plenty of culture shocks when it comes to schools. Here's what readers had to say about the education system.
What are ‘first-language classes’ in Austrian schools, and who can take them?
Austria's first-language classes have become the subject of a political row over their cost and the fact that Austrian citizens can take part. But the programme works rather differently from what some of the recent coverage suggests.
What Austria's latest PISA results say about schools, screen time and migrant pupils
Austria remains above the OECD average, but reading and maths scores are falling, while social background and the way teenagers use digital tools continue to make a big difference.
EXPLAINED: Why Austria’s school language statistics can be misleading
Around one in four pupils has a non-German everyday language, but only a much smaller share is formally classed as needing extra German support. The figures measure very different things, even though people often discuss them together.
When are Austria's school holidays in 2026/27?
Austria's school breaks don't all fall at the same time; some important dates depend on where you live. Here's the calendar families need for the 2026/27 school year.
Vienna families can ask to restore kindergarten hours cut after job loss or parental leave
Vienna is updating how employment changes affect municipal kindergarten hours from September, and MA 10 has told The Local that families whose part-time attendance was previously reduced can also ask to have their original schedule restored.
EXPLAINED: What changes at Austrian schools when pupils return in September?
Austria's 2026/27 school year brings changes to German-language support, new public information about individual schools and extra help at hundreds of disadvantaged schools, alongside new rules on suspensions and headscarves.
Who has to attend Austria’s summer school as record 58,500 pupils take part?
Austria’s summer school has returned with its highest participation yet, but a new compulsory-attendance rule means some families no longer have a choice about taking part.
What financial help can families get for school costs in Austria in 2026?
Buying school supplies can quickly add up costs, but Austria has several forms of support for families. Some arrive automatically, but not all. Here's what you need to know.
‘Be somewhat creative’: How do working parents in Austria cover the long summer holidays?
Austria’s nine-week school summer break is a joy for children, but for many working parents it means a patchwork of camps, annual leave, grandparents, home office and careful budgeting.
What Austria’s two new school subjects mean for international families
Austria is introducing two new subjects for older AHS pupils: “Media and Democracy” and “Informatics and Artificial Intelligence”. Here’s what parents should know.
When are Austria’s school summer holidays in 2026?
Austrian kids have plenty of opportunities to go on holidays, with small breaks throughout the year and their big summer holidays. Here are the dates for 2026.