List of 5 Best Schools in Vienna (2026 Fees)

Besides being the largest city and the capital of Austria, Vienna boasts of its variety of private, international, and public schools that offer top-notch education. Generally, compulsory education starts at the age of six and ends once a student completes lower secondary education. Before that, students attend kindergarten and nursery schools in Vienna.

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Primary or elementary school lasts for four years, while secondary schools last for either five to eight years. The first two years of elementary school are taken as one unit, that is, Elementary Level I. Once students complete the first year, they progress to the second year without any assessment. Mostly at Elementary Level I, students pursue non-graded courses such as music. In the third year or Elementary Level II, the students choose a foreign language to study, such as French, English, Dutch, etc. Once they complete Level II, the students sit for a final exam that prepares them for lower secondary.

Lower secondary education lasts for four years. At this stage, the students’ performance is evaluated to determine their capability. Besides offering general education, lower secondary schools in Vienna also prepare students for further education either in vocational training or in university. Upon completion of this stage, students have to sit for a final examination that assesses their capabilities before progressing to upper secondary schools or start their careers.

Upper secondary education lasts four years. However, students attend a pre-vocational year before joining upper secondary schools, which prepares students for an apprenticeship in specific careers or further education. The instruction consists of general education and selected courses chosen by students depending on their professional interests. Additionally, there are different types of upper secondary schools in Vienna, which include:

• Vocational upper secondary level
• Technical/professional upper secondary level
• Academic upper secondary level

Moreover, there are different types of academic upper secondary schools, which include:

• Gymnasium, which focuses on human sciences and foreign education
• Realgymnasium which focus on natural sciences
• Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium (WRG or “Economics Secondary School.”) This type of upper-level secondary school focuses on economics-related subjects.

Students complete academic secondary school when they sit for the matriculation examination that prepares students for university.

Facts about schools in Vienna

• Students in lower secondary have the option to change certain aspects of their curriculum. For instance, they can choose to take a foreign language, computer science, sports or fine arts. This autonomy helps the students specialize in their subjects of interest.
• The official language of instruction is German. However, children are encouraged to take up foreign languages at all levels of education.
• Children of ethnic minorities have the opportunity to receive instruction in their native language. Vienna offers bilingual education through pilot projects offered in schools such as the Vienna Bilingual School, or First Vienna Bilingual Middle School.
• A majority of the private schools that offer primary and secondary education are Catholic-run to have more disciplined students.
• Enrollment to primary education begins on September 1st in the year following the child’s 6th birthday. Although there are exceptions where early-enrollment may be permitted, for instance, If the child’s birthday is from September 1st to December 31st, also, enrollment may be deferred if the child is not ready to attend school. In this case, the student may be placed in a preschool year or a preschool group that exists within the primary school. Both the preschool year and the preschool group prepare the student for regular classes.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Vienna through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Vienna tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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