Expats moving to Austria with their families can expect to find a good number of international schools in various different cities. These schools follow the national curriculum of their respective home countries, which is an advantage for expats who may be staying in Austria for a limited period of time before returning home. The fees at international schools tend to be slightly higher than public schools, and there could be long waiting lists too. Negotiating an allowance for tuition fees into the employment contract can be greatly beneficial for many expat families.American International School
This international college preparatory school is both a day and boarding school located in Salzburg. It follows an American high school curriculum and is accredited by the Middle States Association. The school was started in 1976 and today the student body is made up of nearly 100 students from almost 20 different countries. There are three trimesters, starting in the second week of September and finishing in the end of May. The school also runs a summer school program and a summer language program.
Danube International School Vienna
DISV is a private international school located in Vienna’s Second District. Although it is privately owned and managed, the school receives accreditation from the national government and is also evaluated by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS). Students enrolled here come form multi-cultural backgrounds and the student body is representative of more than 60 different nationalities.
Graz International Bilingual School
The Graz International Bilingual School (GIBS) is an English-German university preparatory school located in Graz. It has about 800 students enrolled and more than 60 teaching staff. The school follows ‘flexible monolingualism’ in its language of instruction. The campus, which lies in the North Western area of Graz in Eggenberg, is near the historic Schloss Eggenberg palace. GIBS receives a multitude of applications every year and there may be entrance limitations when seeking admission.
Japanische Schule in Wien
The Japanische Schule in Wien (Japanese School in Vienna) is a Japanese international school located in Vienna. The school was founded in 1978.
International Christian School of Vienna
This international school was started in 1986 in Vienna in the Donaustadt district. A non-profit organization and a school with a multi-cultural background, it has students from more than 50 different countries. The school makes it a point to keep the size of the classes small so that teachers can provide greater attention to each student, and also so that students can develop a sense of community with each other.
Linz International School Auhof
Linz International School Auhof (LISA) offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and also the Austrian school-leaving certificate. Classes are conducted in English in all subjects and the teaching staff adapts the teaching materials to suit the students’ difficult levels. There are also language assistants who help students in trying out new words and structures and this helps to encourage natural conversation with native speakers.
Lycée Français de Vienne
This French curriculum secondary school is located in Alsergrund, Vienna. There are more than 2000 students studying here and it is one of the largest schools in the world to be accredited by the Agency for French Teaching Abroad (AEFE). Lycée Français de Vienne shares its boarding school with another private boarding school called Theresianum.
St. Gilgen International School
St. Gilgen International School is a co-educational school in the small alpine village of St. Gilgen, located 30 minutes from Salzburg. English is the language of instruction and the school offers primary and middle school curriculum, which is followed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma qualification in the final two years. The school provides a range of activities that encourage cultural, artistic and athletic growth and development. St. Gilgen has dynamic music, art, design and theatre departments and emphasizes a low student-to-teacher ration so that students can receive adequate attention.
Vienna International School
Located in Vienna, the Vienna International School is a non-profit international school that is affiliated to the United Nations. It was created to accommodate the children of employees and diplomats of the UN. Almost half of the students enrolled at the school are children of UN employees and receive education grants.