Education in Austria

Compulsory schooling (allgemeine Schulpflicht) applies to every child who lives in Austria permanently, whatever their nationality. It is set in the Federal Constitution. Kindergartens are run by the Länder, municipalities and private providers, so their costs differ. Young people from 16 and adults who never finished compulsory school can take the school-leaving exam (Pflichtschulabschluss) free of charge.

Kindergarten and compulsory schooling

• Compulsory kindergarten year: children who have turned 5 by 31 August must attend kindergarten half-day (at least 20 hours a week). This year is free. In Vienna, kindergarten is free or heavily reduced for all children until school starts.
• School: compulsory schooling starts on the 1 September after a child's 6th birthday and lasts 9 school years: primary school (Volksschule, ages 6–10), then Mittelschule or the lower level of an academic secondary school (AHS, ages 10–14), then a 9th year, for example at a Polytechnische Schule or a higher school.
• Education or training until 18 (AusBildung bis 18): after compulsory school, young people must stay in education or training until age 18.
• Parents must make sure their child attends. If a child misses more than 3 school days without a valid reason, the school reports it, and parents can be fined €110 to €440.

School costs and support

• Pupils at public schools and recognised private schools receive their textbooks free of charge (Schulbuchaktion), funded from the federal family fund.
• Families receive €121.40 school start money per child aged 6 to 15 every August (2026).
• All-day school care costs a fee (Betreuungsbeitrag), which can be reduced for low-income families. Other support includes school grants (Schulbeihilfe), travel allowances and free pupil travel (Schülerfreifahrt).

Universities and student aid

• Tuition fees (Studienbeitrag) at public universities: EU/EEA nationals, and third-country nationals who live in Austria with a residence permit other than a student permit, study free for the standard duration plus 2 semesters. After that they pay €363.36 per semester. Third-country nationals with a student residence permit pay €726.72 per semester (2026). All students also pay a small student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) each semester.
• Student grant (Studienbeihilfe): means-tested support for students from lower-income families. While receiving it, you may earn up to €17,212 a year.
• Family allowance for students can continue until age 24 if the student makes enough progress (16 ECTS credits a year).
• Programmes taught in German require proof of German. If you cannot provide it, you take a preparatory course first, which itself requires at least A2 German.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Register for kindergarten early. In Vienna, the main registration period is November and December for places starting the next September.
• Moving to Austria with a school-age child means the child must attend school immediately; home schooling must be reported and needs a yearly exam.
• Keep your residence permit type in mind: a student permit means higher university fees.
• If a young adult drops out of school without starting other training, the family allowance stops.

Official guidance: oesterreich.gv.at: compulsory schooling, Federal Chancellery: free compulsory kindergarten, Federal Chancellery: free textbooks, oesterreich.gv.at: university tuition fees, Vienna: schools