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Schule in Wien

School in Vienna for newly arrived children

All children who live in Austria long-term must attend school, whatever their citizenship. Public school is free, and children with little German get support to learn it.

Compulsory schooling
Schulpflicht — 9 years; starts on 1 September after the 6th birthday
Cost
Public school is free; textbooks are free through the Schulbuchaktion
Arriving mid-year
School places are assigned by the Bildungsdirektion Wien: schulplatz@bildung-wien.gv.at
First grade 2027/28
Enrolment in Volksschule: 9–20 November 2026
German
The MIKA-D test decides whether a child needs Deutschförderung

Step by step

  1. First register your child's address (Meldezettel) — without it no school place is assigned.
  2. If you arrive during the school year, email the school placement unit of the Bildungsdirektion Wien (Schulplatzvergabe) at schulplatz@bildung-wien.gv.at and attach the Meldezettel and the last annual school report (Jahreszeugnis).
  3. The school type depends on age: grades 1–4 — Volksschule, grades 5–8 — Mittelschule or lower AHS (grammar school), the 9th year — e.g. Polytechnische Schule or upper AHS.
  4. If your child turns 6 on or before 1 September, enrol them in first grade: for 2027/28 the enrolment (Schuleinschreibung) runs from 9 to 20 November 2026. You are told the assigned school by letter in early February, then book an appointment at the school and bring your child.
  5. At school, German is assessed with the MIKA-D test. If it is not yet sufficient, the child attends as an außerordentlicher Schüler (non-regular pupil) and gets Deutschförderung (a German support class or course or, from 2026/27, the school's own model).
  6. If you need afternoon care, ask about a Ganztagsschule or Hort. In Vienna, core care hours and lunch at a verschränkte Ganztagsschule are free. Hort enrolment for 2027/28 first graders: 30 March – 16 April 2027.

What to bring

  • Child's Meldezettel
  • Last annual school report (Jahreszeugnis), ideally with a German or English translation
  • Child's birth certificate and passport
  • Social insurance number (e-card)
  • For afternoon care — proof of the parents' employment or training

Common mistakes

Waiting for the next school year to start. Schulpflicht applies right away: breaking it is an administrative offence and is fined.

Going from school to school without contacting Schulplatzvergabe. When you move to Vienna, the Bildungsdirektion assigns the place.

Not bringing old school reports. Without them it is harder to decide which grade to place your child in.

Words you will meet

die Schulpflichtcompulsory schooling
die Volksschuleprimary school (grades 1–4)
das Zeugnisschool report
die DeutschförderklasseGerman support class
der Hortafter-school care

Official sources

Checked: 2026-10-05. This is a plain-language summary of official information, not legal advice. Deadlines and amounts change — check the linked official sources before you go.