What rights and opportunities do children who have been displaced to Austria from Ukraine have to access the Austrian education system?
Children who were relocated to Austria from Ukraine have free access to the Austrian education system. In this regard, children are obliged to study from 6 to 15 years old.
Access to preschool education
In Austria, children who have reached the age of five by August 31 of the respective year are obliged to attend preschool educational institutions at least 4 times a week and for a total of 20 hours. For medical reasons, due to distance or inaccessibility to the nearest institution from the place of residence, children may be exempted from the obligation to attend a preschool educational institution. In this case, the child's parents/guardians must apply to the relevant federal state authorities.
Important! In Austria, visiting kindergartens is free, but this does not apply to meals and participation in special activities (for instance excursions).
The registration procedure for kindergartens and the package of documents differs depending on your place of residence, current information is available at the following links:
• Vienna
• Styria
• Graz
• Salzburg
• Tyrol
• Upper Austria - you need to contact the kindergarten you are interested in personally.
Access to school
All children permanently residing in Austria are required to complete a nine-year general school education. The obligation to start school arises for children who have turned 6 years old by September 1. The procedure for enrolling a child in schools differs depending on which territory of Austria you are in. However, the main documents for registration everywhere are a document certifying the identity of the child, information about the place of residence and about success in the previous educational institution. To clarify the current information, you need to contact the school in which you want to enroll your child.
At the same time, when considering the application for admission to the school, testing of the child's general development and knowledge of the German language may be conducted. If it is found that the child is not ready to study, he will be sent to a preparatory class.
Also, starting from the 6th grade in schools, the distribution of students according to the level of success begins. Thus, children can study in a class with advanced general education or basic general education.
Successful completion of secondary school gives students the right to enter a polytechnic school or to obtain the upper degree of a comprehensive secondary school, as well as a vocational school or a technical school.
Admission to general secondary school
Education in general secondary school is aimed at expanding students' general education and preparing them for university studies. Comprehensive upper secondary school involves four years of primary education and, as a rule, four years of upper secondary education, culminating in a school-leaving examination.
The condition for enrollment in the 1st grade of a comprehensive high school is:
- successful completion of the 4th grade of primary school ("very good" or "good" in German, reading, writing and mathematics);
- the decision of the general meeting of the elementary school that, despite the "satisfactory" assessment in these mandatory subjects, the student, based on his other achievements, will most likely meet the requirements of a comprehensive secondary school;
- high results obtained on the entrance exam.
Types of comprehensive high school:
- gymnasium with in-depth study of foreign languages, social and humanitarian sciences;
- a real gymnasium with in-depth study of natural and mathematical sciences;
- economic real gymnasium with in-depth study of economic and social sciences.
The inclusive school
In Austria, children with special needs can study in an inclusive (special) school at the request of their parents or guardians. Education at such a school lasts 9 years, the last year of education is focused on professional training.
Admission to a polytechnic school
Studies at a polytechnic school can be started after completing the 8th grade of secondary school. Such training lasts 1 year (32 hours per week). The main focus of the polytechnic school is on the choice of professional specialization through orientation, determination of personal strengths and weaknesses, comparison of professional ideas and wishes, as well as detailed familiarization with various spheres of labor activity.
You can choose any of the following specializations:
• metal
• electricity
• wood
• construction
• trade and office
• health, beauty and social sphere
• tourism.
Access to language courses
Free German language training in Austria is possible in the following organizations:
(1) The Austrian Integration Foundation (ÖIF), which offers free German language courses (A1-C1) for Ukrainians in 80 institutions throughout Austria. You can make an appointment for a consultation by phone: +43 1 715 10 51 120 or by using the online form;
(2) The main library of the city of Vienna (Hauptbücherei), which created a project for refugees from Ukraine called "Let's talk in German!", the goal of which is the ability to learn languages on everyday topics. From March 31, 2023, these events take place every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. You must register in advance at "Infotheke College 1" (directly in the library) or by sending an email to: [email protected];
(3) Language and educational institution "LOQUI" and association "STARTKLAR", which organize free German language courses in small groups for Ukrainian children aged 3 to 14 in Vienna. You need to register in advance by sending an email to: [email protected], more information can be found here.
(4) The "VHS" network of educational institutions, which offers free German language courses for young people and adults (level A1-B2). These courses teach not only German and English, but also mathematics and the basics of computer training. You can attend courses by making an appointment in advance at the email address: [email protected] or by phone +43 1 89174 164 000.
Professional and technical education for adults
There are no special conditions for adults to obtain vocational and technical education in Austria. You can apply directly to the institution where you want to study. Training usually lasts from 1 to 4 years.
Available fields of vocational education:
- technical schools (directions of training: art and design, construction technology, chemistry, electronics and technical informatics, electrical engineering, aviation technology, engineering systems of buildings and structures, etc.);
- commercial schools (all branches of economics and management);
- schools of economic specialties (training of professions in the field of economics and tourism);
- fashion schools (applied management, design, etc.) and others.
After graduating from a vocational school, you have the right to directly engage in the relevant professional activity.
