Culture Shock! Austria - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Settling In 107

International Schools

There are a number of private schools in Vienna. The
American International School (AIS) provides American-
style education from pre-kindergarten up to 12th grade.
The Vienna International School (VIS) provides British-style
education from kindergarten up to 12th grade. The Danube
International School (DIS) has a similar programme and as
with the other schools, offers an International Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme. The Vienna Christian School is a
private religious English-language school that goes up through
high school. More and more Austrian schools are providing
bilingual education, or instruction in a foreign language.
The Vienna Elementary School offers a comprehensive
programme in English from kindergarten through fourth
grade. There is also the Lycée Français de Vienne. Other
private schools are the Japanese, Arab, Jewish and Swedish
Schools. The American International School in Salzburg is a
boarding school for students in grades seven through 12, as is
the Saint Gilgen International School near Salzburg. The Graz
International Bilingual School functions in German-English.

School Registration

Private schools:

„ Previous school transcripts

„ Birth certificate

„ Immunisation records

„ Application form

„ Passport photos

„ Some may require an exam or interview

„ Application fee

German Classes

German classes for foreigners are easily available. In Vienna,
most classes are held in the 1st district. In other cities, most
universities and adult schools (Volkhochschule) have special
German classes for foreigners (see Resource Guide). If you
already know some German, you can take a placement test
to ascertain the level you should start at. Classes meet once