School enrolment and school readiness in Austria

If your child will soon be required to attend school in Austria, enrolment (Schülereinschreibung) is the first official step. The process determines which school the child will attend, whether they are ready for school and whether additional German-language support is needed.

When does compulsory schooling begin?

A child is required to attend school if they turn six by September 1. The school year begins on different dates depending on the federal state:

• Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland: the first Monday in September
• All other federal states: the second Monday in September

How does school enrolment work?

The parent or other legal guardian (Erziehungsberechtigte) must enrol the child at the responsible primary school (Volksschule). Families receive an official letter, and the enrolment period (Einschreibefrist) is published publicly. Many schools also provide the information on their own websites.

It is advisable to take the child to the enrolment appointment. This allows the headteacher to form an initial impression, as the headteacher also assesses whether the child is ready for school.

Which documents are required?

The required documents vary by federal state, so there is no single nationwide list. Ask the responsible school for its exact requirements.

Information about all-day childcare (Ganztagsbetreuung) is available from the education directorate of the relevant federal state.

What does school readiness mean?

The headteacher decides whether a child is ready for school (Schulreife). This assessment may take place if there are concerns during enrolment or if the parent requests an assessment.

A child is considered school-ready if they can follow first-year teaching without excessive physical or mental strain. This requires:

• appropriate cognitive maturity and the basic skills needed to learn reading, writing and arithmetic;
• age-appropriate understanding of spoken language and ability to express themselves orally;
• the physical, social and emotional maturity needed to participate successfully.

What if the child does not speak German well?

Knowledge of the language of instruction, German, is also considered during enrolment. If it is foreseeable that limited language skills will prevent the child from following lessons, or will allow them to do so only to a limited extent, the child is assigned to a German-language support class (Deutschförderklasse) or a separate German support course (Deutschförderkurs).

What is the pre-school level?

A child who is subject to compulsory schooling but is not yet school-ready is placed in the pre-school level (Vorschulstufe), which follows its own curriculum. The aim is to help the child gradually adapt to school life and prevent later difficulties.

If the school does not have a separate pre-school class, the child studies together with other grades in the lower section (Grundstufe I), meaning the first and second grades.

Can a child start school early?

Early admission (vorzeitige Aufnahme) may be requested if the child will turn six by March 1 of the following calendar year, is school-ready and has the necessary social skills. The parent must submit a written request to the management of the Volksschule within the enrolment period.

If it becomes clear after the start of school that the child is not ready, there are two options until the end of the calendar year in which the child was admitted:

1. The headteacher withdraws the early admission.
2. The parent withdraws the child from the first grade. The child may then be enrolled in the pre-school level, but because they are not yet subject to compulsory schooling, this is not mandatory.

If early schooling is not ended, it counts towards the period of compulsory schooling.

What about private schools?

For a private school, contact the management well before the enrolment period. Most private schools are run by religious organisations, but alternative-pedagogy, international and foreign-language schools are also available.

If a private school does not have public-status rights (Öffentlichkeitsrecht), it cannot issue official school reports. In that case, the parent must notify the education directorate of the relevant federal state about the child’s attendance by the end of the previous school year. The child must then demonstrate adequate progress before an examination board each year between June 1 and the end of the school year.

Frequently asked questions

At what age does a child start school in Austria?

A child is subject to compulsory schooling if they turn six by September 1.

Where can I find the enrolment deadline?

The deadline is published publicly. Families also receive an official letter, and many schools publish information on their websites.

Who decides whether a child is school-ready?

The headteacher decides, either because concerns arise during enrolment or because the parent requests an assessment.

Is German-language support compulsory?

If the child cannot follow lessons because of their language skills, they are assigned to a German-language support class or course.

Practical steps

1. Check whether your child turns six by September 1 and identify the responsible Volksschule.
2. Look out for the official enrolment letter and check the school’s website for the published Einschreibefrist.
3. Ask the school which documents are required in your federal state.
4. Take your child to the enrolment appointment and discuss school readiness with the headteacher.
5. Ask about Deutschförderklasse, Deutschförderkurs and Ganztagsbetreuung if relevant.
6. If you are considering early admission, submit the written request to the Volksschule management within the enrolment period.
7. For a private school, contact the management early and clarify whether it has Öffentlichkeitsrecht.

For official information, consult oesterreich.gv.at. The requirements and deadlines can depend on the federal state and the individual school.