Salzburg school search
Salzburg's two featured international routes lead to different qualifications. AIS-Salzburg offers an American high-school diploma, Advanced Placement courses and boarding from Grade 7. SALIS is a public bilingual Gymnasium whose upper years can lead to both the Austrian Matura and the IB Diploma.
For a secondary-age child, the decisive Salzburg question is the leaving qualification. American International School–Salzburg and SALIS at BG Zaunergasse both teach substantially in English, but they do not offer the same curriculum or school life.
AIS is a private day and boarding school on Moosstrasse. SALIS is an international stream within a state Bundesgymnasium on Zaunergasse. Neither is a primary route for a young child: AIS begins at Grade 7, while SALIS starts at about age ten.
AIS covers Grades 7–12, with an optional postgraduate year. The school awards an American high-school diploma accredited by the Middle States Association and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. It does not offer the IB Diploma.
That route can make sense for a pupil moving from another American or international school, especially when boarding is needed. Families choose between day attendance, five-day boarding and full boarding. The school says it aims to remain at around 100 pupils when full.
For 2026–27, annual day tuition is €24,000 in Grades 7–8, €25,000 in Grades 9–10 and €26,000 in Grades 11–12. Five-day boarding costs €47,000–€50,000; full boarding costs €48,000–€51,000. New families also need to allow for the €150 application fee and a one-off €2,500 capital levy. The published 5% returning-student discount required action by July and August 2026, so it is no longer a live saving for this school year.
Admissions are rolling. A pupil who needs an Austrian visa for a September start is asked to complete the file before the end of June. Mid-year entry may be possible, but it depends on space and the academic fit.
SALIS combines the Austrian Gymnasium curriculum with an international programme. In the lower years, teaching uses both German and English. In the upper years, English becomes the main teaching language. Pupils can work towards the Austrian Matura, the school-leaving qualification used for university access, and the IB Diploma.
This is the stronger fit when a family wants Austrian-system continuity without giving up an internationally portable Diploma. It also demands a genuine commitment to the bilingual programme and to both qualifications.
BG Zaunergasse charges no ordinary school tuition. For 2026–27, SALIS publishes an additional programme contribution of €99 per school month, or €990 for the school year.
For Year 1 entry in 2027–28, online registration is open in autumn 2026 and closes at 12:00 on 16 December 2026. The oral and written assessment is scheduled for mid-January 2027. A German-speaking child is not expected to arrive with more English than Austrian primary school normally teaches; an English-speaking child should be able to work in at least one of the two languages. Later-year admission depends on records, language readiness and available places.
St. Gilgen International School is another Salzburg-state option, but it is on the Wolfgangsee rather than in Salzburg city. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, with day places from Grade 4 and boarding from Grade 7.
Compare St. Gilgen when the lake location and full IB route are realistic for the family. Do not treat it as an interchangeable city commute without checking the actual home-to-school journey.
If the family expects to remain in Austria, also compare an ordinary German-medium Gymnasium. The Austria guide explains the national system, while the language guide helps with the long-term language choice.
The Salzburg city hub keeps the two detailed profiles together.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
American International School–Salzburg is a small English-medium school for Grades 7–12. Pupils work toward an American high school diploma and may take Advanced Placement courses and examinations. Families can choose day attendance, five-day boarding or full boarding.
SalzburgSALIS is the selective international stream at the public BG Zaunergasse in Salzburg. Its eight-year bilingual programme leads through the Austrian Gymnasium curriculum and can culminate in both the Austrian Matura and the IB Diploma. There is no ordinary tuition, but the 2026–27 programme contribution is €990 and later-entry assessments can add substantial costs.
GrazAkademisches Gymnasium Graz is a public, co-educational day school in the city centre. It follows the Austrian AHS route to the Matura. PEP English Plus adds English to selected lower-school subjects, but it is neither an IB programme nor a fully bilingual pathway.
ViennaAMADEUS combines English-medium International Baccalaureate programmes with a music and arts academy in Vienna’s 18th district. Day pupils can start at age 3; boarding is for ages 11–18. Budget for entry fees and a security deposit as well as annual tuition.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.