Private school American International School (Salzburg-Austria)

A year at AIS-Salzburg in under 3 minutes

Salzburg – a city rich in history and culture with a population of 150,000 – provides an excellent foundation for international education. The city is safe, located in the geographical centre of Europe, and welcomes visitors from all over the world throughout the year.

The American International School (Salzburg-Austria) is an independent, co-educational private boarding school that accepts students from all over the world. The school was founded in 1976 and prepares international students for university admission.

The school has graduated over 900 students. After graduating, students enrol in universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Austria, and other European countries, many of which are among the top 100 in the world:

American University of Paris, Baylor, Boston University, Brown, California Institute of Technology, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Fordham, George Washington, German National Universities, Harvard, London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McGill, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Oxford, Queens College (Canada), Stanford, Syracuse, the United States Naval Academy, Universities of Austria (Salzburg, Vienna, Innsbruck), University of North Carolina, University of Wisconsin, University of Vermont, Vanderbilt, Warwick University (UK), the University of Western Ontario

Director (as of 2026)

Paul McLean, education – Bachelor's degree, Colorado State University, USA (Colorado State University). Master's degree, University of Colorado, USA (University of Colorado). Second higher education degree, University of Salzburg, Austria (Universität Salzburg).

Key factors

• The school operates according to the American educational system, allowing graduates to continue their studies at both European and American colleges and universities. 
• Almost all teachers are citizens of the United States who have received their teaching education at American universities. 
• The student-teacher ratio is 3:1.
• The main goal of the school is to prepare students for admission to leading foreign universities, focusing on developing the talents and abilities of each child.
• The school is a small community where everyone knows each other well, everyone feels comfortable, children are optimally supervised, and trust and respect reign supreme. 

Facilities

The school campus covers 3 hectares of land. The main school building is an old 18th-century mansion. The campus consists of five buildings. They house laboratories, classrooms, a dining hall, a hall, a computer room and two residences. Thanks to the convenient location of the campus, children can engage in creative activities and learning in a relaxed atmosphere.

Sports classes are held at the University of Salzburg Sports Centre, which is located near the school campus. This sports centre has the latest equipment that meets the highest standards. The sports centre includes: a swimming pool, a separate diving pool, a gym, gym, aerobics and dance studios, outdoor and indoor tennis courts, 6 football pitches, outdoor and indoor volleyball courts, basketball and gymnastics courts, changing rooms and showers.

Programmes

In Years 11 and 12, the school offers an AP (Advanced Placement) programme, which involves more in-depth study of subjects (at university level). After completing the AP programme, graduates are fully prepared to enter universities and colleges around the world. This programme is equivalent to the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.

Accommodation

Residences for boys and girls are located in the main school building. Most boys live in rooms designed for three people. Girls live in double rooms. Each room has a separate toilet and shower. In 2011, construction was completed on a new residence for boys (all rooms in the new residence are double rooms).

Sports

At the beginning of each term, students choose the sports they want to participate in. There is a two-week period during which they can change their choice, thus trying out different sports and choosing the one they like best. They can choose basketball, volleyball, aerobics, yoga, tennis, swimming, football, rock climbing, or hockey. Every year, the centre hosts sports competitions and tournaments in which international schools participate.

Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities play an important role in school life. The school staff organises 15 to 20 different activities on weekends. Activities are divided into active ones, such as skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and cycling; social activities, such as participating in school celebrations, going to the cinema, visiting local restaurants; and cultural activities, such as going to the theatre, visiting museums and exhibitions.

Cost, 2026-2027

€48,000 - €51,000 per year (depending on age)

The cost includes

• Tuition
• Accommodation and meals
• Study materials
• Sports uniform
• Accident insurance
• Five trips to the Austrian Alps (skiing or snowboarding)
• All evening entertainment activities

Additional costs

• Registration fee - €150
• Personal account for students for unexpected expenses - €2,500
• Laundry - €400
• Visa
• Airfare
• Airport transfers
• Visa
• Educational company services