Benefits of Going to a Small Boarding School in Austria
December 1, 2025
Since its founding in 1976, AIS-Salzburg has remained committed to a simple but powerful principle: “Your future is our tradition.” Our small, intimate boarding program offers students an environment where every individual is known, supported, and prepared with a college-ready, globally recognized education.
Small Class Sizes, Big Impact
At AIS-Salzburg, we consciously limit our total enrollment to around 100 students at full capacity, ensuring small class sizes and a low student-to-staff ratio — roughly 3:1. This structure allows for personalized guidance in academics and close support in boarding life.
One alumnus, Alec Smith, reflects on this atmosphere fondly:
“I liked that you knew everyone … Even if you didn’t particularly like someone … you needed to learn how to get along.”
This sense of community — more like a family than a sprawling institution — helps students build strong friendships, learn social skills, and grow in a supportive environment.
As another alumna, Renate Grinberga, puts it:
“It gave me the chance to get to know more people on a personal level, learn a lot about different cultures, and make friends that I’ll always have by my side.”
Photo: Renate, right, poses with friends during the 2019 fall excursion to Venice, Italy.
Ideal Location: Salzburg — Alpine Beauty Meets Cultural Heritage
AIS-Salzburg is located in the charming city of Salzburg, nestled in the foothills of the Austrian Alps and close to the border with Bavaria. That means our students benefit from immediate access to stunning alpine landscapes and outdoor life while also enjoying the rich cultural heritage and urban conveniences of Salzburg: historic architecture, museums, arts, and a vibrant European city life.
For many international students, this unique combination, easy access to nature without sacrificing access to culture and city amenities, makes Salzburg feel like a true home away from home. As alumna Nastia Solomakha describes her experience:
“The location of the school … made the setting tranquil and conducive to a peaceful living environment.”
Photo: Fellow Team Green teammate, Teodora, decorates Nastia’s face with team colors during our annual Sports Day.
International Community and Cultural Diversity
With an average of around 25 nationalities represented in our student body and no single majority nationality, AIS-Salzburg offers a truly global, intercultural environment. Students come together from different backgrounds, languages, and perspectives — helping each other grow academically, socially, and culturally.
Studying in such a diverse community encourages openness, cross-cultural understanding, and broad-mindedness — key qualities for success in today’s global society. As Renate reflects:
“Studying together with students from different countries makes you see every situation from a different perspective and to always stay open-minded.”
College-Preparatory Curriculum and University Success
AIS-Salzburg is not just about a supportive environment — our core mission is academic excellence. We offer a full college-preparatory secondary program culminating in a diploma (including the option of a post-graduate year), with instruction in English and a double foreign-language requirement.
Our long-term and highly experienced faculty, with an average tenure of many years at AIS-Salzburg, are committed to guiding students through rigorous coursework, Advanced Placement (AP) level classes, personal tutoring when needed, and college counseling in grades 11–12.
Graduates of AIS-Salzburg go on to study at top universities around the world, the majority going on to study in Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom.
Our alumna Daria Suraeva, class of 2017, for example, studied Economics and Political Science in Austria before pivoting to a career in data science and launching a travel-startup — confidently leveraging the analytical and international mindset she developed at AIS-Salzburg.
College-Preparatory Curriculum and University Success
One of the often-overlooked benefits of attending AIS-Salzburg: the friendships and networks formed stay with you. As alumnus Marco Vicel recalls:
“We were pretty much like a family … it is crazy to think that now … we still see each other a couple of times a year somewhere around the world.”
Photo: AIS-Salzburg alumni, Marco Vicel, Jakob Wimmer, and Constantin Schoen, celebrate their graduation from the University of Miami.
These connections — global, lasting, and meaningful — often help graduates as they move on to university, careers, or even launch their own businesses.
Why AIS-Salzburg Might Be Right for You
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You want a personalized, supportive academic experience — not to be lost in a crowd.
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You value global exposure, diversity, and friendships across cultures.
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You appreciate nature and alpine beauty, while still living in a vibrant European city.
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You aim to be well-prepared for top universities anywhere in the world.
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You’re eager to join a tight-knit, lifelong community of peers and alumni.
In short, AIS-Salzburg offers the rare combination of rigorous academics, genuine care, global diversity, natural beauty, and cultural opportunity. It’s not just a school — it’s a place to grow, explore, and prepare for a future without boundaries.
If you, or someone you know, are considering a boarding school that combines excellence, heart, and global perspective, AIS-Salzburg might just be the perfect place to call home.