Vienna International School

What Vienna International School does

Vienna International School (VIS) is an independent, not-for-profit international school located at Straße der Menschenrechte 1 in Vienna's 22nd district, tracing its institutional origins to 1955 under the patronage of the British, US, and Indian Embassies and operating under its current non-profit association structure since 1978. The school delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum — Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP) — for students aged 3 to 18, supported by a Learning via Technology Programme deploying iPads and MacBooks from Early Learning and Coding Classes at all grade levels, plus a Mother Tongue Programme spanning more than 40 languages.

VIS serves approximately 1,400 students from over 100 nationalities with 274 staff drawn from 39-46 countries, anchored by deep ties to the United Nations Vienna office, the diplomatic community, and Austrian public-sector partners under a 1981 comprehensive agreement with the Republic of Austria and the City of Vienna. The school's revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition fees, supplemented by parent-funded Individual Learning Assistant services and ancillary offerings including Extended Day, catering, and bussing across Vienna and Klosterneuburg. Go-to-market is direct-to-family open enrolment via vis.ac.at, with reputational pull from CIS, IB, MSA, and Austrian Ministry of Education accreditations, a 35-point average IB score, and 25% graduate placement into Ivy League and Russell Group universities. The school is governed by the VIS Association, led by Director/CEO Antonios Geralis (since April 2025), Business Manager Clemens Frankl, and Chair of the Board Ivica Pepovski.

Name

Vienna International School

Legal name

Vienna International School

Website

https://vis.ac.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Vienna International School is a non-profit international school in Vienna delivering the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) to approximately 1,400 students aged 3-18 from over 100 nationalities, with deep ties to the UN and diplomatic community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Baccalaureate K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

Keywords

• International baccalaureate education
• PreK-12 international schooling
• Mother tongue bilingual programme
• Eco-school sustainability education
• University counselling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: VIS is an independent, not-for-profit school. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees charged to enrolled students. The school also receives support from the Republic of Austria and the City of Vienna as part of a 1981 agreement.
2. Parent-funded Support Services: Individual Learning Assistants (ILA) positions are parent-funded, generating additional revenue for specific student support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vienna International School is an independent, non-profit international school delivering the full International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) to approximately 1,400 students ages 3–18 from 100+ nationalities. Beyond academics, it operates an integrated portfolio of student services including Mother Tongue instruction in 40+ languages, Learning Support, English Language Acquisition, Counselling, University Advice, Catering, Transportation, and an Extended Day Programme.

Product overview

Vienna International School (VIS) operates as a preK-12 independent, not-for-profit international school offering a comprehensive IB continuum education. The school provides the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3-11 and Secondary education through the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 12-18. Beyond core academics, VIS offers extensive support services including Extended Day Programme, Learning Support, English Language Acquisition, Social Emotional Learning, Counselling, and University Advice. The extracurricular portfolio includes After School Activities, Performing Arts, Competitive Sports, and the Mother Tongue Programme. Additional services encompass Catering, Transportation, and professional development through VISIBle IB workshops. The school serves approximately 1,400 students representing over 100 nationalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School (PYP) International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students ages 3-11, focusing on inquiry-based learning and holistic development across the IB curriculum framework.
• Secondary School (MYP and DP) International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) for students ages 12-18, providing a comprehensive international curriculum framework with an average IB score of 35.
• Mother Tongue Programme Programme teaching in more than 40 mother tongues, promoting additive bilingualism and language preservation for international students.
• Learning Support Special educational needs support for students requiring additional learning assistance within the IB framework.
• English Language Acquisition Programme developing English language skills for non-native speakers as part of the school's international curriculum.
• Social Emotional Learning and Pastoral Care Comprehensive support addressing students' social and emotional needs within the school culture.
• Counselling Services Professional counselling addressing developmental and situational difficulties that may interfere with student learning.
• University Advice Programme Comprehensive counselling supporting students and families during the university selection and application process.
• Extended Day Programme After-school care and enrichment programme for primary school students, providing supervision and activities outside regular school hours.
• After School Activities Extensive enrichment activities for Primary and Secondary students including sports, arts, and clubs.
• Performing Arts Programme Creative programme of performing arts including music, theatre, and drama for students.
• Competitive Sports Programme Sports programme enabling students to compete against other schools and clubs in various athletic activities.
• Catering Services High-quality, freshly prepared seasonal international meals for students.
• Transportation Services Safe and reliable school transport service covering Vienna and Klosterneuburg.
• VISIBle IB Professional Development IB professional development workshops following guidelines of the IB, offering certificates of attendance for educators.
• 3D Virtual Campus Tour Virtual 3D tour experience showcasing school facilities and campus to prospective families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average IB Score: 35 points
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Vienna Office / Vienna International CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025VIS hosts the Model United Nations of Vienna (MUNoV) conference at the Vienna International Centre (UN headquarters). The VIC has been a hub of international diplomacy since 1979. MUNoV 2025 welcomed 450 secondary school students from 26 schools across multiple countries.
• CLIP – The Oporto International School (OPOMUN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025VIS students participated in the OPOMUN 2025 conference hosted by CLIP – The Oporto International School in Porto, Portugal, engaging in diplomatic debates and skill-building activities.
• Umweltzeichen (Austrian Ecolabel)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024VIS officially granted the Umweltzeichen label for both Primary and Secondary School in May 2024. The organisation guides schools in Austria to improve the quality of education by engaging students in acting environmentally friendly.
• QueerbaseminorOthers · 1 January 2023VIS community raised over €200 for Queerbase, a local charity providing crucial support to LGBTIQ+ refugees, particularly in the area of legal counselling. Raised during VIS's Pride week following the Vienna Pride Parade 2023.
• Republic of San Marino — Student Exchange ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018VIS runs a student exchange programme with the Republic of San Marino, launched in 2018 in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Foreign Affairs, the State Secretariat for Culture, and the San Marino Embassy in Austria. San Marino students visit VIS in February and VIS students visit San Marino in April.
• Eco Schools (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017VIS became the first International Eco School in Austria in 2017 through Eco Schools accreditation. The programme has since grown to include the fourth Green Flag accreditation earned in November 2024.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS is accredited by CIS, which sets the highest standards for student safeguarding and international education. CIS provides child protection training, resources, and support. VIS was re-accredited by CIS in January 2026.
• International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS is officially authorised by the IBO to offer all three IB programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).
• Central and Eastern European Schools Association (CEESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS is a member of CEESA, a network of international schools. CEESA commits to supporting safeguarding and child protection standards across member schools and cooperates with international agencies to ensure best practices.
• Eco Schools (International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS is the first International Eco School in Austria, accredited by Eco Schools. The school participates in the Eco Schools programme and the 'Building Eco Bridges' project, inviting other schools to join efforts towards a sustainable planet.
• Global SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS is committed to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the VIS curricula through the Global Schools programme.
• British, US, and Indian Embassies (Founding Patrons)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS traces its origins to 1955, established under the patronage of the British, US, and Indian Embassies to educate children left without English-language schooling after army schools closed at the end of the allied occupation of Austria.
• Republic of Austria and City of ViennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1981, the Board of Governors, the Republic of Austria, and the City of Vienna signed a comprehensive agreement that ensured the stability and further development of the School to meet the needs for international education in Vienna.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS has strong historical links to UNIDO, which was established in Vienna in 1967. The Austrian government's decision to support an international school was driven in part by the presence of UNIDO and other international organisations in Vienna.
• Institut für Angewandte Gewerbeforschung (IAGF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS Grade 8 students collaborated with IAGF on a project about advancing circularity in the agro-food, textile, and wood/furniture sectors. Artist Heidi Bichler-Ripfel conducted workshops on recycling fabrics into original art and design pieces.
• Eco Schools (International)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIS partners with Eco Schools through the Erasmus+ programme, hosting students and educators from Greece (6th Gymnasium of Trikala) as part of the 'Building Eco Bridges' project.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International School of Geneva (Ecolint): One of the oldest international schools globally, serving UN and international organisation families in Geneva with IB curriculum. Closest international benchmark to VIS in mission, scale, and family segment.
• United Nations International School (UNIS): UN-affiliated international school in New York with explicit diplomatic family mandate and IB curriculum. Conceptually comparable in mission to VIS given both schools' anchoring in UN and diplomatic communities.

Others

• CEESA (Central and Eastern European Schools Association): Network organisation of international schools in Central and Eastern Europe of which VIS is a member. Comparable as ecosystem peer facilitating benchmarking, sports, and professional development across similar international schools.

Direct peers

• Danube International School: Another English-language international school in Vienna serving the expatriate community with IB curriculum. Direct competitor for the same diplomatic and multinational family segment that VIS targets.
• Lycée Français de Vienne: French international school in Vienna serving French diplomatic families and Francophone expatriates. Competes for the broader diplomatic family pool with VIS.
• American International School Vienna: Long-established American curriculum international school in Vienna, also serving diplomatic and expatriate families. Closely comparable in mission, customer base, and city-level positioning.
• Vienna Christian School: Smaller English-language international school in the Vienna area serving international families with a faith-based orientation. Overlaps with VIS in target market and curriculum approach.

Regional players

• Salzburg International School: Austrian IB international school outside Vienna serving a similar expatriate and globally mobile family segment with comparable IB curriculum offering.
• St. Gilgen International School: IB-authorised boarding school in the Salzburg region serving international students. Comparable in IB delivery and international family target market, though it operates in a different geographic catchment.
• Deutsche Schule Wien: German-language international school in Vienna serving German-speaking and bilingual families. Overlaps in the international family market but delivers through German curriculum rather than IB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ViennaInternationalSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/vienna-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/vienna_international_school/?hl=en
• Xx.com/vis_austria

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vienna International School