Your German language summer school
Frequently asked questions for Summer School 12 – 17 years
Registration – Visa Information
The easiest way to register is through our secure online booking portal. At the time of registration, please pay the deposit of EUR 198, which will be deducted from the total fee. Payment can be made by credit card or bank transfer. If your course begins in less than 30 days, full payment is required immediately.
Important: When making a bank transfer, please include the student’s full name in the payment reference to ensure we can correctly assign your payment.
Bank: Raiffeisenlandesbank Wien, Landstraßer Hauptstraße 2A-B, 1030 Wien, Austria
Note: “banking charges borne by transferor”
IBAN: AT30 32000 00005212808
SWIFT: RLNWATWW”
- Summer School (Ages 12 to 17): Designed for younger students. It includes 24-hour supervision and a structured environment.
- Holiday Course (Ages 16 to 19): Designed for older students and young adults. It offers more independence, as supervision is not provided.
ActiLingua Summer School Camp is just a ten-minute walk from the city centre, conveniently located next to the U1 underground station (Taubstummengasse). The camp is held at the historic Theresianische Akademie, one of Austria’s most prominent private schools. The school features spacious grounds with tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball courts, a large football pitch, and a barbecue area. Indoor recreation rooms and sports halls are also available, offering students both modern facilities and a rich cultural heritage.
Our courses are often in high demand, so we recommend registering as early as possible. The sooner we receive your application, the better we can accommodate your preferences for courses and accommodation. We also try our best to accommodate last-minute bookings. If you require a visa for Austria, please allow sufficient time to complete the necessary paperwork.
Medical insurance is mandatory for all students. EU citizens are automatically insured in Austria (please provide a copy of your EU Form 111 or European Health Insurance Card), so insurance is not included in our standard package. If you need medical insurance, you can easily purchase with us Travel & Medical Insurance immediately during the online registration process.
Young people up to the age of 14 can travel for free on Vienna’s public transport network during July and August (please bring identification). Older participants must purchase their public transport ticket during online registration. We recommend booking this ticket to easily explore the city and participate in excursions and activities outside the camp.
While the standard minimum age for our Summer School is 12, we do accept 11-year-olds in special cases upon request. It is important to know that these students will attend lessons with mixed age groups between 12 and 17. Regardless of age, every student is supervised 24/7 by our staff to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
German Courses
Lessons are held in small groups (maximum 15 participants) from Monday to Friday. Students practice grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and oral comprehension through systematically structured lessons, with an emphasis on real-life communication, language games, and group and pair work.
All students have lessons from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12:20 pm. Students enrolled in the Summer Course 30 also have two afternoon lessons from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
Each student completes an assessment test upon registration, which must be returned no later than two weeks before the German course begins to ensure correct course placement. The test takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and should be done independently without any assistance. On the day of arrival, students will also have a short oral assessment.
Our courses utilize a dynamic mix of authentic and up to date materials prepared by our teachers together with textbooks from top publishers like Hueber and Klett. We follow a recognized curriculum from levels A1 to C2 to ensure measurable progress throughout your language journey. To keep lessons relevant and exciting, our staff brings the language to life by incorporating the latest technology as well as current news and real-world stories into every session.
Your teachers are native speakers of standard German with teaching qualifications and experience working with young people. They are highly qualified, participate in regular training sessions organized by our team, and, most importantly, are passionate and motivating in their approach.
Students receive a small amount of homework that is designed to be fun and game-like, often done in groups. If a student needs extra support, such as help with writing, the teacher can provide tailored, individual assignments to help them improve.
Accommodation
If specifically requested (please note this in the “special requests” or “comments” section on the registration form), we can accommodate it. Generally, we aim to place students of the same age but different nationalities together to encourage diverse cultural exchange.
Boys and girls are accommodated in separate rooms and on different floors to ensure comfort and privacy.
Students staying at the Summer School Residence share spacious rooms with 4 to 6 beds. At the Summer School Residence Superior, students stay in comfortable 2-3 bed rooms, each with its own bathroom. This section is bright, and beautifully furnished for a comfortable stay.
Room allocations are announced on the day of arrival. We do our best to accommodate any special requests regarding roommates.
At the Summer School Residence, showers are conveniently located on the same floor, close to the rooms, with separate facilities for boys and girls. Superior rooms have their own shower, while toilets are located in the corridor.
All students receive full-board meals featuring a mix of international and Austrian cuisine. Breakfast includes a substantial buffet with bread, sliced meats, cheese, jam, and tea, coffee, or cocoa. Lunch is a three-course meal with a starter, hot main dish, and dessert. Dinner is typically a hot meal, except for some excursion days, and occasionally features barbecues. All meals are self-service, and students are welcome to go back for extra helpings. Vegetarian and halal options are available upon request—please inform us of any special dietary requirements when you apply.
In the summer school lights-out is at 10:30 pm.
Leisure programme
Our daily afternoon and evening program is included in the price. Activities include sports, dance workshops, trips around Vienna, and our popular student disco on campus. Students are supervised 24/7 by teachers living on-site, ensuring a safe and engaging experience.
It is possible to book the following activities in addition to the daily leisure program: tennis, culture special, full- and half-day excursions (e.g. to Mozart’s home town of Salzburg, to the medieval Castle Kreuzenstein, to the scenic Lake Grotto Hinterbrühl or the beautiful Lake Neusiedl), or a attend a classical concert.
All our paid extra activities are organized so that you can attend every single one without any scheduling conflicts. Please be aware that a paid activity might sometimes take place at the same time as a free leisure event. This gives students the opportunity to choose the specific program that interests them most during their summer stay.
We carefully design a diverse and engaging leisure program to enrich your experience. Participation is optional, but we highly encourage it for opportunities to connect, explore, and create lasting memories. If students wish to leave campus without an ActiLingua staff member, written parental permission is required.
Arrival in Vienna & Travel Information
Generally, there are three options for arrival and departure:
- Self-Arrival: You arrive independently or with your parents directly at the school.
- Paid Transfer: A taxi driver meets you at the airport arrivals desk and brings you to the campus. For departure, a staff member ensures you are in the taxi on time for your flight.
- UM-Service (Under 14s): Our staff meets you directly at the gate upon arrival and stays with you at the airport until your flight departs.
Students are expected to arrive on campus on Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm. If you are arriving outside of these hours, please let us know in advance so we can ensure the residence door is open and reserve dinner for you.
Upon arrival, each student first registers at reception. Afterwards, you will receive lunch or a snack and be shown to your room. Students who haven’t returned the aptitude test will complete a short assessment, followed by a brief oral assessment for all students. The day continues with introductory activities to help students get to know each other and familiarize themselves with the camp.
With written permission from their parents, students are allowed to leave the campus unaccompanied until 6 pm in the afternoon, or until 9 pm for those aged up to 15, and 10 pm for students aged 16. Students without this permission can still join off-campus group activities led by an ActiLingua Academy Summer Camp team several times a week.
Yes, students may be picked up by adult friends or acquaintances, provided they have parental permission. Both the student and the responsible adult must check in with school management when leaving and returning.
The amount of spending money depends on your usual habits, but we recommend bringing a bit more than you might use at home. Typically, 50 EUR per week works well for most students.
Cash, air tickets, and passports should be deposited with the course manager for safekeeping. Twice a week, students can access their “bank” to withdraw pocket money. Rooms cannot be locked for safety reasons, but each student has a lockable cupboard for personal items.
We understand that students may wish to visit relatives or friends while in Vienna. This is permitted as long as we receive clear permission from a parent or legal guardian in advance. To ensure our 24-hour safety standards are maintained, both the student and the responsible adult are required to sign in and out with the school management whenever they leave or return to the premises.
