The Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) is, according to the Integration Act, the central point of contact for German language learning for refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and Ukrainian displaced persons. German courses, ranging from literacy to language level C1, are offered at approximately 250 course locations throughout Austria. New German courses start daily. Every eligible person is provided with a suitable course place by the ÖIF within a short time. The ÖIF coordinates the course offerings nationwide and continuously adjusts the available course places to meet current needs. A unique feature of the ÖIF German courses is the legally enshrined, nationwide standardized quality assurance. Regular checks and standardized placement tests guarantee a high quality of German language course support.
9 out of 10 participants are highly satisfied with ÖIF German courses.
The high quality of the ÖIF German courses is also confirmed by participants and teachers. An externally conducted survey of over 3,300 participants revealed a high level of satisfaction with the course organization, with 88% of respondents expressing satisfaction. While 99% of respondents stated that they regularly apply what they have learned in everyday life, 88% have already noticed a clear improvement in their German language skills. In a parallel survey, 96% of teachers indicated that they find their work meaningful, and 86% were also satisfied with the ÖIF's accompanying professional development program for teachers.
Legally standardized quality standards
Course providers are vetted in advance for organizational capacity, professional suitability, and compliance with nationwide quality standards. Course and examination locations must meet defined requirements regarding accessibility, facilities, and equipment. Teachers and examiners must also demonstrate defined professional and linguistic qualifications and regularly participate in professional and pedagogical training. Furthermore, the German courses funded by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) are based on nationally standardized curricula with clearly defined learning objectives. Coordination ensures that a needs-based range of courses is available in all federal states, that course places are allocated quickly, and that uniform quality standards are implemented. Standardized digital placement tests ensure that participants are assigned to the appropriate course according to their individual language level. For comprehensive transparency, the ÖIF also reports all course attendance information to the federal integration portal according to fixed guidelines – making the ÖIF's German course funding the most transparent in all of Austria.
Ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement
Throughout the entire course duration, the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) monitors the implementation of the German courses through continuous monitoring, on-site evaluations, and professional observations. Learning progress is assessed using nationally standardized integration tests, standardized placement assessments, participant surveys, and evaluations based on objective parameters. The findings from evaluations, tests, data analyses, and feedback are continuously incorporated into the further development of curricula, quality standards, and German course offerings. This ensures the ongoing improvement of the quality of the German courses.
About the ÖIF German courses
In accordance with the Integration Act, the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) provides German courses for refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, as well as for Ukrainian displaced persons, from the age of 15. In addition to the German courses stipulated in the Integration Act, the ÖIF offers all immigrants, regardless of their residence permit, a comprehensive range of online German courses and learning resources via the freely accessible ÖIF language portal . This allows them to learn German around the clock while working or fulfilling caregiving responsibilities.
Further information about the ÖIF German courses can be found in the German courses section of the ÖIF website.