Study Abroad | Salzburg

Housing

Homestay

The best way to immerse yourself in the language and culture of Austria. Many students who choose this option consider it to be the most rewarding aspect of their time abroad. The homestay will be in shared rooms in a private home with access to cooking facilities. The homestay will include:

• Single or double room sharing with another AIFS student
• Shared bathroom and kitchen
• Homestays located throughout Salzburg
• Kitchen supplies and bed linens

REsidence Hall

For students who prefer a more independent living situation, the residence option is ideal. Housing will be in shared rooms in a residence hall with access to cooking facilities. The student residence will include:

• Double room shared with another AIFS student
• Shared bathroom
• Access to communal facilities including a kitchen and study room
• Residences located throughout Salzburg
• Kitchen supplies and bed linens
• Coin-operated laundry (laundry costs are the responsibility of the student)

Internet access is included in all AIFS housing in Salzburg.

City Facts

Geography

Salzburg is a city in central Austria, at the northern edge of the Alps. It has a population of approximately 150,000 people, which makes it the fourth-biggest city of Austria.

Culture

Home to Mozart and the Sound of Music, Salzburg is one of the most renowned and inspiring cities in Europe.

Architecture

Salzburg has one of the best-preserved old town centre full of beautiful baroque architecture which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to Europe’s oldest restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskeller which was founded in 803 CE.

Site Staff

AIFS in Salzburg Director, Academic Year and Semester Programs

Ingrid Schmidbauer-Stengel

Guten Tag! Not sure what that means yet? Don’t worry, during your semester, you will pick up much more than “hello”. After being with AIFS since 1987 I am certain of that!

I am of German-American descent, and was born and raised in Indiana. Every year my family and I would visit Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, which prompted me to study abroad on this very AIFS program.

During my time as a student, I learned a great deal about Austrians, Austrian culture and the language. I was so taken with this beautiful city that I returned to live here.

While you are in Austria I will be working hard to ensure all aspects of the program run smoothly and am always happy to give advice on how to get the most out of your time abroad.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

Cultural Activities

In addition to day trips and excursions, a cultural calendar of activities and social events is included in your program fee. These activities will include both typical tourist sites and attractions and lesser known visits which take advantage of the expert knowledge of our local AIFS staff and give you a more authentic and insightful view of Austrian life. Typical activities may include:

• Guided city tour
• Tour of 900-year-old Werfen Castle
• Hellbrunn Palace and the Trick Water Fountains
• Soccer match featuring Salzburg’s Red Bull Team
• Austrian cooking class
• Pastry seminar
• Horse-drawn sleigh ride
• Mozart dinner concert
• Austrian Christmas Markets
• Dachstein Ice Caves and Hallstatt
• Volunteer work in the local community

You may be asked to pay a small supplementary fee for some events.

Salzburg is the ideal location for students who love the outdoors. From Salzburg you can easily reach the mountains, meadows and lakes of the Austrian Alps. In the winter you can enjoy some of the finest downhill and cross-country skiing in the world. The world-class ski areas of Kitzbühel and St. Anton are within easy reach. Other excellent resorts are easily accessible for half-day or day trips. In warmer weather you can climb, hike, raft, sail or windsurf locally.

Immerse Yourself in the Language

Maximize your opportunities to develop your German language skills outside the classroom by taking part in a language exchange with a local. Students of any level can participate and as well as improving your German it’s a great way to make friends and learn firsthand about the Austrian way of life in a relaxed atmosphere.