Study Abroad | Salzburg

Housing

Student residence

Live with other AIFS students in a student residence with Austrian and International students. Housing will be in shared rooms in a residence hall with access to cooking facilities. The student residence will include:

• Double or triple rooms with shared bathroom
• Access to communal facilities including a kitchen and study room
• 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, Summer Program

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

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of Austrian culture, a wide range of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee. The Program Director organizes a variety of activities which usually include:

• Salzburg city tour
• Visits to museums and galleries
• Visit to local pastry shop
• Visit to local market
• Opera at the Marionette Theater
• Trip to the Salt Mines where you can go down a 100-foot-long slide, take a ride on a raft on the salt lake and ride a miniature train to explore the magical world of salt beneath the surface of the earth
• Day visit to Hellbrunn Palace with the famous water fountains dating from 1619

Please note that students may need to pay a small additional fee for some of the activities above.

AIFS Global Education Center

AIFS has its own modern study center near to the city center and the student residences. Students will take classes at the study center and during free time can relax in the student lounge area or work in the study room. You can meet with the AIFS Program Director here for information and advice relating to the program, adapting to life in Salzburg and travel information or use the center’s library.  

Music

Salzburg is an ideal place to pursue an interest in music. You can learn an instrument or deepen your appreciation of an instrument that you play already. AIFS can help arrange lessons with a private tutor. Students are responsible for paying any fees directly to the tutor.