High school at the lycée français de Vienne

The high school offers an excellence-oriented French education based on a humanistic approach to teaching, combining high academic standards with cultural openness.

The choice of moderate class sizes, averaging 24 to 28 students, with a maximum of six classes per year level, provides balanced learning conditions and a solid foundation for progress.

This structure promotes a consistent educational relationship throughout the high school cycle.

School life is based on mutual respect and dialogue. Student commitment, collaborative projects and the pHare programme – a French bullying prevention plan for schools – contribute to a peaceful atmosphere, which is essential for learning and personal growth.

A set of common values is shared here—freedom, equal rights, responsibility, commitment, and critical thinking—as part of a proven educational approach and a guiding principle for intellectual and social development.

A globally recognised and open education

Teaching is provided in accordance with French national education programmes, ensuring high standards, consistency and international recognition, while remaining in line with the Austrian cultural and linguistic context.

The core curriculum develops the essential skills expected in higher education.

Languages play a central role: French is the language of instruction, English and German are the main modern languages, supplemented by Spanish, Arabic and Latin up to the 2nde.

A German international section and a European English section further enhance this linguistic and cultural dimension.

Academic guidance and pathways

Guidance is part of a progressive and rigorously structured process based on consistent academic choices. The diversity of specialisations on offer provides solid and clear academic pathways.

At the completion of their secondary education, students prepare for the French Baccalaureate or the International French Baccalaureate and may also – for students of Austrian nationality – take the Austrian Matura, validating a double diploma that opens access to French, Austrian and international universities.

Continuity beyond high school

Students join an international community of alumni that extends the high school experience, united by a common intellectual culture and shared standards.

As part of the network of French schools worldwide, this community thrives on peer connections, where students recognise and respond to each other's journeys, whether in France, Austria or anywhere else in the world.

Seconde (2nde)

Educational structure

Core curriculum commun

(For all students)

French: 4 hours
Mathematics: 4 hours
History-Geography: 3.5 hours
Physics-Chemistry: 3 hours
Biology (SVT): 1.5 hours
Economics and Social Sciences (SES): 1.5 hours
Digital and Computer Science (SNT): 1.5 hours
Modern Language A: 3 hours
Modern Language B: 3 hours
Physical Education (PE): 2 hours

Total Core Curriculum: 29.5 hours

Specific language pathways

(Depending on the student’s profile)

🇦🇹 Matura Pathway (Austrian students)
German (Mother Tongue): +4 hours
History-Geography in German: +2 hours
Total Weekly Hours: 32.5 hours

🌍 German International Section
German – International Section (Foreign Language): 6 hours
History-Geography in German: 2 hours

Optional subjects

(Only one course can be chosen)

Options
Modern Language C – Arabic or Spanish: 3 hours – if started in middle school
ELCE English: 2 hours – if started in middle school
Art History:* 3 hours
Music: 3 hours
Latin (preparation for the “Latinum,” mandatory for German Mother Tongue students)*: 3 hours

* Options are only available if the minimum number of students is reached.

Academic support & programs

Personalised support: assistance, methodology, guidance
Languages not taught at LFV (CNED : French remote learning centre): specific terms and conditions

Première (1ère) – Educational structure

Core curriculum

(18,5 hours per week)

Students follow a core curriculum of 18.5 hours per week:

French: 4.5 hours
History-Geography: 3.5 hours
Modern Languages A and B: 3 hours each
Science: 2 hours
Physical Education (PE): 2 hours
Moral and Civic Education: 18 hours annually
Mathematics – if not taking the Math specialization: 1.5 hours

Specialisation subjects

(12 hours per week)

Each student chooses three specialized subjects of 4 hours each:

History-Geography, Geopolitics and Political Science
Humanities, Literature and Philosophy
Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (German or English)
Mathematics
Digital Technology and Computer Science
Physics-Chemistry
Life and Earth Sciences (Biology/Geoscience, SVT)
Economic and Social Sciences (SES)

At the end of Première, students choose two specialized subjects for their final year; the third is assessed as part of continuous assessment for the French Baccalauréat.

⚠ Specialized subjects are subject to approval by the French Ministry of Education and require a minimum number of enrolled students.

Compulsory modern languages

German and English for all pupils.
New students who have never studied German receive special support early in the school year.

For students taking the Matura diploma (Austrian students):

Native German: 4 hours
Austrian History-Geography in German: 2 hours

These courses are taught by teachers from the Bildungsdirektion in Vienna and are compulsory for Austrian students.

Courses with CNED (French remote learning centre) : for languages that are not taught at the LFV

Students wishing to continue studying a language they began in middle school but is not taught at LFV must register with CNED at the beginning of the school year.
They must obtain at least four marks per semester, these being sent each term to the Deputy Head's office.
The costs are covered by the students' families.
These students are not permitted to be exempted from German lessons.

Weekly timetable including core curriculum:

Native German : 33,5 hours
German as a foreign language: 30,5 hours

Optional Subjects

Each student may choose a maximum of one option from the list below. Please be aware that choosing an optional subject may result in an excessive workload. Hours per week

European Section (if started in 2nde): 2
Arabic or Spanish: 3
History of Arts: 3
Another modern language via CNED (French remote learning centre), ‘à la carte’ courses, costs covered by the student's families, with the school head's permission.

Optional courses require sufficient student numbers and a compatible timetable.
Commitment for a full academic year, no withdrawals during the school year.
The availability of additional workshops is reassessed each school year and may include a selection process depending on the applicant numbers.

Terminale (Tale) - Educational structure

The Terminale is the final year of the French baccalauréat (high school diploma) cycle. It provides students with opportunities to consolidate their academic knowledge, deepen their understanding of their chosen subjects, and prepare for higher education.

Core Curriculum Subjects

In Première and Terminale, all students follow a core curriculum.

Weekly hours:

16 hours per week for the general track
18.5 hours per week for students in the enhanced LVE track
21.5 hours per week for German Mother Tongue students

Distribution of lessons:

Philosophy: 4 hours per week
History-Geography: 3 hours per week
Modern Languages A and B: 3 hours each per week
Science: 2 hours per week
Physical Education (PE): 2 hours per week
Personalized Support: 1 hour per week
Moral and Civic Education: 18 hours annually

Specialisation subjects

In Terminale, each student retains 2 specialised subjects, chosen from the three studied in Première. Each specialised subject involves 6 hours per week.

History-Geography, Geopolitics and Political Science
Humanities, Literature and Philosophy
Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (German or English)
Mathematics
Digital Technology and Computer Science
Physics-Chemistry
Life and Earth Sciences
Economic and Social Sciences

The opening of specialised subjects depends on ministerial approval and student numbers.

Compulsory modern languages

German and English for all pupils.
New students who have never studied German receive special support early in the school year.

Matura Pathway

Students taking the Matura exam study:

Native German
Austrian History and Geography in German

These subjects are compulsory for students of Austrian nationality.

For languages that are not taught at the LFV : courses with CNED (French remote learning centre)

Students wishing to continue studying a language they began in middle school but is not taught at LFV must register with CNED at the beginning of the school year.
They must obtain at least four marks per semester, these being sent each term to the Deputy Head's office.
The costs are covered by the students' families.

Optional subjects

A student may take a maximum of two optional courses.

European Section – English: 2 hours per week

If the student is in the European Section → only one additional option is possible
Without the European Section → up to two options are possible

Available Options:

Advanced Mathematics (if taking the Math specialization): 3 hours
Complementary Mathematics (without the Math specialization): 3 hours
Latin (continuation): 3 hours
Arabic or Spanish: 3 hours
Art History: 3 hours
Music: 3 hours
Another language available via CNED (under the same conditions as mentioned above)

Organisation and commitments

Optional and specialised subjects are offered depending on sufficient student numbers and timetable compatibility.
The choice of an optional subject is a commitment for the entire school year.
Additional workshops are reassessed each school year and may include a selection process depending on the applicant numbers.