Country & territory guide

Compare schools across Australia.

Australia's reviewed school destinations combine state-specific senior certificates with school-specific IB choices. Compare Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and other city collections using the child's phase and intended award. An Australian curriculum label does not establish one national school-leaving certificate, the same subject requirements or international-student eligibility at every campus.

64 included profiles · 48 destination collections · 2 dated tuition schedules

This is a selected directory, with different levels of evidence in each collection. Open the named campus profile to check its curriculum phases, review date and sources before contacting admissions.

Planning a school search in Australia

Start with the state and senior certificate

ACARA explains that state and territory authorities determine the structure, assessment and certification of their senior secondary courses. The school examples make this distinction concrete: St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney publishes a choice of HSC or IB Diploma from Year 11; Carey's Melbourne senior programme offers VCE or the Diploma in Years 11–12; Scotch College in Perth identifies WACE, IB and vocational pathways; Pembroke in Adelaide describes SACE and IB senior routes. These are examples within the reviewed collections, not a uniform national offer. Ask for the actual subjects and award at the named campus, and how the student's completed study fits its assessment sequence before choosing a city.

Sources: ACARA: state and territory senior certification responsibilities · St Andrew's Cathedral School: NSW, MYP, HSC and Diploma phases · Carey: Year 10 preparation and Years 11–12 VCE/Diploma options · Scotch College Perth: WACE, Diploma and vocational senior choices · Pembroke: distinct SACE and IB senior pathways

Match the child to the offered phase and campus

An IB Diploma option in the final two years does not establish an IB primary or middle-years programme. St Andrew's separately describes the NSW syllabus taught through an MYP framework in Years 7–10, while Carey's Year 10 programme prepares pupils for later VCE or Diploma study. Keep those phase distinctions in the shortlist. The Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide collections also describe separate metropolitan school markets; compare the proposed campus address with the family's actual living arrangement. Request a timetable and transition plan for each child, including subject changes, English support and transport. If siblings would enter different divisions, confirm their teaching sites and daily routines separately rather than relying on a group name.

Sources: St Andrew's Cathedral School: NSW, MYP, HSC and Diploma phases · Carey: Year 10 preparation and Years 11–12 VCE/Diploma options · Pembroke: distinct SACE and IB senior pathways

Check the admission category before comparing AUD costs

For study on a student visa, the Australian Department of Education states that an institution must be registered under ESOS and listed on CRICOS to enrol the overseas student. Ask the school which registered course and location would apply to the proposed offer, and obtain its current admission and accommodation requirements. A school website or international label alone does not determine the child's eligibility. Request the applicable domestic or international AUD quotation for tuition, joining payments, boarding if relevant, transport, meals, examinations and support. Check the academic year, payment deadlines and withdrawal conditions. Compare the complete arrangement rather than filling an unverified fee from another state or treating a missing amount as zero.

Sources: Australian Department: ESOS and CRICOS overseas-student scope · Carey: Year 10 preparation and Years 11–12 VCE/Diploma options · Pembroke: distinct SACE and IB senior pathways

Curriculum pathways recorded across the collection

Each row combines evidence from several profiles. Its phases may be offered at different schools; it does not mean every school provides every phase. Online delivery is listed separately. Open the school profile for its exact route and eligibility.

Documented routes in the included Australia profiles
Route and delivery	Recorded phases across profiles	Included profiles and source examples
AustralianOn campus	Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form	64 profiles Ballarat Clarendon College · Pathway source Ballarat Grammar · Pathway source
IBOn campus	Early years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth form	15 profiles Ballarat Grammar · Pathway source Canberra Grammar School · Pathway source

Parent questions about Australia schools

Does moving interstate preserve the same Australian senior qualification?

Do not assume so. ACARA assigns senior course structure and certification to state and territory authorities, and the reviewed schools publish HSC, VCE, WACE or SACE alongside some IB alternatives. Ask the receiving school which award, subjects and completed assessments would apply, then obtain an individual transfer plan for the intended joining year.

Is an international school label enough to support a student-visa application?

No. The Department's ESOS guidance identifies CRICOS registration as a requirement for institutions enrolling overseas students on student visas. Ask the school to identify the registered offer and the conditions relevant to the child. This guide does not make a visa or admission determination, and school registration does not establish an available place.

Sources: Australian Department: ESOS and CRICOS overseas-student scope

Start with a destination collection

The following collections have the most included profiles. Counts describe directory coverage, rather than local market size or school quality.

View all 48 destination collections

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