Primary and Secondary Schools in Australia

A complete school education in Australia lasts 13 years, from the Foundation (preparatory) year to Year 12, usually after one or two years of preschool from age 3. Schools are government (public) or non-government, and non-government schools include faith-based schools, such as Catholic or Islamic schools, and schools based on an educational philosophy, such as Montessori and Steiner schools. Australian schools accept international students from the age of five, including the children of international students who are studying at university or college level.

Our directory currently lists one primary and secondary school in Australia: The Hutchins School, an Anglican day and boarding school for boys in Sandy Bay, Hobart (Tasmania), established in 1846.

How the school system works

Schooling is organised in four stages:

• preschool: ages 3 to 5 (preschool, kindergarten or early childhood education)
• primary school: Foundation and Years 1 to 6
• secondary school: Years 7 to 10
• senior secondary school: Years 11 and 12

The Australian Curriculum sets out what students learn from Foundation to Year 10 in areas such as English, mathematics, science, humanities and social sciences, the arts, languages, technologies, and health and physical education. It is developed nationally by ACARA, but the states and territories implement it on their own timelines, so details of schooling, fees and entry rules differ from state to state and between schools.

In Years 11 and 12, students sit exams and receive their state's senior secondary certificate. In Tasmania, for example, these qualifications are awarded by TASC on the basis of learning in Years 11 and 12. Students who want to go to university also receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), a rank between 0.00 and 99.95 that is comparable across all states and territories.

The school year has four terms with holidays between them and starts in late January or early February.

Admission for international students

Entry requirements vary between schools and sometimes by state or territory, and each school sets its own application process. At The Hutchins School, for example, international applicants complete an application form and an online English assessment; the school then decides on an offer of place based on the form, school reports and the test result.

A student who enrols at an Australian school usually needs a Student visa (subclass 500), which covers primary and secondary school and secondary school exchange programmes. The school must be registered on CRICOS, the government register of providers that teach students on student visas. After accepting an offer, the family receives a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is needed for the visa application. The student also needs Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole stay.

Younger students need suitable accommodation and supervision. Some schools offer boarding: at Hutchins, international boarders live on campus in Burbury House, are fully supervised and receive daily tutoring support. Schools explain their own welfare and accommodation requirements during enrolment.

Costs and funding

Fees for international students vary by state, by school and by year level. Schools publish their own fee schedules; Hutchins, for example, has separate 2026 schedules for Prep to Year 6 and Years 7 to 12. Families should also budget for boarding or homestay, uniforms, OSHC and the student visa, which costs from AUD$2,500 per application from 1 July 2026 unless the student is exempt. Some schools offer scholarships; Hutchins, for example, offers performing arts scholarships.

How to choose a school in Australia

• Government or non-government school, and whether a religious affiliation or educational philosophy matters to you
• Single-sex or co-educational, and the age range taught on one campus
• Boarding, homestay or living with a parent, and the supervision provided
• State or territory: the senior certificate and some rules differ between them
• English support for students who are still learning the language
• CRICOS registration and the total yearly cost, including extras

Frequently asked questions

At what age can international students attend school in Australia?

Australian schools host international students from five years of age. This includes children of international students who are studying at tertiary level.

When does the Australian school year start?

The school year starts in late January or early February and is divided into four terms, with holidays between each term.

Do international school students need a visa?

Yes, students who come to Australia for school usually need a Student visa (subclass 500), which covers primary and secondary school. They apply after receiving a Confirmation of Enrolment from a CRICOS-registered school.

What qualification do students get at the end of Year 12?

Students receive their state's senior secondary certificate and, if they plan to go to university, an ATAR, a rank between 0.00 and 99.95 used for university admission.