International schools in Australia

Search for the best international schools in Australia; you can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search box to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, the UK national curriculum, a US-style model or the International Primary Curriculum.

A major destination country for international students seeking education in English, Australia offers expatriate parents a myriad of options across its independent, Catholic and public school sectors. 

Education is managed by the country’s six constituent states, which oversee the curriculum in all types of school, and the system and rules can vary slightly between territories. Public schools are normally free to Australian citizens and permanent residents, while independent and Catholic schools charge fees and also receive government subsidies. 

Some 19 per cent of students in Australia attend Catholic schools, which promote religious values and beliefs and charge low fees, and around 16 per cent go to independent schools, where fees tend to be higher. The latter can be non-denominational or run by faith groups including Anglican, Methodist, Jewish and Islamic foundations. 

Many of the country’s most prestigious schools are in the independent sector. With more than 1,000 institutions serving nearly 590,000 students, it includes international schools, specialist arts and sports academies, Montessori and Waldorf schools and large number of boarding schools. There are many options in the major cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, and excellent schools nationwide.

There are 215 IB World Schools in Australia authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma, Middle Years or Primary Years programmes, alone or in combination. They include many state schools. The Council of International Schools (CIS) has 20 accredited member schools across the public and private sectors.

Education is compulsory from age six to about 16, depending on the state. In the public system, primary schools typically take children up to age 11, while secondary schools serve those aged 11 to 17. One year of pre-school is common.  

In most states, temporary residents can attend public schools but are required to pay fees. New South Wales has a special programme to place international students in its schools but does not allow them to apply for selective high schools. 

For information on IB World Schools in Australia, please see the website of the IB World Schools Yearbook: www.ibyb.org.