2026 cohort · ESOS-aligned

Sending an international student to an Australian private school

Indicative all-in cost: $60,000–$130,000/year (tuition + boarding + visa + insurance + fees). Plus the CRICOS, ESOS Act + guardian-visa context most school websites don't lay out clearly.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 11 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

All-in annual cost breakdown

Indicative ranges for a Year 12 international student. Actual figures vary by school + state — request the school's published international fee schedule before committing.

Cost component Annual range Notes
Tuition (Year 12) $40,000 – $70,000 International tuition is typically 30-50% above domestic. Top boarding schools $60-70k.
Boarding $25,000 – $50,000 On top of tuition. Includes meals, accommodation, weekend programs.
Application fee $300 – $500 Non-refundable. Some schools waive for early applications.
Enrolment confirmation deposit $3,000 – $10,000 Refunded against first term tuition.
Guardian fee (under 18, in lieu of family) $500 – $2,000/term Required if parents not on guardian visa. Some schools provide; others outsource.
Capital levy $1,000 – $5,000/year Funds school infrastructure projects. Often higher for international students.
Mandatory health insurance (OSHC) $500 – $700/year Required for visa. School often arranges.
Uniform + supplies $2,000 – $4,000 first year Full kit including formal, sport, swim. Annual replacement $500-1,000.
Excursions + camps $1,500 – $3,500/year Often invoiced separately each term.

Visa, CRICOS + ESOS framework

Subclass 500 (Student Visa)

Required for any student over 6 weeks. Visa duration matches CRICOS-registered course (e.g., Year 7-12 = 6 years).

CRICOS registration

School must be CRICOS-registered to enrol overseas students. Verify at cricos.education.gov.au before paying.

ESOS Act compliance

All CRICOS schools governed by Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000. Provides refund protection + complaints framework.

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Issued after deposit paid. Required for visa application. Typical 4-12 week processing.

Welfare arrangements

Students under 18 require either (a) a parent/relative on guardian visa, (b) school-approved homestay, or (c) school-approved guardian. School handles approval.

OSHC

Overseas Student Health Cover required for entire visa duration. Major providers: Medibank OSHC, Allianz Care, Bupa OSHC.

Education agents by region

Most international placements at Australian private schools come through licensed education agents. Agent commission is typically 10–15% of Year 1 tuition + sometimes a yearly trailing commission. Families paying via agent are not charged the commission directly — it's absorbed by the school.

Greater China (Mainland, HK, Taiwan)

Heavy agent presence. Most international students arrive via 1 of 30 major Beijing/Shanghai/HK agents. Agent commission typically 10-15% of Year 1 tuition.

South-East Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand)

Mix of agents + direct family contact. Singapore + Malaysia families often direct.

India + Sub-continent

Growing agent market. Largely undergraduate-focused; secondary student numbers smaller.

Pacific Islands + PNG

Often direct via family/community connections. Specific scholarship pathways exist (Boarding Bursary Scholarship, Pacific Islands Trade Program).

NZ

No visa required. Direct family contact. Often middle-Year-7 transfers.

Verify any agent's credentials at PIER (Professional International Education Recruitment) registry before committing — pier.com.au.

CRICOS-registered schools, by city

141 of the private + boarding schools we track are CRICOS-registered and can enrol international students on a subclass-500 visa. International Year 12 tuition shown where each school publishes it (typically 1.2–1.7× the domestic rate); "on enquiry" where it's gated. Verify any CRICOS code at cricos.education.gov.au before paying.

Sydney (24)Melbourne (19)Brisbane (24)Perth (18)Adelaide (20)Canberra (2)Hobart (3)Gold Coast (7)Geelong (2)Newcastle (6)Darwin (1)Toowoomba (2)Ballarat (3)Albany (1)Mandurah (1)Tanunda (1)McLaren Vale (1)Bowral (1)Mount Eliza (2)Wollongong (3)

Sydney — 24 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Cranbrook SchoolBellevue Hill 02298E $63,588 $44,106 Yes
Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar)North Sydney 00772M $57,720 $35,360 Yes
Newington CollegeStanmore 02290B $57,141 $38,394 Yes
Trinity Grammar School (Summer Hill)Summer Hill 02308G $57,000 on enquiry —
Knox Grammar SchoolWahroonga 00399E $52,920 $39,210 Yes
Ravenswood School for GirlsGordon 02306K $51,680 $36,620 Yes
KambalaRose Bay 02284M $49,825 $33,700 Yes
Frensham SchoolMittagong 02278J $47,267 $35,664 —
AbbotsleighWahroonga 02270F on enquiry $33,460 Yes
Ascham SchoolEdgecliff 00380E on enquiry $33,200 Yes
Pymble Ladies' CollegePymble 03288K on enquiry on enquiry Yes
The King's SchoolNorth Parramatta 02326F on enquiry $35,856 Yes
The Scots CollegeBellevue Hill 02287G on enquiry on enquiry —
Tara Anglican School for GirlsNorth Parramatta 02320A on enquiry on enquiry No
Loreto NormanhurstNormanhurst 03931K on enquiry on enquiry —
St Catherine's School WaverleyWaverley 02322K on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred HeartRose Bay — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
St Luke's Grammar SchoolDee Why — on enquiry Day only Yes
Barker CollegeHornsby — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
MLC SchoolBurwood — on enquiry Day only Yes
Presbyterian Ladies' College SydneyCroydon — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Moriah CollegeQueens Park — on enquiry Day only Yes
Emanuel SchoolRandwick — on enquiry Day only Yes
SCECGS RedlandsCremorne — on enquiry Day only Yes

Melbourne — 19 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Melbourne Grammar SchoolSouth Yarra 00977J $67,170 on enquiry Yes
St Catherine's SchoolToorak 00574F $62,100 $37,780 Yes
Methodist Ladies' CollegeKew 00325A $61,335 $43,785 Yes
Caulfield Grammar SchoolSt Kilda East (also Wheelers Hill, Malvern) 00136F $58,842 $33,400 Yes
Wesley CollegeMelbourne (St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley, Elsternwick) 00354G $55,974 $35,000 Yes
Scotch CollegeHawthorn 00624A on enquiry $60,545 Yes
Presbyterian Ladies' CollegeBurwood 00334M on enquiry $34,872 Yes
Genazzano FCJ CollegeKew 03298G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Trinity Grammar School KewKew 00350M on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Sacré CœurGlen Iris — on enquiry Day only Yes
Siena CollegeCamberwell — on enquiry Day only Yes
Avila CollegeMount Waverley — on enquiry Day only Yes
Fintona Girls' SchoolBalwyn — on enquiry Day only Yes
Huntingtower SchoolMount Waverley — on enquiry Day only Yes
Overnewton Anglican Community CollegeKeilor — on enquiry Day only Yes
Westbourne Grammar SchoolTruganina — on enquiry Day only Yes
Whitefriars CollegeDonvale — on enquiry Day only Yes
Mentone GrammarMentone — on enquiry Day only Yes
Firbank Grammar SchoolBrighton — on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Brisbane — 24 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
St Margaret's Anglican Girls SchoolAscot 00511K $49,980 $29,952 Yes
Brisbane Grammar SchoolSpring Hill 00489C on enquiry $35,660 Yes
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)East Brisbane 00487E on enquiry on enquiry —
Brisbane Boys' CollegeToowong 00491J on enquiry $32,460 Yes
Somerville HouseSouth Brisbane 00522G on enquiry on enquiry —
St Peters Lutheran CollegeIndooroopilly 00516E on enquiry on enquiry —
St Joseph's Nudgee CollegeBoondall 00572G on enquiry $31,050 No
Stuartholme SchoolToowong 00524E on enquiry $29,210 Yes
The Cathedral School TownsvilleMundingburra, Townsville 00959M on enquiry $24,150 No
All Souls St Gabriels School Charters TowersCharters Towers 02025G on enquiry on enquiry —
Mt Alvernia CollegeKedron — on enquiry Day only Yes
Redeemer Lutheran CollegeRochedale — on enquiry Day only Yes
Grace Lutheran CollegeRothwell — on enquiry Day only Yes
Ambrose Treacy CollegeIndooroopilly — on enquiry Day only Yes
Marist College AshgroveAshgrove — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Clayfield CollegeClayfield — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
St Rita's CollegeClayfield — on enquiry Day only Yes
Citipointe Christian CollegeCarindale — on enquiry Day only Yes
Ormiston CollegeOrmiston — on enquiry Day only Yes
Moreton Bay CollegeManly West — on enquiry Day only Yes
Canterbury CollegeWaterford — on enquiry Day only Yes
John Paul CollegeDaisy Hill — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
St John's Anglican CollegeForest Lake — on enquiry Day only Yes
Sheldon CollegeSheldon — on enquiry Day only Yes

Perth — 18 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
St Mary's Anglican Girls' SchoolKarrinyup 00454C $45,900 $34,120 Yes
Bunbury Cathedral Grammar SchoolGelorup 00431K $20,252 on enquiry Yes
St Hilda's Anglican School for GirlsMosman Park 00452E on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Christ Church Grammar SchoolClaremont 00433G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Scotch College PerthSwanbourne 00449M on enquiry on enquiry —
Hale SchoolWembley Downs 00438C on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Wesley College PerthSouth Perth 00460E on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Methodist Ladies' College PerthClaremont 00441G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Perth CollegeMount Lawley 00445D on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Penrhos CollegeComo 00444E on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Geraldton Grammar SchoolGeraldton 02468C on enquiry $26,857 —
St George's Anglican Grammar SchoolPerth — on enquiry Day only Yes
Swan Christian CollegeMiddle Swan — on enquiry Day only Yes
Guildford Grammar SchoolGuildford — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Santa Maria CollegeAttadale — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
St Stephen's SchoolDuncraig — on enquiry Day only Yes
Kennedy Baptist CollegeMurdoch — on enquiry Day only Yes
Peter Moyes Anglican Community SchoolMindarie — on enquiry Day only Yes

Adelaide — 20 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
St Peter's College AdelaideHackney 01535E $53,745 $35,880 Yes
Prince Alfred CollegeKent Town 00368A $47,520 $33,540 Yes
Walford Anglican School for GirlsHyde Park 00563J $46,600 $29,700 No
Pembroke SchoolKensington Park 00367B $44,400 $30,810 No
Wilderness SchoolMedindie 00375B $43,161 $29,521 No
Westminster School AdelaideMarion 00602G $36,292 $25,800 —
Concordia College AdelaideHighgate 00360J $28,600 on enquiry No
Scotch College AdelaideTorrens Park 00615B on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Seymour CollegeGlen Osmond 00628G on enquiry on enquiry —
Immanuel CollegeNovar Gardens 00362G on enquiry $25,236 Yes
Rostrevor CollegeWoodforde — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Saint Ignatius' CollegeAthelstone — on enquiry Day only Yes
Blackfriars Priory SchoolProspect — on enquiry Day only Yes
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart CollegeEnfield — on enquiry Day only Yes
St Dominic's Priory CollegeNorth Adelaide — on enquiry Day only Yes
Prescott CollegeProspect — on enquiry Day only Yes
Trinity CollegeEvanston South — on enquiry Day only Yes
Nazareth Catholic CollegeFindon — on enquiry Day only Yes
Endeavour CollegeMawson Lakes — on enquiry Day only Yes
Gleeson CollegeGolden Grove — on enquiry Day only Yes

Canberra — 2 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Canberra Grammar SchoolRed Hill 00580G on enquiry $36,485 Yes
Canberra Girls Grammar SchoolDeakin 01294F on enquiry $37,540 Yes

Hobart — 3 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
The Hutchins SchoolSandy Bay 00478F $40,600 $27,720 No
The Friends' SchoolNorth Hobart 00477G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
St Michael's Collegiate SchoolHobart CBD 00482K on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Gold Coast — 7 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
St Hilda's School SouthportSouthport 00510M $45,185 $28,912 —
The Southport SchoolSouthport 00523F on enquiry on enquiry Yes
A.B. Paterson CollegeArundel — on enquiry Day only Yes
Aquinas CollegeAshmore — on enquiry Day only Yes
Assisi Catholic CollegeUpper Coomera — on enquiry Day only Yes
Marymount CollegeBurleigh Waters — on enquiry Day only Yes
Livingstone Christian CollegeOrmeau — on enquiry Day only Yes

Geelong — 2 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Geelong Grammar SchoolCorio 00143G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
The Geelong CollegeNewtown 00142G on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Newcastle — 6 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
The Armidale SchoolArmidale 02285K on enquiry on enquiry Yes
New England Girls' School (NEGS)Armidale 02945A on enquiry on enquiry Yes
PLC ArmidaleArmidale 02295G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Calrossy Anglican SchoolTamworth 02316G on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Kinross Wolaroi SchoolOrange 00544A on enquiry on enquiry —
All Saints' College BathurstBathurst 02277K on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Darwin — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Haileybury Rendall SchoolBerrimah 00971D on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Toowoomba — 2 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Toowoomba Grammar SchoolEast Toowoomba 00525D on enquiry $31,050 —
Fairholme College ToowoombaToowoomba 00651J on enquiry on enquiry —

Ballarat — 3 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
St Patrick's College BallaratBallarat East 00620E $22,600 on enquiry —
Ballarat GrammarWendouree 00129E on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Ballarat Clarendon CollegeBallarat Central 00557G on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Albany — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Great Southern GrammarKalgan — on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Mandurah — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Frederick Irwin Anglican SchoolMeadow Springs — on enquiry Day only Yes

Tanunda — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Faith Lutheran CollegeTanunda — on enquiry Day only Yes

McLaren Vale — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Tatachilla Lutheran CollegeMcLaren Vale — on enquiry Day only Yes

Bowral — 1 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Chevalier CollegeBurradoo — on enquiry Day only Yes

Mount Eliza — 2 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Toorak CollegeMount Eliza — on enquiry on enquiry Yes
Peninsula GrammarMount Eliza — on enquiry on enquiry Yes

Wollongong — 3 CRICOS schools

School CRICOS Intl Year 12 Intl boarding AEAS
Holy Spirit CollegeBellambi — on enquiry Day only Yes
Illawarra Christian SchoolCordeaux Heights — on enquiry Day only Yes
St Joseph's Catholic High SchoolAlbion Park — on enquiry Day only Yes

Fees sourced from each school's published overseas-student schedule where available (03/06/2026); "on enquiry" where the school gates international fees. Always confirm current figures, CRICOS status and welfare arrangements with the school before applying.

Under-18 welfare + guardianship (CAAW), in plain English

Every international student under 18 must have approved welfare arrangements for the full length of their student visa — without it, the visa is refused. There are three accepted options:

  1. A parent or eligible relative in Australia on a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590).
  2. A nominated relative aged 21+ who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of good character.
  3. School-arranged welfare (CAAW) — the school issues a "Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare", taking responsibility via its boarding house or an approved homestay. This is the most common route for boarding-school students.

Most boarding schools issue a CAAW directly. Day-only schools generally require an external guardian. The school's International Admissions team manages CAAW approval as part of the offer — ask about it early, because a refused CAAW means a refused visa.

Many schools also require the AEAS test (academic + English assessment, aeas.com.au) for international applicants — near-universal for boarding entry. Sources: Department of Home Affairs (subclass 500 welfare arrangements), studyaustralia.gov.au. For the boarding pathway specifically, see our boarding schools guide.

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