International School Fees Australia: Budget to Premium

Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other cities) has independent and international schools from budget to premium – Australian, IB and British curricula. This guide gives fee ranges and example schools so you can make an informed choice.

Quick overview of fee ranges (annual tuition, indicative, day schools)

• Budget: Roughly AUD 12,000–22,000 per year (primary). Smaller independents, Catholic systemic schools (lower-fee).
• Mid-tier: Roughly AUD 25,000–35,000 per year (primary). Established independent schools, good facilities.
• Premium: Roughly AUD 38,000–52,000+ per year (primary). Top schools, strong IB/HSC provision.

Secondary and Year 11–12 are typically higher. Sydney and Melbourne tend to be at the upper end.

Budget end: example schools and fees

Smaller independent and low-fee Catholic independent schools can sit in the budget band. Primary often AUD 14,000–22,000 per year. Check each school’s latest fee schedule.

Mid-tier: example schools and fees

Scotch College (Melbourne) (day), Brisbane Grammar School and Pymble Ladies’ College are mid-tier examples. Primary often AUD 28,000–35,000; secondary/IB can be AUD 35,000–42,000. Strong curricula and facilities.

Premium: example schools and fees

Sydney Grammar School, Cranbrook School and King’s School (Sydney) sit at the premium end. Primary can be AUD 42,000–50,000 and secondary AUD 48,000–56,000+. Boarding adds significantly. Extensive facilities and university placement.

What to watch beyond tuition

• Registration and enrolment fees (one-off; can be AUD 300–1,500+).
• Learning support and EAL – often extra; can add AUD 3,000–10,000+ per year.
• Exam fees (IB, state exams) – sometimes included or partially charged; confirm with school.
• Building or capital levies (one-off or annual) at some schools.

See our Hidden International School Fees – MUST READ for a full checklist.

How to choose

• Decide budget band, city and curriculum; get full fee schedules (tuition + one-off and annual extras).
• Compare total cost over 3–5 years and fee progression by year group.
• Ask what is included vs add-on (support, trips, exams).

---

Tutopiya: IGCSE and A level support

Tutopiya is much more affordable, with rates starting from as low as AUD 11 per hour (SGD 10). All classes are 1‑to‑1 and personalised with experienced IGCSE and A level exam-board and subject-specialist tutors, supported by our AI‑powered resources bank—the largest in the world. Tutopiya’s AI‑powered IGCSE and A level resources platform is only AUD 108/year (SGD 96) for unlimited access to over 25 subjects, including 200,000 exam-style questions with instant AI feedback, 5,000+ topical slides covering the entire syllabus, and 2,000+ videos. Explore Tutopiya’s programmes.