v256.0 · education · AU · verified 2026-04
Australia education system
Education in Australia — public + private K-12, international schools, university system, tuition costs, scholarships, language of instruction, and expat-family pathway.
System overview
State-administered · 13yr K-12 (Foundation → Year 12) · ATAR university entry · Group of Eight elite · 4th-largest international student destination globally
K-12 schools
| Public K-12 | ~65% Australian students public · Free (optional contributions) · State-based curricula · NAPLAN Years 3,5,7,9 · ATAR Year 12 ranking · HSC NSW, VCE Victoria leaving certificates |
| Private K-12 | ~35% Australian students private (highest OECD share) · Catholic schools largest (1,750) · Independent (PLC, Geelong Grammar, Scotch College) AUD 30-50K/yr · Faith-based: Anglican, Jewish, Islamic |
| International schools | Limited specifically international — most international families use private + ATAR + IB · Some IB schools (NSW, Victoria) · Carey Baptist, Melbourne Grammar, Sydney Grammar offer IB · Few American + French + German schools |
University system
| University system | 43 universities · Group of Eight (Go8): Melbourne, Sydney, ANU, UQ, UWA, Adelaide, Monash, UNSW · Strong global rankings · 3-4yr bachelors · Some 5yr combined honors · Doctoral 3-4yr |
| Tuition costs | Domestic (CSP Commonwealth Supported Place): AUD 4-15K/yr (subsidized) + HECS-HELP income-linked repayment · International: AUD 30-50K/yr · Medicine + Vet higher · Go8 slightly premium |
| Scholarships + financial aid | Australia Awards (DFAT) · Endeavour · Westpac Future Leaders · Group of Eight scholarships · Research Training Program (HDR) · State-specific |
Language of instruction
English universally · Indigenous-language bilingual limited (Northern Territory) · Mandarin + Japanese + Indonesian traditionally · French + German + Spanish growing
Expat-family pathway
Student visa subclass 500 · OSHC mandatory · GTE test (replaced by Genuine Student test Mar 2024) · 485 Temporary Graduate visa 2-4yr · Pathway to PR via skilled migration
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024-25: International student caps 270,000 for 2025 · 485 visa narrowed July 2024 (master's 2-3yr not 4) · Genuine Student replaced GTE Mar 2024 · International student dependants restricted · Sydney+Melbourne housing crisis affecting attractiveness
Source: official Australia Ministry of Education · Last verified 2026-04
See also: Australia country profile · education atlas