Australian high schools

1. General information

The Australian school system consists of 12 years of study, divided into:

Primary School: Years 1–6
Junior Secondary (Lower Secondary): Years 7–10
Senior Secondary (Upper Secondary): Years 11–12

Annual tuition ranges from AUD 10,000 – 47,000, depending on the state and school.

Primary School: Students study a common curriculum. No formal graduation certificate is issued upon completion of primary school. Tuition ranges from AUD 14,000–15,000 per year.

Junior Secondary (Years 7–10): Students take a combination of compulsory and elective subjects. Upon completing Year 10, students receive a Year 10 Certificate. Tuition ranges from AUD 15,000–16,000 per year.

Senior Secondary (Years 11–12): Students choose subjects based on their graduation exam goals and future study plans. This streamed curriculum equips students with essential academic foundations for vocational education or university.

Graduates receive the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, with different names depending on the state or territory:

State/Territory	Year 12 Qualification
Canberra (ACT)	: ACT Year 12 Certificate
New South Wales	: HSC – Higher School Certificate
Northern Territory	: NTCE – Northern Territory Certificate of Education
Queensland	: Senior Certificate
South Australia	: SACE – South Australian Certificate of Education
Tasmania	: TCE – Tasmanian Certificate of Education
Victoria	: VCE – Victorian Certificate of Education
Western Australia	: WACE – Western Australia Certificate of Education

Pathways After Year 10–12

From Year 10 onward, students may study both the school curriculum and vocational subjects.
After completing Year 12, students may:

Enter the workforce
Enroll in Certificate/Diploma programs
Go directly to university (depending on their Year 12 results)

Some high schools offer university foundation programs linked to specific university degrees.

2. Note for Vietnamese students studying in Australian high school

Although Australia does not fully recognize Vietnam’s high school diploma, the two systems are similar in structure, making transitions relatively smooth.
Important notes include:

Academic progression: Students may progress directly to the next grade if they meet academic, conduct, and English requirements (e.g., finish Grade 9 → enter Year 10).
Minimum study duration for graduation: Most schools require students to study at least four terms in Australia to obtain a valid Year 12 result for university or vocational admission.Very few schools accept only three terms, therefore, the latest entry point for Vietnamese students is typically after Grade 10 → enter Year 11 in Australia.
English entry requirements: Required English level: PTE Academic 38–46 or IELTS 5.0–5.5. Students without an English test must take at least 20 weeks of ELICOS as required by each state’s Department of Education.
Accommodation requirements: International students must stay in:
- Homestay
- School boarding (boarding house)
- With an approved relative (if meeting requirements).
- Relatives hosting students must provide:
  - Police Clearance
  - Working With Children Check (WWCC)
  - All household members aged 18+ must also provide these documents
  - Must pass a school homestay inspection
  - Processing takes at least 4 weeks, so families should prepare early.
- Homestay fees: AUD 12,000 – 16,000/year
- Boarding fees: AUD 16,000 – 20,000/year
Guardian requirements: All students under 18 must have a legal guardian until they turn 18. Guardianship may be provided by the school or guardian companies, costing AUD 1,500 – 2,000/year.
- Relatives acting as guardians must:
  - Provide Police Clearance
  - Provide Working With Children Check
  - Be 21+ years old
  - Hold a visa valid until the student turns 18
  - Pass a school interview
  - Processing time: minimum 4 weeks.
- Parent accompaniment: Parents may accompany their child if they demonstrate strong financial capability.
Intake periods: The school year starts in late January. Schools may also admit students in January, April, July, and sometimes October.
Application & visa processing time:
- Public school admission: 2–6 weeks
- Student visa processing: 4–8 weeks
High school visas fall under Assessment Level 2, requiring:
- Parents’ income of at least 40 million VND/month
- Savings to cover the first year of tuition + living costs
- Proof of family assets