2026-05-02
Billanook College（比兰努克中学）Australia Study Guide: Programs, Entry Requirements, Costs and Student Life
A practical Australia study guide for families considering Billanook College（比兰努克中学）: the school's profile and CRICOS registration, programs from early learning to VCE, international entry requirements, the 2026 fee schedule with tuition and compulsory charges, student support, and the application process, all from the official website as of 5 August 2026.
This guide pulls together what families need to know about applying to Billanook College（比兰努克中学）, an independent co-educational day school in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Every fact below comes from the college’s official website and its published 2026 International Fee Schedule, as seen on 5 August 2026. The website’s own descriptions cover the college itself only; they are not rankings or comparisons with other schools.
Billanook College at a glance
Billanook Collegesits at 197 Cardigan Road, Mooroolbark VIC 3138, roughly a 45-minute drive from the Melbourne central business district. The college describes itself as independent, co-educational and day-only, and as an open-entry school that welcomes students of different abilities, nationalities and faith backgrounds. Its website footer lists a CRICOS provider registration of 00131M and ABN 37 005 705 555, and the school says it runs a long-established international student program.
For international families the registration detail that matters most is scope: the international page lists two CRICOS-registered programs — 040679K Primary Years (Prep to Year 6) and 011407G Secondary Years (Years 7 to 12). In plain terms, Billanook College accepts international applications for both primary and secondary schooling, not only senior years, so families with younger children can plan a longer pathway at one school.
Programs: from early learning to VCE
Billanook Collegeorganises learning into four phases on its website: the Early Learning Program, Primary School, Middle School and Senior School (VCE). The college notes it grew from 150 students and 10 teachers at its 1980 founding to more than 950 students today, spanning early learning through to Year 12, and it describes this continuity as supporting an uninterrupted journey for international families.
In the senior phase, students work towards the VCE, the Victorian Certificate of Education. The senior school page describes a wide range of VCE subjects, flexible timetabling, individualised mentoring, an Aspire program, and careers and academic advice from professionals. Subject lists for the middle and primary phases each have their own pages; current offerings should be checked against the relevant phase page before choosing courses.
Entry requirements for international students
The international application page of Billanook Collegesets out four requirements. English ability comes first: the college states that English is the language of instruction in all subjects and accepts objective assessments including IELTS, AEAS (Australian Education Assessments Service) and I-DAT, without publishing a single score threshold — the level required is the current position on the official site, and the college keeps the right to waive formal English assessment case by case. Academic history comes second: applicants must supply certified copies of the last two years of schooling, used to assess strengths and the most suitable year of entry. Third is an interview, hosted by the Student Pathways Manager with a head of school where possible, which may take place before all documents are in. Fourth is fees, set out in the college’s annual international fee schedule.
Conditional offers deserve attention. The website states that a student may be required to complete an additional English preparation course (ELICOS) before formal enrolment, with progress in the preparation course plus interview and test results determining entry to the mainstream program. Listed acceptable ELICOS providers include Avalon College, Acknowledge Education, Hawthorn Learning and SACE English Language Centre, with the required length recommended by the Student Pathways Manager for each case. In other words, English below the desired level does not close the door; it adds a preparation stage that should also be budgeted for.
Costs: the 2026 fee schedule
Billanook Collegepublishes its 2026 International Fee Schedule as a PDF linked from the international fees page (accessed 5 August 2026). On the 2026 schedule, tuition by year level is AUD 25,690 at Prep; AUD 26,985 in Years 1–2; AUD 28,935 in Years 3–4; AUD 32,435 in Years 5–12. Tuition must be paid in full before the school year, in October.
Compulsory non-tuition items on the same schedule include the International Program Composite Fee of AUD 1,195 per year from Prep to Year 9 and AUD 1,950 per year in Years 10–11; an ICT levy of AUD 220 per year in Years 5–11; the VCAA registration fee of approximately AUD 365–480 per year in Years 10–12; a non-refundable registration and administration fee of AUD 2,275 once; and Overseas Student Health Cover of about AUD 800 per year, payable at enrolment. Uniforms cost around AUD 630 per year and textbooks around AUD 600 per year, both paid to external suppliers. Optional pay-per-use items are listed separately, including inter-school travel and camps of about AUD 600–7,000 and bus service of roughly AUD 350–1,500 per year. The schedule notes that most co-curricular activities are included in tuition, and that all fees are payable within 30 days of invoicing. These figures are the 2026 schedule’s terms; the current official version remains the reference for any year ahead.
Student life and support
The international student support page of Billanook Collegedescribes a structured support system: a dedicated Student Pathways Manager, the individual attention that comes with a smaller international program, a safe and calm learning environment, and modern teaching facilities. The page also reminds applicants about student welfare and support obligations under Australia’s ESOS framework, the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, which governs the protections attached to studying in Australia on a student visa.
On campus, the college presents itself as a green, well-facilitated site where day students from the eastern suburbs commute daily. Because the school is day-only, accommodation planning for international students is a family matter rather than a school service; the ESOS framework and visa conditions set the boundaries for any arrangement, and those rules are set by the Australian Government, not by the school. For families weighing this, the practical question is travel time to Mooroolbark and the fit of the day-school model with the student’s age and supervision needs.
The application process
The application page of Billanook Collegedescribes the process as starting with: the registration application form, certified translations of the applicant’s school reports from the last two years, identity documents such as a passport or birth certificate, and an English assessment report. The college notes that families may submit the other materials first and complete the English assessment afterwards, and that the interview may happen before all materials arrive. Direct applications are welcome, and applications via registered agents are accepted, though the site states that using an agent is not required. After submission, the college reviews the materials and arranges an interview, with offers issued to successful applicants.
The website frames visa, insurance and statutory eligibility as Australian Government matters, and families should treat official channels as the source of truth for those. A practical order of work for applicants: confirm the year level and its CRICOS course code and fee line on the official site, then plan the English assessment and document certification with enough lead time to meet the October full-payment point before the school year.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Which year levels does Billanook Collegetake for international students? A: The registered international programs are 040679K (Prep to Year 6) and 011407G (Years 7 to 12); both primary and secondary applications are accepted.
Q: What English score do I need? A: IELTS, AEAS and I-DAT are accepted forms of assessment, but the college does not publish one score threshold; current requirements are on the official site. Students below the level may receive a conditional offer with an ELICOS preparation stage first.
Q: How much does a year cost? A: On the 2026 fee schedule, tuition runs from AUD 25,690 at Prep to AUD 32,435 in Years 5–12, plus compulsory items such as the International Program Composite Fee and OSHC; the official site is the reference for current figures.
Q: What documents do I need to apply? A: The registration form, certified translated school reports from the last two years, identity documents and an English assessment report, followed by an interview.
Q: Can younger children apply? A: Yes — program 040679K covers Prep to Year 6, so international families can start planning from primary level at Billanook College.
All facts in this guide come from the official website of Billanook Collegeand its 2026 International Fee Schedule, accessed 5 August 2026; programs, fees and requirements change with each school year, so the official site is the reference for current information. Every family’s year level, language background and timing differ, and costs and pathways are best worked out case by case — our advisers can help you map your own situation.