Carey Baptist Grammar School（凯瑞文法学校）Australia Study Guide: Programs, Entry Requirements, Costs and Student Life

This guide gathers the facts international families need before applying to Carey Baptist Grammar School（凯瑞文法学校）, a co-educational independent school in Melbourne. Everything below comes from the school’s official website (carey.com.au), accessed on 5 August 2026. Fees are quoted in Australian dollars and reflect the school’s published 2026 fee schedule; the school itself notes that figures are updated annually, so confirm against the current website before budgeting.

School Profile and Campuses

Carey Baptist Grammar School describes itself as one of Melbourne’s leading co-educational schools. Founded in 1923, it operates two campuses, Kew and Donvale, covering Early Learning (from age three) through to Year 12. The school is organised into four sections: an Early Learning Centre, Junior School (Prep to Year 6), Middle School (Years 7 to 9) and Senior School (Years 10 to 12). International students are admitted to the Middle School and Senior School years, with classes held at the Kew campus. The school holds CRICOS registration 00135G, which allows it to enrol students on Australian student visas; its international program operates under the ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice 2018.

Beyond the two teaching campuses, Carey Baptist Grammar School lists the Bulleen Sports Complex, Camp Toonallook and Mission Beach among its facilities, reflecting the emphasis the school places on sport and outdoor education. The school has no boarding house: international students aged 15 or above can be placed in homestay accommodation instead.

Programs and Curriculum

Curriculum choice is the first decision most families face. In Years 11 and 12, Carey Baptist Grammar School offers two senior pathways: the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) and the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). The IB Diploma is recognised for university applications worldwide, while the VCE is the school-leaving qualification used across Victoria’s own university system. Year 10 functions as the exploration year: students sample a wide range of subjects before committing to either pathway in Year 11.

International students at Carey Baptist Grammar School study in the same classes as local students rather than in a separate international stream. For English support, the school does not run its own intensive English program; where needed, enrolment conditions may require a student to complete an ELICOS course first, or the school will recommend suitable language schools. The AEAS test report indicates how many weeks of intensive English a student is likely to need on arrival, which is worth factoring into both the timeline and the budget.

Entry Requirements for International Students

The official website of Carey Baptist Grammar School accepts international applications for Middle School (Years 7 to 9) and Senior School (Years 10 to 12) entry. Two sets of requirements apply. First, documents: a completed and signed application form, a copy of the student’s passport, the current school report, AEAS test results, and supporting documentation including medical information. Second, academic and English standards: students must have completed the previous year level, passed all core subjects, and achieved at least 75% in English language studies. For Senior School entry, students must have completed a Middle School certificate (Year 9) with at least 75% in English across Years 7 to 9. A valid visa is required to take up a place.

On language testing, the school’s FAQ is explicit: IELTS is not required before applying. Students applying from Year 4 upward sit the AEAS test, which assesses English proficiency and recommends the length of any intensive English program needed on arrival. One nuance worth noting: the main text of the website says applications are accepted for both Middle School and Senior School, while one FAQ entry mentions Senior School only; check the current version of the site when you apply.

Tuition and Fees for 2026

Carey Baptist Grammar School publishes a full international fee schedule for the 2026 school year(2026). Annual tuition for international students is: Prep AUD 35,419; Years 1 to 3: AUD 41,864 each; Years 4 to 6: AUD 46,708 each; Year 7: AUD 51,039; Years 8 and 9: AUD 53,049 each; Year 10: AUD 53,933; and Years 11 and 12: AUD 54,670 each. On top of tuition, compulsory fees vary by year level from AUD 684 to AUD 7,748 (covering technology, experiential learning, outdoor education and device rental), and a state tax and surcharge of AUD 1,760 applies each year. These are the school’s 2026 figures.

One-off fees include a non-refundable application fee of AUD 200 and a non-refundable enrolment fee of AUD 1,800. When an offer is accepted, international families pay a tuition deposit equivalent to half a year’s tuition. Other costs in the 2026 schedule: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) around AUD 700 per year, arranged by the school before the student starts; a homestay administration fee of AUD 500 and a homestay bond of around AUD 1,800 (four weeks’ fees); a Local Support Person service at around AUD 2,600 per year if provided by the school’s partner; uniforms roughly AUD 900 to AUD 1,000; books and stationery about AUD 450 per year; and personal spending of roughly AUD 50 to AUD 100 per week.

Applying to Carey

The enrolment process at Carey Baptist Grammar School runs in four steps: apply, join the waitlist, receive a formal offer, and accept. The school’s key entry levels are three-year-old Early Learning, Prep, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10, though applications are welcomed for other year levels when places exist. For international students, the school issues an application form when a place becomes available; successful applicants receive a letter of offer or provisional offer detailing the payments and documents required. Once payment and completed documents are received, the school issues the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is the document used to apply for a student visa. An interview with school leadership may form part of the process, and for Years 8 to 12 the school reviews recent school reports and performance.

Tuition is billed in two instalments per year, in the October and April accounts, with compulsory fees and device rental billed annually in the April account. For withdrawals, the school requires one term’s written notice; otherwise a fee equivalent to half a term’s tuition applies. The school advises families to apply early, since visa processing times vary and places in popular year levels are limited.

Term Dates and the School Year

The school year at Carey Baptist Grammar School follows the southern-hemisphere rhythm, running from late January to early December. For 2026 the four terms are: Term 1, 30 January to 2 April; Term 2, 21 April to 26 June; Term 3, 21 July to 18 September; and Term 4, 5 October to 8 December. Families planning arrival should work backwards from the Term 1 start date when booking flights and accommodation, and note that international students typically need to be in Melbourne before term begins.

Student Life and Support

Carey Baptist Grammar School reports around 60 international students on campus, from countries including China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and North America. Support structures include a classroom teacher or student mentor, a Head of House, a Head of Student Welfare, registered psychologists, and for Senior School students a Local Support Person; homestay is available for students aged 15 and above. The Carey Local and Overseas Students Association (CLOSA) organises social activities to help new families settle in. The school is also a member of the Melbourne Schools Partnership International with the University of Melbourne, a partnership it lists on its international page.

Sources and How to Verify

All facts above were taken from the Carey Baptist Grammar School official website (carey.com.au) on 5 August 2026: the homepage and About Carey page (school profile and founding year), the International Students page (requirements, process, FAQ and welfare), the Fees and Charges page and the 2026 International Fee Schedule PDF (tuition table, deposits and billing rules), the Senior School page (IB and VCE), the application process page (entry levels) and the term dates page. Two notes: statements about the school’s own achievements are the school’s self-description, not independent findings; and fees, deadlines and entry years change annually, so treat every figure as valid as of the current website version. For advice tailored to your child’s year level, English level and budget, speak to our advisers about your specific situation.