2026-05-09
Victorian Government Schools（维多利亚州政府中小学）Australia Study Guide: Programs, Entry Requirements, Costs and Student Life
A practical study guide to Victorian Government Schools（维多利亚州政府中小学）for international families: the VCE and VCE Vocational Major pathways, Standard and Study Abroad visa categories, 2026 tuition from AUD 16,000 at primary level, application deadlines for 2026-2027, homestay options and the four accommodation choices. All figures come from official Victorian Government Schools and Department of Education pages, accessed August 6, 2026.
This guide is for families considering Victorian Government Schools（维多利亚州政府中小学）, the public school system of the Australian state of Victoria, operated by the Department of Education. International students enrol through the state’s International Student Program (ISP), administered by the department’s International Education Division. Everything below comes from official Victorian Government Schools and Department of Education pages, accessed on August 6, 2026; the ISP pages on the Study Victoria website were verified through their archived official copies because the live site blocks automated reading. All dollar figures are Australian dollars from the official “School Fees 2026” schedule unless noted otherwise, and every figure should be re-checked against the latest official version before budgeting.
About Victorian Government Schools
Victorian Government Schoolscover the full school age range: primary school for ages 5 to 12 and secondary school for ages 12 to 18, per the official program pages. The system is accredited to teach international students under CRICOS provider name and code Department of Education, 00861K, with three registered courses: Primary (Prep to Year 6), 019047G; Secondary (7-12), 019048F; and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary Course (7-12), 028651A. International students come through five application categories: Standard students (usually here for more than 12 months to complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or VCE Vocational Major), Study Abroad students (3, 6, 9 or 12 months), Dependant students (children of tertiary students or workers in Victoria), and Temporary students (up to 12 weeks, for example on a visitor visa). Fee-paying students must not start school until their ISP enrolment is complete and fees are paid in advance — the official policy states this explicitly, so families should plan for payment before arrival.
Programs and Curriculum
Victorian Government Schools follow the Victorian curriculum from Prep to Year 12. In the senior years the main qualification is the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), taken in Years 11 and 12, with the VCE Vocational Major (VM) as the applied-learning stream; both sit alongside VCE Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects, which the official fee page says may add AUD 49 to AUD 1,739 per subject per year in tuition plus AUD 90 to AUD 950 in material fees. Secondary students in Victorian Government Schools study a broad range of subjects with assessment through the VCE system, while primary students follow the same state curriculum framework used across Victorian Government Schools. The system includes specialist settings such as the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, whose tuition is set separately from mainstream schools (see costs below). Study Abroad students attending Victorian Government Schools for a full year may also undertake VCE VET subjects depending on their year level, per the official schedule.
Entry Requirements and Student Categories
Entry to Victorian Government Schools as an international student depends on visa category. Standard students apply for or hold a subclass 500 Student (Schools) visa and typically study for more than 12 months, usually to complete the VCE or VCE Vocational Major. Study Abroad students hold the same visa type but study for a shorter period — 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Dependant students are children of adult international students or workers in Victoria and enrol under their parent’s visa arrangements; children of parents on postgraduate research visas are fee-exempt and may apply directly to individual schools. Temporary students may study for up to 12 weeks on a visitor (subclass 600) visa or bridging visa. The official policy adds two rules that matter for planning: students cannot skip an entire year level, and they must complete at least half of their current academic year before moving up. English-language support is built into the system, and the department requires Overseas Student Health Cover(OSHC) for the duration of the student visa; evidence of OSHC must be provided before the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is issued.
How to Apply
Applications to the ISP for Victorian Government Schools follow the department’s published process. For Standard and Study Abroad entry, applications are submitted through the official application channel (normally via an accredited education agent, per the official pages), after which the department sends a Letter of Offer and Written Agreement; the family returns the agreement signed by the parent or legal guardian by the due date, receives an invoice, pays by the due date, and then receives the Confirmation of Enrolment letter (CoE). Students who ask the department to arrange accommodation also receive a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter, and homestay students must provide arrival details at least two weeks before the welfare commencement date on the CAAW. The final step is the student visa application to the Department of Home Affairs. Applications received after the published submission date are not considered until the following school term, so the deadlines below matter.
Application Submission Dates for 2026 and 2027
The official application submission dates for Standard, Study Abroad and Dependant applications to Victorian Government Schools are published per term. For the 2026 school year: Term 2 (classes from 20 April 2026) closed to applications on 31 January 2026; Term 3 (classes from 13 July 2026) closes 3 April 2026; Term 4 (classes from 5 October 2026) closes 26 June 2026. For 2027: Term 1 closes 16 October 2026; Term 2 closes 8 January 2027; Term 3 closes 2 April 2027; Term 4 closes 25 June 2027. Temporary student applications have later deadlines, reflecting visa processing timeframes. Families planning entry to Victorian Government Schools should work backwards from the term start, allowing time for the offer, fee payment, CoE and visa processing.
Tuition and Other Costs (2026)
The official “School Fees 2026” page of Victorian Government Schools sets annual tuition for 2026 at AUD 16,000 for primary (Prep to Grade 6), AUD 19,600 for junior secondary (Years 7-10) and AUD 22,000 for senior secondary (Years 11-12). The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School is higher: AUD 26,600 for Years 7-10 and AUD 29,850 for Years 11-12. VCE VET subjects add AUD 49-AUD 1,739 per subject per year in tuition and AUD 90-AUD 950 in material fees. Non-tuition fees from the same 2026 schedule include an application fee of AUD 300, arrival support AUD 200, accommodation placement AUD 320, school transfer AUD 750, enrolment amendment AUD 300, default administration AUD 500 and refund administration AUD 500. Homestay fees are AUD 370-AUD 500 per week depending on the homestay and location. Annual extras to budget for: school uniforms AUD 500-AUD 950, camps and excursions AUD 450-AUD 950, textbooks and stationery AUD 400-AUD 700, electronic devices AUD 500-AUD 1,250, and VCE/VCE VM exam fees AUD 79.55-AUD 492.10. OSHC is required before arrival; as a guide the official page cites Medibank Private OSHC from AUD 651 per year (GST inclusive). The official cost-of-living page also lists homestay at AUD 330-AUD 460 per week and myki public transport at AUD 20-AUD 60 weekly or AUD 60-AUD 200 monthly.
Accommodation and Student Welfare
Victorian Government Schools offer four accommodation options, per the official pages. Option 1: live with a parent or legal guardian in Victoria — mandatory for all students under 15 and students with additional needs. Option 2: live with a Department of Home Affairsapproved relative (over 21, in one of the specified family relationships). Option 3: a parent-nominated homestay with a close family friend or relative, requiring a Working with Children Check, for students aged 15 and over. Option 4: school-arranged homestay, also for students aged 15 and over, where the school selects the family, runs child-safe screening, visits routinely and coordinates Working with Children Checks for everyone 18 and over in the household. Schools choose homestay families from the local school community; families offer full-board accommodation, and the school community connection is part of the experience. Under-18 students cannot be issued a student visa until welfare arrangements are in place, and the CAAW arrangement ends 7 days after the last day of the course or when the student turns 18.
School Year and Term Dates
Victorian Government Schools run four terms a year. The 2026 term dates for Victorian government schools are: Term 1, Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April (students start Wednesday 28 January in government schools); Term 2, Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June; Term 3, Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September; Term 4, Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December. The 2027 dates are Term 1, Wednesday 27 January to Thursday 25 March; Term 2, Monday 12 April to Friday 25 June; Term 3, Monday 12 July to Friday 17 September; Term 4, Monday 4 October to Friday 17 December. These dates come from the official term dates page for Victorian government schools, accessed August 6, 2026.
Final Checklist and Next Steps
Before committing to Victorian Government Schools, run this checklist: confirm the child’s age fits the intended year level (primary ages 5-12, secondary ages 12-18) and that the year level rules are met (no skipping a full year; at least half of the current year completed); choose the right application category — Standard for VCE completion, Study Abroad for 3-12 month stays, Dependant or Temporary as applicable; note that students under 15 must live with a parent or guardian, and only students 15 and over can choose homestay; budget against the 2026 fee schedule above, remembering fees are reviewed annually; plan OSHC before arrival; and mark the application submission dates for the intended term. All facts in this guide come from official Victorian Government Schools and Department of Education pages as of August 6, 2026, and the official website remains the authority if anything changes. For personalised advice on whether Victorian Government Schools suit your child’s year level, English level and budget, and help sequencing the application steps, speak with our study-abroad advisers.