Overseas Students

It is recommended that parents or guardians of overseas students contact the Enrolments Office prior to lodging an application to determine the availability of places. It is also very important to understand the School’s English language requirement for entry, listed below. As Brisbane Grammar School has very limited assistance available for students who have limited English ability, this condition of enrolment will be strictly adhered to. To proceed with an application overseas students are required to forward the following:

• a completed Application and Application Fee;
• copies of the student’s two most recent school reports;
• copies of any certificates of public examinations (where applicable);
• a letter of reference from the student’s current or most recent school Principal is also required if the student’s reports do not record student behaviour or commitment to studies;
• written evidence of proficiency in English as a second language;
• a photocopy or scanned copy of the student's passport page with name, photo identification, passport number and expiry date; and
• details of the student's involvement in cocurricular activities.

Where the above documents are not in English, certified translations in English are required, with necessary costs to be met by the applicant.

An application for enrolment can only be processed when all of the above has been received by the Director of Enrolments.

Applications from overseas students are processed according to established policy and procedures and are dealt with on their merits.

Assessment procedures include an evaluation of reports from previous schools and of English language proficiency. In cases where reports are not available or are inconclusive for any reason, the School may require relevant testing of the applicant to assess the application.

Prior to offering a place at the School, applicants will be interviewed, either in person or by telephone. We may also contact your son’s current Principal, but will not do so without your prior consent. Having considered all records and any further information which may be requested, the Headmaster of the School will make the final decision on the acceptance of any overseas student into the School.

Students must provide evidence of satisfactory academic performance appropriate to entry to the year level requested on the Application for Enrolment or offered as an alternative point of entry by the School in a Letter of Offer.

For all students:

• evidence of application to school work;
• achievement in literacy and numeracy areas of the curriculum; and
• a pass level or 'C' grade or better for the majority of core subjects.

Brisbane Grammar School requires evidence of sufficient proficiency in English to successfully meet the curriculum demands of the enrolled course. This is a requirement under the 2018 National Code of Practice (Standard 2).

Evidence of English Language Assessment must meet the requirements of the Migration Regulations where required. In the case of AL4 applicants 16 years of age or older, as of 1 April, 2004, Migration Regulations must be met.

This evidence may be presented as proof of previous study in English as the medium of instruction, or as results of an acceptable English language proficiency test. Where Migration Regulations do not apply, Brisbane Grammar School accepts results from the following test instrument:

The minimum proficiency level in English which must be met for an application to be considered are:

In addition to a satisfactory result in AEAS or IELTS, applicants will be asked to provide a piece of extended writing in English, completed under supervised conditions.

These minimum levels must apply to each of the four areas of Writing, Speaking, Literacy and Reading/Viewing.

As Brisbane Grammar School offers a very demanding academic program, students below these levels in any of the four areas of language - Writing, Speaking, Literacy and Reading/Viewing - will experience significant difficulty in accessing course materials and completing assessments.

Students should note that if their language proficiency is below that outlined above, they may be required to undertake an intensive English language course before beginning mainstream studies.

Students wishing to enter the School outside these year levels are assessed individually based on the contents of their report cards and personal references, and may also be required to undertake a language proficiency test set by the School.

If a place in the School is available, we will forward a Written Agreement and invoices for payment of the Application and Confirmation Fees and the first instalment of Tuition and Boarding fees, based on the current year's schedule of fees. For students commencing at the start of a school year (January) the first instalment will be 50% of the total cost of Tuition Fees for Semesters 1 and 2 of the first year of study and 75% of the total cost of Boarding Fees, if applicable, for Semesters 1 and 2 of the first year of study.  The first instalment for students commencing part way through a school year will be adjusted to reflect the length of the study period for that year.

​A Student Enrolment Agreement and other documents will be also be forwarded. The copy of the Written Agreement, the original Student Enrolment Agreement and other documents, as requested in the Written Agreement, must be signed and returned to the School with your fee payments. A copy of the Student Enrolment Agreement will be returned to you for your records.

Upon receipt of the required documents, signed by both parents, and the associated fees, we will send you an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment Certificate which is required for your son’s application for a Student Visa.

For overseas students, the Board of Trustees endeavours to set fees which will cover, as far as possible, all expenses except textbooks and uniforms. The Schedule of Fees for overseas students is higher than for Australian students because Australian students receive both Federal and State Government per capita grants. There are also additional administration costs for overseas students.

It is compulsory for all overseas students to contribute to Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).​

Application Fee

The Application Fee of $550 AUD, paid when an applicant applies for a place at the School, is non-refundable and does not guarantee a place at the School. Credit card payments attract a surcharge of 0.8% for Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. 

Confirmation Fee

The Confirmation Fee of $2,850 AUD, paid upon acceptance of an offer of a place at the School, is non-refundable except in the event a visa application is rejected.

Tuition (Annual Fee)

Click here for the downloadable 2024 Schedule of School Fees for overseas students.
Years 5 and 6: $36,240 AUD
Years 7 to 12: $44,570 AUD
In addition: Technology Levy $1,420 AUD per annum from Years 5 to 12*

Boarding (Annual Fee)

Includes laundry, mending and use of linen.
Years 5 and 6: $25,820 AUD
Years 7 to 12: $32,180 AUD

Yr 11 and 12 Service Fee**        
Annual Fee    $855.74

**Years 11 and 12 students are required to pay a yearly fee to the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA). The School collects this fee and forwards it to the QSA.    

The School provides a range of options for the payment of fees. You may pay your fees by cheque, credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Bankcard) or via the Internet. Credit card payments attract a surcharge of 0.8% for Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. The full range of payment options and methods is explained on your School Fees account each year. Note: The School reserves the right to withdraw an enrolment if fees are not paid as and when they fall due, unless prior arrangements have been agreed in writing. Fees are subject to alteration.

Brisbane Grammar School does not offer credit, and entry into any course is subject to the assessment of the School. This also applies to on-shore school transfers, whether within the state, interstate or from one of the territories.

The School's Code of Expectations and Behaviour and Student Enrolment Agreement are important documents and you should read these carefully. Acceptance by you and your son of the Code of Expectations and Behaviour and the Student Enrolment Agreement is implicit in your confirmation of his enrolment. The Student Enrolment Agreement must be signed and returned to the School with your first fee payment.

Students must comply with the requirements of the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration) (DHA) regarding regulations governing international student entry to Australia. They should also seek prior approval of the DHA before commencing a new course or changing courses.

The DHA now requires all visa applicants to provide evidence of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the proposed duration of their visa. The School does not arrange OSHC on behalf of students and parents are free to choose their own medical insurance authority. One such authority you may wish to consider is Medibank Private. Click here for further details.

Overseas students are required to live in Harlin House, the School’s boarding house. The School does not arrange homestay accommodation for students.

The offer of a place in the boarding house does not presume acceptance at some future date of change to day student status. Such a change shall only be considered when the student is in the full-time care of a parent who is living permanently in Brisbane. All such requests for change from boarder to day student will be at the sole discretion of the Headmaster.

All House Tutors have current Blue Cards or Working With Children Check, issued through the Queensland Government. Click here to visit the Blue Card Services website.

Under the provisions of the Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996, students, their parents and guardians are to be made aware that:

The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the Queensland Department of Education has the power to suspend or cancel the registration of the School or a course offered by the School. Students concerned about the conduct of the School may contact officers of the Queensland Department of Education which is the department involved in the administration of the Act. The dispute resolution process does not prevent a student from exercising the student's rights to other legal remedies.

To assist overseas students with the selection of suitable subjects and courses, the Dean of Studies, Director of Student Services, Academic Services Coordinator and Head of Year are available for consultation. They are able to help students by assessing their individual needs and matching those needs with the educational outcomes of the available subjects and courses. Every effort is made to ensure overseas students will have a reasonable chance of success in the courses they are undertaking.

Brisbane Grammar School will only enrol a student who has already completed another course in Australia with a registered provider if the School is satisfied:

• the student had demonstrated a commitment to studies in that course;
• the student had a good attendance record for that course; and
• the student had paid all fees for that course.

If a student wishes to transfer from another provider prior to completing their course of study, the School will require a letter of release from the provider addressing the student's commitment to studies, attendance record and payment of fees.

The School will issue a letter of release, upon request, to any student who started but did not complete a course at the School and who wishes to enrol with another provider. The letter of release will address the student's commitment to studies, attendance record and payment of fees.

Brisbane Grammar School is subject to auditing under the requirements of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977. The School will therefore keep all necessary records that would allow the auditor to be satisfied about the sources of all monies received for providing courses to overseas students and the ways in which the monies are spent.

As a registered provider of courses for overseas students, the School is bound by the Code of Ethics developed by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). Copies of the Code of Ethics are available upon request from the School or from the Queensland Education Overseas Unit.