Education in Sydney

Sydney is known for its high-quality education and excellent schools. Under Australian law, children between the ages of six and 16 must attend school. In Sydney, there are three options available:

Public or state schools

These schools are publicly funded, and there are no fees for Australian citizens and permanent residents, although you may be asked to pay a voluntary fee, and you do have to pay for school uniforms, books, and extras like excursions. Enrolment is based on location, with each school having a ‘catchment’ area for students based on their home address. There are academically selective public schools in Sydney, which require students to pass an entrance examination; however, these are not open to temporary residents. Those on a temporary visa may have a different fee structure or receive grants, so make sure you know what is available to you.

Catholic schools

There are many small Catholic schools in Sydney known as ‘systemic’ schools. They levy a small tuition fee and are open to students who come from the Catholic faith.

Independent or private schools

There are many private schools in Sydney, charging higher fees (in many cases, over $20,000/year). The majority are faith-based, but many are also non-religious or non-denominational and do not require students to live in the vicinity. While most private schools are day schools, there are also some boarding schools. Many also offer the International Baccalaureate.

The school year runs from January to December, with four school terms. School holidays are held in April, July, and September for 2-3 weeks. Summer holidays are around six weeks; though the dates change slightly each year, summer school holidays typically run from mid-December through the end of January or early February. NSW schools are in session Monday through Friday, generally from 9am to 3pm – these times can vary for each school.

To find out the best schools in Sydney for you and your family, visit www.decinternational.nsw.edu.au, the Department of Education and Community’s international website, which has all the necessary information about Sydney schools for temporary residents. Meanwhile, www.myschool.edu.au offers profiles of over 9,500 schools with statistics and other contextual information.

Enrolment

To enrol your child in a school, contact the school by telephone or in person. You will need to take your visa and entry to Australia documents, proof of their date of birth, and any papers relating to their previous education. Tertiary education can be completed through TAFE (Technical and Further Education) or a university. For more information: TAFE www.tafensw.edu.au University Admissions www.uac.edu.au

Universities in Sydney

Sydney offers a number of highly ranked universities with world-class facilities for those wishing to study at a tertiary level:

  • The University of Sydney
  • The University of NSW
  • The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
  • The University of Western Sydney
  • Macquarie University
  • The Australian Catholic University


School-leavers wishing to enter university will require an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) from an Australian high school, or an equivalent such as the International Baccalaureate. For those who aren’t permanent residents, university fees can be $20,000-$30,000 per year. Permanent residents are eligible for government loans to pay their tuition.