Expats can take comfort in knowing that schools in Melbourne regularly make up nearly half of the top 20 rated institutions in all of Australia. Graduates of the Melbourne system often go on to achieve great things, and even the 2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine winner Elizabeth Blackburn was educated in one of the seven state universities in Melbourne.

Currently, the nation is working towards implementing a national curriculum for schools in all states and territories, and rolled out the first phase to senior secondary students in 2011.

In addition to providing students with the foundations for excelling academically and professionally; Melbourne education offers those with focused athletic or artistic talents their chance to shine. 

Active participation in team sport, where students learn to co-operate with their peers, is a priority for Australians, and schools in Melbourne encourage their children to venture outdoors. Expats used to this emphasis on extra-curricular activities will be happy to know that most of Melbourne’s schools have retained their playing fields.

What to know about going to school in Melbourne

• The four- term school year begins in late January and runs until early December.
• The Christmas and summer holiday in Australia is combined into one.
• Children at state primary and secondary schools are not given a hot meal at lunchtime. Parents either send the children off with a packed lunch or provide money to buy sandwiches and snacks at the canteen. Some schools are stricter than others about providing healthy options. 
• Children at primary school when playing outside in the summer are required to wear hats to protect them from the fierce Australian sun.
• School students have to wear uniforms, which can be quite challenging for children relocating from countries, with a no-uniforms policy.

Tuition fees in Melbourne schools

Parents are advised to contact the education provider directly regarding fees. Schooling at government sponsored schools is free for permanent residents and those on a 457 visa; although, extra expenses like uniforms, school trips and certain equipment must be paid for. If a child is classified as an international student (where full fees are payable) it will say so in the passport. 

Annual fees for the private schools are around AUD 20,000.

Levels of schools in Melbourne

Pre-school Education

Pre-school – known as kindergarten (kinder) or prep is a structured education program for children from age three onwards.  From age four, permanent residents are entitled to 10 hours a week government assistance at state-run kindergartens.

While the facilities and staff at private day-care and pre-schools are regulated, their  fees are not.

Primary school in Melbourne

School attendance is compulsory for children from age 5 to 17. At popular state-run primary schools there are strict zoning requirements, where a child can only be enrolled once a parent has proof of residence in the school zone.  Parents can choose to send their children to private schools, faith-based schools or those that offer a more specialised education such as Montessori or Steiner.

Secondary school in Melbourne

In years 11 and 12 students who plan to go to university in Victoria or who wish to pursue academic subjects are encouraged to study for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).  It is a combination of continual assessment by coursework as well as external assessment by exams. Students are scored in this exam and the higher their Enter score, the greater chance they have at competing for a place at a high-ranking university.

Expat children who are intending to return to their home country to take up higher education may be better off opting for the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is a more portable qualification, but an option that not all schools offer. Expat parents should be sure to research which institutions can provide this diploma.

Students who wish to pursue a more practical and technical further education than the VCE can opt instead for The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).

University in Melbourne

With two of the country’s top universities based here it is no wonder that students flock to Melbourne to study. 

The seven universities in the Melbourne area offer both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in subject areas, from the professions to non-vocational topics. 

Higher education is a popular option for accompanying partners who move temporarily to Melbourne on visas that do not allow them to work. Entry and eligibility to a chosen course is dependent on the student attaining a high-scoring VCE or equivalent exam result.

Expats applying as mature students should check entry qualifications with the course convenor in their chosen subject area.

Technical and further education in Melbourne

Students who wish to pursue a trade or work in an industry where on-the-job skills are required should contact one of the many Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges. Many students go on to gain their VCE through TAFE and then go on to university.