Top 20 Australian Private Schools Offering Scholarships

Twenty leading Australian private schools offer scholarships worth 25% to 100% of fees, and most open Year 7 applications between October and November. If you're weighing up an independent school for your child, the scholarship round is often the single biggest lever on affordability, and the schools below run the most substantial published programs in the country.

Demand is real. Independent school enrolments grew 3.4% in 2025, the fastest of any sector, against 1.4% for Catholic schools and a 0.2% dip for government schools (ABS Schools 2025). More families chasing places means more families chasing scholarships, and the schools with the most generous awards attract fierce competition.

This list covers eight Victorian schools, seven in Sydney, two in Brisbane, one in Adelaide and two in Perth, including five girls' schools. For each one you'll find the scholarship types on offer, entry years, the test provider where the school names it, current-cycle timing and a link to the official page. If you're new to the whole process, start with our complete guide to private school scholarships in Australia and come back to compare schools.

A few patterns will repeat as you read. Most awards are partial, commonly 25-50% of tuition. Year 7 is the dominant entry point everywhere. Exams cluster in February of the year before entry, and interviews for shortlisted candidates are close to universal.

Contents

• How we compiled this list
• The 20 schools at a glance
• Melbourne and Victoria
• Sydney
• Brisbane
• Adelaide
• Perth
• What patterns should you expect across these schools?
• How should you prepare for a scholarship application?
• FAQs
• Key takeaways
• Sources and further reading

How we compiled this list

Every entry below was verified against the school's official scholarship page in July 2026. Dates shown are the current published cycle only; schools reset them every year, so always confirm on the official website before planning anything. Where a school doesn't state its test provider or remission level, we say so rather than guess.

This is not a ranking of academic results or a "best schools" league table. We selected for the substance and transparency of each school's published scholarship program, national spread across the five biggest capital-city markets, and a healthy mix of boys', girls' and co-educational schools. Plenty of excellent schools with quieter programs didn't make the cut.

Two cautions before the list. First, applying for a scholarship is not the same as applying for enrolment, and winning one doesn't guarantee a place; admission processes run separately at every school. Second, merit scholarships are only one form of fee relief. Means-tested bursaries are often more accessible, and we've covered them in our guide to scholarships and bursaries for independent schools.

The 20 schools at a glance

The table below compresses each program to its essentials. "Not stated" in the provider column means the school doesn't name a test company on its scholarships page, so check directly.

Melbourne and Victoria

Melbourne is Australia's densest scholarship market, and it splits three ways by test provider: EduTest at Haileybury, Caulfield and Wesley, ACER at MLC and PLC, and AAS at Melbourne Grammar. Exam timing varies more here than anywhere else, so read each entry carefully. For the wider picture, see our parent guide to Melbourne's top private schools.

Melbourne Grammar School

Melbourne Grammar offers Academic scholarships at Years 7 and 9, means-tested General Excellence awards across Years 7-11 for students who otherwise could not attend, and philanthropically funded Access scholarships. Testing runs through Academic Assessment Services (AAS), and the exam sits unusually early: for 2028 entry, registration closes 20 August 2026 with the exam on 29 August 2026, so candidates sit roughly 17 months out, while in Year 5 or Year 7 (dates change annually, so confirm on the school site). Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. The school doesn't publish a standard remission percentage. Details: Melbourne Grammar scholarships.

Scotch College

Scotch offers Academic Excellence, General Excellence, Boarding (with preference for rural and regional families) and First Nations scholarships, the last worth up to 100% of tuition and boarding. The program includes both means-tested and non-means-tested categories, which is worth clarifying with admissions before you apply. Entry points are Years 7, 9 and 10. Scotch doesn't name a test provider on its scholarships page, so ask directly. The next intake is for 2028 entry, with applications opening during 2026. Details: Scotch College scholarships.

Wesley College

Every Wesley scholarship balances merit and means, with remission typically between 25% and 80% of tuition for the award's duration, according to the school's FAQ. Academic Excellence awards sit at Years 7 and 10; General Excellence awards (sport, music, performance, art, leadership, community) span Years 5-11; "Learning in Residence" boarding scholarships cover Years 7-11, alongside several named awards. Testing is through EduTest with a $20 test fee and a remote-sitting option, followed by an interview. The 2027 round has closed; 2028 applications open late in 2026, with exams typically February-March. Details: Wesley College scholarships and bursaries.

Haileybury

Forget the February rule here: Haileybury tests mid-year. The 2028-entry round closed on 29 May 2026 with EduTest exams on 20-21 June 2026, sat online at home under virtual supervision. Candidates apply from Years 3, 5 or 8 for entry at Years 5, 7 and 10, which makes this one of the earliest-testing schools in the country. Scholarship types cover Academic, Excellence, Foundation (socio-economic, 50-100% remission), Indigenous and Music, with Foundation applications for 2028 opening in November 2026. Shortlisted students interview with the Head of Campus. Details: Haileybury scholarships.

Caulfield Grammar

Caulfield runs one of the broadest programs anywhere: Academic, General Excellence, Sport, Boarding, Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, Grammarians' and Humanitarian scholarships, across entry Years 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Academic remission typically lands between 25% and 75% of fees and runs through to Year 12. Testing is EduTest; the 2027-entry exam ran on 7 February 2026, and the standing pattern is applications closing in January ahead of an early-February exam. Interviews follow within about three weeks of the test. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents. Details: Caulfield Grammar scholarships.

MLC (Methodist Ladies' College), Kew

One of Melbourne's leading girls' schools, MLC advertises "ACER tested academic scholarships" plus Music, Sport, Science, Performing Arts, Indigenous and named awards, and Tiddeman House boarding scholarships. Year 5 entrants receive a two-year award, while Year 7-11 scholarships run for the remainder of secondary school. The process combines the application, school reports, the ACER exam and an interview. The 2027 round has closed; the 2028 round opens later in 2026, and MLC hadn't published exact dates when we checked, so watch the school's page. Details: MLC scholarships.

PLC Melbourne (Burwood)

PLC offers girls Academic, General Excellence, Music, Boarding and means-tested scholarships, plus the Helen Hailes award for descendants of Old Collegians, at entry Years 7-11. Academic awards reach up to 50% of tuition, boarding scholarships up to 50% of boarding fees, and there's a repayment clause if a student leaves before Year 12, which is worth reading closely. Testing is through ACER: the 2027 round closed on 3 January 2026 with the exam on 31 January, and 2028 registration opens in Term 4 2026 for a Term 1 2027 exam. Music candidates audition; interviews happen in some cases. Details: PLC scholarships.

Geelong Grammar School

Australia's best-known boarding school supports more than 200 students through scholarships each year. Categories span Academic (Years 9-10), General Excellence, Music (Years 7-11), Visual Arts, Sport, Rural & Regional, Boarding (Years 7-11) and Choral. Academic awards reach up to 50% of day or boarding fees, with more only in exceptional circumstances, while boarding scholarships stretch to 75%, or 100% in extenuating cases. The school uses an "independent scholarship examination" it doesn't name, and shortlisted candidates are interviewed. The 2027 academic round has closed; Sport applications close 22 July 2026. Details: Geelong Grammar scholarships.

Sydney

Sydney is AAS territory: King's, Knox, Newington and Barker all test through Academic Assessment Services, while SCEGGS uses ACER's cooperative program, Cranbrook uses EduTest at a second stage, and Sydney Grammar sets its own exam. Headline generosity is higher here than in Melbourne, with two schools publishing awards at 90-100% of tuition.

Sydney Grammar School

Sydney Grammar awards up to 20 academic scholarships each year, generally covering 90% of tuition fees, which the school lists at $52,410 a year as at mid-2026 (fees change annually). Academic entry is at Year 7 (Form I) only, alongside means-tested awards, Music scholarships, the Chauvel scholarship at Year 10 for grandsons of service personnel, and Fee-Assisted Places. Uniquely on this list, there's no external provider: the exam is paper-based, set and marked by Grammar's own teaching staff, and the school explicitly discourages coaching for it. The most recent assessment ran on 1 February 2026, and early February is the standing pattern. Details: Sydney Grammar scholarships.

The King's School

King's offers scholarships covering tuition, boarding or both, with some means-tested categories, plus need-assessed bursaries that focus on boarding families. Entry runs from Years 7 to 10, with the majority awarded at Year 7, and awards continue to Year 12. Testing is through AAS. King's states that its shortlist is drawn from the top 1% of test results combined with co-curricular achievement, a bar specific to this school, and shortlisted candidates are interviewed. The 2027 round has closed; the 2028 round opens in October 2026, with exact dates still to be published. Details: The King's School scholarships and bursaries.

Knox Grammar School

Knox runs Academic, Music, All-Rounder, Regional Boarding (Years 8-11), Sons of Old Boys and Indigenous scholarships (through AIEF, plus the Hollander day award). Most awards sit at Year 7, with one Year 5 academic scholarship and limited Year 11 places. Applications go through the AAS portal with a $175 registration fee, and candidates must be citizens or permanent residents. Knox has already published its next cycle: for 2028 entry, registration opens 9 November 2026 and closes 4 February 2027, with exams on 21 February 2027 (Years 7, 11 and boarding) and 28 February 2027 (Year 5). Confirm on the school site before relying on those dates. Details: Knox Grammar scholarships.

SCEGGS Darlinghurst

SCEGGS offers girls full or part Academic scholarships, a means-tested All-Rounder award, the Joan Freeman scholarship for science and maths, the Barbara Chisholm boarding scholarship (full boarding, for rural and regional students), full-tuition Indigenous scholarships and an award for Old Girls' descendants. Most entry is at Year 7. Testing runs through ACER's Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program, which lets your child's one sitting count at up to six participating schools, and SCEGGS interviews after the test. Applications typically open in October and close in early February. Details: SCEGGS scholarships.

Newington College

Newington's headline is the most generous in Sydney: academic scholarships worth 100% of tuition, at entry Years 7, 9 and 11. Around them sit named awards (the Halse Rogers all-rounder and the F. Stretton Jeffs full Year 11 scholarship), rural and regional boarding scholarships for Years 9-10 families more than 100 km beyond metropolitan Sydney, the Chris Wild Indigenous scholarship covering full tuition plus extras, and the means-tested Pioneer award. Testing is through AAS. For 2027 entry, applications opened 24 November 2025 and closed 16 January 2026, with assessments on 2-3 February; shortlisted families were interviewed by phone. Expect a similar rhythm for 2028. Details: Newington College scholarships.

Barker College

Co-educational Barker offers academic scholarships worth up to 100% of tuition at Year 7 and 50% at Year 10, Music scholarships at 50-100%, Co-curricular awards, the Copeland scholarship (50%, for a current junior-school student) and AIEF Indigenous boarding scholarships from Year 9. Testing runs through AAS and is sat online; candidates can't sit the exam at Barker itself. The school's current-cycle dates weren't accessible when we checked, so treat timing as unconfirmed and go straight to the source. Details: Barker College scholarships.

Cranbrook School

Cranbrook runs a distinctive two-stage model: families apply first, the school shortlists, and only shortlisted candidates sit EduTest, followed by an interview. The current round's EduTest sitting falls in August 2026, and the 2028 round opens late in Term 3 2026. Scholarship types cover Academic, All-Rounder, Music, Boarding, an Old Cranbrookians' award and the means-tested Coeducation Scholarship marking the school's co-ed transition, offered to girls and boys entering Year 7 in 2027. Entry points are Years 7 and 11, awards can reach 100% of tuition, and applicants must be Australian citizens. Details: Cranbrook scholarships.

Brisbane

Brisbane is ACER country: both schools here test through ACER, and Brisbane Grammar hosts its exam on campus each February. The city's standouts are history and boarding generosity, with one program running since 1868 and a girls' boarding award covering 100% of boarding costs.

Brisbane Grammar School

The Trustees' Academic Scholarships have run since 1868, making this one of Australia's oldest programs. Academic entry is at Years 7 and 10 (candidates sit in Years 6 and 9), with Sports (GPS), Cultural and means-tested bursary categories, including Indigenous and refugee bursaries assessed externally, across Years 7-11. Testing is ACER, held at the school each February, with applications closing around 20 June the year before and no late applications accepted. Registrations for 2028 entry open in October 2026 through ACER's cooperative program. The Headmaster awards scholarships after shortlist interviews. Details: Brisbane Grammar scholarships and bursaries.

Somerville House

Somerville House offers girls Academic scholarships from Year 7, Sport scholarships across Years 7-11, merit and equity awards, and the Kate Benjamin Regional & Rural Boarding Scholarship, which covers 100% of boarding fees plus 50% of tuition from Years 7-12, one of the strongest boarding offers in the country. Awards come in full and partial forms, and each student can hold only one scholarship. Testing is through ACER. The 2027 round closed on 8 February 2026, and the school is taking interest for 2028, with dates to be published. Details: Somerville House scholarships and bursaries.

Adelaide

Adelaide's flagship program stands out nationally for publishing exact remission percentages rather than vague ranges. Like Brisbane, the city sits firmly in ACER's cooperative testing network, with South Australia's shared exam typically falling slightly earlier in February than other states.

St Peter's College

St Peter's publishes unusually specific numbers. Academic scholarships sit at Years 5 and 7; boarding scholarships (Years 7-11) include the Doc Ross award at 100% of tuition for up to five years; General Excellence awards (Years 9-11) include the J W Downer scholarship at 100% for three years and a 70% Year 10 award; and the means-tested "Bike Hike" day scholarship covers up to 90% for Years 7-9. Add Specialist Instrument awards for current students and two full Foundation scholarships. Testing is ACER. Most 2027 categories closed by 6 March 2026, but Bike Hike applications remain open until 7 August 2026. Details: St Peter's College scholarships.

Perth

Perth's two entries take opposite approaches to transparency: Hale publishes a distinctive flat-rate-plus-top-up model, while PLC Perth publishes a remission band of 15-50% with a separate 100% means-tested pathway. Neither school names its test provider, so confirm testing arrangements directly.

Hale School

Hale's model is worth understanding even if you're not in Perth: Year 7 academic scholarships carry a flat 25% remission, with a further needs-based top-up for families who qualify, separating merit from means cleanly. Around that sit the Stow Music scholarship (up to 50% plus free instrumental tuition), the Brian Clarkson rural boarding award (50%), the means-tested David Bean scholarship (up to 100%), the Ryan Murphy General Excellence award (up to 25%) and Indigenous scholarships for Years 7-10. The 2027 academic exam ran in February 2026, while the Bean, Murphy and Stow rounds open 1 August to 4 September 2026. Shortlisted boys interview with the Headmaster. Details: Hale School scholarships.

PLC Perth

Presbyterian Ladies' College offers Academic, General Excellence, Music and Performing Arts scholarships, Rural Bursaries, First Nations scholarships (Years 7-10) and the means-tested PLC Foundation Scholarship covering 100% of fees from Years 7-12. Entry spans prospective students in Years 5-10 plus current-student categories. Standard remission runs 15-50%, which the school publishes in its scholarship guide. Testing is compulsory and on campus, though the provider isn't named, and shortlisted girls complete an audition where relevant plus a personal interview. The 2027 round opened 24 November 2025 and closed 4 February 2026; expect a similar window for 2028. Details: PLC Perth scholarships and bursaries.

What patterns should you expect across these schools?

Three patterns dominate: providers cluster by city, the calendar runs on an October-to-February rhythm with a handful of loud exceptions, and most awards are partial. Knowing all three saves you from the most common planning mistakes, like assuming every school tests in February or that "scholarship" means free schooling.

On providers, Melbourne skews EduTest (Haileybury, Caulfield, Wesley) with strong ACER (MLC, PLC) and AAS (Melbourne Grammar) presences. Sydney skews AAS (King's, Knox, Newington, Barker), with ACER at SCEGGS, EduTest at Cranbrook and Sydney Grammar's own in-house paper. Brisbane and Adelaide sit almost entirely with ACER. The three tests differ in style and structure, and our ACER vs EduTest vs AAS comparison breaks down what each one asks of your child.

On timing, the dominant cycle opens applications in October-November, closes them in late January or early February, tests in February and makes offers around April, roughly 12 to 18 months before entry. The exceptions matter: Haileybury tests in June, Ivanhoe Grammar in October, Melbourne Grammar in August, and Cranbrook's second-stage EduTest falls in August. Our private school entry timeline maps the full calendar.

On money, treat 100% headlines with care. Most awards on this list sit at 25-50% remission, and full-fee offers are usually means-tested, boarding-linked or named awards with specific eligibility. The clean exceptions are Newington's 100% academic tuition scholarships and Sydney Grammar's roughly 90% awards. Always read what the percentage applies to: tuition and boarding are different bills, and extras like uniforms, devices and camps are often excluded.

How should you prepare for a scholarship application?

Start earlier than feels necessary, because the exam usually falls a full year or more before entry, and know which test your child will sit before buying any practice material. Our guide on when to start preparing for scholarship exams sets out a realistic runway for each age.

Expensive coaching isn't a prerequisite; Sydney Grammar actively discourages it. There's plenty you can do at home with official practice materials and good reading habits, covered in how to improve scholarship chances without tutoring. And before you submit anything, scan the application mistakes parents make most often; missed deadlines top the list, and none of these schools accept late applications kindly.

FAQs

Which school offers the biggest scholarships?

By published headline, Newington College, whose academic scholarships cover 100% of tuition at Years 7, 9 and 11. Sydney Grammar runs it close, with up to 20 awards a year generally covering 90% of tuition, currently listed at $52,410. Elsewhere, 100% awards exist but are usually means-tested, boarding-specific or named awards with narrow eligibility.

Are these the 20 "best" private schools in Australia?

No. We selected schools with substantial, transparent, officially published scholarship programs and a national spread, not by academic results or reputation. A school missing from this list may suit your child far better. Scholarship generosity tells you about a school's philanthropy and marketing, not its classrooms, so visit and compare before deciding anything.

Do all of these schools test in February?

Most do, but not all, and the exceptions catch families out every year. Haileybury tested in June 2026 for 2028 entry, Melbourne Grammar tests in August, and Cranbrook's second-stage EduTest falls in August. Ivanhoe Grammar, just outside this list, tests in October. Check each school's current dates rather than assuming the February norm.

Can my child apply to several schools at once?

Yes, and most families do. ACER's Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program lets one sitting count at up to six participating schools. AAS and EduTest schools take separate registrations, each with its own fee: Knox charges $175, while Wesley Melbourne's EduTest fee is $20. Watch for exam-date clashes, since February Saturdays fill up fast.

Are private school scholarships means-tested?

Some are, some aren't, and several schools run both types side by side. Wesley Melbourne balances merit and means in every award. Melbourne Grammar's General Excellence and Newington's Pioneer awards are means-tested, while Hale uses a flat 25% merit award with a means-tested top-up. Pure merit awards, like Sydney Grammar's, ignore family income entirely.

What if the school we're interested in isn't on this list?

Don't read anything into it. Hundreds of Australian independent schools run scholarship programs; we chose 20 with strong published detail and national spread. Go straight to the school's admissions or scholarships page, and use our complete scholarships guide to decode the types, tests and timing you'll find there.

Key takeaways

• Most scholarships at these 20 schools are partial, typically 25-50% of tuition; full-fee awards are usually means-tested, boarding-linked or named.
• The standout headlines: Newington's 100% academic tuition, Sydney Grammar's ~90% awards, Somerville House's 100%-boarding-plus-50%-tuition regional award, and Geelong Grammar's 200+ supported students.
• Year 7 is the dominant entry point everywhere, with secondary intakes at Years 9-11 common in Victoria and NSW.
• The standard rhythm is open October-November, close January-February, exam in February; Haileybury (June), Melbourne Grammar (August) and Cranbrook (August second stage) break it.
• Providers cluster by city: Melbourne leans EduTest, Sydney leans AAS, Brisbane and Adelaide lean ACER, and Sydney Grammar sets its own exam.
• Interviews for shortlisted candidates are near-universal, and a scholarship application never guarantees enrolment.
• Every date in this article is the current published cycle as at July 2026; schools change them annually, so always confirm on the official page.

Scholarship research goes better alongside school research, so find and compare schools near you on AroundSchools while you shortlist, and use our entry timeline and Melbourne schools guide to plan the year ahead.

Sources and further reading

Official scholarship pages for all 20 schools, verified July 2026:

• Melbourne Grammar School
• Scotch College Melbourne
• Wesley College Melbourne
• Haileybury
• Caulfield Grammar School
• MLC Kew
• PLC Melbourne
• Geelong Grammar School
• Sydney Grammar School
• The King's School
• Knox Grammar School
• SCEGGS Darlinghurst
• Newington College
• Barker College
• Cranbrook School
• Brisbane Grammar School
• Somerville House
• St Peter's College Adelaide
• Hale School
• PLC Perth

Enrolment statistics: ABS Schools, Australia 2025.