High School

Apply now to enrol in a NSW government high school.

Choose from:

• High schools in Sydney and throughout NSW
• Specialist high schools in languages, technology, performing and creative arts, and sport
• Boys-only high schools, girls-only high schools, coeducational high schools

Please note: The International Students Program is for students on a student visa (i.e. subclass 571). Holders of all other types of visa may be eligible under the Temporary Residents Program.

• Find a School

High school education in New South Wales has two stages:

• Junior High (Years 7 to 10)
  The NSW School Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete Year 10.
• Senior High (Years 11 and 12)
  Graduate with the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) at the end of Year 12 for entry into many Australian and overseas universities and other tertiary institutions.

Starting dates

Junior High (Years 7 to 10)

• Any time up to the start of Term 4 of the academic year

Senior High (Years 11 and 12)

• At the start of the academic year during Term 1

Go to NSW government high schools website for more details.

Minimum entry requirements

Academic

Junior High (Years 7 to 10)
Good passing grades in the student’s main academic subjects

Senior High (Years 11 and 12)
NSW School Certificate (Year 10) or its equivalent in Australia or overseas, with good passing grades in the main academic subjects

English language

At least one of the following:

• Satisfactory results from an approved intensive English course (English Preparation for High School). An Intensive English course can be done at a NSW government schools intensive English Centre, TAFE NSW English Language Centre, or selected private college
• Satisfactory results from an approved English language test:
• For entry into Years 7 to 10: minimum IELTS (International English language Testing System) score of 5.0; for entry into Years 11 and 12: minimum IELTS score of 5.5
• Equivalent results in another approved English language test (including TOEFL, STEP and SLEP)
• High school taught and learnt in English for at least 2 years