7 International Schools in Brisbane with the IB (2026–27): Fees, Visas and an Honest Guide

If you have been searching for international schools in Brisbane, you may have noticed that the results look nothing like Singapore, Tokyo or Bangkok. That is not a gap in your search. Every school in Brisbane already teaches in English, so the expat-style “international school” barely exists here. What Brisbane offers instead is a strong set of International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools, both private and state, plus selective state academies that teach the IB Diploma to students from across Queensland.

This guide covers seven real IB options in Greater Brisbane, with fees taken from each school’s own fee schedule or from the Queensland Government. It also explains how private, state and international-student fees differ, what changes if your child comes on a student visa or as a dependant, and how to choose. October to January is when most Australian families make school decisions for the new year starting in late January, so it helps to have the numbers in one place.

Quick Answer: Your Options in Brisbane

• St Peters Lutheran College | Prep to Year 12 | AUD 18,928–27,656 a year (2027 domestic tuition) | Co-ed IB school in Indooroopilly with both the PYP and the Diploma
• Somerville House | Pre-Prep to Year 12 (girls) | AUD 23,620–31,872 a year (2026 domestic tuition) | Started its first IB Diploma class in Year 11 in 2026
• Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) | Reception to Year 12 (boys) | AUD 28,680–33,720 a year (2026 resident tuition) | Boys’ school offering the IB PYP and Diploma
• Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) | Years 7–12 | State school (international students AUD 27,477 a year in 2027, Years 10–12 only) | Selective state academy, IB MYP and Diploma
• Queensland Academy for Creative Industries (QACI) | Years 10–12 | State school (international students AUD 27,477 a year in 2027) | Selective state academy for creative students, IB Diploma only
• Indooroopilly State High School | Years 7–12 | State school (international IB Diploma students AUD 22,189 a year in 2027) | Has offered the IB Diploma since 2005
• Brisbane South State Secondary College | Years 7–12 | State school (international IB Diploma students AUD 22,189 a year in 2027) | Inner-city state college with both the IB Diploma and the IB Career-related Programme
• NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY | Online, ages 6–18 | Aims for about one-fifth of the tuition of a campus-based international school | Small-group online classes with English and Japanese; opens September 2027 and is now taking sign-ups for opening news

International Schools in Brisbane: How the Landscape Works

When people in Brisbane search for an “international school”, they usually mean one of three things.

• Private IB World Schools. Independent schools such as St Peters Lutheran College, Somerville House and Churchie run the IB alongside the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). In Years 11 and 12, students usually choose between the IB Diploma and the QCE/ATAR pathway.
• State schools that teach the IB. Several Queensland government schools offer the IB Diploma. The best known are the two selective Queensland Academies in Brisbane, QASMT and QACI. Indooroopilly State High School and Brisbane South State Secondary College also offer the Diploma.
• Schools that accept overseas students. Private schools publish a separate “overseas” or “international” fee schedule. State schools enrol overseas students through Education Queensland International (EQI), the Queensland Government’s international student body.

Fees depend a great deal on which group your family falls into. Here is the real difference, using the published figures:

• Australian residents at private IB schools pay about AUD 19,000 to 34,000 a year in tuition across the three private schools in this guide, depending on year level. Levies, uniforms, camps and devices are extra.
• Overseas students at the same private schools pay much more. Somerville House charges AUD 49,400 a year for Years 7–12, and Churchie charges AUD 54,882 for Years 7–10 (both 2026).
• Australian residents at state schools do not pay tuition. Families still pay smaller costs such as levies, uniforms and excursions.
• Overseas students at state schools pay EQI’s fixed state-wide fees (where the school accepts international students at that year level). In 2027 the IB Diploma costs AUD 22,189 a year, and the Queensland Academies IB program costs AUD 27,477 a year.

For a closer look at what sits inside a school bill beyond tuition, see our guide to international school tuition and hidden costs. If you are also comparing other Australian cities, we have similar guides for international schools in Sydney and international schools in Melbourne.

Note: all figures in this article were checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Schools review their fees every year, so always confirm the latest schedule on each school’s website before you apply.

7 International Schools in Brisbane Offering the IB

We chose these seven to cover the full range of IB options in Greater Brisbane: three private schools (one co-ed, one for girls, one for boys) and four state schools, two of them selective academies. We checked each school’s IB authorisation against the IB’s school directory and the school’s own pages. None of them is “the best” for every family. The right school depends on your residency status, your budget and your child.

1. St Peters Lutheran College

A large co-educational Lutheran school in Indooroopilly, in Brisbane’s inner west, with day and boarding students. St Peters has a long IB history: the IB lists its Diploma authorisation from 2006 and its Primary Years Programme from 2016. Senior students can choose the IB Diploma or the Queensland (QCE) pathway. Official site

• Curriculum: IB PYP (Prep to Year 6), then the IB Diploma or the QCE in Years 11–12
• Years: Prep to Year 12 (Indooroopilly campus)
• Fees: 2027 domestic tuition is AUD 18,928 (Prep), AUD 19,552 (Years 1–4), AUD 23,476 (Years 5–6), AUD 26,192 (Year 7), AUD 27,576 (Years 8–9) and AUD 27,656 (Years 10–12). On top of that there is a AUD 650 capital levy, plus a AUD 1,000 IBDP levy in Years 11 and 12. Overseas students have a separate 2027 schedule, so ask the college for it.
• Best for: families who want the IB from primary school through to Year 12 in one co-ed school

2. Somerville House

A girls’ school in South Brisbane, close to the city, with boarding from Year 5. Somerville House became an authorised IB World School for the Diploma Programme in 2025, and its first IB Diploma cohort started Year 11 in 2026. It is newer to the IB than St Peters or Churchie, which is worth knowing. Its published fees include a supported laptop from Year 3. Official site

• Curriculum: Australian Curriculum, then the IB Diploma or the QCE in Years 11–12
• Years: Pre-Prep to Year 12 (girls)
• Fees: 2026 domestic tuition is AUD 23,620 (Pre-Prep, before the Free Kindy subsidy), AUD 24,400 (Prep to Year 4), AUD 27,020 (Years 5–6) and AUD 31,872 (Years 7–12). The 2026 overseas student fees are AUD 43,700 (Years 1–6) and AUD 49,400 (Years 7–12). IB Diploma students pay a AUD 700 exam fee.
• Best for: families who want a girls’ school with an inner-city location and a new but growing IB option

3. Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

A boys’ day and boarding school in East Brisbane, generally known as Churchie. It is authorised for both the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Diploma. In Years 11 and 12, boys choose the IB Diploma or the QCE. The school says entry to the Diploma depends on Year 10 results and subject prerequisites. Official site

• Curriculum: IB PYP in the Prep School, then the IB Diploma or the QCE in Years 11–12
• Years: Reception to Year 12 (boys)
• Fees: 2026 tuition for Australian residents is AUD 28,680 (Reception to Year 6) and AUD 33,720 (Years 7–12). The 2026 international student tuition is AUD 44,350 (Reception to Year 2), AUD 45,400 (Years 3–6), AUD 54,882 (Years 7–10) and AUD 53,547 (Years 11–12). Compulsory non-tuition fees are charged on top.
• Best for: families looking for a boys’ school with the IB from primary school onwards

4. Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT)

A selective state school in Toowong for highly capable students, focused on science, maths and technology. According to the school’s FAQ, students take the IB Middle Years Programme in Years 7–8 and the IB Diploma in Years 11–12, with STEM programmes in between. The usual entry points are Year 7 and Year 10, through a selective application process. International students can only enrol in Years 10–12. Official site

• Curriculum: IB MYP, STEM programmes, then the IB Diploma
• Years: Years 7–12 (selective entry)
• Fees: as a state school it charges no tuition to Australian residents, though school charges apply and are listed on its payments page. International students pay EQI’s Queensland Academies IB fee of AUD 26,574 (2026) or AUD 27,477 (2027) per year.
• Best for: academically strong students with a passion for STEM who want the IB without private-school fees

5. Queensland Academy for Creative Industries (QACI)

The second Queensland Academy in Brisbane, at Kelvin Grove in the QUT creative industries precinct. QACI teaches only the IB Diploma Programme, for Years 10 to 12, and is aimed at students with creative interests. Entry is selective. Official site

• Curriculum: IB Diploma Programme (Year 10 is a transition year into it)
• Years: Years 10–12 (selective entry)
• Fees: no tuition for Australian residents at state schools, though school charges apply. International students pay AUD 26,574 (2026) or AUD 27,477 (2027) a year under EQI’s Queensland Academies IB fee.
• Best for: teenagers in the arts, design or media who want a university-style campus and the full IB Diploma

6. Indooroopilly State High School

A large co-educational state high school in Brisbane’s inner west. It was one of the first Queensland state schools to offer the IB Diploma, and the IB lists its authorisation from September 2005. Students choose between the IB Diploma and the QCE in the senior years. Official site

• Curriculum: Australian Curriculum, then the IB Diploma or the QCE in Years 11–12
• Years: Years 7–12
• Fees: no tuition for Australian residents (school charges apply). Through EQI, international students pay AUD 16,612 (2026) or AUD 17,176 (2027) a year in Years 7–10, and AUD 21,458 (2026) or AUD 22,189 (2027) a year for the IB Diploma.
• Best for: families who want a long-established state IB programme without selective entry testing (check the school’s enrolment rules for your address)

7. Brisbane South State Secondary College

An inner-city state college at Dutton Park, near The University of Queensland. It became an IB World School for the Diploma in 2024. It also offers the IB Career-related Programme (CP), with TAFE Queensland as a partner for the career-related study. That makes it one of the few places in Brisbane where a student can choose between four senior pathways: Queensland general, Queensland blended, the IB Diploma and the IB CP. Official site

• Curriculum: Australian Curriculum, then a choice of the IB Diploma, the IB CP or Queensland pathways
• Years: Years 7–12
• Fees: no tuition for Australian residents (school charges apply). International students pay EQI’s state-wide fees: AUD 21,458 (2026) or AUD 22,189 (2027) a year for the IB Diploma.
• Best for: students who want the IB but would prefer a practical, career-linked route (the CP) as an alternative to the full Diploma

Brisbane International School Fees Compared (2026–2027)

The table below puts the published tuition figures side by side. Where a school publishes several year bands, we show the lowest and highest band, so “lowest–highest” here is a range across year levels. These are tuition figures only. Levies, uniforms, camps, boarding and Overseas Student Health Cover are extra.

Student Visas, Dependants and Fees at Brisbane Schools

If you are relocating to Brisbane, your visa may matter as much as your choice of school.

• Your child holds a student visa (subclass 500). Your child is an overseas student and pays the overseas or international fee at a private school, or EQI’s fees at a state school (see the table above). Australian student visas require Overseas Student Health Cover. Students under 18 also need approved welfare arrangements, so check the requirements on the Department of Home Affairs student visa page.
• Your child is a dependant of a parent on a temporary visa (for example, a parent on a student visa or a temporary work visa). Most temporary visa holders are charged fees to attend a Queensland state school. These are called Dependent Student Fees. EQI’s published 2027 rates are AUD 325 per week for Prep to Year 6, AUD 333 for Years 7–9, AUD 352 for Year 10, AUD 398 for Year 11 and AUD 409 for Year 12, plus a AUD 315 application fee. One term (about 10 weeks) is paid in advance. Some dependants qualify for an exemption, depending on the parent’s visa. See EQI’s temporary residents admissions fees and ask the Department of Education whether your visa qualifies.
• Your family holds permanent residency or citizenship. State schools charge no tuition, and private schools charge their domestic rates.

Private schools set their own rules for dependants of temporary visa holders. Some charge domestic rates and some charge overseas rates, so ask each school’s admissions office directly.

Comparing Your Options: Which Type of Brisbane School Fits Your Family?

Step back from individual schools and you get three broad types: private IB schools, state IB programmes, and online international schools for families where fees, distance or language are the main barrier. Comparing them on what matters day to day makes the decision clearer.

Private IB schools offer the IB from the early years, strong facilities and boarding, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars a year. State IB programmes are excellent value for residents, but the academies are selective and other schools have enrolment rules based on where you live. Online international schools remove the commute and much of the cost, but they cannot offer a playing field or a school hall. Agree as a family on what you can compromise on and what you cannot. That one conversation will shortlist your options faster than any ranking. Curious how learning works without a campus? See how learning works online →

If Fees or Distance Are the Barrier: an Online Eighth Option

You may have read this far and thought that the IB schools sound wonderful, but the fees will not work for your family. Perhaps the school you like is an hour away across the river, or your visa makes state-school fees a real cost. Or your child would do better in a smaller, calmer setting than a large campus. Families like these are who we built NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) for.

NGA is an online international school opening in September 2027. It is run by NIJIN Inc. of Japan, whose alternative school in Japan, NIJIN Academy, already has more than 1,000 students. We do not rank children by test scores. Learning happens in small groups built around conversation, with one aim: helping children come to like themselves and the world. NGA is for children aged 6 to 18 across Asia and Oceania, and it works wherever you live. Children can grow into English step by step, with Japanese-language support as a base. Our class times are designed around daytime hours in Asia and Oceania. Brisbane stays on AEST (UTC+10) all year with no daylight saving, so school-day classes stay school-day classes here. We aim to keep tuition at about one-fifth of a campus-based international school.

To be fully honest: we have not opened yet, and NGA is not an IB school. Our track record is still to come. An online school is not the same as a campus with ovals, music rooms and Friday sport. But if fees, distance, a visa or language stand between your child and an international education, NGA is worth comparing with the schools above. You can read more about why families choose an online international school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there international schools in Brisbane like the ones in Asia?

Not really. Because local schools already teach in English, Brisbane families who want an international education usually choose an IB World School instead, either private (such as St Peters, Somerville House or Churchie) or state (such as QASMT, QACI, Indooroopilly SHS or Brisbane South SSC). The IB Diploma is recognised by universities around the world, so these schools fill the same role.

When should we apply, and when does the school year start?

The Queensland school year starts in late January and runs over four terms to December. That is about half a year out of step with Japan and many school systems in Asia. Selective academies have fixed application windows and entrance tests, often more than a year ahead. Popular private schools may have waitlists. Starting your research between October and January for the following year is common, but for Year 7 or Year 10 entry to the academies, check the deadlines as early as possible.

Can my child keep up their Japanese while studying in Brisbane?

Brisbane schools teach in English, and most support for children who speak another language at home is EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect), not teaching in the home language. Many Japanese families in Brisbane add weekend classes or online lessons. For families worried about keeping Japanese, our sister service Tomodachi Japan (online Japanese lessons for children, run by NIJIN) is also worth a look. An online international school with Japanese support, like NGA, is another way to cover the home language.

The Right Brisbane School Is the One Your Family Can Sustain

Brisbane may not have international schools in the Asian sense, but it has real choice: long-established private IB schools, state academies that ask for talent rather than fees, state high schools with the Diploma, and now online schools that do not depend on your suburb. Take your time, add up the full cost against what your child needs, and choose the option your family can keep up with for years, not just the first term.

NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY opens in September 2027. To hear how our small-group, affordable, globally connected classes work, and to be among the first to hear founding-cohort news, join our mailing list.

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