King’s College Auckland Fees 2026–27: Boarding, Scholarships and Entry

King’s College Auckland fees: for 2027, international boarders pay NZ$57,000 in tuition plus NZ$20,500 in boarding (NZ$77,500 a year, or NZ$95,100 with every additional fee on the school’s sheet). For New Zealand students, the fees page still shows 2026: NZ$33,422 a year for a day student in Year 9 or Years 11–13 (NZ$32,572 tuition + NZ$850 levy), NZ$37,530 for a Year 10 day student, and NZ$19,153 on top for boarding, with a Year 9 or Years 11–13 boarder at NZ$52,575 (official College Fees page and 2027 International Student Fees sheet, checked 6 November 2026). The domestic figures are GST inclusive, as the school states. New families also pay a non-refundable NZ$350 application fee, a non-refundable NZ$1,700 confirmation fee and an NZ$800 alumni levy. A 2027 domestic schedule was not on the official site when we checked.

This page is about King’s College in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealand, an independent Anglican-based secondary school founded in 1896. It is not King’s College London, or any of the schools called King’s College in the UK or elsewhere, so all amounts here are in New Zealand dollars. If you searched for kings college auckland fees, you probably want more than a number: what the fee leaves out, what boarding adds, which scholarships exist and how much they are worth, when your child can enter, and how King’s compares with Saint Kentigern College and Auckland Grammar School. This page answers those questions from each school’s own website, then sets out how NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA), an online international school for ages 6–18 opening in September 2027, differs.

The short answer: who King’s College suits — and who it doesn’t

• Suits: families who want a long-established independent school with a strong House system. All 12 Houses, boarding and day, give each student a named support network.
• Suits: families who need boarding. King’s describes its boarding community as one of the largest in Aotearoa, with boys able to board from Year 9 and girls in Years 11–13.
• Suits: students who want a choice of qualification. King’s offers both NCEA and Cambridge International (CIE), and says both can lead to University Entrance.
• Suits: families who value an Anglican setting. The Memorial Chapel is the school’s spiritual centre, and chapel is part of school life for every student.
• Harder fit: families with a daughter younger than Year 11. Girls join in Year 11, and the school’s stated preference is boys in Year 9 and girls in Year 11.
• Harder fit: families seeking the IB Diploma or a school without compulsory chapel. We did not find the IB on the King’s pages we checked, and the international pages say no exceptions are made for chapel.
• Harder fit: families who may move again soon. King’s prefers starts at the beginning of the academic year and treats two years as the minimum commitment for international students.

What King’s College is

King’s College opened in Remuera in 1896 with the aim of providing the best all-round education it is possible to obtain, a phrase the school still uses. In 1922 it moved to its present site in Ōtāhuhu, in South Auckland, on 42 acres below Māngere Mountain that were bought from the Middlemore Golf Club. The Memorial Chapel opened in 1925. Later additions include a library and science building for the 1996 centenary, the Roy Kelley Design Technology Centre (1999), the Campbell sports complex (2007) and Toi Manawa, the music and performing arts centre.

As a private school, King’s says it must be financially independent of government education subsidies, so tuition and boarding fees carry its operating costs. The Board of Governors reviews fees every year, with changes normally taking effect from the start of Term 1.

King’s College Auckland fees 2026 and 2027 (official)

All figures come from the school’s College Fees page, its Fees for International Students page and the 2027 International Student Fees sheet, checked 6 November 2026. The two groups are on different years: the newest international schedule is 2027, while the domestic table is still headed 2026. Do not compare them as if they were the same year.

International students: 2027 fees

The NZ$6,000 incidentals fee covers uniform (NZ$1,500), classroom expenses and trips (NZ$2,000), the Friends subscription (NZ$50), insurance (NZ$700, varying when quoted), music and sport expenses (NZ$1,000) and exam fees (which vary). Stationery and visa processing are not included. A family that arranges its own caregiver would not pay the NZ$3,800 caregiver line, which by our sum brings the listed total to NZ$91,300. A homestay is offered at NZ$420 a week as an alternative to boarding, and a professional accommodation agent would add a placement fee. Annual fees are due in advance by 30 November of the preceding year, as New Zealand immigration rules require evidence of paid fees. The international sheet does not say whether its figures include GST.

New Zealand students: 2026 fees (2027 not yet published)

What you pay before and beyond the annual fee

The tuition fee includes most class textbooks, workbooks and stationery; transport to sporting fixtures and curriculum activities in the Auckland area; visits to Ahuroa Camp outside the Year 10 Adventure Challenge; ID cards and House photographs; and, for boarders, House entertainment. Other costs go through a monthly Incidental Account: uniform shop purchases, photographs, physiotherapy, some hospital fees for non-boarders, personal items such as haircuts, lost textbooks, and NCEA and Cambridge examination fees. A typical yearly incidentals total for domestic families is not published on the official site.

There is a 10% discount on tuition and boarding when three or more siblings attend at once, applied to the amount the parents actually pay after any scholarship. Fees can be split into monthly, fortnightly or weekly direct debits. Credit cards carry a 2% surcharge. For 2026, a 2% discount applied to annual tuition paid by bank transfer before 26 January 2026; any 2027 equivalent was not published when we checked.

What King’s College costs to Year 13 (at 2026 domestic prices)

Using only the official figures, assuming no fee rises, no scholarship, no discount and no incidentals, and adding the NZ$2,850 of entry items (NZ$350 + NZ$1,700 + NZ$800) plus the NZ$50 Friends levy each year:

• Day boy, Years 9–13: $33,422 + $37,530 + 3 × $33,422 = $171,218, plus $2,850 and $250 = NZ$174,318.
• Boy boarding, Years 9–13: $52,575 + $56,110 + 3 × $52,575 = $266,410, plus $2,850 and $250 = NZ$269,510.
• Day girl, Years 11–13: 3 × $33,422 = $100,266, plus $2,850 and $150 = NZ$103,266.
• Girl boarding, Years 11–13: 3 × $52,575 = $157,725, plus $2,850 and $150 = NZ$160,725.

Fees are reviewed every year, so real totals will be higher. Our guide to online vs in-person international school costs puts figures like these in a wider context.

Boarding at King’s College: fees and daily life

Domestic boarding is NZ$19,153 a year for 2026, added to tuition and the levy. International boarding is NZ$20,500 for 2027. Boarding has been part of King’s since it began. Year 9 boys start in Te Pūtake Lodge, a specialist House created to ease the move into boarding at age 12 or 13, and older boys live in School, St John’s or Selwyn. Girls in Years 11–13 live in Middlemore House, which has separate common rooms for each year level. Each House has a Housemaster, boarding tutors and a House Manager living on site, with Teacher Mentors for academic guidance. The Te Puna Whaiora health centre runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week for boarders.

On a typical boarding day, students are up around 7am for House duties and breakfast, then room check and roll call, and leave for the first period by 8.40am. After school come sport or cultural practices, homework and dinner, then evening prep. Boarding is flexible at weekends: students can stay in, request leave for the whole weekend, or leave on Saturday and return on Sunday night or Monday morning. There is a boarders’ chapel service on Monday mornings and a compulsory Sunday evening service once a term. Boarding Houses close on some long weekends and exeats, so check the key dates if you live far away. New Zealand families living away from a suitable school may also want to read the Ministry of Education boarding allowance information linked from the school’s scholarships page.

The school’s most recent published review by the Education Review Office (ERO), from 2021, counted 323 boarders across five boarding houses, 28% of the school roll at that time. A current roll figure is not published on the pages we checked.

King’s College scholarships and bursaries

The Scholarships and Bursaries page lists awards that are largely funded by members of the King’s community. General applications for 2028 close at 4pm on Wednesday 7 April 2027, and music applications at 4pm on Friday 5 March 2027; late applications are not accepted. Applicants must also complete an admission application with a full student CV. The main awards with published values are:

Other awards have no published amount: the Bradley Fenner and Mark and Angela Clatworthy boarding scholarships, the James Webster Memorial Scholarship, the KCOCA Bursaries, the Stride Scholarship for boys joining from King’s School, and the Richard and Yvette Hall Scholarship. Three are marked as not available in 2028: the Phil Ryall Bursary, the Roger Bartley Memorial Scholarship and the William Thode Memorial Scholarship. All awards are reviewed each year and can be withdrawn if performance is unsatisfactory. Whether international students can apply is not stated on the page, so ask admissions directly.

To put the values in context, NZ$5,000 is about 15% of the NZ$32,572 tuition fee on 2026 prices (our calculation), while a Masfen Scholarship at 50% of tuition would be NZ$16,286. The difference matters if a scholarship is what would make King’s affordable for you.

Entry at King’s College: year levels, waiting lists and application fees

The admissions process page says applications for 2028 and beyond are open. The main intakes are Year 9 for boys and Year 11 for girls, with a strong preference for starts at the beginning of the academic year. King’s says demand is high and recommends applying at your earliest convenience. Boys are also welcome to enquire for Years 10–13, and girls for Years 12–13.

1. Application. Online form (about 15 minutes) and the NZ$350 fee. If you apply more than two years in advance, you need not upload documents yet. Otherwise you will need the latest school report, a student CV, any educational assessments, proof of identity and eligibility, and two referees.
2. Interview and tour. Students are invited to interview with the Head of Admissions, then the family tours the College.
3. Offer. The school considers the interview; the student’s interests, activities and academic record; and any family or other association with the College. It also seeks to keep a significant share of boarders, a roll that reflects New Zealand’s wider population, and its Anglican heritage. Offers are at the College’s sole discretion.
4. Acceptance. Sign the Admission Agreement, direct debit and medical forms, and pay the NZ$1,700 enrolment fee and NZ$800 KCOCA fee.
5. Year 9 placement examinations. Students who have accepted a Year 9 place sit these, usually late in Term 4.

The domestic process describes an interview and placement exams after acceptance, rather than a pass-or-fail test before an offer. A domestic waiting list and an offer deadline by age are not published on the official site.

International students

King’s accepts a limited number of overseas students in Years 9 to 12. Two years is treated as the minimum, so Year 13 entry is not possible. Boys can start in Year 9 and girls in Year 11, and entry above Year 9 depends on places. A satisfactory level of written and spoken English is required, but no specific test score is published. Students wanting CIE in Years 12–13 must first complete IGCSE in Year 11. The steps are an online application, an assessment and interview by the international team, entrance and classification testing, an offer, and acceptance within seven days. Some applicants are placed on a waiting list. Boarders need a guardian or relation in the greater Auckland area, and students on a visa need medical and travel insurance.

Curriculum, recognition and the school year: NCEA, Cambridge and time zones

From Year 12, students choose between NCEA and Cambridge International Examinations. King’s describes CIE as content-rich and examination-based, and NCEA as skills and process based, combining internal assessment with external exams. Year 11 students follow a bespoke King’s programme designed to lead into either path. Students may mix courses, but University Entrance must come from one pathway. For New Zealand tertiary entrance, universities count the best six CIE AS/A Level grades or the best 80 NCEA Level 3 credits, not a combined total. King’s notes that international students must achieve higher rank scores than New Zealand students. We did not find a current summary of exam results or university destinations on the pages we checked.

On recognition, the school’s ERO page reports that, in the 2021 review, ERO considered King’s meets the criteria for registration as a private school. The ERO report and the international pages also confirm that it has signed the Code of Practice for the pastoral care of international students. This registration and review is the New Zealand framework the school reports, rather than a US-style accreditor.

The New Zealand school year runs from late January to December. On the official 2027 key dates sheet, Term 1 begins on Wednesday 27 January and ends on Friday 9 April; Term 2 runs from Tuesday 27 April to Friday 2 July; Term 3 from Monday 26 July to Friday 24 September; and Term 4 from Monday 11 October to Wednesday 8 December. New students attend orientation on 25–26 January. Auckland is on UTC+12, or UTC+13 during daylight saving. A family moving from the Northern Hemisphere should remember that a January start may not line up with a September school year.

King’s College vs Saint Kentigern vs Auckland Grammar vs NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (official data)

King’s College vs Saint Kentigern: the fee comparison

For 2026 domestic students, King’s tuition (NZ$32,572) is NZ$4,150 a year higher than Saint Kentigern College (NZ$28,422), but Saint Kentigern’s boarding fee (NZ$21,810) is NZ$2,657 higher than King’s (NZ$19,153). With the annual levy and publications fee added, a Year 9 or Years 11–13 boarder comes to NZ$52,575 at King’s and NZ$50,432 at Saint Kentigern (our sum), a gap of NZ$2,143. Year 10 changes this, because King’s adds its EOTC charge, while Saint Kentigern lists camps, trips and other curriculum charges as variable, plus NZ$1,000 for the IB Diploma. Entry costs are NZ$2,850 at King’s (application, confirmation, KCOCA) and NZ$3,325 at Saint Kentigern (application, acceptance, association, contribution levy, software), before uniforms.

The bigger differences may not be financial. Saint Kentigern’s main intake is Year 7, while King’s starts at Year 9 for boys and Year 11 for girls. Saint Kentigern offers the IB Diploma; King’s offers Cambridge. Saint Kentigern is Presbyterian and King’s is Anglican. Saint Kentigern’s 2028 applications for Year 9 boys close on Monday 30 November 2026 and for other year levels on 28 February 2027. Its 2028 scholarship applications close on 12 February 2027, with most awards capped at 50% of tuition, up to 90% in exceptional sport cases, and a Boarding Bursary of up to 50% of boarding fees. It also offers a 5% tuition discount for two siblings, whereas the King’s discount starts at three.

King’s College vs Auckland Grammar: private fee or state zone

Auckland Grammar is a state school, so the question is different. A boy who lives in its home zone is entitled to enrol, and the 2026 school donation is NZ$1,825. Out-of-zone boys need a place through the priority groups and ballot, or a boarding place. The school calls Tibbs House the only guaranteed means for out-of-zone boys to attend. It holds 120 boarders, costs NZ$19,500 for 2026 (NZ$347 more than King’s domestic boarding fee) and uses interview days that include a brief academic test. Auckland Grammar’s four named boarding scholarships include a half-boarding scholarship and a full five-year one, though it notes one of the four is closed for 2027. It teaches boys only, so it is not an option for a daughter, and its international tuition (NZ$26,250, with no year stated on the page) is far below the King’s 2027 figure, though the two totals cover different things.

Sources: King’s College fee, admissions, scholarship, boarding, academic and key-date pages (linked above); Saint Kentigern College Fees 2026, enrolment information and scholarships; Auckland Grammar School international fees, Tibbs House, enrolment scheme and enrolment FAQ. All checked 6 November 2026.

Reviews and common concerns, answered honestly

Is King’s College worth the fees?

It depends on what your child will use. The fee pays for the House system, a dual qualification pathway, a large boarding community and an extensive campus and co-curricular programme. A family that will use those fully may see the value; a family mainly after strong teaching close to home can compare a zoned state school such as Auckland Grammar, at a much lower cost. We do not use anonymous online reviews as evidence here; a campus tour and your own conversations with current families will tell you more.

What extras should we budget for?

Budget for uniform, examination fees, medical centre visits, physiotherapy, personal items and any non-Auckland trips through the monthly Incidental Account, plus the Year 10 EOTC charge. The international sheet’s NZ$6,000 incidentals figure gives one official reference point, but it includes insurance and is not a domestic estimate.

Do students have to take part in chapel?

King’s is clear about this. On its international pages it says students of other faiths are welcome, but special consideration in customs of worship is not possible, and everyone takes part in regular ecumenical chapel services. If that matters to your family, raise it before applying.

How does the school address student safety and culture?

The school’s Anglican ethos page says every student should feel safe, that it has invested in a pastoral care approach, and that its policies do not tolerate bullying, harassment or gross misbehaviour. Those policies are reviewed every three years and published in the Student Handbook. Ask how this works day to day in your child’s House.

Can we apply from overseas?

Yes, for Years 9–12 within limited places. Expect an interview by Zoom or in person, entrance and classification testing, full payment before the visa application, and a guardian in Auckland for boarders. Students are expected to go home for calendared school holidays, or to budget for the term-break homestay line.

Alternatives to King’s College worth comparing

Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga suits families who want an independent school from Year 7 or the IB Diploma, with boarding from Year 9. Its 2026 domestic tuition is NZ$28,422, and boarding is NZ$21,810. The international page says no ESOL support is offered and requires an Oxford English test at B2 or above before an online interview.

Auckland Grammar School suits boys who live in its home zone or can secure a Tibbs House place. It offers NCEA or Cambridge in a state school, with a 2026 donation of NZ$1,825. If you are comparing across the Tasman, see our pages on The King’s School, Parramatta, Brisbane Grammar School fees and Sydney Grammar School fees. For online routes in this country, including who can legally enrol, read online school options in New Zealand and our review of Crimson Global Academy fees.

NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) is an online international school for ages 6–18 focused on Asia and Oceania, opening in September 2027 (planned), with a first cohort of 100 students. It is operated by NIJIN Inc. in Japan, whose alternative school NIJIN Academy has more than 1,000 students. Classes are small live dialogue groups of about 8, with subjects learned in English, a bilingual (English–Japanese) mentor, CEFR-based English levels, social co-creation projects with companies and governments, and international exchange. An optional Cambridge IGCSE / A-Level pathway is listed on the curriculum and timetable page. There is no academic entrance exam and no English requirement. It can run alongside a local school or as the main school, and it travels with the family if they relocate. Tuition is not yet published; NGA says it will be far more affordable than a typical international school, with no enrolment, facility or uniform fees, materials included and sibling discounts. Free trial classes run monthly from September 2026. Its timetable is built for Asia–Oceania daytime, which is a closer fit for New Zealand than for the Americas or Europe. Auckland sits at the eastern edge of that region, so check live class times against New Zealand time.

Be clear about the trade-offs: NGA is not yet open, is not yet accredited and has no graduates or track record. It does not offer boarding, a campus or school sport, and you should check how any qualification fits your child’s New Zealand university plans. If you want an established school with NCEA or Cambridge and a boarding House, King’s, Saint Kentigern and Auckland Grammar are the schools to compare. You can read more about how an online international school day works.

For a wider view, see our online international schools compared guide.

See how NGA admissions work →

FAQ

How much does King’s College Auckland cost per year?

For 2026 domestic students (NZD, GST inclusive): NZ$33,422 for a day student in Year 9 or Years 11–13, and NZ$37,530 for a Year 10 day student. Boarding adds NZ$19,153, making NZ$52,575, or NZ$56,110 for a Year 10 boarder. For 2027 international students, tuition and boarding are NZ$77,500, and the official sheet’s listed total is NZ$95,100. A 2027 domestic schedule was not published when we checked on 6 November 2026.

What are the King’s College boarding fees?

NZ$19,153 for domestic students in 2026 and NZ$20,500 for international students in 2027, on top of tuition. Boys can board from Year 9 and girls from Year 11. International students can instead choose a homestay at NZ$420 a week.

What scholarships does King’s College offer?

Awards include Year 9 academic, music and sports scholarships with published values of NZ$5,000 toward tuition, Masfen Scholarships worth 50% of academic tuition for day students, and several boarding and bursary awards. For 2028 entry, general applications close on 7 April 2027 and music applications on 5 March 2027.

Is King’s College Auckland cheaper than Saint Kentigern?

Not on 2026 tuition: King’s is NZ$32,572 and Saint Kentigern NZ$28,422. King’s boarding is lower, at NZ$19,153 against NZ$21,810. Compare the full bill for your child’s year level, including Year 10 charges and each school’s entry fees.

Can international students enrol at King’s College?

Yes, in limited numbers for Years 9–12, with a satisfactory level of English, testing, an interview, fees paid in advance and insurance. Boarders need a guardian in the greater Auckland area. Year 13 entry is not possible.

Choosing calmly, with the whole picture

King’s College has more than a century of history, a House system at the centre of school life, and two qualification routes. The most useful steps now are to work out your child’s entry year, book a campus tour if King’s is on your list, note the scholarship deadlines in early 2027, and add the levy, incidentals and any boarding to every year you expect your child to stay. Whichever school you choose, the right one is the place where your child will be known, stretched and happy.

Tuition and admissions details were checked on the official websites on 6 November 2026. Schools revise fees every year — always confirm on the official site before applying.

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