Geelong Grammar School fees for 2027 range from $23,860 a year for Prep at the Corio Junior School to $98,820 a year for full boarding in Year 9 at Timbertop and in Years 10–12 at Corio (domestic students, AUD, before the GST shown in the schedule), according to the school’s official 2027 fee schedule, effective 1 January 2027 (checked 23 October 2026). A day student in Years 7–8 pays $48,180 a year, and a Senior School day boarder in Years 10–12 pays $58,320. Every family also pays a non-refundable $350 application fee ($500 for overseas students) and, once a place is accepted, a non-refundable enrolment fee of $2,500 ($5,000 for Year 9 entry, $5,500 for full-fee overseas students). The fees page now shows the 2027 schedule; the 2026 schedule is no longer linked there.
If you searched “Geelong Grammar School fees”, “Geelong Grammar boarding fees” or “Geelong Grammar Timbertop”, you probably want more than one number. You want to know what each stage costs, why Year 9 is priced differently, what is excluded, how the total adds up from Year 7 to Year 12, and whether it is worth it for your child. This page answers those questions from Geelong Grammar’s own website and fee schedules, then compares it with Scotch College Melbourne, The Geelong College and NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) — a very different option: an online international school for ages 6–18 that opens in September 2027.
The short answer: who Geelong Grammar suits — and who it doesn’t
- Suits: families who want boarding as a central part of school life. Geelong Grammar offers weekly or full boarding from Year 7, full boarding for everyone in Year 9, and full boarding or day boarding in Years 10–12 on a 230-hectare campus at Corio.
- Suits: children who will thrive on an outdoor, residential year. All Year 9 students spend the full academic year at Timbertop, a full-boarding campus in the foothills of Mt Timbertop in the Victorian High Country, opened in 1953.
- Suits: families who want a choice of senior credential. Students choose between the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the IB Diploma; the school has been an IB World School since 1997.
- Suits: co-educational families and overseas families. The school is co-educational (girls first joined in 1972), is registered to enrol overseas students (CRICOS 00143G) and says it welcomes students from about twenty countries each year.
- Harder fit: families who need a lower budget. Full boarding from Year 7 to Year 12 costs over $580,000 at 2027 prices before extras, and scholarship values are not published.
- Harder fit: children who are not ready to live away from home in Year 9. Timbertop is compulsory for Corio students and has no day option.
- Harder fit: families who want to stay together at home, or who live far from Victoria and do not want boarding. For them, a day school in their own city or an online option may fit better.
What Geelong Grammar School is
Geelong Grammar School is an independent Anglican, co-educational boarding and day school in Victoria. Its official history says it opened on 1 October 1855 in central Geelong “under the auspices of the Church of England” and moved to its present site at Corio in 1914. Girls were first admitted to the senior forms in 1972, and in 1976 two girls’ schools, The Hermitage in Geelong and Clyde School in Woodend, amalgamated with Geelong Grammar. The Toorak Campus in Melbourne began in 1887 as Glamorgan and was renamed Toorak Campus in 2008.
Today the school runs four campuses. In Term 2, 2026 a new Junior School and Early Learning Centre (ELC) opened at Corio, replacing Bostock House in Newtown. The campus page lists the Corio Middle and Senior Schools, the Timbertop campus for Year 9, and the Toorak Campus in Melbourne, which currently runs ELC to Year 6 and is adding Year 7 in 2027 and Year 8 in 2028.
| Item | Geelong Grammar School (official information, checked 23 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| School type | Independent Anglican, co-educational boarding and day school |
| Campuses | Corio (Junior School and ELC, Middle School, Senior School); Timbertop (Year 9, full boarding); Toorak, Melbourne (ELC–Year 6, adding Year 7 in 2027 and Year 8 in 2028) |
| Boarding | Weekly or full boarding in Years 7–8; full boarding for all at Timbertop; full or day boarding in Years 10–12 |
| Fees 2027 (domestic) | $23,860–$98,820 a year depending on campus, year level and boarding (AUD, plus GST where shown) |
| Senior credential | VCE or IB Diploma (IB World School since 1997) |
| Overseas students | Accepted from Prep to Year 12; CRICOS 00143G |
| Founded | 1 October 1855; at Corio since 1914; Timbertop opened 1953 |
Geelong Grammar School fees 2027 (official)
All figures below come from the school’s fees and business notices page and the Domestic Students Fee Schedule 2027 and Overseas Students Fee Schedule 2027, checked on 23 October 2026. Fees are charged in four termly instalments, one term in advance: the Term 1 2027 instalment was billed on 16 September 2026 and is due on 5 October 2026. The schedule adds a “+ total GST” figure to some lines; we show it in its own column.
Corio Middle School, Timbertop and Senior School (2027)
| Year level and enrolment type | Domestic per term | Domestic per year | + GST per year | Overseas per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 6 day student | $10,570 | $42,280 | $228 | $54,540 |
| Years 7–8 day student | $12,045 | $48,180 | $228 | $60,920 |
| Years 7–8 weekly boarder | $20,210 | $80,840 | $750 | $101,880 |
| Years 7–8 full boarder | $23,510 | $94,040 | $936 | $109,860 |
| Year 9 Timbertop (full boarding only) | $24,705 | $98,820 | $936 | $119,600 |
| Years 10–12 day boarder | $14,580 | $58,320 | $438 | $71,080 |
| Years 10–12 full boarder | $24,705 | $98,820 | $936 | $119,600 |
“Day boarding” in the Senior School means the student lives at home but has lunch and dinner at school five days a week, evening study support and access to the library, art and music areas in the evening. Weekly boarders in Years 7–8 board up to five nights a week; full boarders board seven nights during term. Day fees include lunch, timetabled sport and activities, compulsory external exams, curriculum excursions and the yearbook; boarding fees add furnished accommodation in a shared dorm (or a single room in the Senior School), all meals and routine laundry. Note that the web table shows $14,850 per term for Senior day boarding, while the PDF schedule shows $14,580 per term and $58,320 a year — the annual figure matches the PDF.
Junior School (Corio) and Toorak Campus (2027)
| Campus / year level | Domestic per year | Overseas per year |
|---|---|---|
| Corio ELC (3 / 4 / 5 days a week) | $14,820 / $20,100 / $23,860 | $22,380 / $27,900 / $36,100 |
| Corio Prep | $23,860 | $36,100 |
| Corio Years 1–3 | $30,040 | $42,380 |
| Corio Year 4 | $36,860 | $49,280 |
| Corio Year 5 | $40,460 (+ $46 GST) | $52,720 (+ $46 GST) |
| Toorak ELC (3 / 4 / 5 days a week) | $16,900 / $22,660 / $28,220 | $27,220 / $34,380 / $41,500 |
| Toorak Prep | $34,120 | $48,720 |
| Toorak Years 1–2 | $40,200 | $52,840 |
| Toorak Years 3–6 | $41,960 | $54,260 |
| Toorak Year 7 (new in 2027) | $47,860 (+ $46 GST) | $60,600 (+ $46 GST) |
Before-school care is a flat $22 a session and after-school care $42, with $15 for every 15 minutes after 6.00pm.
One-off fees, deposits and payment rules
| Cost item | Amount | Notes from the 2027 business notice |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $350 (domestic) / $500 (overseas) | Non-refundable, per student, incl. GST |
| Enrolment fee | $1,000 ELC; $2,500 Prep–Year 12 (excl. Year 9); $5,000 Year 9; $5,500 overseas | Non-refundable; secures the place after an offer |
| Senior School Transition Deposit | One full term of Year 10 boarding fees ($24,705 at 2027 domestic rates) | For new students starting at Timbertop; credited to the Year 10 Term 3 statement if the student continues, forfeited if not |
| Bond | Not published on the official site | May be required at selected year levels; families are told in writing |
| Late payment | Interest at the Westpac unarranged lending rate | Unpaid fees may lead to suspension of enrolment |
| Withdrawal | One term’s written notice | Year 12 Term 4 fees are payable in full |
Extras: what the fees do not cover
The schedule lists exclusions including the booklist, uniform, notebook computers, private music lessons, camps and adventures, commuter buses, medical and chemist charges, house outings and, in the Senior School, IB charges. Its Appendix A gives indicative amounts, for example: private music lessons from $579 a term per instrument; a laptop package of $2,559 (entering Year 10, three years), $2,482 (two years) or a $750 lease; Year 7 and Year 8 adventures of about $1,200 and $1,500; and a compulsory Year 10 Adventure Expedition costing $500–$2,900 depending on the expedition. Indicative IB Diploma charges are marked “TBC” and are to be confirmed later in 2026 — not published on the official site when we checked. Day students in Years 7–8 can board occasionally for $150 a night, and weekly boarders pay $365 for a weekend spent at school.
Overseas families should also budget for compulsory Overseas Student Health Cover (the schedule estimates about $560 a year), a compulsory three-day orientation programme for Years 7–12 (about $900) and, if the school arranges a homestay, an indicative $100–$120 a night paid to the homestay provider.
What Geelong Grammar costs from Year 7 to Year 12 (2027 prices)
Using only the official 2027 figures, assuming no fee rises, no scholarship and no extras:
- Domestic full boarder, Year 7 to Year 12: 2 × $94,040 (Years 7–8) + $98,820 (Timbertop) + 3 × $98,820 (Years 10–12) = $583,360, plus $350 application and $2,500 enrolment = $586,210. The GST lines add 6 × $936 = $5,616.
- Domestic day student, Year 7 to Year 12: 2 × $48,180 + $98,820 (Timbertop, boarding is compulsory) + 3 × $58,320 = $370,140, plus $2,850 in entry fees = $372,990. GST lines add 2 × $228 + $936 + 3 × $438 = $2,706.
- Domestic entry at Year 9, then full boarding to Year 12: $98,820 + 3 × $98,820 = $395,280, plus $350 and the $5,000 Year 9 enrolment fee = $400,630. The $24,705 Transition Deposit is paid in Year 9 but credited back in Year 10 if the student continues.
- Overseas full boarder, Year 7 to Year 12: 2 × $109,860 + 4 × $119,600 = $698,120, plus $500 and $5,500 = $704,120, before health cover and orientation.
The single most expensive jump is Year 9: a day family moves from $48,180 in Year 8 to $98,820 at Timbertop. The school lets day families apply to spread the difference between day and boarding fees in Year 9 equally over Years 8, 9 and 10, if they apply to the Admissions Office before 1 August in Year 7. 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.
Scholarships, bursaries and sibling discounts
The scholarships page lists Academic, General Excellence (including Rural and Regional), Music, Sport and Choral scholarships, with boarding scholarships available across categories for entry in Years 7–11; most scholarships are reserved for secondary students. They can cover tuition and boarding “in part or in full”, but no percentage or dollar value is published. For 2028 entry, applications open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close on Monday 1 February 2027, with the scholarship examination on Saturday 20 February 2027 and outcomes by June 2027. The school also mentions about one hundred bursaries and concessional support for existing families in financial need. Sibling discounts apply only from the third child enrolled at the same time: 20% for the third and subsequent children when all are boarders, 15% when not all board (applied to the youngest).
Timbertop: the Year 9 boarding year
Timbertop is what most people mean when they search “Geelong Grammar Timbertop”. The land near Mansfield was bought in 1951 and the campus opened in 1953, inspired by headmaster Sir James Darling and the Outward Bound movement; girls first attended in 1975. All Year 9 students board there for the full academic year, returning home for mid-term exeats and holidays. Fees cover tuition, boarding, meals, laundry, the technology levy, canoeing and cross-country skiing, while downhill skiing, the Bogong trip, exeat buses and hobbies are extras.
New students can join at Year 9. The Timbertop entry page asks for Year 7 and Year 8 reports and NAPLAN results, a pre-enrolment questionnaire and a personal interview with the family, plus an English test for students whose first language is not English. Offers weigh suitability to board, academic progress, interests, siblings, family association and the intention to continue to the Senior School — which is why the Transition Deposit exists.
Entry points and how admissions work
Geelong Grammar accepts applications “any time after birth” and advises applying early. After the application fee is paid, the admissions team usually contacts the family one to two years before the intended entry to arrange a student interview; an English Language Proficiency assessment may be requested if English is not the child’s first language. Offers depend on available places and the school’s discretion. The main secondary entry is Year 7 at Corio, with further entry at Year 9 (Timbertop) and into the Senior School; Toorak takes Year 7 from 2027. The school does not publish an academic entrance exam for general entry, although scholarships have their own examination.
Overseas students are accepted from Prep to Year 12. Students entering Year 5 or above whose first language is not English sit an approved test (AEAS), or show proficiency through an ELICOS course.
How the school year and school day work: terms, boarding and time zones
Like all Australian schools, Geelong Grammar follows a calendar year with four terms. On the official 2027 term dates page, Middle and Senior School students start on Friday 29 January 2027 (boarders arrive the day before) and finish on Thursday 2 December; Timbertop starts on Sunday 31 January and ends on Friday 3 December. Families moving from the Northern Hemisphere should note that the Australian school year starts in late January, so year levels may not line up with a September start.
The school day is full: Saturday sport is compulsory from Year 7, boarders take part in the co-curricular programme several nights a week, and evening prep is supervised by house mentors. For families overseas, Corio runs on Melbourne time (UTC+10, or UTC+11 in daylight saving). For a different model, our article on how an online international school day works shows what live classes from home look like.
IB, VCE and results
In Years 11–12 students choose the VCE or the IB Diploma; both lead to an ATAR for Australian university entry, and the IB Diploma is also widely recognised overseas. The Class of 2025 results page reports a combined IB/VCE median ATAR of 83.30, 30 students with an ATAR of 95 or above, over 20% of IB students achieving a perfect subject score of 7, and over 98% of the class receiving a first-round tertiary offer. Geelong Grammar does not present itself as academically selective, and its median reflects a broad intake rather than a test-selected one.
Geelong Grammar vs NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY vs two other options (official data)
| Item | Geelong Grammar School | NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY | Scotch College Melbourne | The Geelong College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School type | Independent Anglican co-ed boarding and day school, Corio / Timbertop / Toorak | Online international school (operated by NIJIN Inc., Japan) | Independent boys’ school in Hawthorn, Melbourne, with boarding | Independent co-ed day and boarding school in Geelong |
| Grades / ages | ELC to Year 12 | Ages 6–18 | See official site | Early Learning to Year 12 |
| Fees | 2027: $23,860–$98,820 a year (domestic); $36,100–$119,600 (overseas) | Not yet published; no enrolment, facility or uniform fees; materials included; sibling discounts | See official 2027 scale of fees and our Scotch College Melbourne fees page | 2026: tuition $18,924 (Foundation) to $38,540 (Years 10–12); boarding $16,740–$31,080 on top |
| Curriculum | VCE or IB Diploma | Subjects in English with a bilingual mentor; CEFR-based English levels; optional Cambridge IGCSE / A-Level pathway listed | See official site | VCE |
| Classes & time zone | In person, Melbourne time; Year 9 at Timbertop | Live online in small groups of about 8; timetable built for Asia–Oceania daytime, which suits Australian time | In person, Melbourne time | In person, Melbourne time |
| Accreditation / diploma | VCE and IB Diploma; IB World School since 1997 | Not yet accredited; no graduates yet | See official site | VCE |
| Admission | Application, interview, reports; English test if needed | No academic entrance exam and no English requirement | See official site | $500 registration fee; $2,750 admission fee on acceptance |
| Start dates | Late January (Australian year) | Opening September 2027 (planned); free trial classes monthly from September 2026 | See official site | Late January (Australian year) |
Sources: Geelong Grammar School 2027 domestic and overseas fee schedules, scholarships, Timbertop entry, term dates and Class of 2025 pages; The Geelong College 2026 fee schedule (a 2027 schedule was not on its fees page); Scotch College Melbourne official site. All checked 23 October 2026.
Reviews and common concerns, answered honestly
“Is Geelong Grammar worth it?”
It depends on what you want to buy. The fee pays for boarding, a year at Timbertop, a choice of IB or VCE and a very broad co-curricular life. If your child will use those fully, many families see the value; if you mainly want strong academic teaching close to home, a day school costs far less. The Geelong College, for example, publishes 2026 day tuition of $38,540 a year for Years 10–12.
“Is Timbertop right for every child?”
The school itself describes the “social, physical and emotional demands” of the programme and assesses suitability to board before offering a Year 9 place. Talk honestly with your child, visit, and ask how the school supports students who find the first weeks hard.
“Why does the bill jump in Year 9?”
Because everyone boards at Timbertop. A Years 7–8 day student pays $48,180; Timbertop is $98,820. Ask about the scheme that spreads the difference over Years 8–10 before 1 August in Year 7.
“What extras should we budget for?”
Uniform, books, a laptop, music lessons, camps, the Year 10 expedition and (for IB students) IB charges. Appendix A of the fee schedule gives indicative amounts, and overseas families add health cover and orientation.
“Can we apply from overseas?”
Yes. Overseas students are accepted from Prep to Year 12 on a student visa, with an English test from Year 5 if English is not the first language. Australian citizens and permanent residents living overseas are treated as domestic students.
Alternatives to Geelong Grammar School worth comparing
Scotch College Melbourne is a boys’ school in Hawthorn with boarding, often compared by Victorian families who want a Melbourne base rather than Corio. Our sister page on Scotch College Melbourne fees covers its fee scale in detail. For a NSW comparison, see Sydney Grammar School fees, and for the wider city picture, international schools in Melbourne.
The Geelong College is a co-educational school in Geelong with boarding (co-educational since 1974). Its official 2026 schedule lists tuition from $18,924 (Foundation) to $38,540 (Years 10–12), boarding from $16,740 to $31,080 on top, a $500 registration fee, a $2,750 admission fee and sibling discounts from the second child — a lower-cost boarding option in the same city.
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. The timetable is built for Asia–Oceania daytime, so it fits an Australian day well.
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 award the VCE or the IB Diploma, and it offers no boarding, no Timbertop and no campus life. If you want a residential Australian education with a recognised senior credential, Geelong Grammar, Scotch College and The Geelong College are the schools to compare.
For a wider view, see our online international schools compared guide or online school options in Australia.
FAQ
How much does Geelong Grammar School cost per year?
For 2027 (domestic, AUD): Years 7–8 cost $48,180 as a day student, $80,840 as a weekly boarder or $94,040 as a full boarder; Year 9 at Timbertop is $98,820; Years 10–12 are $58,320 as a day boarder or $98,820 as a full boarder. Junior years range from $23,860 to $47,860. Overseas fees are higher, up to $119,600. GST is added on some lines (official 2027 fee schedule, checked 23 October 2026).
What are Geelong Grammar boarding fees?
Full boarding is $94,040 a year in Years 7–8 and $98,820 in Year 9 (Timbertop) and Years 10–12 for domestic students; weekly boarding in Years 7–8 is $80,840. Overseas full boarders pay $109,860 (Years 7–8) and $119,600 (Years 9–12).
Is Geelong Grammar accredited, and does it offer the IB?
Geelong Grammar offers the VCE and the IB Diploma and says it has been an IB World School since 1997. It is registered to enrol overseas students (CRICOS 00143G).
Can international students enrol?
Yes, from Prep to Year 12, with a $500 application fee and a $5,500 enrolment fee. Students from Year 5 whose first language is not English sit an approved English test.
Is Geelong Grammar worth it, and what are the alternatives?
It can be for children who will make full use of boarding, Timbertop and the IB or VCE. Families often compare Scotch College Melbourne and The Geelong College. NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY is a very different, online option for ages 6–18 with no academic entrance exam and no English requirement; it opens in September 2027 and is not yet accredited.
Choosing calmly, with the whole picture
Geelong Grammar offers something few schools can: a long boarding tradition, a whole year in the High Country and a choice of IB or VCE. The most useful step now is to decide whether boarding — and Timbertop in particular — suits your child, then add the entry fees, the Year 9 jump and the extras to every year you expect them 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 23 October 2026. Schools revise fees every year — always confirm on the official site before applying.
