If you’ve just typed “international schools in Sydney” into a search bar, you’ve probably noticed something odd: unlike Singapore, Tokyo or Shanghai, Sydney has very few schools that call themselves “international” in the expat sense. That’s not because the city lacks global education — it’s because the market works differently here. In this guide, we explain honestly how international schooling actually works in Sydney, walk you through 7 real schools (bilingual, national-curriculum and IB options), and give you a clear picture of fees and how to choose.
The short version: in Sydney, don’t shop by the label “international school.” Shop by substance — curriculum, language and cost. Annual fees across the 7 schools below range from roughly A$4,500 to A$47,100, a nearly tenfold spread.
How international schools in Sydney really work — and what they cost
In most Asian cities, international schools exist so children can study in English. In Sydney, English is the language of every local school, so that core reason disappears — and with it, the classic expat international school. What fills the gap instead are three types of schools:
- National-curriculum schools — German, French and Japanese schools that teach their home country’s curriculum, letting children keep their mother tongue while settling into Australian life.
- Bilingual independent schools — schools built around language immersion, such as International Grammar School Sydney.
- IB schools — local independent schools offering the International Baccalaureate, an inquiry-based curriculum recognised by universities worldwide.
Across the 7 schools in this guide, annual tuition runs from about A$4,500 to A$47,100, plus application fees, enrolment fees and incidentals such as excursions and devices. For a breakdown of what actually drives those costs, see our guide to international school tuition and what it covers. Note: fees and details below reflect publicly available information as of July 2026 — always confirm the latest figures on each school’s official website.
The 7 best international schools in Sydney
Here are 7 real schools that deliver an international education in Sydney. There’s no single “best” — the right answer depends on your languages, your budget and where you live. We’ve kept the notes honest.
1. International Grammar School Sydney (IGS)
International Grammar School Sydney, in inner-city Ultimo, is one of the few schools in the city with “international” in its name — a secular, co-educational K–12 school famous for language immersion, with French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish on offer.
- Curriculum — NSW curriculum and HSC, with language immersion throughout
- Ages — 3 to 18 (Preschool to Year 12)
- Fees — approx. A$25,510–35,906 per year (2026 official figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families in or near the city who want genuine bilingualism alongside an Australian credential
2. German International School Sydney
Set on a leafy campus in Terrey Hills, German International School Sydney offers bilingual German–English education leading to internationally recognised German qualifications. You don’t need a German background to enrol.
- Curriculum — German bilingual programme (German International Abitur pathway)
- Ages — 3 to 18 (Preschool to Year 12)
- Fees — approx. A$15,362–32,653 per year (published 2026 figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families with European ties, or anyone wanting a rigorous second language
3. Lycée Condorcet — The International French School of Sydney
In Maroubra in the eastern suburbs, Lycée Condorcet is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and leads to the French Baccalauréat in a genuinely bilingual French–English setting. It’s also one of the more affordable international options in Sydney.
- Curriculum — French national curriculum (Baccalauréat), bilingual French–English
- Ages — 3 to 18 (Maternelle to Terminale)
- Fees — approx. A$10,000–20,000 per year (published 2025–26 figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families who want serious multilingual education without the top-tier price tag
4. Sydney Japanese International School (SJIS)
Also in Terrey Hills, Sydney Japanese International School is a rarity worldwide: a Japanese Division following Japan’s national curriculum and an International Division teaching the NSW curriculum share one campus, with daily interaction between the two.
- Curriculum — Japanese national curriculum or NSW curriculum, by division
- Ages — roughly 5 to 15 (varies by division)
- Fees — approx. A$13,680 per year (2025 official figure; confirm the latest)
- Best for — Japanese families on assignment, and local families wanting an immersive cross-cultural primary school
5. Redlands (SCECGS Redlands)
On the lower North Shore in Cremorne, Redlands is a co-educational Anglican school and one of Sydney’s best-known IB schools, letting senior students choose between the NSW HSC and the IB Diploma. Signature residential programs add a strong experiential dimension.
- Curriculum — NSW curriculum with an IB Diploma option (IB elective fee approx. A$2,950 per year)
- Ages — 3 to 18 (Preschool to Year 12)
- Fees — approx. A$28,800–47,100 per year (2026 official figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families with the budget who want premium facilities, co-curriculars and a globally portable diploma
6. St Paul’s Grammar School
Near Penrith in Sydney’s west, St Paul’s Grammar School is one of the few schools in NSW offering the full IB continuum — PYP, MYP and Diploma — alongside the NSW curriculum, at fees well below the inner-city heavyweights.
- Curriculum — full IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP) with an HSC pathway
- Ages — 4 to 18 (Pre-K to Year 12)
- Fees — approx. A$8,604–28,494 per year (published 2026 figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families in western Sydney who want inquiry-based IB education at a realistic price
7. Australian International Academy, Kellyville Campus
In North Kellyville, the Australian International Academy is a co-educational school with an Islamic ethos that blends the NSW curriculum with the IB Primary Years Programme, and offers the IB Diploma in senior years — at the most accessible fees on this list.
- Curriculum — IB PYP blended with NSW curriculum; IB Diploma in Years 11–12
- Ages — 5 to 18 (Kindergarten to Year 12)
- Fees — approx. A$4,500–9,800 per year (published 2026 figures; confirm the latest)
- Best for — families seeking an IB education and values-based schooling on a modest budget
Comparing your options: which route fits your family?
With the individual schools covered, it helps to zoom out and compare the three broad routes. The question isn’t “which school is best” — it’s what your family wants to prioritise.
Elite private and IB schools deliver superb facilities and outcomes, but fees and catchment geography are real constraints. National-curriculum schools protect the mother tongue beautifully, though pathways tend to lean toward that curriculum’s home system. Online international schools win on cost and location freedom — but there’s no physical playground or science lab. Fees are revised regularly and places can be limited, so contact schools early about waitlists and entry requirements. Curious about the online route? See how learning works online →
If fees or the commute are the barrier — an online “eighth option”
Maybe you’ve read this far and thought: the schools are great, but the fees aren’t sustainable, or the daily drive across Sydney isn’t realistic. For families in that position, we’d like to offer an honest eighth option: NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA), an online international school opening in September 2027. NGA is run by NIJIN Inc. of Japan, whose alternative school NIJIN Academy already has more than 1,000 students enrolled.
NGA is built for children aged 6–18 across Asia and Oceania. Instead of ranking children by test scores, it centres on small-group dialogue and a simple promise: helping children come to love themselves and the world. Lessons are designed so children can start from Japanese-language support and grow into English step by step, and tuition is targeted at roughly one-fifth of a bricks-and-mortar international school. To be honest with you: NGA has not yet opened, so its track record is still to come, and an online school is not the same experience as a campus with playgrounds and labs. But if cost or location is about to make you give up on an international education, we’d love to be on your comparison list.
Frequently asked questions
What age can children start at international schools in Sydney?
Most schools on this list run a Preschool from around age 3, with formal schooling starting at Kindergarten (age 5). Popular schools can have waitlists from the early years, so apply as soon as your plans firm up.
Is support available for children still learning English — or keeping another language?
EAL/D (English as an additional language) support is standard at most independent schools. For mother-tongue maintenance, the national-curriculum schools — German, French and Japanese — are the strongest, and IGS offers immersion in six languages. Many families also add weekend community language schools or online programs.
When can my child transfer in, and how do year levels convert?
The Australian school year runs from late January to December across four terms. Mid-year entry is common where places exist, but age cut-offs mean children from northern-hemisphere systems are sometimes placed a year “behind” their old grade. Give schools your child’s date of birth and confirm the year placement before you commit.
Does International Grammar School Sydney (IGS) offer the IB Diploma Programme?
This comes up often, so let’s be precise. IGS’s senior pathway is the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) — it offers 40-plus HSC courses and is best known for its bilingual, multi-language immersion programme from Preschool to Year 12, rather than for the International Baccalaureate. So if what you specifically want is the IB Diploma Programme in Sydney, the schools to look at in this guide are the IB ones: Redlands (choose NSW HSC or the IB Diploma), St Paul’s Grammar School (the full IB continuum — PYP, MYP and Diploma) and the Australian International Academy (IB PYP, with the IB Diploma in Years 11–12). Senior-year offerings are reviewed periodically, so always confirm the current programme with each school directly. (Public information as of July 2026.)
Wherever in Sydney you live — your options are wider than they look
Sydney may not have Asia’s classic expat schools, but it offers something richer: national schools that protect your child’s first language, bilingual schools that grow a second one, world-class IB pathways — and now an online route that ignores suburbs and school fees altogether. No option is perfect, and no single answer fits every child. Take your time, weigh what matters most to your family, and trust that a good fit exists.
