Study Abroad Program

Are you looking for an exciting education adventure in one of the world's most popular study and tourist destinations?

Picture yourself taking part in one of our 3, 6, 9 or 12 month study abroad programs.

Living in Victoria, Australia, offers you new cultural and lifestyle experiences and our Victorian government schools offer a mix of academic programs with extra-curricular activities such as sports, dance and theatre. You can also improve your English while you stay with a Victorian homestay family.

Whether you choose the city of Melbourne or our student cities across Victoria, this is one of the best places in the world to live and study abroad. Melbourne has sport, food and fashion to suit every taste, and there are activities to suit every interest. Victoria's quality education is matched by one of the highest standards of living in the world.

Picture yourself with 10 reasons to study in Victoria

10 reasons for choosing a Victorian government school

Australia's Education State – receive a high quality education
Melbourne – Australia's Top Student City, World's Top 10 Most Liveable City and World's Best Sporting City – offering big city benefits
Stunning natural environment and beautiful coastline – go exploring or learn to surf
World-leading science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) programs – learn new skills that aren't offered at your home school
Tailored English language programs – gain confidence in English
Supportive and safe homestay families – live a unique Australian lifestyle
Caring teachers – receive individual welfare and wellbeing support
Flexible choice of over 90 subjects – learn the subjects you want to learn
Wide range of extra-curricular activities, sports and academies - helping you pursue your dreams
Become a global citizen – make new friends and gain real world experience.

Picture yourself living a unique Australian lifestyle

Victoria is one of Australia's smallest states. Nothing is too far away when you live in Victoria which means you can experiance surfing along the coast, skiing in the snow fiels and live in big cities like Melbourne and the student cities of Geelong and Ballarat.

There's so much to do in your spare time whether you choose to study and live in Melbourne or our student cities across Victoria. You can make new friends, explore new interests and try new things.

Cuddle a koala

There are plenty of sports for you to try in Melbourne – the Sporting Capital of the World.* Sport is a real passion for many people right across Victoria. Most popular is Australian Rules Football (AFL), otherwise known as 'footy.' Your classmates and homestay family will help you to pick a team. Having a footy team and going to the game is a big part of Victorian culture.

Footy isn't the only sport that's popular. We also follow soccer, rugby, cricket and basketball – so there's always something happening to take part in. Your school and local community will have a team in your favourite sport. Join up and make new friends.

*Sport Business Anniversary Award – Ultimate Sports City at 10, 2016

Surf or swim our world- renowned coastline

We know you'll want to try surfing. Living in Victoria means you're never far from the coast.

Swim, sail or fish in the bays around Melbourne or learn to surf at the ocean beaches close by. Most of our study abroad schools are located a short walk or bus ride to the beach. Our inland schools have surf camps and swimming, canoeing and water sports programs to give you the best of both worlds.

Victorians surf any time of the year – even in winter where you can stay warm in a wet suit. Victoria is world-renowned for surfing. The world's first surfing reserve was Bells Beach, Victoria along the Great Ocean Road. Your school will have open water swimming, surfing, surf lifesaving and outdoor education programs to teach you how to surf.

Get involved in our adventure

You'll love Victoria if you like the great outdoors. You don't have to go far from Melbourne to find parks and nature, such as the Dandenong Ranges. There are always walking and cycling trails close to home.

Everything from mountains and rivers to goldfields and the sea is here in Victoria. Choose your adventure with a day trip or weekend away with your homestay family or local relatives. Join a school trip with teachers and friends.

Get a new outfit in the fashion capital

Melbourne's the best place in Australia to be for fashion. Make up your own style from Melbourne's laneway boutiques, recycled clothing shops or one of the many fashion shopping strips and centres.

Discover hidden designer shops and urban art in Melbourne's laneways. Jump on a tram and uncover the secret treasures of the city.

Eat great food

Melbourne is the restaurant capital of Australia. With so many cultures coming together you're sure to find the food you love. Try typical Aussie cuisine or food from any part of the world. If you're hungry – we've got you covered.

When you stay with us, you can try:

Bayside or coastside for fish and chips and a burger
Chinatown in the heart of the city for real Chinese food
Richmond for cheap and colourful Vietnamese fare
Carlton for classic Italian
just about anywhere for authentic Thai.

Picture yourself with a flexible choice of subjects

Victorian government schools offer a highly flexible education with over 90 subject choices.

The Victorian school curriculum offers students the opportunity to study new and interesting subjects that will widen your view of the world and give you a strong foundation for future personal and career success.

Our school subjects will help you find your passions and we know you'll have fun along the way too.

Studying in a Victorian government school classroom means that you will:

develop independent thinking skills
learn new subjects
increase your life skills
face the future with confidence.

Your choice of subjects

Whatever your interest areas or career ambitions – we've got the subjects for you.

We have dance, theatre, music, photography and design subjects for budding performers and artists.

We have robotics, coding, engineering, outdoor and environmental studies and all the traditional science subjects for budding scientists and app developers.

We also have psychology, economics, fashion and plenty more to give you a taste of university life.

Studying in Victoria gives you the freedom to take responsibility and make decisions about the subjects you want to study. It's a big responsibility – but we know you have got this!

And we're right here to offer guidance about choosing your subjects at any time. We can even help you to change your subjects if you find they're not the right ones for you.

Subjects for any future dreams

Year 9 and 10 students are required to undertake only two compulsory subjects - English and maths. Year 11 and 12 students are required to undertake only one compulsory subject - English. The rest of your study plan is your choice.

You can choose any combination of subjects from any learning area.

There are over 90 Victorian Certificate of Education subjects across nine key learning areas:

Picture yourself with a wide range of extra-curricular activities

We know that a great study experience doesn't end in the classroom. We encourage you to get involved in activities before and after class time either at your school or through local community organisations.

Schools offer many programs to help you pursue your interests, make friends and get the most out of your study abroad experience. There are different activities, academies and clubs ranging from sports like football (soccer), hockey and swimming to robotics and forensic science.

Each school is located in a community with access to a wide range of extra-curricular activities. This means that you have access to a world of extra-curricular opportunities.

Some examples of extra-curricular activities:

Sports

Hockey
Soccer
Basketball
Swimming
Australian Rules Football

Academies

The Arts

Drama / theatre
Dance (classic, hip hop, contemporary, world cultures)
Visual arts and design

Clubs

Public speaking / debating
STEM – Science, technology, engineering and maths
Student leadership
Language and culture

Volunteering

Sport coaching
Fundraising for charities
Environment and conservation
Arts and media
Social justice and global issues.

Picture yourself with a local homestay family

When you're away from your own family, a homestay is a great way to feel that you belong.

Having the support of another family and a connection to your local community can make all the difference to settling in and improving your English language confidence. Our homestays will help you adjust quickly to your new life.

Picture yourself with new friends

The great thing about studying in a Victorian government schools is that you have thousands of students who are looking forward t being your friend and learning about your culture and language.

We're a really multicultural community with more than half of all Victorians either born overseas or have a parent born overseas. So you'll fit right in!

There are plenty of opportunities to make friends in your class, through extra-curricular activities or through your school's buddy program which puts new students in touch with student mentors. Taking up a sport or fun activity outside of school will also create opportunities to make friends in your local community.

We also have events, activities and competitions which helps students from across the state meet each other and build friendships. Ask your school International Student Coordinator about how you can get involved in our statewide events.

Select a study period that suits

2022	Australian Season	Study Abroad Date Starts	Study Abroad Date Ends
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4	Summer / Autumn Autumn / Winter Winter / Spring Spring / Summer	28 January 26 April 11 July 3 October	8 April 24 June 16 September Year 9: 20 December Year 10: 25 November Year 11: 18 November

2023	Australian Season	Study Abroad Date Starts	Study Abroad Date Ends
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4	Summer / Autumn Autumn / Winter Winter / Spring Spring / Summer	27 January 24 April 10 July 2 October	6 April 23 June 15 September Year 9: 20 December Year 10: 24 November Year 11: 17 November

School fees

Study abroad tuition fees are based on the number of weeks in each term that you study.

The cost of your Study Abroad package will depend on:

your year level
the length of your stay
if you choose to live in homestay over the holidays. Additional homestay for the school holidays is charged at $250-$330 per week (indicative rate only).

You do not pay a bond for Study Abroad homestay. To find out more, see: School fees.

How to apply

We recommend that all students apply through a Victorian Government schools accredited education agent.

Start your next adventure and study abroad in Victoria. Click here to learn more about our application process and to find your nearest accredited education agent.

For more information on our Study Abroad program, see the Study Abroad brochure.

two high school students surfing at the beach

CRICOS Provider Name and Code: Department of Education, 00861K.

CRICOS Course Names and Codes: Primary (Prep to Year 6), 019047G; Secondary (7-12), 019048F; Victorian College of the Arts Secondary Course (7-12), 028651A.

Last Update: 17/08/2023 10:43 AM