ACG Schools (ACG学校) | International Student Guide: 2026 Programs, Entry Requirements, Costs and Application Support — Ranking, Fees, Admission

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When you begin researching international education options for your child, finding a school group that balances academic rigour with strong pastoral care can be challenging. This ACG Schools international student guide brings together what publicly available official information tells us about the group’s identity, school locations, curriculum approach, and the kinds of entry considerations families typically need to work through. ACG学校 (ACG Schools) is an independent, co-educational school group with campuses across New Zealand and Indonesia, and it forms part of the Inspired network, which operates over 70 schools worldwide and educates more than 50,000 students globally. For families who need help navigating the application process, UNILINK is suitable for providing application information and support based on your background in relation to ACG Schools international student guide queries and related entry planning.

Before you go further, it is worth understanding what UNILINK does and does not offer. UNILINK provides application information and support based on the applicant’s background; it does not make admission or visa promises, and it does not guarantee offers of place. If you submit an enquiry, the team aims to contact you within one business day. All admission outcomes depend on meeting the institution’s current entry requirements and are confirmed only by the official offer documentation issued by the school.

What ACG Schools Is and How It Fits into the Inspired Group

ACG Schools began as a single school in 1995 and has since grown into a group of six independent, co-educational schools across New Zealand and Indonesia. The group delivers education from early learning through to Year 13, using a future-focused Cambridge curriculum that culminates in Cambridge International qualifications. The four New Zealand campuses — ACG Parnell College, ACG Strathallan, ACG Sunderland, and ACG Tauranga — each operate within a distinct setting. ACG Parnell sits near central Auckland and is an inner-city school known for academic excellence. ACG Strathallan is located in a semi-rural environment and provides what the school describes as a world-class holistic education from preschool to Year 13. ACG Sunderland, positioned to the west, emphasises a family-centred environment and a strong sense of belonging among students and staff, together with notable pastoral care. ACG Tauranga, located in the Bay of Plenty, offers families an educational combination that the school frames as being away from city pressures. Internationally, ACG School Jakarta is an international school in Indonesia that also follows the Cambridge pathway.

The group is part of Inspired, an international network of premium schools. This connection places ACG Schools within a larger educational community, though each campus maintains its own character and local identity. The early learning centres across the group — including ACG Parnell Early Learning School, ACG Remuera Early Learning School, ACG Strathallan Early Learning School, ACG Sunderland Early Learning School, ACG Tauranga Early Learning School, Penguins School of Early Learning, and Zig Zag Zoo — blend the ACG philosophy with Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, for their New Zealand-based preschools and early learning schools.

Across the group, ACG Schools serves over 4,700 students and employs approximately 625 staff. In 2022, the group’s students received 32 Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards, and the four New Zealand schools collectively earned 10 World Top Awards and 14 New Zealand Top Awards. That same year, one student was recognised as the Top in New Zealand for IGCSE and another as the Top in New Zealand for A-Level.

Programmes and Curriculum Pathways

The academic framework across ACG Schools is built on the Cambridge curriculum, which the group characterises as future-focused. Students typically progress through Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE, and then AS and A-Level qualifications. This pathway is designed to prepare learners for university entry in New Zealand and internationally, though specific subject offerings, timetable structures, and co-curricular options vary by campus and year level. Families should check the current programme list for their preferred campus directly through the school’s official channels, since course availability can change between academic years.

The early learning provision follows a different structural approach. In New Zealand, ACG early learning schools and preschools integrate the group’s own educational philosophy with Te Whāriki, the national early childhood curriculum. This dual foundation is intended to support young learners’ development before they transition into the formal Cambridge pathway in later years.

For international students considering ACG School Jakarta, the school offers Cambridge International qualifications, aligning with the same broad curricular philosophy used in the New Zealand campuses. The Australian International School, Vietnam and the European International School Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam also belong to the group’s international portfolio, though their curricular models may differ; families interested in those campuses should consult each school’s official website for specific programme information.

When comparing pathways, it can be helpful to understand how the Cambridge curriculum relates to other international qualifications. You may find our pathway comparison useful for contextualising what a Cambridge-based education offers in terms of subject breadth, assessment style, and university recognition.

Entry Requirements and What Schools Typically Consider

Entry requirements are not standardised across all campuses and year levels within ACG Schools. Each school sets its own criteria based on factors such as the applicant’s age, previous academic record, English language proficiency, and the availability of places in the relevant year group. Because the group operates in multiple countries, visa and enrolment regulations also differ depending on whether the family is applying to a campus in New Zealand or to ACG School Jakarta in Indonesia.

For New Zealand campuses, international students generally need to demonstrate a level of English that will allow them to access the curriculum successfully. Schools may request recent school reports, references, and evidence of English language ability, and some may require an interview or placement assessment. The exact requirements, including any age cutoffs for specific year levels, should be verified on the relevant school’s official admissions page, as these details are subject to change and are not published uniformly across the group.

Our application guide outlines the typical steps involved in preparing an international school application, from gathering documents to understanding assessment timelines. While it does not replace the specific instructions issued by ACG Schools, it can help families organise their approach before submitting materials.

Tuition Fees, Costs, and Timing Considerations

Tuition fees for international students at ACG Schools are set by each campus and vary by year level, programme, and the student’s residency status. The group does not publish a single fee schedule that applies across all schools, so families need to refer to the fee information provided on the official website of the specific campus they are interested in. In addition to tuition, families should budget for costs such as enrolment fees, uniforms, stationery, extracurricular activities, and, where applicable, homestay or boarding arrangements. For international students studying in New Zealand, there are also compulsory health and travel insurance requirements that must be met before a student visa can be issued.

Application and enrolment timelines also differ between campuses. Some schools operate with rolling admissions, while others have fixed intake periods and application deadlines. Early enquiry is generally advisable, particularly for year levels where places are limited. Since fee structures and deadlines are updated periodically, the most reliable information will always be the current official page for the relevant school.

If you need assistance organising your application documents, our document service explains how UNILINK can help review and prepare the paperwork typically required for international school applications, though the final document checklist must always be confirmed with the school you are applying to.

How UNILINK Supports Your Application

UNILINK provides application information and support based on the applicant’s background, helping families understand what different schools require and how to present their application materials clearly. This includes guidance on typical entry expectations, document preparation, and advice on timelines, but it does not extend to making admission or visa promises. Every application outcome is determined by the school according to its current entry criteria, and the only binding confirmation of a place is the official offer letter from the institution.

If you contact UNILINK, the team aims to respond within one business day to begin understanding your situation and to outline what support might be relevant. You can read more about how UNILINK handles enquiries and what you can expect after you submit your details on our follow-up commitment page. For broader context about UNILINK’s role and background, the about page provides further information.

FAQ

Q1: Is ACG Schools a single school or a group of schools?

ACG Schools is a group of six independent, co-educational schools located in New Zealand and Indonesia. The group also operates early learning centres in New Zealand. It is part of the Inspired network, a global group of over 70 schools. Each ACG campus has its own identity, location, and community, but they share a common Cambridge curriculum framework and a focus on academic achievement.

Q2: What curriculum do ACG Schools follow?

ACG Schools follow the Cambridge curriculum, which the group describes as future-focused. Students typically work through Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, IGCSE, and AS and A-Level qualifications. In the early years, New Zealand-based preschools and early learning schools integrate the ACG philosophy with Te Whāriki, the national early childhood curriculum. ACG School Jakarta also offers Cambridge International qualifications.

Q3: What English language level is required for international students?

The group does not publish a single English language requirement that applies across all campuses and year levels. Each school assesses English proficiency according to its own criteria, which may include reviewing recent school reports, conducting interviews, or setting placement tests. Families should check the specific English language entry requirements on the official website of the campus they are applying to.

Q4: Are boarding or homestay options available at ACG Schools?

Official sources do not provide a uniform statement on boarding or homestay availability across all ACG Schools campuses. Some New Zealand schools may assist international students with homestay arrangements, but this varies by location and year level. Families should confirm accommodation options directly with the relevant campus, as arrangements depend on the school’s current policies and the student’s age.

Q5: How do I apply to ACG Schools as an international student?

Applications are handled by each individual campus, not by a central admissions office for the whole group. Families typically need to submit an application form, recent school reports, evidence of English proficiency, and any other documents requested by the specific school. Because requirements and deadlines differ, the most reliable starting point is the admissions section of the official website for the campus you are interested in.

信息来源

• ACG Schools, “ACG Schools | World-class education in NZ, Indonesia & Vietnam,”
• ACG Schools, “Our Schools | ACG Schools,”
• ACG Schools, “About ACG Schools | Academic excellence,”

Last updated: July 2026. Programmes, fees and entry requirements are subject to the institution’s current official pages and offer documentation.