This guide brings together the facts international families need before applying to The Illawarra Grammar School（伊拉瓦拉文法学校）, an Anglican co-educational school in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, just over an hour south of the Sydney CBD and the international airport. Everything below comes from the school’s official website, accessed on August 5, 2026. International tuition figures are quoted in Australian dollars from the school’s International Student Program Fee Schedule 2026 (June 2026 version); always check the latest version on the official website before budgeting.
About The Illawarra Grammar School
The Illawarra Grammar School (TIGS) was established on 3 February 1959 by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney; its first classes were held at St Mark’s Church in West Wollongong with 28 boys enrolled. In 1976 the school became co-educational when it combined with SCEGGS Gleniffer Brae. The school motto, set by its first Headmaster and unchanged since 1959, is “De Virtute in Virtutem” — From Strength to Strength, taken from Psalm 84:7. The school’s stated values are Gratitude, Generosity, Grit, Gladness, Goodness and Grace.
The Illawarra Grammar School’s campus is at Western Avenue, Wollongong NSW 2500, with views towards Mt Keira and Mt Kembla. Classes are capped at a maximum of 24 students, and the school describes itself as a place of rigorous academic learning in a joyous atmosphere. Wollongong is the third largest city in New South Wales and the tenth largest in Australia, in the Illawarra region with a population of over 300,000, known for its beaches, escarpment and the University of Wollongong. The school is registered on CRICOS under provider code 02300E.
Programs and Curriculum
The Illawarra Grammar School spans three schools: Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4 to 5), Junior School (Kindergarten to Year 6) and Senior School (Year 7 to Year 12). Pre-Kindergarten is a one-year school readiness program running 8.45am to 3.00pm on school days, with 3-day, 4-day and 5-day attendance options; children must turn 4 by 30 April in the year of entry.
The Junior School at The Illawarra Grammar School follows a knowledge-rich curriculum focused on literacy and numeracy foundations, with specialist subjects including Music, Physical Education, Japanese, Library, Biblical Studies and STEM, and Visual Art and Digital Literacy integrated into classroom programs. Students work in “Ready to Learn Next” groupings with a reduced teacher-to-student ratio.
In the Senior School at The Illawarra Grammar School, students study towards the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC), with electives available from Year 7 and a wide subject suite across sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, creative arts and technology. Year 8 electives include Grand Designs, Heroines and Heroes, Musical Theatre, Visual Culture and Jewellery Making, with Forensic Science planned from 2027. Years 9 and 10 offer extension courses in Science and Geography from Cambridge University, by invitation only. Four languages are offered, and academic support includes after-school Tuition Hubs, Saturday tutoring for Years 10 to 12, a “Finding Time” subject for elite musicians and sports people, and an “Extra English” elective for students needing targeted literacy support in Years 8 to 10. The main entry points into the school are Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10, and students wishing to take their HSC studies at The Illawarra Grammar School must commence by the beginning of Year 10.
International Student Entry Requirements
The Illawarra Grammar School welcomes applications from international students. For entry from Kindergarten to Year 3 there are no English language proficiency requirements. Students wishing to enrol from Year 4 to Year 10 must meet the English language proficiency levels shown below, demonstrated through the AEAS assessment:
| Entry Year | AEAS score |
|---|---|
| Year 4 | 30 or above |
| Year 5 | 35 or above |
| Year 6 | 40 or above |
| Year 7 | 61 or above |
| Year 8 | 61 or above |
| Year 9 | 71 or above |
| Year 10 | 81 or above |
All students applying for a place in Years 4 to 10 at The Illawarra Grammar School who do not have English as their first language are required to sit an AEAS test, either in Australia or in their country of origin. Applicants for Years 4 to 6 who do not meet the English prerequisite are required to attend the school’s Targeted English Program, which is offered on a termly basis at a cost equivalent to a full term’s tuition fees, payable before the program begins. International students also need a student visa, granted through the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
How to Apply
Applications to The Illawarra Grammar School are made directly to the school’s Enrolments Team. The published process has five steps. First, submit an application online, including a copy of the applicant’s two most recent school reports, a copy of the birth certificate or passport, a copy of English testing results, a letter of recommendation from the principal of the applicant’s current school, and copies of recent references. Second, attend an interview, online or in person, with executive staff — an opportunity to get to know the school and for the school to get to know the family. Third, receive an Offer of Enrolment; to accept, families forward the fees requested on the offer and a signed Acceptance of Offer. Fourth, the school issues an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment(eCoE), which is used to support the student visa application. Fifth, families receive commencement details for a smooth transition.
The school is currently accepting applications for Pre-Kindergarten to Year 10. Availability in Year 10 is limited, and places are awarded based on strong academic performance evidenced in recent school reports, plus evidence of a high standard of punctuality, attendance and effort.
Tuition Fees and Other Costs
The Illawarra Grammar School’s International Student Program Fee Schedule 2026 (June 2026 version, schedule dated 2026-06, all amounts in Australian dollars) sets the application fee at AUD 250 and the enrolment fee at AUD 3,000, with a refundable capital deposit of AUD 2,000. Annual tuition by year group is: Kindergarten AUD 25,720; Years 1-2 AUD 27,470; Years 3-4 AUD 28,390; Years 5-6 AUD 30,260; Years 7-8 AUD 34,650; Year 9 AUD 36,010; and Years 10-12 AUD 37,590.
On top of tuition, the same schedule lists an annual activity fee (resources, excursions, camps) ranging from AUD 410 in Kindergarten to AUD 2,310 for Years 7-12, and a facility fee of AUD 1,650 per student per year. The school’s fee page explains that fees comprise a tuition fee and an activity fee covering camps, curriculum-related expenses, sport and access to technology and resources; private instrumental lessons and some sporting activities carry additional charges. The Overseas Student Health Cover(OSHC) per-annum fee and the HSC examination fee (Year 12, payable to the NSW Education Standards Authority) are both listed as TBA (to be announced) on the schedule. Estimated extras include uniform at approximately AUD 950, textbooks and stationery at approximately AUD 400, and a bring-your-own-device laptop at approximately AUD 1,000; optional items include the private bus service from AUD 740 per term, music tuition at AUD 110 per hour, overseas or domestic trips of AUD 2,500-10,000, and cocurricular activities at approximately AUD 80 per term per activity. The school’s general fee page also lists sibling discounts on annual tuition (15 percent for the second sibling, 25 percent for the third, 50 percent for the fourth); confirm applicability to international schedules against the latest official version.
Homestay and Accommodation
International students in Years 7 to 12 at The Illawarra Grammar School have the option of living with carefully selected homestay families. Homestay at TIGS is managed by UOW College Homestay, and the school’s Homestay Coordinator is available to manage any problems that arise; guardianship can be provided for students under 18 who are not living in Australia with a parent, custodian or nominated relative. All homestay families undergo regular insurance and police checks and are interviewed and inspected in their homes before acceptance and on an ongoing basis, and transport to school is available from all homestay locations.
Under the school’s 2026 homestay rates, the accommodation and welfare fee is AUD 434 per person per week, which includes a private room with bedding, wardrobe, desk and lighting, bathroom access, breakfast and dinner every day and lunches on weekends; school-day lunches can be purchased at the canteen or prepared by the homestay family at approximately AUD 15 per day. Administrative charges are a one-off placement fee of AUD 350, a management fee of AUD 200 per term, and a one-off under-18 welfare set-up fee of AUD 300, with an airport transfer at AUD 250. As an indication of living costs, the fee schedule cites public transport at AUD 20-50 per week and entertainment or social activities at AUD 50-80 per week.
Academic Year and Term Dates
The Illawarra Grammar School’s academic year runs in four terms. For 2026 the published dates are: Term I 29 January to 2 April; Term II 20 April to 26 June; Term III 21 July to 25 September; and Term IV 12 October to 9 December. For 2027 the dates are Term I 28 January to 9 April; Term II 27 April to 25 June; Term III 20 July to 24 September; and Term IV 11 October to 8 December. Families planning an international enrolment should work backwards from the intended term start, allowing time for the AEAS test, the application and interview, the offer, and the student visa process through the Department of Home Affairs.
Final Checklist and Next Steps
Before applying to The Illawarra Grammar School, run through this checklist: confirm the child’s age fits the intended year level and that entry is possible (note the Year 10 entry deadline for HSC studies and the limited Year 10 places); for Years 4-10, plan the AEAS test early and check the current threshold for the entry year; budget against the June 2026 international fee schedule but treat all figures as subject to the latest official version; and allow enough lead time for visa processing. All facts in this guide come from the school’s official website as of August 5, 2026, and the official website remains the authority if anything changes. For personalised advice on whether The Illawarra Grammar School suits your child’s year level, English level and budget, speak with our study-abroad advisers.