Private school scholarships in Victoria: a guide for parents
What an academic scholarship is, the steps schools follow, how timing works, and what differs from school to school, with two schools as worked examples.
Facts checked against official sources on 5 November 2026.
What an academic scholarship is
Many independent schools offer academic scholarships to students who show strong ability. At Melbourne Grammar, for example, an academic scholarship is a partial remission of tuition fees, with priority to students whose families may not otherwise be able to attend. Awards are at the Headmaster’s discretion and vary from year to year, and the number awarded and the amount of remission are not published.
Every school sets its own rules, so the schools below are examples, not a rule for all schools.
The usual steps
The two schools we checked follow a similar pattern:
- Register or apply, often with school reports and other documents
- Sit a scholarship test
- Shortlisted students are invited to an interview
- Offers are made
Example 1: Melbourne Grammar School
- Academic scholarships for Year 7 and Year 9 entry
- One scholarship exam a year, sat in person at the school
- Year 7 applicants sit it in Year 5, about 18 months before entry
- The 2026 exam was on Saturday 29 August, and applications closed on Thursday 20 August
- Shortlisted students are invited to interview, and families may then be able to apply for means-testing
- Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents when they register
Example 2: Westbourne Grammar School
Westbourne Grammar School has a campus in Truganina. Dates below are for its 2028 entry round, as published on 5 November 2026.
- Scholarships for students entering Years 7, 10 and 11 in 2028, open to domestic students
- Apply online with the latest two semester reports, NAPLAN results, certificates and a portfolio form; references are optional
- Academic Excellence, General Excellence and Sport applicants sit an online assessment at home through iDAT, with a $165 fee (including GST) paid to iDAT
- Music applicants audition, and First Nations applicants are interviewed
- Applications open 2 November 2026 and close 11 January 2027
- Testing is 18 to 23 January 2027, interview invitations go out on 26 March 2027 and offers on 30 April 2027
What is the same, and what is not
Both schools use a scholarship test and an interview for shortlisted students, and both ask families to apply about 12 to 18 months before entry. They differ on the test (in person or online), the dates, the documents and the fees.
Dates and fees change every year, so check the school’s own scholarship page for the current round. If your child is in Year 4 or 5, now is a good time to look at the schools you like and note their dates.
How NAPLAN comes into it
Both schools refer to NAPLAN. Westbourne asks applicants to submit their latest NAPLAN results. Melbourne Grammar’s FAQ says that, as a guide, applicants typically achieve “Exceeding” in NAPLAN and above or well above standard in their school reports. Our NAPLAN guide explains the levels.
Other scholarships
Schools usually offer other kinds too. Melbourne Grammar lists music (applicants first sit the academic exam, then audition), boarding for regional, rural and interstate students, general excellence, and First Nations scholarships. Westbourne lists general excellence, music, sport and First Nations scholarships.
Preparing sensibly
The school pages we read give no advice on preparing, so there is nothing official to follow beyond reading each school’s information. Steady skills matter more than cramming:
- Read widely and often, then talk about what was read
- Write regularly, and practise planning a piece quickly
- Keep maths sharp, including multi-step problems
- Practise reasoning with words, numbers and patterns
- Do some practice under timed conditions, so the pace feels familiar
- Look after sleep and balance: a calm student thinks more clearly
A word on honesty
No tutor or school can promise a scholarship: awards are at each school’s discretion. At AJ Classes we teach the skills these tests reward, using our own material, and we never ask students about test content.
Related guides
Official sources
Details change every year. Always confirm dates, fees and rules on the official websites below before you apply.
How AJ Classes can help
Small-group classes in Williams Landing, Truganina and Craigieburn, or online anywhere in Australia.