International Students

We have a dedicated staff member who looks after our International Students, providing: 

Information about studying in Australia in general can be found on the Government website www.studyinaustralia.gov.au.

PLC Sydney is a CRICOS registered provider (#02280D) for Full Fee Paying Overseas Students (FFPOS). A Full Fee Paying Overseas student requires a student visa to attend school in Australia.

This information is relevant to students seeking to study at PLC Sydney as an International Student on a Subclass 500 visa. International Students who are Australian or New Zealand citizens or who will be residing in Australia as a Temporary Resident (TR) or Permanent Resident (PR) should apply to the College as a local student. International students will need to provide copies of their residential status upon application. 

Please note: You will also need to take out Overseas Student Health Cover Health Cover (OSHC) prior to a Student Visa being granted.

International students whose first language is not English and have been studying in Australia for less than one year, will be required to sit an English assessment with Australian Education Assessment Services (AEAS) to show evidence of their English proficiency. An AEAS test report must be submitted before an application can be processed.

All costs associated with AEAS testing are to be paid by the family/student. AEAS is the only recognised testing procedure used by PLC Sydney for students currently studying overseas. An English course may be required if the required level of proficiency is not met, followed by reassessment through AEAS. Please refer to the AEAS website at www.aeas.com.au for further information.

In order for the application of an international student to be accepted at PLC Sydney, the following levels of English proficiency MUST be reached:

Most students will also need to undertake an ELICOS course (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) The average ELICOS course length is approximately 12 weeks.

NB Once an international student has been accepted to the College, in-class support is offered where appropriate. After commencing at the College, additional English language tuition is offered through the PLC Sydney Extension Centre (at additional charge). English EAL/D are offered as subjects for Higher School Certificate studies. No additional costs apply to these courses.

It is PLC Sydney’s preference for Overseas Students to live with a parent or close family relative (as defined by Department of Immigration and Border Protection), or for students in Years 7-12 to live within the College at the PLC Sydney Boarding House. 

With the prior approval of the Principal, permission may be granted for an Overseas Student to live with an approved guardian.

All overseas students must have a guardian to represent them. The guardian must be:

Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney is registered to accept overseas students (CRICOS: The Presbyterian Church (NSW) Property Trust 02280D). The Australian Government classifies an overseas student as someone who is neither an Australian citizen or Australian Residency Visa holder and who attends an Australian school, as a ‘Full Fee Paying Overseas Student’. The school does not receive government support for such students. EAL/D support is offered to international students.

Overseas students are also required to take out Overseas Student Health Cover prior to a Student Visa being granted.

Overseas full fee paying students are also required to take out Overseas Student Health Cover prior to a Student Visa being granted.

Boarding Fees

Boarding fees are in addition to all other fees and are inclusive of GST (food only).

For Year 12, boarding places are offered on the understanding that the fee is an annual one and there is a commitment to pay the whole year’s fee. For all other years, to withdraw a student from the Boarding House, a term’s notice in writing or one term’s fees in lieu are required. If a boarding student wishes to apply to become a day student or vice versa, a Change of Status Form must be submitted.

NB It is suggested that Boarders hold a bank account for incidental expenses which can be accessed through a local ATM.

The Resource and Activity Fee

The Resource and Activity Fee covers all compulsory, incursions and excursions, local overnight camps, licences and copyright fees.

To ensure an equitable system in relation to extra curricular activities, the following is charged separately: Stationery, textbooks, international or interstate camps, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, co-curricular and sports fees, registrations, additional HSC or Cambridge charges, school bus, music instruments, tours or exchange program.

The fees below are charged on the Term 1 and 3 accounts.

When are Fees Paid?

Fees are to be paid when due, either:

● Termly – due in full by the first day of each term; or

● By Instalment – by automated direct debit in monthly or fortnightly instalments.

Please register at: http://plc.sydney/dd

A Late Payment Administration Fee is charged at 0.5% for each month an invoice is overdue. This amount reflects the administrative and financial costs of collecting outstanding amounts. A student will not be able to commence a new term whilst fees remain outstanding.

Statements issued & Late Payment Fee calculated on first business day of each month.

For the exact dates of payments, please check the College Fees PDF here

Extension of Fee Payments

PLC Sydney has partnered with Edstart to provide additional payment options for school fees.

Edstart is available to families who would like more flexibility with their school fees, including the option to reduce your annual payments by spreading them over a longer period.

Applications can be made at https://edstart.com.au/plcsydney

Tuition Fees in Advance Scheme

Parents may make provision for their daughter’s fees to be secured at an indexed fee rate. Please contact the College Finance Office regarding any queries related to tuition in advance. NOTE: Fees are subject to alteration.

Petra Naglitsch Accountant
T: +61 2 9704 5668 E: pnaglitsch@plc.nsw.edu.au

NOTE: Fees are subject to alteration.

Withdrawal or Transfer of Student

The withdrawal of a student requires at least one full school term’s notice in writing to the Principal, otherwise, one term of the annual tuition fee in lieu of notice will be payable. As part of the NESA requirements, it is now compulsory to advise the College, in the notice of withdrawal, the name of the school to which the student is being transferred. The transfer of a student from Boarding to Day Girl or vice versa status requires one full school term’s notice by submitting a Change of Status Form to the Principal.

Some parents of International Students may prefer to use an agent who speaks their own language and is familiar with the procedures. Agents can make the process fast and efficient as they are experienced in dealing with the issues concerned. Agents may charge a fee for their services. PLC Sydney will accept applications from the following approved international agents: