John Paul College secondary students walking together across the Daisy Hill campus in Brisbane
For families from Vietnam · Dành cho các gia đình Việt Nam

Start in Year 9 at a

Your child joins our secondary years in Brisbane, Australia, and builds their English on the same campus. They finish with an ATAR for university entry. Every student under 18 has approved welfare arrangements, and someone to call at any hour.

Talk to Our Team When should my child arrive?

Find an authorised agent in Vietnam

4 Intakes every year 45 Nationalities on campus 24/7 Support and welfare, under 18 5 National awards, 2004–24

Years 11 and 12

Where Our Students Finish

Australian universities offer places on the ATAR. In 2025 our median was the strongest on record, and more than half the cohort placed in the top 10% of the state.

See our full results and every year since 2020

ATAR Results

Class of 2025 Top Graduate Chanu Jung
99.95 ATAR
99.4%
QCE attainment
Queensland Certificate of Education
12%
of students achieved
ATAR 99 or above
Top 1% of the state
32%
of students achieved
ATAR 95 or above
Top 5% of the state
53%
of students achieved
ATAR 90 or above
Top 10% of the state
JPC Median ATAR 2025 91.00
0255075100

The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is the score Australian universities use to offer places. It runs from 0 to 99.95. International students sit the same subjects and the same external examinations as everyone else. Percentages are of the known ATAR-eligible Year 12 cohort. What is the ATAR?

Timing

When should my child arrive in Australia?

Aim for Year 9. Year 10 is the last comfortable start — and if your child needs English preparation first, they should arrive a term or two earlier again.

Years 11 and 12 are a single two-year programme. They lead to the Queensland Certificate of Education and an ATAR. Students choose the subjects for those two years during Year 10. A student who arrives in Year 11 makes that choice in their first weeks. They do it in a second language, before they know the teachers or the assessment. Arriving in Year 9 gives your child two full years to settle. Nothing counts towards university entry until Year 11.

One Rising Arc

From Lớp 9 in Vietnam to a university place

Six steps. Five of them are fixed stages — only the English stage changes length, and it changes for every child.

  1. May

    Finish Lớp 9

    Your child completes lower secondary school in Vietnam, at the natural end of the Vietnamese school year.

  2. July

    Arrive at JPC

    They land in Brisbane for our Term 3 intake — homestay family or boarding, and the first week walked through with them.

  3. John Paul International College
    1–4 terms

    English Preparation

    High School Preparation at JPIC, on our campus. Students move up a level when they are ready, not on a fixed schedule.

    Find Your Starting Point
  4. John Paul College
    Next Year

    Year 10

    Into mainstream JPC classes, on time. This is the year students choose their senior subjects — which is why Year 10 is the last comfortable start.

    Find Your Starting Point
  5. Years 11–12

    The Senior Years

    One two-year programme leading to the Queensland Certificate of Education and an ATAR, with senior mentoring and career guidance.

  6. Graduate

    University & Career

    An ATAR opens Australian universities. Our Vietnamese graduates have gone on to law, engineering and education.

Students who already meet the English benchmark skip the preparation stage and go straight into class. There are four intakes a year — January, April, July and October — so a May finish is not the only way in. We do not accept students into Year 12: it is assessed across the whole year, so it cannot be joined part-way.

Our Vietnamese graduates say the same thing. arrived in Year 8 and left as College Vice Captain with a Law scholarship. arrived in Year 8 and is now a practising lawyer. ’s clearest memory is choosing his own subjects in Year 10 — which means he was settled long before it.

Calculate your pathway University Pathways Talk to Our Team
Find Your Starting Point

Two Ways In. One Destination.

Where your child starts depends on their English, not on their ability. Some students join regular classes straight away. Others begin in a preparation program on the same campus, then move across when they are ready. From there the path is identical: Years 7 to 10, then Years 11 and 12, then university. Find your child’s starting point below.

Direct Entry

Straight into class (Years 7 – 11)
Preparation Pathway
Depends on English level

High School Preparation Program

Secondary School (Years 7–12)

University & Global Careers
  • JPIC — our English preparation courses
  • JPC — mainstream classes at John Paul College
Year levels

Which year level would my child enter?

Vietnamese school years map directly onto ours. The one exception is Year 12 — students do not join it part-way through, because Years 11 and 12 are a single two-year programme.

Vietnamese school stages and their John Paul College equivalents
In VietnamAt John Paul CollegeAge on entry
Lớp 6 – Lớp 9 (THCS)Year 7 – Year 912 – 14
Lớp 10 (THPT)Year 1015
Lớp 11 (THPT)Year 1116

This table is a guide. Admissions confirms your child’s final placement from their school reports.

Every starting point has its own tuition and CRICOS code — see the full fee schedule and entry requirements.

English Preparation

What if my child’s English is not ready?

Then they start on the same campus, with our own teachers, and move across when they are ready. This is the route most of our Vietnamese graduates took.

No external test to apply

Families applying through the preparation pathway do not need an IELTS, AEAS or Cambridge result. Send us your child’s school reports and we assess their English ourselves.

See the entry requirements

Taught on our campus

A five-level pathway, from foundation English to academic readiness, taught by our own specialist teachers. Very few Australian schools do this in-house rather than sending students to a separate language college.

High School Preparation

How long will it take?

That depends on where your child starts. Students move up a level when they are ready, not on a fixed schedule. We give you an honest estimate from their school reports, before you commit to anything.

Plan the arrival date

Where it leads

Nam arrived from Hanoi and began in High School Preparation. He joined the main College in 2017 and finished as Dux of John Paul College in 2020. Preparation is not a lesser route in.

Read Nam’s story
Care & Safety

Who looks after your child in Australia?

The real question is what an ordinary Tuesday looks like, and who is with your child at every point in it. Here is student life, from sunrise to bedtime.

Every international student under 18 must have approved welfare arrangements for the whole length of their student visa. John Paul College provides them. That is not an extra — it is a condition of enrolment, and we take responsibility for it.

Sunrise to Bedtime

A day in your child’s life at John Paul College

Move through the day one moment at a time, or press play and let it run. This is not a brochure day — it is the shape of an ordinary Tuesday.

A twin-share villa room at Fenton Village, John Paul College Sunrise

The day starts where your child lives

Boarders wake in a twin-share room at Fenton Village, a short walk from class. Homestay students wake in their own room, in a checked local family’s home.

Whichever you choose, your child has named people responsible for them and someone to call at any hour.

Compare the options

Premium Homestay

A checked local family, a structured care plan and 24/7 support built into every placement. Most homestay programs stop at a bed and a meal. Ours does not.

See Premium Homestay

Boarding at Fenton Village

A boutique boarding community on campus, with dedicated boarding staff and supervised study. Everything is a short walk from class.

See Boarding

The JPC CARE framework

Every placement runs on the same pastoral model — Connect, Achieve, Respect, Empower. Your child has named people responsible for them, and someone to call at any hour.

Compare the options

lived with an Australian homestay family. He describes them as his second family — the people who supported him through the hard parts, and celebrated the rest.

Wellbeing · Prep to Year 12

How does John Paul College support wellbeing?

Marks are only half of what a family is choosing. The other half is the person your child becomes — the part of school that is not on the timetable. At John Paul College that half has a name, a shape and a program.

SOARING is our own wellbeing and character framework — built on Positive Psychology and taught in every year from Prep to Year 12. Select a branch of the JPC SOARING Tree to see what grows there.

SO

Strong Outcomes

Setting & achieving meaningful goals

Establishing, striving for and achieving personal goals, in belief in oneself — important for self-esteem and wellbeing, and helping to cultivate resilience when students face challenges in life.

Skills growing on this branch
  • Identity
  • Goal orientation
  • Decision-making
  • Mindsets
  • Grit & persistence
  • Adaptability
  • Reflective practice
Prep – Year 6

In primary

SOARING sits beside Friendology 101, an international program that teaches children how to be a good friend. Each year has its own focus — Begin, Explore, Share, Care, Think, Create, Lead.

See our primary wellbeing program Years 7 – 12

In secondary

SOARING carries twenty-four character strengths through the years when confidence is decided. Students learn to name what they are good at, and to practise it.

See our secondary wellbeing program

For a child who will study, work and lead in a second language, this is not a soft extra. Confidence, teamwork and the willingness to speak up are what turn good marks into real opportunities.

Why Families Choose Us

One Campus. Everything Your Child Needs on It.

Thirty-three hectares in Daisy Hill, shared by students from 45 nationalities. Sport, music, science and the pool are all a walk from the classroom — not a bus ride, not an extra fee, and not something your child has to choose between.

Recognised nationally

Five national awards since 2004: the IDP Award (the first school ever to win it), NEAS Gold Standard in 2018, NEAS national awards in 2021 and 2022, and an Australian Education Awards honour in 2024.

See our awards

A recognised curriculum

Our secondary school follows the Australian Curriculum, then the Queensland Certificate of Education and an ATAR for university entry. Our primary school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

See our courses

A leader in preparation courses

High School Preparation is taught by our own language specialists, on the same campus your child will graduate from — not outsourced to a separate language college.

See how it works

An amazing campus

The Stephen Paul Aquatic Centre, the Stephen Bean Theatre, the Stephen Bowers Oval, a Science Centre, a dance studio and the Noelene Munns Learning Centre — all inside the school gate.

See the campus map

A sports academy pathway

13 or more inter-school sports across all four terms — and a High Performance Academy for students who pursue representative pathways at state and national level.

See the sport program

Award-winning music

An award-winning performing arts program: bands, string orchestras, choirs and chamber groups, with lessons through to Year 12 — alongside debating, drama and student leadership.

See the music program

Walk the campus in 360°

Vietnamese Graduates

Where Are Our Vietnamese Graduates Now?

Four students from Vietnam, four different starting points. All four finished at an Australian university.

Nam at John Paul College Speech Night in 2020, when he was named Dux of the College
Hanoi · Class of 2020

Nam

Nam arrived from Hanoi and began in the High School Preparation Course, joining the main College in 2017. Three years later he was Dux of John Paul College. He now studies inclusive education and runs Ngoi Sao Sang — “Bright Star” — a non-profit teaching children with disabilities.

Read Nam’s story
Sam in John Paul College uniform, College Vice Captain and Cameron Cup winner
Vietnam · Class of 2025

Sam Tô Huệ Anh

Sam arrived from Vietnam in Year 8 — a new country, a new language and a new school at once. Five years later she was College Vice Captain and won the Cameron Cup, the award for the student who best exemplifies the College motto. She left with a scholarship to study Law.

Read Sam’s story
Ho Chi Minh City · Law graduate, QUT

Jessica

Jessica landed in Brisbane in April 2016 and spent ten weeks in an English preparation course before joining Year 8. She was elected to the Middle School Student Council and placed second in Queensland in a Chinese-speaking competition. She graduated in Law at QUT and is now a practising lawyer.

Read Jessica’s story
Vietnam · Class of 2015

Joseph

“Back home I studied twelve subjects. Here I chose six — and I could finally concentrate.” Joseph chose his own subjects from Year 10, and that focus set his direction. He is now an engineer on Cross River Rail, helping prepare Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Read Joseph’s story
We’re here to help

How do we apply from Vietnam?

You do not have to work this out on your own. Tell us where your child is now, and we will help you find the right year level, the right entry route and the right arrival date.

How to apply

Three steps, and we walk you through all of them

  1. Talk to us first

    Tell us your child’s age, school year and English level. We will recommend a year level and an arrival date — before you spend anything.

    Talk to our team →

  2. Check what is needed

    School reports, English level and an interview with the Head of School. Families applying through the preparation pathway do not need a result from any external English test.

    Entry requirements → · Fees →

  3. Apply

    Apply online, or through an authorised education agent in Vietnam if you would rather work with someone locally. Once your child has a place, we help with the visa paperwork, the uniform and the first week.

    How to apply → · Find an agent →

Personal support

You can ask us in Vietnamese

Allan Dam, Head of Global Engagement and Partnerships
Allan Dam Tư vấn bằng tiếng Việt Head of Global Engagement & Partnerships

Allan can talk you through the application, the year level and the paperwork in your own language. Ask him anything — there is no such thing as too early.

You can also apply through an authorised agent in Vietnam, with offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. There is no cost to your family — the College pays the agent’s service fee.

Talk to Our Team

We reply within two business days.

Common questions

Questions Vietnamese families ask us most

When should my child arrive in Australia?

Aim for Year 9. Year 10 is the last comfortable start, because students choose their Years 11 and 12 subjects during Year 10. John Paul College does not accept students into Year 12. There are four intakes a year: January, April, July and October.

How much does secondary school cost for a Vietnamese family?

For 2027, Years 7 to 10 tuition is A$34,300 per year and Years 11 and 12 is A$34,900 per year. High School Preparation is A$8,575 per term. Homestay is A$25,100 per year and boarding is A$27,350 per year. Other one-off and annual fees apply. Figures are a guide transcribed from the current fee schedule — confirm exact amounts against your Written Agreement before paying. See the full fee schedule.

Does my child need an IELTS result to apply?

No external English test result is required to apply through the High School Preparation pathway. Direct entry to Years 7 to 11 is for students whose English and school reports already meet the College benchmarks. Every international applicant also completes an interview with the Head of School. See the entry requirements.

Does anyone at the College speak Vietnamese?

Yes. Allan Dam, Head of Global Engagement & Partnerships, speaks Vietnamese, so you can ask your questions and read our answers in your own language. You can also apply through an authorised education agent in Vietnam if you would rather work with someone locally — see the authorised agents.

Who is responsible for my child in Australia?

Every international student under 18 must have approved welfare arrangements for the length of their student visa. John Paul College provides them, through Premium Homestay or boarding at Fenton Village, with 24/7 support and the JPC CARE framework in every placement.

My child finishes the school year in Vietnam in May. What happens then?

The Queensland school year runs from late January to early December, in four terms. A student finishing in May can arrive for the July intake, settle over two terms, and begin the next year level in January. See our term dates.

Which year level would my child enter?

Vietnamese school years map directly onto Australian year levels. Lớp 6 to Lớp 9 correspond to Year 7 to Year 9, Lớp 10 to Year 10, and Lớp 11 to Year 11. Year 12 is not available to new students. Admissions confirms the final placement from your child’s school reports.

Where will my child live?

Either with a checked local homestay family, or in Fenton Village, the boarding community on the John Paul College campus. Premium Homestay includes the Extended Day Program: homework support from 3pm, a community dinner with staff, and door-to-door transport home. Compare the options.

How different is the time in Brisbane from Vietnam?

Brisbane is three hours ahead of Vietnam, and neither Vietnam nor Queensland changes its clocks during the year, so the three-hour gap holds all year. You can call your child after school every day without either of you doing arithmetic.

Can we try a shorter program first?

Yes. Study Abroad places students in real Australian classrooms for anything from four weeks to one year. Study Abroad does not include Year 12 and does not include boarding. See Study Abroad.

Start the conversation

Tell us about your child and our International Team will guide you, step by step — year level, entry route, arrival date, fees, and how your child will be cared for. There is no cost, and no obligation to apply.

Talk to Our Team Find an agent in Vietnam