The French curriculum landscape in Melbourne
Melbourne does not have a full Lycee Francais. Unlike Sydney, where the Lycee Condorcet runs from maternelle through to the French Baccalaureate, Melbourne supports one accredited bilingual French school, the Ecole Bilingue de Melbourne in Caulfield North, plus a Saturday morning programme run by the French Australian Cultural Foundation. For families relocating from Paris or Lyon, this is genuinely different from Sydney and needs careful planning.
The French community in Victoria sits at roughly 11,000 registered nationals, with a further 3,000 dual citizen children of school age. That is a small but engaged cohort, anchored by the French Consulate General, the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne in St Kilda, and the French commercial presence at Saint Gobain, Sanofi, Schneider Electric and several wineries in the Yarra Valley. Most French families on long postings settle into Australian independent schools and supplement with weekend French at the Alliance.
The one French school in Melbourne
The Ecole Bilingue de Melbourne, in Caulfield North, is the only school in Victoria that delivers a recognised French curriculum on a daily basis. It is a homologated Agence pour l'Enseignement Francais a l'Etranger partner for primary years one to five, which means it follows the French Ministry of Education programme in French while teaching the Victorian curriculum in English in the afternoons. The school has around 110 students across years 1 to 5, with capacity for around 130, and is the only Victorian institution where a child can return to the French system at the right grade level without a transition test.
Year 6 onwards is the structural gap. Ecole Bilingue does not yet run secondary school. French families with secondary aged children have three practical choices: transfer to an Australian independent that offers French as a second language at AP or IB level, register for the CNED distance programme run by the French Ministry, or fly the child to Sydney for the Lycee Condorcet boarding option. Each route has trade offs around cost, integration and university entry through Parcoursup.
Not sure which school is the right fit?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three schools based on your child's age, your budget, and your timeline. Free, no obligation.
Alternatives: bilingual and Saturday options
For families who cannot place a child at Ecole Bilingue, the practical alternatives are bilingual immersion in the Australian system supplemented by weekend French. The Alliance Francaise de Melbourne runs Saturday morning classes for ages 3 to 16 at its St Kilda premises, with around 280 students and a French curriculum certified teaching team. Programme fees are around AUD 1,200 per term. The Federation of French and Bilingual Schools Australia coordinates with the Sydney Lycee for distance learning support.
Within the mainstream Australian system, the schools with the strongest French offering are Methodist Ladies College in Kew, which offers French immersion from year 7 and the IB Diploma French A or B at year 12, Trinity Grammar in Kew, Wesley College for the IB Diploma French A literature route, and Camberwell Grammar with its long standing French exchange. None of these substitute for a homologated French school, but they keep the language alive at near native level. Our Melbourne bilingual schools hub covers the wider language immersion options.
Fees and the all in cost
Ecole Bilingue de Melbourne tuition runs at around AUD 19,000 a year for year 1 through year 5, which is materially cheaper than the Sydney Lycee Condorcet at AUD 28,000 to 34,000. The school qualifies for AEFE bourse scolaire subsidies for French nationals, which can reduce the fee by 30 to 80 per cent depending on family income. The application is made through the French Consulate General in Sydney by the December deadline.
For the secondary years, families who choose the Australian independent route plus weekend French at the Alliance pay around AUD 32,000 to 46,000 for the school, plus AUD 4,800 a year for Alliance Saturday classes. CNED distance enrolment costs around EUR 800 to 1,200 a year. Our international school fees in Melbourne guide sets out the comparison, and the relocation cost calculator includes Melbourne French education scenarios.
Admissions and where French families live
Ecole Bilingue runs on the Australian calendar, with intake in late January for year 1 entry and rolling admission for years 2 to 5 where places exist. The waiting list for year 1 is currently 14 to 18 months, so applications for January 2028 entry should be submitted by mid 2026. Sibling priority is offered. The French Consulate General provides a recommendation letter for serving diplomats and AEFE bourse applicants, which carries practical weight.
French families in Melbourne tend to cluster in two zones. The first is the inner south, Elsternwick, Caulfield, St Kilda East and Carnegie, within ten minutes of Ecole Bilingue and the Alliance Francaise. Property here is mid range by Melbourne standards and the public transport into the CBD is direct. The second is the inner east, Hawthorn, Kew and Camberwell, for families whose children attend Methodist Ladies College, Trinity or Camberwell Grammar. The French Australian community has a strong informal network, the Cercle Francais de Melbourne and the lycee parents association, which is the best signal source on what is actually working for incoming families. Compare with our IB Melbourne hub for the secondary planning picture.
Frequently asked questions
How many French schools are there in Melbourne?
One. Ecole Bilingue de Melbourne in Caulfield North runs a bilingual French and English programme for years 1 to 5. It is the only homologated French primary school in Victoria. There is no Lycee Francais equivalent for secondary years.
What happens at secondary school for a French speaking child?
Three options: transfer into the Australian independent system with French as a second or first language, register with CNED for distance French Ministry programmes, or send the child to the Lycee Condorcet in Sydney for boarding. Each has different cost and university entry implications.
Is the AEFE bourse scolaire available in Melbourne?
Yes, through the French Consulate General in Sydney. Applications for the bourse scolaire are due in early December for the following academic year and can cover 30 to 80 per cent of tuition at Ecole Bilingue de Melbourne for French nationals.
How long is the Ecole Bilingue waiting list?
Around 14 to 18 months for year 1 entry as of early 2026. Sibling priority applies. Year 2 through year 5 places open up occasionally through the year, so families on the move should register interest as soon as relocation dates are confirmed.
Can my child sit the French Baccalaureate in Melbourne?
Not on site. The closest option is the Lycee Condorcet in Sydney, which offers the French Baccalaureate as a boarding programme. The CNED distance option is also available for self motivated students working with a Melbourne based tutor.
