At a glance
Wesley College was founded in 1866 in Prahran by the Methodist Church and is now affiliated with the Uniting Church, making it one of the oldest and largest independent schools in Melbourne. It is coeducational and open entry, and it teaches across three metropolitan campuses at St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley and Elsternwick, supported by outdoor education sites and a Year 9 residential campus at Clunes. Its defining feature is the breadth of the International Baccalaureate offer, which runs from the early years to Year 12. You can set it against the wider market of international schools in Melbourne through our city hub, and against the city's other IB providers on our Melbourne IB schools hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) and Victorian Certificate of Education |
| Stages | Early childhood to Year 12 (ages 3 to 18), coeducational |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School; registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority; Uniting Church |
| Fee band | Upper independent (see the Melbourne fees guide) |
| Campus area | St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley and Elsternwick, Melbourne |
Curriculum and academics
Wesley is an authorised IB World School and the only school in Victoria to offer the International Baccalaureate from early childhood all the way to Year 12. Younger students follow the Primary Years Programme and the Middle Years Programme, and in Years 11 and 12 families choose between two distinct senior pathways, the IB Diploma Programme and the Victorian Certificate of Education. Running both side by side is unusual and suits internationally mobile families who want the globally portable Diploma as well as those who prefer the Victorian system and its direct route to Australian universities. The IB Diploma is recognised by selective universities worldwide, while VCE results feed the Australian tertiary admission rank. Ask the college for its most recent IB Diploma averages, VCE study scores and university destinations for the fullest academic picture.
Wesley College fees
Wesley College fees sit in the upper independent band for Melbourne, in line with the city's established church affiliated schools. Annual tuition rises by year group, with the senior years the most expensive stage and the early years the most affordable entry point, and fees can vary slightly by campus. We do not print a single headline figure here because the college revises fees each year and publishes the current schedule to applicants, and you can sense check the band against our guide to international school fees in Melbourne. Beyond tuition, budget for an application fee, an enrolment deposit, the Year 9 Clunes residential programme, camps, uniform, technology and optional transport. Sibling discounts and term instalment plans are common at Australian independent schools, so ask the registrar what applies.
Weighing Wesley against other Melbourne schools?
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Admissions
Enrolment runs by application across the year for an academic year that starts in late January or early February. Wesley advises registering early because places at the most popular entry points and campuses are limited, so families relocating to Melbourne should apply as soon as a place is foreseeable. As an open entry school, Wesley looks for fit rather than a competitive entrance examination, though older applicants may complete age appropriate assessment and provide recent school reports. Families choosing the IB Diploma in Year 11 will discuss subject combinations with the college. International families should confirm visa and English language requirements directly.
Location and who goes there
The three campuses give families a genuine choice of location. St Kilda Road sits just south of the central city and draws inner suburban and city based families, Glen Waverley serves the south eastern suburbs and their large professional and migrant communities, and Elsternwick anchors the inner south. The breadth of the IB offer attracts internationally mobile families, returning Australian expatriates and diplomatic and academic households who value a portable qualification. The Clunes residential year and outdoor sites add a regional dimension unusual for a metropolitan school. For the wider picture of where families settle across the city, return to the Melbourne city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Wesley College, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Wesley College fees?
Wesley College fees sit in the upper independent band for Melbourne and rise by year group, with the senior years the most expensive stage. The school publishes its current schedule to applicants and revises it each year. Budget separately for an application fee, an enrolment deposit, camps, uniform and optional transport.
Is Wesley College a good school?
Wesley College is a long established Uniting Church school and the only school in Victoria to offer the International Baccalaureate from early childhood to Year 12, alongside the VCE. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, campus and whether you want an IB pathway.
What curriculum does Wesley College follow?
Wesley teaches the International Baccalaureate continuum from early childhood through the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes, and in Years 11 and 12 students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and the Victorian Certificate of Education.
When do Wesley College applications open?
Enrolment is by application across the year for an academic year that starts in late January or early February. Wesley advises registering early, as places at popular entry points and campuses are limited.
Where is Wesley College located?
Wesley College has three Melbourne campuses, at St Kilda Road near the city, Glen Waverley in the south east and Elsternwick in the inner south, plus outdoor and residential learning sites.
