No matter where you live in Canberra, you’ll find high-quality education options nearby.

Whether you choose government, independent or Catholic schools, from early childhood through to tertiary, Canberra has you covered with excellent education at every age and stage.

A quality start

Deciding where to enrol your child in early education or care is an important decision, and Canberra has many quality options.

Start to plan as early as possible, as demand for places is high and many services have waiting lists. You can find out which education and care services operate in your area by searching the Child Care Finder website.

Find out more about choosing an early childhood education and care service.

Eligible families can access up to 300 hours of free preschool per year with the Three-year-old preschool program. Offered at over 140 early childhood education and care services across Canberra, the program is delivered by a degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. It allows children to participate in play-based learning that helps them to develop imagination, social, communication, language, and physical skills, which sets them up for success later in life.

Transitioning to school

Preschool programs help children transition to school.

Free preschool for four-year-olds is offered for 15 hours per week at preschools attached to government schools, known as ACT public schools. You will need to apply to enrol using the online application form. Independent and Catholic early learning centres also offer preschool programs to help children make the all-important transition to primary school.

Canberra’s five government Early Childhood Schools offer a unique model of integrated services where children can progress from an early childhood education and care service to government 4-year-old preschool, followed by kindergarten through to year 2, in the one location.

The school years

If you’re moving from interstate or internationally, schools in Canberra may work a little differently from what you’re used to. Your choice of government, independent or Catholic schools will also influence how education is structured.

In Canberra children can attend school from age 5. If your child turns 5 on or before 30 April, they can start kindergarten the first day of term 1 that year (usually late January or early February). Families moving to Canberra can enrol their child at any time during the school year.

In the ACT by law children from the age of 6 must be enrolled in and attending school (or registered for Home Education) until they complete year 12 or turn 17, whichever happens first.

• Primary schools are typically for children aged around 5 to 12. Primary school years cover kindergarten to year 6, with most government schools also offering onsite preschool for 4-year-olds.
• High school (or secondary school) is years 7 to 10, with students aged between 12 and 16 years of age. High school can be offered as a separate school setting, or in a preschool to year 10 site with junior and senior campuses.
• ACT Government colleges cater for students in years 11 and 12, with students aged between 16 and 18 years. Colleges aim to prepare students for further study or the workforce by offering more specialised course selection and encouraging greater independence.  Students at colleges can choose to study either a tertiary package (to prepare them for university entry) or an accredited package offering more practical and hands on courses. A continuous assessment means no final exam to enter universities.

Some independent and Catholic schools offer education all the way from preschool through to year 10 and in some cases, year 12.

All public schools have a Priority Enrolment Area which determines what school a child can attend based on where they live. Every child in the ACT from kindergarten to year 12 is guaranteed a place at their local public school.

Support for students of all ability

Canberra is a city that values diversity. Every child and young person have a right to feel welcomed, valued, have a sense of belonging and be able to access quality education that meets their needs at their local school.

Canberra’s 92 public schools make reasonable adjustments for all students who need them, regardless of a diagnosed disability. Adjustments are actions that help a student take part in education on the same basis as other students.

Some students with disability are eligible to access specific disability programs. These may include inclusion support, hearing and vision support, small group learning or a specialist school.

Find out more about support for children and young people with disability in ACT public schools.

Intensive course for non-English speakers

Introductory English Centres are co-located in six public schools. They provide support to newly arrived students with minimal English through intensive language teaching, prior to entry into their local school. Students attend full-time for a determined period and then transfer to their local school.

Tertiary education

For a city of nearly 500,000 people, we have five universities offering hundreds of programs and thousands of courses. Around 24,000 international and interstate students attend our universities each year which contributes to our city’s young median age.

Canberra’s universities rank in the world’s top 100, with several in Australia’s top 10:

• Australian National University
• University of Canberra
• University of New South Wales
• Australian Catholic University
• Charles Sturt University

The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is Canberra’s equivalent of a public Technical and Further Education (TAFE). It provides practical and vocational education and training from apprenticeships and certificate-level training through to diplomas and graduate certificates. CIT can be a pathway to university study.