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Scots College

New Zealand, Wellington

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees NZ$42,000 - 52,000
Ages 5 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2211
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1916
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish, Mandarin
Typical class size 21
Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

Scots College is a co-educational Presbyterian day and boarding school in Wellington for ages 5 to 18 (Years 0–13), with boarding available for Years 9–13 in Gibb House. The campus at 1 Monorgan Road offers extensive outdoor space and facilities for sport, learning, and culture. The school delivers the International Baccalaureate across the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, alongside a senior pathway that enables a choice between NCEA and the IB Diploma. The Junior School follows the NZ Curriculum with an inquiry approach, and Te Reo Māori is integrated across programmes. Future-Focussed Learning aligns NZ objectives with IB design. Notable facilities include the Creative and Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) with film and animation production, a fully rigged stage, drama theatre, recording studios, and rehearsal spaces; Rāta Studios and Matamoe Hub support arts, media and technology; flexible learning environments and a dedicated Wellbeing Centre underpin pastoral life for students for students.

Vibes and Culture
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The Essentials

Scots College has 2,211 pupils, typical class sizes of 21, instruction in English.

Location
The Scots College is located at 1 Monorgan Road, Strathmore Park, Wellington 6022, New Zealand. Strathmore Park is an eastern suburb close to Wellington Airport, and the campus is less than 15 minutes' drive to Wellington's central city. The campus sits on a sizeable site with extensive outdoor space. The College uses Metlink buses and exclusive Tranzit services for transport, with morning services arriving before 8:45am and afternoon services departing around 3:45pm.

Stages
Junior School (Year 0–6); Middle School (Year 7–10); Senior School (Year 11–13).

Type
The Scots College is a co-educational school in Wellington for Years 0–13 and offers boarding for Year 9–13 in Gibb House.

Additional learning support
Āwhina Learning Support (ALS) provides care and support for students who learn in different ways or who face learning challenges. The ALS team helps with literacy and numeracy, supports learning strategies, adapts curriculum and assessments, and liaises with the Wellbeing team.

Country affiliation
New Zealand

Religious affiliation
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

School day structure
Morning transport arrivals occur before 8:45am; afternoon services depart by 3:45pm. The College offers Metlink buses and Tranzit services to support daily travel.

Bus service
Metlink buses provide public transport to Scots College, and exclusive Tranzit buses serve Scots College students. Nearly all students use a Snapper card for public buses, with top-up facilities available at the school. Morning services arrive before 8:45am and afternoon services depart by 3:45pm, with routes to Wellington Station, Lambton Quay, Karori, and Crofton Downs; Tranzit services run to Crofton Downs, Khandallah, Ngaio, Churton Park, Island Bay, and the Hutt Valley as exclusive College services.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at Scots College ranges from NZD 42,000 to NZD 52,000 for 2026/27.

Application and acceptance fees
- Application fee (domestic): NZD 160 per student (one-off, payable when submitting an application).
- Acceptance/Entrance fee: NZD 500 per student (non-refundable; payable to confirm and secure an offered place).
- International enrolment processing fee: NZD 850 (one-off, non-refundable; applies to international students on acceptance).

Tuition fees (domestic students) — 2026 (per month / per term / per year)
- Years 1–6: NZD 2,298 per month; NZD 5,745 per term; NZD 22,980 per year.
- Years 7–10: NZD 2,855 per month; NZD 7,138 per term; NZD 28,550 per year.
- Years 11–13: NZD 2,970 per month; NZD 7,425 per term; NZD 29,700 per year.
- Sibling tuition discounts (domestic): younger siblings receive a reduced tuition rate (examples shown in the domestic schedule). A 10% sibling discount applies to tuition for second and subsequent children concurrently attending the College; this discount does not apply to boarding, incidentals, or where a child receives a scholarship.

Tuition fees (international students) — 2026 (per academic year)
- Years 1–6 (international): NZD 42,000 per year.
- Years 7–13 (international): NZD 52,000 per year.
- International tuition is invoiced for the full calendar year and is payable at the beginning of the calendar year (prorated if the student commences part-way through the year).

Boarding fees (domestic / international where applicable) — 2026 (per month / per term / per year)
- 5-day boarding (Terms 1–3): NZD 1,998 per month; NZD 5,994 per term; NZD 19,980 per year. Term 4 has a specific (reduced) charge noted separately.
- 7-day boarding (Terms 1–3): NZD 2,140 per month; NZD 6,420 per term; NZD 21,400 per year. Term 4 has a specific (reduced) charge noted separately.
- International boarding (seven-day) is shown in the international schedule as NZD 21,400 per year (holiday homestay and full homestay options and admin fees are shown separately).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition and boarding fees are billed as four instalments (January, March, June, and September).
- All fee payers are required to provide a Direct Debit Authority; families may choose either four termly payments or a 10-month payment plan. Direct debits are typically collected on the 20th of the month and run from February to November. Monthly payments are available for Direct Debit customers on request.
- Payment in full by the specified date (example: full-year payment by 17 December for the following year) qualifies for a 2% credit on the net tuition fee when paid in advance.
- Incidentals and other charges are invoiced separately (incidental charges are collected monthly via direct debit unless alternative arrangements are made).

Other compulsory charges, levies and bonds (domestic schedule)
- Leavers bond: NZD 1,000 per student (paid prior to a student commencing; refunded in full once all accounts are settled after the student departs and subject timing rules).
- Scots Foundation annual levy: NZD 150 per family (charged to support capital and philanthropic activity; not pro‑rated or refunded for partial year attendance).
- Parents' Association annual levy: NZD 69 per family (not pro‑rated or refunded).
- Scots Collegians Association levy: NZD 100 per student (not pro‑rated or refunded).
- Overdue account penalties: up to 10% on overdue balances; the College may refuse continued enrolment or remove discounts/scholarships if fees remain unpaid and may pass outstanding debt to a collection agency (fees and costs of collection may be charged to the payer).

Indicative additional costs and disbursements (international schedule examples; similar incidental costs apply to domestic students)
- College uniform (estimate for international students): NZD 1,800 (compulsory uniform items estimate).
- College incidental expenses (stationery, trips, miscellaneous): international estimate NZD 3,850 per year; incidental charges are invoiced termly or monthly as appropriate.
- Insurance (international estimate, school's preferred supplier): NZD 725 per year.
- Guardianship arrangements (recommended where applicable): estimate NZD 3,000 (international guidance).
- Homestay costs (international estimates): holiday homestay based on an estimate (example NZD 420 per week); full homestay figures and homestay admin fees are shown in the international schedule.

Refund information and notice requirements
- Application fee and acceptance fee are non-refundable as stated in the fee schedule.
- Leavers bond: refunded in full once all accounts are settled after a student's departure and subject to the College's timing rules (bonds do not incur interest).
- Notice of withdrawal: at least a full term's written notice is required when withdrawing a student (from the College, the Boarding House, or any charged activity). Failure to give the required notice makes the payer liable for fees for the following term.
- For international students, some charges and disbursements are returned if unspent at year end; the international schedule identifies which fees are non-refundable and gives guidance on invoicing and refunds for incidental accounts.
- The College operates an Education Fees Protection Scheme with specific eligibility and benefit rules; that policy sets out circumstances and limits for fee protection and related entitlements.

Fee payment options and account enquiries
- Direct Debit: all new families are required to pay their monthly account by Direct Debit unless another arrangement acceptable to the College is agreed; options include termly (four instalments) or a 10-month plan.
- Monthly payments are available for Direct Debit customers on request; incidental charges are typically collected monthly by direct debit.
- The College's published schedule directs account enquiries and requests for alternative payment arrangements to the Business Centre / Finance team (finance@scotscollege.school.nz).

Important administrative notes
- Fees are reviewed annually and the next year's fees are normally published each December; billing and term dates follow the College calendar.
- Failure to meet agreed payment arrangements can result in penalties, removal of discounts/scholarships, and possible refusal of continued enrolment.

If you require the specific line items presented above in a different format, the domestic and international fee schedules and the College's Direct Debit and Education Fees Protection policy contain full detail and the numbers quoted here follow those published schedules for the 2026 academic year.
Academics

Scots College teaches IB (PYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 5 to 18.

Curriculum
Scots College offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) across the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), with a dual senior pathway granting a choice between NCEA and the IB Diploma. The IB programmes were introduced at Scots College in 2008 (PYP and MYP) and the Diploma in 2010, and the Senior School provides Years 12–13 with either NCEA or IB Diploma. Future-Focussed Learning is embedded, with courses aligning NZ Curriculum objectives alongside IB design. The Junior School uses the NZ Curriculum with an inquiry approach and Te Reo Māori is integrated in the programmes. The school emphasises a holistic, future-ready approach across all three schools.

Student Teacher Ratio
Class sizes: Year 1 – 15; Year 2 – 18; Years 3–6 – 22; Years 7–8 – 24; Years 9–10 – 25. These target sizes are set to maintain manageable learning environments with occasional variation.

Exam Results
Year 11 no longer offers NCEA Level 1; from 2024, NCEA Level 1 is not assessed. Year 12/13 require 80 credits to achieve Levels 2 or 3 (60 at the target level plus 20 Literacy and Numeracy). NZ Scholarship is available for Year 13. University Entrance (UE) is required to qualify for university admission in New Zealand, with a typical UE standard involving 14 Level 3 credits in three subjects, plus English Level 2 and Maths Level 1 credits, though a points-based system now applies and the minimum often equates to higher overall credit attainment. Upon completion, students choose either NCEA or IB Diploma pathway for Years 12–13.

Higher Education Progression
Nearly all students gain University Entrance. University Entrance preliminarily qualifies a student to a place at university in New Zealand, with 14 UE credits at Level 3 in three subjects, plus English and Maths credit requirements, though the final admission depends on a points-based system and university variation. NCEA results are recognized by tertiary institutions and employers, and the Senior School offers pathways through Years 12–13 that can lead to NZ and overseas higher education opportunities.

Gifted and Talented
Able & Ambitious identifies academically able students and provides opportunities to extend beyond the standard curriculum, including enrichment events such as the Ethics Olympiad, ThinkTank, World Scholar's Cup, Tournament of Minds, CRISiSLab, and Model UN/EU, with progress monitored by a designated coordinator.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1. Applications for enrolments in 2027 and beyond are open. Junior School applications for enrolment in 2027 close on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. Middle School applications for enrolment in 2027 close on Thursday, 2 April 2026. Senior School enrolments are welcome at any stage throughout the year, with limited places available at each year level. 2. How to apply: Within New Zealand, complete the online enrolment form. For international students, use the enroller.app application. After submitting an application, you will be contacted by staff to inform you of the status of your application and to arrange an interview with the Principal. 3. What happens after I send in an application form: You will be contacted by staff to learn the status of your application and to arrange an interview with the Principal. 4. If capacity is reached, a waitpool system is instituted and you will be notified if your application is in the waitpool. Places are filling faster than in previous years. 5. Do you offer scholarships?: Scholarships are available to students in Years 7 and 9, as well as Senior School students (Years 11–13). Applications for 2027 scholarships are now open.

Scholarships
Middle School (Year 7–10) Scholarships: Year 7 offers Academic, Music, General Excellence, and Sport scholarships. Year 9 offers Academic, Music, General Excellence, Boarding, Pipe Band, Sport, and Scots Collegians Association scholarships. Senior School (Year 11–13) Scholarships: International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarships; Pipe Band; General Excellence; Boarding; Music; Academic; Hardship/Financial Assistance; Sport; Tup Radford Science Scholarship; Scots Collegians Association Scholarship. Applications for 2027 Scholarships are open for both Middle and Senior School, with deadlines of March 31, 2026 for Year 7–10 scholarships and May 3, 2026 for Senior School scholarships. The College funds scholarships from the Foundation, tuition discounts, and benefactors. Approximately 60% are merit-based and 40% are needs-based; most scholarships cover a portion of tuition fees. Some scholarships are 100% unavailable. Sibling discounts do not apply when one child is awarded a scholarship. External scholarships include Māori Education Trust Scholarships and a Ministry of Education boarding allowance. Scholarships may be awarded based on merit, need, or a combination, and are reviewed annually; Middle School scholarships include an exam component for academic scholarships and a panel/interview process for other categories. External and internal application paths are available. For questions about scholarships, contact the College's Development Team or relevant regional staff.

Waitlist
When capacity is reached, a waitpool system is instituted and applicants are notified if their application is in the waitpool.
School Events
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