Academy Scholarships | Years 9-12

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education – developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. Our programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership in their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a world that changes fast.

The IB Diploma is an academic pathway known and loved by universities around the world.

Find more here: https://ibo.org/

We seek students who:

• Demonstrate outstanding aptitude and genuine passion for mathematics or physics

• Exhibit intellectual independence and thrive when confronting complex, unfamiliar problems

• Pursue academic excellence within a framework of purpose and meaning

• Are prepared to engage with global challenges while contributing to local communities

• Value rigorous scholarship as a tool for solving real-world problems and expanding human understanding

If you are seeking an intellectually demanding IB education that develops both analytical mastery and the capacity to apply knowledge meaningfully, we encourage your application.

Our comprehensive assessment process identifies candidates with exceptional intellectual potential, academic resilience, and alignment with Living School’s educational philosophy.

Stage One: Written Application

Submit a complete application by email including:

• Personal statement (500 words) articulating your intellectual interests in mathematics or science, your academic aspirations, and your reasons for pursuing the IB at Living School
• Portfolio of achievements (optional): research projects, competition results, extended investigations, or other evidence of advanced engagement

Application closes: 26 November 2025

Stage Two: Scholarship Examination

Shortlisted candidates sit a rigorous examination assessing:

• Advanced problem-solving: Application of mathematical or scientific reasoning to novel, complex scenarios
• Conceptual depth: Understanding beyond procedural knowledge
• Analytical creativity: Innovative approaches to unfamiliar challenges
• Communication of ideas: Clear articulation of reasoning and methodology

This examination evaluates how you think, not what you have memorised. We seek evidence of intellectual flexibility, conceptual insight, and the courage to engage with problems at the boundaries of your current knowledge.

Stage Three: Academic Interview

High-performing candidates are invited to an in-depth interview with our IB academic leadership. This scholarly conversation explores:

• Your intellectual development and the questions that drive your curiosity
• Your approach to academic challenge, failure, and growth
• The alignment between your educational values and Living School’s distinctive model
• Your vision for how rigorous scholarship can contribute to meaningful outcomes.

Recipients receive comprehensive support designed to maximise academic potential:

• Full tuition remission for the two-year IB Diploma Programme
• Academic mentorship from experienced IB educators with advanced qualifications
• Integrated curriculum: Living School’s Six KeyStones framework (Identity, Nature, Life & Living, Civilisation, Phenomena, Service) contextualises academic learning within broader human questions
• University preparation: Direct engagement with tertiary institutions through our Southern Cross University Academy campus.

Living School delivers the internationally recognised IB Diploma within a distinctive educational environment:

Academic Excellence with Purpose

• Contemporary, research-informed pedagogy connecting disciplinary knowledge to authentic contexts
• Comprehensive wellbeing infrastructure supporting academic performance and personal development
• Specialised support for developing independent critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and scholarly inquiry

The IB Global Advantage

The International Baccalaureate Diploma provides unparalleled access to world-leading universities:

• Global recognition: Accepted by 5,000+ universities across 100+ countries, including Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford, Melbourne, and ANU
• Preferred qualification: Universities actively recruit IB graduates for demonstrated critical thinking, research capability, and academic independence
• Superior ATAR outcomes: Favourable scaling consistently produces ATARs in the high 90s for high-achieving students
• Direct entry pathways: Bypass foundation programmes; gain immediate admission to competitive courses worldwide
• International mobility: Seamless transition between education systems—study in Australia, work in Europe, pursue postgraduate research in North America
• Future-ready competencies: Develops analytical thinking, intercultural understanding, and complex problem-solving valued by leading universities and employers globally

The IB Diploma is not merely a qualification—it is a strategic credential that positions capable students for success in the world’s most competitive academic and professional environments.

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Domestic Students

Scholarships are available to:

• Australian citizens

• Australian permanent residents

• New Zealand citizens (Special Category Visa, subclass 444)

• Holders of other visa types permitting domestic enrolment (contact us to confirm eligibility)

International Students

Students holding subclass 500 visas (Student visas 500-599) are ineligible for scholarship consideration. Australian visa regulations require student visa holders to demonstrate full financial capacity for tuition fees, precluding scholarship provision under current immigration law.

Living School welcomes full-fee international applications to our IB Diploma Programme. For international enrolment enquiries: enrolments@living.school

The program of Living School is carried through Living Academy.

Six Week Terms – our terms are only six-weeks long so we avoid burnout and manage stress with regular week-long breaks.

KeyStone Themes – each term has a KeyStone theme, repeated throughout the entire school: Identity, Nature, Life and Living, Civilisation, Phenomena, Service.

No Uniform – we trust and respect learners to feel relaxed in who they are and their choices, while taking responsibility to ensure they dress appropriately with others in mind.

First Names – all of our teachers and staff are known by their first name.  This draws us to more respectful relationships and levels out any authority status.  But all students must respect their elders.

Each day, each week:

• Circle Time – gathering together with a guardian teacher.  Attendance roll is taken. Key organisation focus is shared – to ensure everyone has all equipment/resources/awareness required for a successful day’s learning.
• Goal setting – personal programs defined around key SMART goals.
• Selected courses are timetabled so students have a structure to follow but also have flexibility to learn outside of their formal ‘lessons’
• Small tuition style lessons are part of the Living Academy offering – so all learners are ‘seen’ and supported.
• Laptops – students are required to bring their own device
• Nutrition – lunch together at a set time as a group. Everyone eats together – and then play.
• Toddle – we use the Toddle learning platform to ensure all information is accessible and organised.

Yes.

But if y0u are successful in being awarded a scholarship, you forego all expenses that are school-wide based for two years, are covered.  This includes excursions, camps, guest speakers and incursions.  It does not include specific programs that are not whole-year focused – e.g. our Arnhem Land Trip.

We offer very small and personal classes based on a range of IB Diploma courses with experienced teachers.

Every teacher is trained to teach the IB – and participate in regular professional development.

Our teachers are guided by an experienced and creative IB Diploma Coordinator, and an experienced Director of Academy.

Thank you for considering our school – here are some thoughts on why we created this K-13 learning ecosystem.