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Deutsche Schule Melbourne

Australia, Melbourne

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German, English
Fees A$1,400 - 23,215
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 170
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Australian Curriculum, German Curriculum, IB (DP)
Taught languages German, English, French
Strengths Languages, Performing Arts, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Primary School
Introduction

Deutsche Schule Melbourne is a German-English bilingual primary school in Fitzroy North. It delivers a dual curriculum that blends the Victorian Curriculum with the Thüringen curriculum, enabling a smooth transition between systems. The school is VRQA-compliant and KMK/ZfA-recognised as a German Auslandsschule, emphasising cross-curricular connections and bilingual, intercultural learning. In Foundation Year, about 80% of instruction is in German and 20% in English; by Year 3 the German component balances to 50/50. Core subjects include German, English, Mathematics (German in the early years, bilingual from Year 3), Sachunterricht, HPE, Art, Music, Ethics and Class Council, with French introduced from Year 5. The program uses immersion, CLIL and explicit language instruction with a one-teacher–one-language approach, taught by German and English native speakers. Facilities at 96 Barkly Street include a library with German, English and French resources, an Instrumental Program, and after-school care. Extra-curriculars span sport, choir, chess, circus, theatre and garden clubs.

www.dsm.org.au

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Deutsche Schule Melbourne has 170 pupils, instruction in German, English.

Location
DSM is located in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, at 96 Barkly Street, corner of Dean Street. It is 6.5 kilometres north of Flinders Street Station; the main entrance is on Barkly Street. Parking is limited on Barkly Street, Dean Street and Holden Street, with a car park off Holden Street for quick drop-off or pick-up. Public transport options include Tram 11 (CBD to Holden St/St Georges Rd) and Tram 96 (Holden St/Nicholson St), and bus routes 246, 250, 251, 253 stop nearby; bikes/scooters may be parked at bike racks on Dean Street.

Stages
Foundation to Year 6 with plans to become a secondary school

Type
German-English bilingual primary school with a dual curriculum

Additional learning support
Bunte Stunde is a cross-class school support and extension program providing differentiated small-group support across Prep to Year Six, including remediation, consolidation and extension; weekly sessions in German, Mathematics and English led by two teachers per class.

Country affiliation
Australia and Germany

School day structure
School day 9:00 am–3:15 pm; English, German and Mathematics taught daily, with Integrated Studies, Art, Music and Physical Education scheduled throughout the week; recess 10:30–11:00, lunch 12:30–1:30; OSHC before/after school care 7:00–9:00 am and 3:30–6:00 pm.

Bus service
Porter Street/Holden Street bus stop in front of the car park served by buses 250 and 251; Stop 358 Nicholson St/Holden St served by buses 246/250/251/253.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Deutsche Schule Melbourne ranges from AUD 1,400 to AUD 23,215 for 2026/27.

Application Fee
- Application fee: AUD 200 payable with an application of enrolment. This fee is neither refundable nor transferable.

Enrolment Fee and Capital Contribution
- Enrolment fee: AUD 1,400 (one-off per student).
- Capital contribution: AUD 3,000 (one-off per family).
- Total payable on acceptance for a new family: AUD 4,600 (Application fee + Enrolment fee + Capital contribution). Total for an existing family when adding a student: AUD 1,400.
- Partial refund of the Capital Contribution if a family leaves within two years: AUD 1,500 after the first year (or part thereof) and AUD 500 after the second year (or part thereof).

Tuition fees (annual totals and per-term billing by Year level)
- Ongoing annual fees (standard total per enrolled student):
- Foundation: Tuition component AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 1,510; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 21,730.
- Year 1: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 1,275; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 21,495.
- Year 2: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 1,275; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 21,495.
- Year 3: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 1,720; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 21,940.
- Year 4: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 1,720; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 21,940.
- Year 5: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 2,995; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 23,215.
- Year 6: Tuition AUD 19,040; Consolidated charges AUD 2,995; Payroll Tax Levy AUD 880; Contribution Levy AUD 300; Total AUD 23,215.

- Per-term billing under the standard 4-term instalment schedule (Term 1, Terms 2–4):
- Foundation: Term 1 AUD 7,450; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 1: Term 1 AUD 7,215; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 2: Term 1 AUD 7,215; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 3: Term 1 AUD 7,660; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 4: Term 1 AUD 7,660; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 5: Term 1 AUD 8,935; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.
- Year 6: Term 1 AUD 8,935; Term 2 AUD 4,760; Term 3 AUD 4,760; Term 4 AUD 4,760.

Consolidated charges and what they cover
- Consolidated charges are raised with the Term 1 invoice and cover textbooks, subscriptions, materials, incursions, excursions, camps, inter-school sports, swimming, the digital-age levy, language certificate examination (Year 6), and insurance. Consolidated charges are shown as a separate line in the annual fee breakdown above.

Payment schedule and payment terms
- Payment options available:
- Payment in advance (single payment) with an early-payment discount when paid in full by the specified date. (Early-payment discount does not apply to consolidated charges or other levies.)
- Four term instalments (default if no alternative selected). Term invoice due dates are: Term 1 payable by the specified Term 1 date; Term 2 payable by the specified Term 2 date; Term 3 payable by the specified Term 3 date; Term 4 payable by the specified Term 4 date. Specific term due dates are included in the school's term invoice schedule.
- Ten monthly instalments via direct debit (December to September) are available; direct-debit forms must be completed in advance. Failure to maintain agreed instalments may incur a AUD 50 administration fee and the school may rescind the instalment arrangement, making outstanding fees immediately due and payable.
- Overdue accounts may result in suspension of tuition, cancellation of enrolment and/or recovery actions; a late fee of AUD 50 may be charged on overdue accounts. Absence does not entitle to a reduction in tuition for that billing period. If extended leave is requested, a place-reservation administrative fee of AUD 500 may be charged.

Fee payment methods and surcharges
- Electronic funds transfer (bank transfer) to the school's account (Bendigo Bank) using the student invoice number and student name as reference. SWIFT code is provided for international transfers. PayID (ABN) is available.
- Credit card payments accepted; surcharges apply: 1.65% for debit cards and 2.1% for Visa/Mastercard/AMEX credit cards (bank-set and subject to change). Direct debit is used for monthly instalments.

Other costs and additional fees
- Additional fees may apply for Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation care programs, extra-curricular programs, instrumental lessons and any non-core school programs.
- Short-term enrolments (one to three terms) may attract an additional charge of AUD 1,500 per child per term; consolidated charges for short-term enrolments are charged on a pro rata basis.
- Uniform costs, if applicable, and individual instrument or activity costs are additional and charged separately under other school fees or program charges.

Sibling discounts
- Second child from the same family while both attend in the same year: 13% discount on tuition fees.
- Any subsequent children from the same family: 23% discount on tuition fees. (Sibling discounts do not apply to consolidated charges or other levies.)

Refunds and notice requirements
- The Application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Partial refunds of the Capital Contribution are applied if a family leaves within two years: AUD 1,500 after the first year (or part thereof) and AUD 500 after the second year (or part thereof).
- One term's written notice is generally required to withdraw a student; failure to provide the required notice may affect fee liabilities. Absence for any part of a billing period does not reduce fees for that period. Overdue or unpaid fees may lead to suspension or cancellation of enrolment.

Boarding
- Deutsche Schule Melbourne operates as a Foundation–Year 6 primary school; boarding facilities are not applicable.
Academics

Deutsche Schule Melbourne teaches Australian Curriculum, German Curriculum, IB (DP).

Curriculum
Deutsche Schule Melbourne is a German-English bilingual school. The curriculum combines the Victorian Curriculum with the Thüringen curriculum to create an integrated program that transitions smoothly between the two systems. In Foundation Year, approximately 80% of instruction is in German and 20% in English; in the later years the German component moves toward about 50% in each language. The primary curriculum includes German, English, Mathematics, Sachunterricht (science, humanities and social studies), Health and Physical Education (HPE), Art, Music, Ethics and Class Council, with French introduced from Year 5; Mathematics is taught in German in the early years and in both languages from Year 3. The program is VRQA-compliant and KMK/ZfA-recognized as a German Auslandsschule, and emphasises cross-curricular connections and bilingual, intercultural learning.

Student Teacher Ratio
Class sizes are kept small.

Exam Results
Year 5 VERA results are consistently above average; NAPLAN data is reviewed annually but not used in isolation, as DSM emphasises bilingual literacy across languages.

Higher Education Progression
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is planned for Years 11 and 12. The IB is globally recognised and accepted by universities worldwide. In Australia, IB scores are converted to ATAR for university entry, with typical conversions around 24/45 to ATAR ~68. In Germany, the IB Diploma is recognised as a general university entrance qualification, and the IB is accepted by more than 1,200 universities in over 100 countries.

Gifted and Talented
Bunte Stunde is a cross-class support and extension program to address individual talents, interests and abilities. It creates differentiated small learning groups for remediation, consolidation or extension, with cohorts across Prep to Year Six and two teachers per class.
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. When to apply: Places at Deutsche Schule Melbourne are limited, so applying early gives your child the best chance of securing a place. Applications are accepted year-round and start dates are flexible depending on availability. Submitting the application well in advance helps families plan around the school calendar.
2. Enrolment requirements: Deutsche Schule Melbourne welcomes families from all cultural and language backgrounds and provides a supportive, inclusive learning environment. No prior German language skills are required for entry into Foundation Year, Year 1 and Year 2. For Foundation Year, the child must have completed a recognised four-year-old Kindergarten program, be five years old by 1 January in the year they begin Foundation Year, and children who turn five between 1 January and 30 April may be considered subject to a School Readiness Assessment. For entry into Year 2 and above, the enrolment meeting will review the child's linguistic background and readiness for the bilingual program, covering their experience with German and English, openness to bilingual learning, and how the school can support a smooth transition. The meeting also reviews recent school reports and discusses the option of a trial day, and may arrange a more formal language assessment if needed.
3. Start your child's journey: How to apply:
• Submit an Application: Complete the Application for Enrolment and provide supporting documents such as birth certificate, passport, visa (if applicable), immunisation record, and any relevant reports.
• Attend an Enrolment Meeting: Foundation Year applicants are invited to meet the Principal around 14 months before the intended start date; for mid-year starts or later year levels, enrolment meetings are scheduled on demand.
• Receive an Offer: If a place is available, a written Offer of Place is issued. To confirm enrolment, return the signed Enrolment Acceptance Form and pay the required amounts by the stated deadline: A$1,400 enrolment fee (non-refundable) and A$3,000 capital contribution (applied over the first three school years).
• Confirmation of Place: Once the signed Enrolment Acceptance Form and payment are received, the place is confirmed. The place is typically secured around one year before the child begins, enabling planning with confidence.
4. Transitioning to School: The school aims for a positive, smooth start for every child. Foundation Year offers two transition lessons in November before the school year begins, during which the child visits a Foundation Year classroom, meets future teachers and classmates, and is paired with a Buddy for day-one support. The first six Wednesdays of Term 1 are free for Foundation Year students to ease the transition. For students starting in later year levels or during the school year, an individual welcome and ideally a trial day are provided; if a trial day isn't possible, the school works with families to support a smooth transition into the school community.

Scholarships
The Deutsche Schule Melbourne Scholarship Fund invites donations to support families facing temporary financial hardship so they can continue their child's education at DSM or enable a new family to join the DSM community. Donations can be made via an electronic payment form or by filling in a Donation Form and submitting it to DSM.
School Events
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