How do I apply for a selective school in Victoria?
Independent. Not affiliated with the Victorian Department of Education or ACER.
When do applications open for Year 9 entry in 2028?
Melbourne High School says they open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published. Close date and exam day: Not published3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published.
Last round, late applications were not accepted3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, so plan around the close date once it appears.
What happened in the last round?
These were the dates for Year 9 entry in 2027. The 2028 round may not copy them.
2 March 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published
Applications opened
Online, through ACER's application portal.
24 April 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published
Applications closed
Also the last day to ask for special arrangements or a remote sitting. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
3 June 20263ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Exam arrangements sent to families
The venue email and the admission ticket follow.
20 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published
The exam
At venues across Melbourne.
26 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published
Last day to change preferences
After this, the application can't be edited.
The calendar feed adds ACER's dates once they are published, with a reminder a week and a day before each one.
Who can apply?
Your child can apply in Year 8, once only, from any kind of school. The rules are the same living in Victoria, interstate or overseas4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Your child is in Year 8 and has not sat the exam before. 4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Your child goes to a government or non-government school, or is a registered home-schooled child. 4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Your child is an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen living here, or holds a visa that exempts them from international student fees. 4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Your child is a fee-paying international student. They can't apply. 4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
If offered a place, you will need original documents, such as a citizenship certificate, visa or birth certificate4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published to enrol.
Because a child can sit the exam only once, check the year before you apply. See which round your child is in.
What do we need before we start?
Set aside about 10 to 15 minutes1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, and have a few things ready. You need your child's Victorian Student Number (if they have one), a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card if you're applying for equity consideration, and a debit or credit card if you're paying the fee1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Your own email address and mobile number. The parent who applies is responsible for keeping the details up to date and watching your email for news about the application, exam and offers1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Your child's Victorian Student Number, if they have one. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Your concession card details, if you are applying for equity consideration. Eligibility is checked when you apply1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Your school preferences, in order, up to 31ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Evidence for any special arrangements, scanned or photographed. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
How do we apply, step by step?
ACER sets out 61ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published steps in its application portal.
Create an account
Use your own details. You are the one ACER contacts about the exam and offers.
Enter your details and your child's
Include the Victorian Student Number if your child has one. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Select at least one preference
You can list up to 31ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published schools.
Complete equity consideration, if it applies
It covers families with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Confirm eligibility
You agree to the exam rules here too. Misconduct means no offer to any selective entry high school5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Pay, or claim the waiver
The fee was A$1751ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published for 2027 entry.
The official step is ACER's Victorian selective entry application page. You then get a unique SEHS Candidate Number in your first confirmation email1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Keeping the application right is your job, so check your email at each stage. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
How much does it cost?
The application fee was A$1751ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published last round, and applying is free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Other families who can't afford it can ask for a hardship reduction.
| Item | Amount (2027 entry) | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | A$1751ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published | Every application, unless waived 4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Waived | free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Checked when you apply 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Kept if you withdraw before the close | A$521ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published | No refund after the close date 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Remote sitting fee | A$2151ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published | On top of the application fee, plus the supervisor's costs 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
The 2028 round's fee isn't published yet. Check ACER's payment section when applications open.
How should we order our school preferences?
List schools in the order you truly want them, and only ones you would accept. ACER says to list only schools you would accept and want your child to attend1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
If your child qualifies for several schools, they get only the highest preference your child qualifies for1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Offers are not transferable to another school1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
| School | What kind of school | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne High School | a boys' school in South Yarra4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Forrest Hill, South Yarra VIC 31412Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School | the girls' school among the four6Mac.Rob · 12 October 2026 · Published | 350–370 Kings Way, Melbourne VIC 30046Mac.Rob · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Nossal High School | a co-educational school in Berwick4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 40 Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard, Berwick VIC 38067Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Suzanne Cory High School | a co-educational school in Werribee4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 225 Hoppers Lane, Werribee VIC 30308Suzanne Cory · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Think about the daily trip before you list a school. You can change preferences until a set day after the exam: last round, 26 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
What if my child needs special arrangements or must sit elsewhere?
Ask in the portal when you apply. Last round, requests closed 24 April 20261ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, the same day as applications.
Access needs
ACER arranges access arrangements such as wheelchair access or materials for vision impairment, and other settings for a medical condition or disability1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Religious or cultural reasons
Allowed for religious or cultural reasons, with a statement from a referee4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Living interstate or overseas
Away for a set reason
Also an overseas exchange, representing Australia, or a parent's work interstate or overseas4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Requests for family holidays or special occasions4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published are not accepted.
Which family cases come up most?
Year 7 now, thinking ahead
Your child is in Year 7 in 2026 and you want to apply for Year 9 entry in 2028.
Applications open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published, while your child is in Year 8. Subscribe to the feed so the exact dates reach you.
Moving to Melbourne from Sydney
Your child is in Year 8 at a NSW school, and you move to Victoria later in the year.
The rules are the same living in Victoria, interstate or overseas4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Your child can ask to sit remotely if living and studying interstate or overseas, with evidence4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, at an extra A$2151ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A concession card
You hold a Health Care Card and want to apply.
Applying is free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families4Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Your child can also be considered for equity places, which are not subject to the cap4Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Sick on the exam day
Your child wakes up unwell on the morning of the exam.
Keep your child home. You can apply to sit on a set alternative date9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, with the form and evidence in the portal.
What happens after we apply?
ACER sends your candidate number at once, then exam details close to the day. These times come from the last round.
Confirmation email
It carries a unique SEHS Candidate Number in your first confirmation email1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Use it to log in.
If your child is sick on the day, you can apply to sit on a set alternative date9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Last round, requests closed 23 June 20269ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
What can't be known yet?
The close date and exam day for the 2028 round, and the 2028 fee. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published No one can tell you which school your child will be offered, because offers depend on the whole year's results.
Applying is a big step for a Year 8 child. Tell them the exam is one morning, and that school goes on well whatever happens.
Questions parents ask about applying
Can we apply late?
Last round, late applications were not accepted3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Apply once the window opens.
Can we change our preferences after applying?
Yes, in the portal, up to a set day after the exam. Last round that was 26 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Do we need to list all three schools?
No. You can list one, two or three. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published List only schools your child would attend.
Who do we contact with a question?
ACER answers at sehs@acer.org or +61 3 9007 20874Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Quote your candidate number. We can't see or change any application.