Scholarship FAQs

Not all scholarships are offered each year. The awarding of a scholarship is determined by the number of students currently at the College on that scholarship, and if a suitable candidate applies.

A scholarship at PAC is usually awarded to the end of the student’s schooling in Year 12. The Scholarship panel reserves the right to award a scholarship for a shorter term.

Scholarships are awarded in the year prior to the student commencing at PAC. For example, a student wishing to enter PAC in 2027 would go through the scholarship process starting in late 2025.

The College has several scholarships to offer each year. If, after the first round, there are scholarships that have not been awarded, the College may offer a second round of applications. A second round usually opens in June and closes mid-July with interviews in August. A second scholarship round may not be offered every year.

On the scholarship application form you can select from the options of General Excellence, Music/Performing Arts, Chess and Boarding as relevant to your child’s year of entry. All scholarships are awarded by the Scholarship Panel and they will select which of the named scholarship’s criteria may be relevant to your son. You do not need to specifically apply for any of the named scholarships.

Academic Scholarships offered via the ACER examination sat in Year 5 and Year 7 are offered to current and new students of the College. General Excellence, Boarding and Music/Performing Arts Scholarships are only awarded to new students to the College.

The College is always pleased to receive applications from sons of Old Scholars or who have family connections to the College. However, as the scholarships are awarded based on merit, all candidates will be selected for interviews based on their application.

Yes, each application is considered based on the individual student’s merit.

Late applications will not be accepted. The scholarships are usually advertised for several months prior to the closing date to allow families sufficient time to apply. If the deadline is missed, families are welcome to apply when the scholarship process commences the following year.

Yes, if they hold Australian residency.

We are proud to be a partner school for the Smith Family’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP). The IYLP helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living in remote areas of Australia attend high performing high schools via their Secondary Education Scholarship. Scholarship applications close usually at the end of May each year. Students are expected to apply directly with The Smith Family. Prior to applying, please check with PAC Admissions via admissions@pac.edu.au to check there is an enrolment place available in the entry year. For further information, visit the IYLP Scholarship website.

Many of the boys who apply for and are awarded scholarships each year come from remote or regional locations. The application has sections for you to add details of participation in family farm work, local community events – such as helping on a BBQ when the Dick Smith Variety Bash comes to town, Field and Local Fair Days, coaching younger sports teams, and so on. A focus on community service and contribution to family and community life is considered by the panel as an excellent attribute of a potential PAC student.

Yes, as the candidature who apply each year can vary, boys are welcome to apply for scholarships in subsequent years. The last year of entry we offer scholarships for is Year 11.

Students applying for a General Excellence Scholarship need to demonstrate a high level of achievement and involvement in activities both inside and outside the classroom. General Excellence Scholarships are awarded to boys who demonstrate outstanding academic results, excellent effort grades showing a commitment to learning, involvement in co-curricular activities, a desire to contribute to the College and a willingness to serve. General Excellence Scholarships are awarded for boys going in to Year 5, and Year 7 to 11.

No, PAC does not offer specific scholarships for sport. Boys who have higher sporting ability are welcome to apply for and be considered for a General Excellence Scholarship and will be considered based on meeting the General Excellence Scholarship criteria.

Yes, Music Scholarships are offered at PAC. Refer to the Music & Performing Arts FAQ below for more information.

Yes, Academic Scholarships are offered via the ACER examination for students in Year 5 and 7.  Boys who have higher academic ability are welcome to apply for and be considered for a General Excellence Scholarship and will be considered based on meeting the General Excellence Scholarship criteria.

Scholarships are only available for students currently in Year 4 and above who are applying for the next school year.

Boys in Year 4 can apply for a Year 5 Academic or General Excellence Scholarship in Round 1 each year. 

Boys in Year 6 can apply for Year 7 Academic, General Excellence, Music & Performing Arts, Boarding, Chess, and Subject Specific in Round 1. If there are scholarships remaining, he can apply for General Excellence or Boarding in Round 2 the year prior to commencing.

Boys in Year 7 to 10 can apply for Year 8 to 11 General Excellence, Boarding, and Subject Specific scholarships in Round 1. If there are scholarships remaining, he can apply for General Excellence or Boarding in Round 2.

Scholarships are advertised and open for entry each year from October for Round 1, closing in mid-January of the following calendar year, and June for Round 2, closing in mid-July also for the following year. Families need to complete an online application and include the required documentation such as their last two school reports, a copy of their most recent NAPLAN, relevant references, a birth certificate, and a photo of your child. Once submitted, the Scholarship Panel meets to review all Scholarship Applications. If your child is selected for an interview the College will contact you to arrange a time. All applicants will be contacted to inform them of the progress through the process.

If your son is selected to progress through to the next stage of the application process, he will be invited to attend a scholarship interview with two members of the College Executive. The interview, together with the application, will be considered when awarding the scholarships. All interviews are held in person at the College unless the family is currently residing overseas. 

Students selected for interview will be emailed and/or phoned to be invited to the College for an interview. An email indicating whether your son has been successful in his application or otherwise will be sent to you.

PAC offers Secondary School Year 7 Music Scholarships to outstanding young musicians who are expected to make a major and ongoing contribution to the College’s music program. Preference is given to players of instruments that can be included in the school’s large ensembles, orchestras, and bands. Additionally, there is one scholarship specifically endowed for a student who plays the cello or piano.

For entry into Year 7, an excellent result in AMEB Grade 4 or its equivalent is the minimum standard. For the following instruments we may require a higher standard: Violin - Grade 6, Cello - Grade 5, and Piano - Grade 6. The Scholarship Panel will be assessing musicality, not just technical ability, so we are happy to review applications from students of lower grade who display a passion and talent for music.

Yes, families are requested to upload a video as part of the application process that shows the student playing their chosen instrument/s or a vocal performance. These submissions will be reviewed by the Music Scholarship Panel who will then make selections for students to be auditioned in person. Not all applicants will be auditioned in person.

• Excellent academic records with a focus on effort grades.

• Participation and outstanding achievement in music.

• Participation in ensembles, performance experience and/or composition will be highly regarded .

• A passion and potential for contributing to Prince Alfred College and undertaking Music as an Elective to Year 12. 

The page is looking great. Can you add this into this financial paragraph after discussion with Michelle:Scholarships are offered either as part or full scholarships for Academic tuition fees and/or Boarding fees only. The majority of scholarships are awarded at 50%. A number of scholarships will be awarded for 25% and the examined Academic Scholarships can be awarded up to 100%. All Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the Scholarship Panel. Scholarships are not awarded for the costs of school uniforms, textbooks, other sundry expenses or the consolidated charges. Please see our fee schedule for details. All families are required to pay the $1250 Acceptance Fee to accept their scholarship.

In Year 7, there are up to three full Academic Scholarships offered at the discretion of the Scholarship Panel following the student sitting the ACER Examination. Additionally, there are a small number of other scholarships in Years 8 to 11 which may be awarded up to 100% based on the calibre of the candidate. The value of each scholarship awarded is determined by the Scholarship Panel.

We welcome applications from families who would not otherwise be able to send their son to PAC. The scholarship form has a confidential questionnaire that can be sent to families to complete to assess financial need. You will need to select that option on the application form.

No, not all scholarships are means tested. We do, however welcome applications from families who would not otherwise be able to attend PAC.

The ACER Examination is held annually and is usually sat on the first Saturday in February. The Examination is held in a number of locations including PAC.

No, the exam is held across multiple schools in Adelaide on the same day. All students sit the exam on the one day and another test day is not offered.

Yes, all students applying for a scholarship in Year 5 or 7 must sit the ACER Examination. Whilst their result is considered as part of the application, for students applying for Music/Performing Arts, Boarding, Chess or General Excellence, we are looking at your child’s application as a whole and do not expect these scholars to be in the top percentile of the ACER Examination.

This fee is paid directly to the external provider of the ACER Scholarships Office as they manage the examination process on behalf of the College.

You can find information about the ACER Examination on their website.

PAC does not provide a report on your child’s performance in the ACER Examination. However, parents will be provided a report direct from ACER in March, after the results are released. For all other scholarship applicants, an email indicating whether the application has been successful or otherwise will be sent to you. Students selected for interview will be emailed and/or phoned to be invited to the College for an interview.

The ACER Examination assesses acquired knowledge and intellectual ability. Allowing your child to rest well prior to the examination; providing encouragement will be helpful. We encourage you to not ‘drive’ them in the hope of gaining good results; nor overburden them with unrealistic responsibilities or expectations.

Students are asked to arrive no later than 8.15am for an 8.30am start for the exam. Students will sit the exam in two parts, broken by a 20 minute recess break. It is anticipated that the exam will conclude no later than 12.30pm.

Students should wear comfortable casual clothes and bring.

·         two blue or black pens for the Written Expression section of the test

·         two HB or B pencils for the multiple-choice tests

·         a good eraser, in case they need to change an answer

·     something to eat/drink during the break between tests (optional)

Students should NOT bring: rulers; books or papers; calculators; other mathematical instruments such as compasses or dividers; photographic or other data/image recording equipment; watches, mobile phones or other electronic devices.