Firbank scholarships

Firbank Grammar offers two scholarship rounds per year:

• February – open to external and Firbank students
• July*– open to external families
• Registration opens approximately 5 weeks prior to the exam
• Applications close one week prior to the exam
• Applications must be fully completed and paid for

The types of scholarships available each round is at the discretion of the Principal, and with select year levels offered.

Yes, students initially apply for a scholarship at their preferred campus and then can select the type(s) of scholarship(s) they wish to apply for. Additional information will be requested depending on what type of scholarship they apply for.

Academic Scholarship applicants must be academically outstanding and demonstrate a commitment to achieving excellence. Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application. Academic Scholarships are awarded based on the application and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination.

Applicants must be academically sound and able to demonstrate excellence and achievement in one or more of the following fields:

• Leadership
• Community Service
• The Arts (Music, Performance and/or Visual Arts)
• Sport (competing at a Representative, State or National level)
• Environmental Sustainability
• Contribution to the applicant’s current School Community, and potential for contributing to the Firbank Grammar School Community

Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application. Principal’s Scholarships are awarded based on the application and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination.

Sporting Scholarship applications should participate at State and/or National level competition in a Firbank Sport (these include athletics, badminton, basketball, cross country, diving, hockey, netball, rowing, snow sports, soccer, AFL, swimming, tennis and volleyball) and evidence of positive role modelling to other students and peers in one or more of the aforementioned sports. Sporting Scholarship applicants must have a sound academic record and demonstrate a commitment to achieve excellence in their chosen sport/s. Sporting Scholarship recipients are required to contribute to a range of School sporting activities and compete in their chosen sport/s for the School for the duration of the scholarship.

Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application. Sporting Scholarships are awarded based on the application and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination.

Music Scholarship applicants must be academically sound and should have attained at least Grade 4 AMEB level for their chosen instrument, although future potential is also considered. Music Scholarships are awarded based on the application, audition and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination. Music Scholarship Auditions last for approximately 20 minutes. Candidates will need to perform two contrasting pieces. We would suggest you include one accompanied work and one unaccompanied work. Applicants will also be tested on their ability to sight read and their aural ability – including such things as melodic recognition, intervals and rhythmic work. Candidates will need to provide their own accompanist if required.

Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application.

St Andrew’s Choral Scholarship applicants must be academically sound and have previous choral experience, although future potential is also considered.

St Andrews Scholarships are awarded based on the application, audition and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination. St Andrews Scholarship Auditions last for approximately 15 minutes. Scholarship holders will be required to be a Chorister in the Choir of St Andrew’s Brighton and must be able to commit to the rehearsal schedule provided by St Andrews. As a member of the Choir, the scholarship holder will be subject to the directions and requirements of the Director of Music of St Andrew’s Brighton. The scholarship holder will also be expected to attend Wednesday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning services during term time, as well as a rehearsal and evensong each second Sunday of the month. There are extra services at Easter and Christmas, and occasional extra rehearsals and services throughout the year. Students in Years 4–6 also have a Monday after-school rehearsal.

Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application.

Noelle Schollenberger (1947) attended Firbank and was a true believer in the transformative power of education. The Noelle Schollenberger Scholarship is awarded to a rural or regional student and can be used to cover a proportion of either boarding or tuition fee, for a student entering in Year 10, 11 or 12. Please note that this scholarship is means-tested scholarship and if a student is invited for interview, the family will be required to complete statement of financial position prior to interview.

The Noelle Schollenberger Scholarship will be next offered in 2027.

Applicants for scholarships must be academically outstanding and demonstrate a commitment to achieving excellence in leadership and/or extra-curricular activities.

The scholarship will be tenable until the student has completed Year 12, subject to satisfactory performance. It will be awarded on the basis of an interview, application and the results of the scholarship examination.

Since 1909, the Firbank Boarding House has been an integral part of our school. Boarding Scholarship applicants must be academically sound and demonstrate a commitment to achieving excellence in leadership and/or extra-curricular activities. Applicants will be required to provide copies of their most recent school report, NAPLAN results and copies of awards or certificates supporting their application. If English is the student’s second language, then we will require the results of an AEAS test. Boarding Scholarships are awarded based on the application and interview, and the results of the scholarship examination. Overseas, interstate, or regional students who are based more than three hours’ drive away, may be able to sit the scholarship exam remotely (select Remote and Overseas option when registering). Please note that remote applicants application deadline is usually one week earlier than students sitting the exam at Firbank.

No, Firbank scholarships recipients must commence as per their letter of offer.

The Firbank February exam scholarships are open to current Firbank students.

The first round of interviews will be conducted within 4-5 weeks of the scholarship exams, and it is expected that the scholarship process will be concluded within 9-10 weeks of the exam.

Yes. We welcome students to try again.

Students holding a scholarship for less than 50% may apply to increase the remission to a maximum of 50%, but can only do so in future scholarship rounds.

Scholarship exams are done on the weekend so we recommend that families attend one of our Open Mornings to experience the vibrance of Firbank Grammar in action.

To book for an Open Morning tour, please click here.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer alternate exam dates in most cases. Sporting Scholarship applicants who are competing at a state-level event, rowers competing in regattas, or Music Scholarship applicants with a significant performance clash should contact the school directly to discuss.

Subject to an ongoing high standard of achievement and demonstration of the School’s values, Firbank scholarships for girls are tenable until the student has completed Year 12.

Students who reside overseas or live more than three hours’ drive from Firbank Grammar can register to sit the Firbank Scholarship exam remotely by selecting the Remote and Overseas option when completing the scholarship application. Those sitting the exam remotely need to apply by 23 January.

Auditions last for approximately 20 minutes. Candidates will need to perform two or three contrasting pieces depending on length. If a candidate plays two or more instruments, then two pieces should be played using the major instrument with the third piece on the minor instrument. Some sight reading will also be given. Candidates will need to provide their own accompanist if required.