Greater Victoria and the nearby Cowichan Valley have several well-established independent schools, some offering boarding from Grade 7, 8 or 9. This page explains how these schools differ from public school districts, how admissions usually work, and what the 2026–27 international fees look like at the schools we write about most often. We can help you compare schools and prepare applications.
Admission decisions are made by each school. Working with us, or with any agent, does not guarantee admission, a boarding place, or a study permit. Fees below are taken from each school’s official fee page where we could check it; always confirm the current figures with the school before you apply or pay.
Independent schools vs. public school districts
In British Columbia, public schools are run by school districts (in Greater Victoria: SD61 Greater Victoria, SD62 Sooke and SD63 Saanich). International students pay tuition to the district, usually live with an approved homestay family or with a parent, and are placed in a school by the district, often based on where the family lives. See Public Schools in Greater Victoria.
Independent (private) schools are separate organizations with their own admissions, curriculum choices and fees. Compared with a public district, you can generally expect:
- Selective admission. Each school reviews report cards, references, an assessment or test, and an interview. Places can be limited, especially in popular entry grades.
- Higher fees. International tuition at the schools below ranges from about $40,000 (day) to over $100,000 (boarding) per year in Canadian dollars.
- Additional programs. Some schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, some follow the International Baccalaureate (IB), and many have structured sports, arts and outdoor programs.
- Boarding. Several schools offer on-campus residences with supervision, meals and weekend activities, so a student can study without an accompanying parent and without a homestay.
A private school is not automatically a better fit than a public school. The student’s personality, English level, goals after Grade 12 and the family’s budget usually matter more. Our Korean-language article compares the two in more detail: Private vs. public schools Korean-language resource
Day students vs. boarding students
Day students attend classes and activities and go home each evening, so they need to live with a parent, a relative or a homestay. Some schools limit day places for international students: for example, Brentwood College School states that day applicants must be Canadian citizens living permanently in the area.
Boarding students live in a school residence. Boarding fees normally include tuition, accommodation and meals, so you do not add day tuition on top. Extra costs such as uniforms, English language support, insurance, registration fees and optional trips are usually charged separately.
Which grades can board?
| School | Boarding grades (as published) | Day grades |
|---|---|---|
| St. Michaels University School (SMUS) | Grades 9–12 | JK–12 |
| St. Margaret’s School (girls) | Grades 7–12 | JK–12 |
| Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) | Family Boarding Grades 9–12; Gryphon Boarding Grades 8–12 | Pre-K–12 |
| Shawnigan Lake School | New boarders Grades 8–11 (Grade 12: contact the school first) | New day students Grades 8–10 |
| Brentwood College School | Grades 8–12 school | Day places mainly at Grade 8, for local Canadian citizens |
How admissions usually work
Each school has its own process, but most follow similar steps:
- Research and visit. Compare schools, attend a virtual or in-person tour, and contact the admissions office. Some schools ask international families to get in touch before starting an application.
- Online application and fee. Applications are made through the school’s portal. Application fees at the schools below range from $250 to $300. Some schools, including SMUS, also accept the Standard Application Online (SAO), a common application used by many independent schools.
- Documents. Usually report cards for the previous and current year, one or more teacher references (Brentwood also asks for a personal reference), and copies of the passport and birth certificate. Translations may be needed for documents not in English.
- Assessment or test. This varies. Brentwood uses a short aptitude test and accepts SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) results instead. St. Margaret’s uses an assessment conducted by one of its teachers. Some schools assess English separately or ask for an English test result; ask each school which tests it accepts and whether a score is required.
- Interview. Usually with the student, and often with parents, on campus or by video call.
- Decision and registration. If an offer is made, the family pays a non-refundable registration fee and/or tuition deposit by the school’s deadline to hold the place.
- Study permit, custodianship and travel. A student under the age of majority who studies in Canada without a parent normally needs a custodian, and the study permit application usually includes a custodianship declaration. Boarding schools often have their own guidance on this. Then come the study permit, travel, insurance and arrival planning.
Typical timelines
- Start early. For September entry, many families start researching 12–18 months ahead and apply in the autumn or winter of the year before.
- Rolling vs. fixed deadlines. Shawnigan Lake School accepts boarding applications on a rolling basis, with most offers sent between October and May; its day applications close November 1 of the year before entry. St. Margaret’s accepts applications throughout the year. Brentwood notes high demand from international families for 2026–27 and asks them to contact admissions before applying.
- Payment deadlines. Deposits and tuition can be due months before school starts. For example, Brentwood’s international boarding fees are due in full by May 15.
- Study permit time. Leave enough time after acceptance for the study permit application and any medical exam or biometrics.
2026–27 international fee comparison
Annual fees in Canadian dollars for international students. Boarding fees include tuition. One-time new-student fees are listed separately because they are charged on top.
| School | Year | International boarding | International day | Included (as stated by school) | Extra / one-time (new students) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMUS (Victoria) | 2026–27 | $101,290 (Grades 9–12) | $59,140 (K–12) | Instruction and textbooks (10 months); team/club transport; boarding adds on-campus accommodation, meals and 24-hour nursing care | English Language Learning supplement $11,000 (Gr 9–10) or $5,000 (Gr 11–12); application $300; boarding registration $3,750; international boarding deposit $10,500 (deducted from tuition). School suggests budgeting $500–$1,000/month for uniforms, trips and activities (boarding). |
| St. Margaret’s School (Victoria, girls) | 2026–27 | $88,059 (Grades 7–12) | $40,021 (K–4), $41,237 (5–8), $45,214 (9–12) | Tuition, textbooks, team/club transport; boarding adds meals, laundry, lodging, internet, supervision, Health Centre | Application $250; registration $5,500 (boarding) or $2,500 (day). Not included: uniform, medical costs, personal expenses, optional trips. |
| Glenlyon Norfolk School (Victoria) | 2026–27 | Family Boarding $66,300 (Gr 9–12); Gryphon Boarding $90,200 (Gr 8–12) | $45,705 (Junior), $46,850 (Middle), $48,400 (Senior) | Boarding fee includes tuition and boarding | Boarding orientation (HeadStart), insurance, registration and other charges – confirm on the school’s invoice. Figures as published on the official GNS fee page, checked September 8, 2026; we could not re-open the page on October 7, 2026. |
| Brentwood College School (Mill Bay) | 2027–28 (school’s current table) | $105,000 | Day places for local Canadian citizens only ($40,700) | Not itemized on the fee page | New-student deposit $25,000 ($11,000 non-refundable); registration $5,000; incidentals deposit $2,500; application $300. The school’s page shows only its 2027–28 table; ask the school for 2026–27 entry. |
| Shawnigan Lake School (Shawnigan Lake) | 2026–27 | Not verified – see the school’s Tuition & Payments page | – | Application fee $260 (admissions FAQ) | |
Not shown in the table: flights, medical insurance (where not included), uniforms, personal spending, optional trips, tutoring, and custodian or local support services. For a full budget, see Costs and the study cost calculator.
School profiles
St. Michaels University School (SMUS)
A co-educational JK–12 day and boarding school in Victoria. Boarding is for Grades 9–12, with a separate boarding track that includes English Language Learning support (charged as a supplement). The senior school offers a wide range of AP courses. Applications go through the SMUS Admissions Portal or the Standard Application Online. 2026–27 international boarding: $101,290; international day: $59,140.
SMUS school profile Korean-language resource
St. Margaret’s School (SMS)
An independent girls’ school in Victoria, founded in 1908, with day students from JK to Grade 12 and boarding for Grades 7–12 on a 22-acre campus. The school accepts applications throughout the year; international families are interviewed and assessed by video call. 2026–27 international boarding: $88,059.
Hello Victoria Canada is an agent for St. Margaret’s School. Students who apply to St. Margaret’s through us can receive basic document custodian support at no charge; this covers paperwork for admission and study preparation. Day-to-day local support (for example, hospital visits, school meetings or weekend help) is a separate service, and terms are confirmed case by case.
St. Margaret’s School profile Korean-language resource
Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS)
A co-educational Pre-K–12 IB World School in Victoria with two campuses: Beach Drive (junior grades) and Pemberton Woods (Grades 6–12). GNS offers two boarding options: Family Boarding (a homestay-style arrangement, Grades 9–12) and Gryphon Boarding (a school residence, Grades 8–12), with different costs. Ask the school about English language support when you apply.
GNS school profile Korean-language resource
Shawnigan Lake School
A co-educational boarding and day school in Shawnigan Lake, in the Cowichan Valley north of Victoria, for students aged about 12–18 (Grades 8–12). New boarding students are admitted to Grades 8–11 on a rolling basis; Grade 12 applicants should contact admissions first. Day applications are for Grades 8–10 and close November 1 of the year before entry. The application fee is $260.
Shawnigan Lake School is a different school from St. John’s Academy Shawnigan Lake, a smaller IB school in the same community that also takes international boarding students (Grades 6–12). Check which school you are reading about, as the names are easy to confuse.
Visit to St. John’s Academy, Shawnigan Lake Korean-language resource
Brentwood College School
A co-educational university-preparation boarding school for Grades 8–12 in Mill Bay, on the waterfront north of Victoria, with an AP course program and students from over 50 countries. Admission includes references, school reports, a short aptitude test (SSAT results accepted instead) and a 20–30 minute interview on campus or by video call. The application fee is $300. Day places are mainly at Grade 8 and limited to local Canadian citizens, so international students apply as boarders.
Brentwood College School profile Korean-language resource
Catholic independent schools
Victoria also has Catholic independent schools, including St. Patrick’s Elementary School (Kindergarten–Grade 7) and St. Andrew’s Regional High School (Grades 8–12). They are day schools; current international student availability and fees should be confirmed directly with each school.
How we can help
We can help you compare schools and prepare applications: shortlisting schools that match the student’s age, English level and budget, explaining each school’s steps and deadlines, organizing documents, and preparing for interviews. We can also explain options for custodianship and local support, and settlement support for families arriving with a parent (a paid service). We do not decide admissions, and we cannot guarantee a place or a study permit.
Students may pay tuition directly to the school. Our Korean-language overview of private schools: Private schools in Victoria Korean-language resource
Frequently asked questions
Do boarding fees include tuition?
Yes, at the schools above the boarding fee includes tuition, accommodation and meals. Do not add day tuition on top. Registration fees, deposits, English language support, uniforms, insurance and optional trips are usually extra.
Does my child need the SSAT or an English test?
It depends on the school. Brentwood accepts SSAT results in place of its own aptitude test, while other schools use their own assessment and interview. Some schools assess English separately. Ask each school what it requires for the student’s grade and English level before booking any test.
When should we apply for September entry?
Start researching 12–18 months ahead and aim to apply in the autumn or winter before entry. Some schools fill popular grades early, and deposits can be due by spring. Rolling admission means places can still be available later, but there is no guarantee.