Cultural (Visual Art) Selective Entry
Year 6 process for Year 7 2027
Applications open: Friday, 1 May 2026.
Applications close: Monday, 15 June 2026.
Applications received after the closing date will NOT be considered.
Current Year 6 students applying for Year 7 enrolment under the Cultural (Visual Art) Selective Entry category are required to:
- complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form
- complete the Cultural (Visual Art) Application Checklist and Student Summary
- submit school reports for previous three semesters
- submit Year 5 Naplan report
- submit a folio of 10 (maximum) original works.
Please refer to the Year 7 2027 Enrolment Timelines for application due dates.
Art Folio
Students applying for enrolment under the Cultural (Visual Art) Selective Entry category must submit a folio of 10 (maximum) original works that best demonstrate their artistic ability. The work should be no larger than A3 size. Larger works, 3D or sculptural works should be photographed if included in the folio. USB's of time-based/digital media work may also be included. Artworks should be contained in a folio/folder no bigger than A3 size. Loose items cannot be accepted. A physical copy of the folio is required to be submitted in person to H Block Reception by the closing date.
Folios will be assessed on a student’s:
- analytical and interpretative drawing skills (ability to draw from life and to express and interpret through the drawing medium)
- experimentation with concepts, subject matter or materials (willingness to go beyond the standard convention of the medium and strive for innovation and originality)
- ability to interpret, express and communicate ideas (clarity and intent of ideas and aesthetic achievement).
Students in Year 6 applying for Cultural (Visual Art) Selective Entry into Year 7 may also be required to attend a workshop to demonstrate their skills.
A non-refundable and non-transferable processing fee of $420.00 applies for all Cultural (Visual Art) Selective Entry Applications.
Payment
The Processing Fee is required to be paid via an app called Qkr!
Download Qkr! for free from Apple's app store for iPhones (iPads to download iPhone version) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
Refer to the Qkr! Guide
Enter your child's current year level (for e.g. Year 6 2026) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
Submit evidence of payment with the online application form.
Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry
Year 6 process for Year 7 2027
Applications open: Friday, 1 May 2026.
Applications close: Monday, 15 June 2026.
Applications received after the closing date will NOT be considered.
Current Year 6 students applying for Year 7 enrolment under the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry category are required to:
- complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form
- complete the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary (including the Music Audition Registration Form)
- submit school reports for previous three semesters
- submit Year 5 Naplan report
- attend a music audition.
The Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary form provides further information on the music audition process.
It is important to note that the need for numbers of students and instruments required varies each year.
A non-refundable and non-transferable processing fee of $420.00 applies for all Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry Applications.
Please refer to the Year 7 2027 Enrolment Timelines for application due dates.
Year 7 minimum requirements
Students applying for entry into Year 7 must have achieved a minimum standard equivalent to:
- AMEB Grade 6 for violin
- AMEB Grade 5 for flute
- AMEB Grade 4 for most other instruments
- Percussion applications are for orchestral percussion. Applications on drum kit alone will not be considered.
- Piano, guitar, harp and voice are not eligible instruments.
Students who do not meet the minimum standard may not be eligible to audtiion.
Payment
The Processing Fee is required to be paid via an app called Qkr!
Download Qkr! for free from Apple's app store for iPhones (iPads to download iPhone version) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
Refer to the Qkr! Guide.
Enter your child's current year level (for e.g. Year 10 2024) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
Submit evidence of payment with the online application form.
Year 8-11 Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry Process
Applications for Years 8-11 2027 are not yet open. Years 8-11 2-2027 Timelines coming soon.
Entry to the school through the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry category for Years 8 - 11 is very limited and always heavily oversubscribed. All places for Selective Entry in Years 8 to 11 are offered based on availablity and the enrolment capacity of the school.
Fee and Application Status
- From 2025, a one-off, non-refundable fee of $420 is required to be paid once, regardless of whether you are applying under multiple categories (Academic, Sporting, Cultural - Instrumental Music).
- The fee must be paid when lodging the initial application for consideration.
- Once submitted, an application will remain active each year until the student reaches Year 11 (the School does not consider Selective Entry applications for Year 12 entry). The application only remains active if the below conditions are met.
- Families who are interested in enrolment in subsequent years must update the student's application annually with their most recent reports and achievements to ensure the application remains current. Updated documents should only be submitted within the application opening period each year (as per the Year 8-11 Enrolment Timelines each year).
- Failure to provide updated information will result in the application not being considered for future years.
Achievement Level for Years 8-11
- Cultural (Instrumental Music) Selective Entry applications for entry in Years 8 to 11 must be of an exceptional standard. Please see below for an indication of the minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for each year level.
- Cultural (Instrumental Music) applications will involve an audition plus academic requirements.
- Applicants should demonsrate outstanding technical and musical abilities and a commitment to future improvement on their instrument. Students should also demonstrate a commitment to ensemble performance and be prepared to prioritise school instrumental music ensembles as their primary school-based extra-curricular activity.
- If successful, students must participate in the school's instrumental music program for the duration of their enrolment.
- Priority will be given to musicians playing an instrument where there is an identified need within the BSHS Instrumental Music Program.
Year 8 minimum requirements:
- Double bass, oboe, bassoon, french horn, tuba - AMEB Grade 5
- Viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium - AMEB Grade 7
- Flute, violin, percussion - AMEB Grade 8
Year 9 minimum requirements:
- Double bass, oboe, bassoon, french horn, tuba - AMEB Grade 6
- Viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium - AMEB Grade 8
- Flute, violin, percussion - AMEB Grade 8
Year 10 and 11 minimum requirements:
- Double bass, oboe, bassoon, french horn, tuba - AMEB Grade 7
- Viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium - AMEB Grade 8
- Flute, violin, percussion - AMEB Grade 8
Application Process:
- Complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form. External link
- Complete the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary
- Submit school reports for previous three semesters.
- Submit most recent NAPLAN report.
- Submit evidence of AMEB level and music achievements as per the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary
- pay the $420 non-refundable and non-transferable processing fee and attach evidence of payment to application (please see below for details on how to make payment via Qkr!)
Enrolment application due dates are listed in the Years 8 – 11 2027 Enrolment Timelines.
Selective Entry Equity Bursary (Cultural)
The school acknowledges that the enrolment application processing fee of $420.00 may pose a challenge for some families facing genuine hardship. In response to this concern, the School Council has approved the establishment of Selective Entry Equity Bursaries to support families experiencing financial difficulties.
These bursaries aim to ensure that the application fee does not serve as a barrier for students seeking a place at Brisbane State High School under the Selective Entry category. By offering financial assistance through these bursaries, the school demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Families facing sustained hardship can now apply for the Selective Entry Equity Bursary, which can potentially cover or alleviate the cost of the enrolment application processing fee. This initiative reflects the school's dedication to making education accessible and removing financial barriers for those in need.
We invite families for whom this fee presents an insurmountable barrier to application, to submit interest in this bursary by the closing dates listed below:
Year 7, 2027
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Years 8-11, 2027
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To prepare the bursary application for submission, please download the Selective Entry Equity Bursary Application Form.
Contact enrolmentenquiry@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au for Selective Entry Equity Bursary enquiries.
Submitting your application
1. Before you applyBefore you start the application, please ensure that you have reviewed the following information:
Enrolment Management Plan for the conditions under which students may be enrolled in this category.
Enrolment Timelines for the relevant year of entry: Year 7 2027 Enrolment Timelines.
Download the Qkr! app for payment of Selective Entry application fees – refer to the Qkr! Guide. Please add your child's current school year level (i.e., Year 6 2024) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
2. Completing an application- Complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form and upload all necessary documents, including the Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
The processing fee is required to be paid via an app called Qkr!
Download Qkr! for free from the Apple app store for iPhones (iPads to download iPhone version) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
Refer to the Qkr! Guide
Enter your child's current year level (for e.g. Year 8 2025) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
Submit evidence of payment with the online application form.
4. Submitting your application
Upload the completed Cultural (Instrumental Music) Application Checklist and Student Summary via the Selective Entry Online Application Form in the section titled Documents 4. Additional Supporting Documentation.
For further information regarding Cultural Selective Entry enrolment, please contact the Enrolments Office.
Contact our Enrolment Office:
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