Admission into teacher education degrees

At the University of Newcastle, we are dedicated to promoting equity and excellence. All applicants who meet the Selection Rank will be admitted into the undergraduate teacher education program of their choice. Students in the undergraduate teacher education programs at the University of Newcastle are required to meet additional academic and non-academic admission requirements throughout the first year of the program to ensure progression into second year education courses.

Non-Academic Admission Requirements

1. Inherent Requirements

The inherent requirements that students must meet include the following. These are assessed throughout the four year program:

Demonstrates understanding that teaching as a profession requires:

  • Motivation to teach
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Willingness to learn 
  • Resilience 
  • Self-Efficacy
  • Conscientiousness 
  • Organisational and planning skills

2. Working With Children Check (WWCC)

All teacher education students must undergo a NSW Working with Children Check – Individual and have received a NSW Working with Children Clearance number from the NSW Government, Office of the Children's Guardian prior to undertaking any professional experience placement or observation placement. This is a compulsory course component embedded in EDUC1038 and EDUC1048.

3. University Wide Pre-study Requirements

All students at UON are required to complete two important online modules in their first term of study. These modules are the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) and the Consent Matters Module (CMM).

For more information please visit Pre-study requirements.

For more information on the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) please visit Academic Integrity Module at UON.

For more information on the Consent Matters Module (CMM) please visit Consent Matters at UON.


Academic Entry Requirements

Students must also meet the following academic admission requirements to access second year courses:

  1. Have achieved 3 x HSC band 5 results including English; and at least a Band 4 in Maths or
  2. Completed 80 Units of Discipline Study including MATH1900 (first year) or
  3. Entry via Equivalent Teacher Education Pathways listed below

NESA have communicated that from 2022, students planning to study a Bachelor of Education (Primary) or Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) will need a minimum HSC Band 4 in mathematics in addition to three Band 5’s. Students without the HSC Band 4 in Maths must pass MATH1900  in their first 80 units of study.

We encourage all Year 10 students who may be considering studying early childhood or primary teaching at university to include mathematics in their subject selection for the HSC to ensure they meet NESA requirements. We encourage any current Year 11 students interested in studying early childhood or primary teaching to keep studying Mathematics in Year 12. This requirement does not impact current Year 12 students.

We will provide further updates as soon as available. If you have any questions, please contact futurestudents@newcastle.edu.au.


Teacher Education pathways

Your pathway through an undergraduate degree in teacher education at UON will depend on your HSC Band 5 results. All students will study the same courses no matter which pathway they are admitted by.

Pathway 1: For students with three HSC Band 5s

Applicants who have met the University's entry requirements and have achieved three HSC Band 5s (with one of those in English) will be admitted directly into their chosen undergraduate teacher education program.

Pathway 2: For students who don't have HSC Band 5s

Applicants who have met the University's entry requirements but have not achieved three HSC Band 5s will be admitted directly into their chosen teacher education program.

If you successfully complete your first year (80 units) in the program including MATH1900, you are deemed to have met the HSC Band 5 requirements and/or the BAND 4 in mathematics. Once you have completed all the non-academic admission requirements you can then continue straight into the second year of the program.

If you're studying part-time, you can take a couple of years to get the full first year (80 units) completed and then continue onto the second-year courses. The maximum time allowed to complete the program is 10 years.

Yes. Applicants who have NOT achieved three HSC Band 5s with one of those in English, but who meet the Selection Rank (SR) will be admitted to the teacher education program of their choice. Students study the same first year as those who do meet the HSC Band 5 requirement.

*For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies, first year courses (including MATH1900) and completion of all the non-academic requirements.

If you did not achieve three HSC Band 5s with one in English in the Higher School Certificate, but your TAFE qualification is assessed as meeting the Selection Rank for the program, you will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of your choice.

Students study the same first year as those who do meet the Band 5 requirement. Your TAFE qualification may provide you with credit into the teacher education program. You will be informed if this credit contributes to the 80 units of Discipline Studies, first year courses.

* For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies , first year courses (including MATH1900) and completion of all the non-academic requirements.

No. All entrants to undergraduate teacher education programs will have the same courses available to them. The only difference is that entrants without three HSC Band 5s need to successfully complete the first 80 units of first year study (including MATH1900) and complete all the non-academic requirements before progressing to the second year Education courses.

If you did not achieve three HSC Band 5s with one in English in the Higher School Certificate, but you have completed an Enabling program, you will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of your choice.

Meeting the HSC Band 5 requirements will depend upon your specific Enabling program qualification.

Newstep* (80 unit program)

The following will meet the HSC Band 5 requirement:

Successful completion of 80 units of study in Newstep; with the completion of the following courses with a credit grade (or higher):

  • English - EPHUMA123 Academic Literacies 2 (Core); AND
  • ANY 2 other approved Newstep courses with a credit grade or higher.

*This will apply from 2019 onwards for UG teacher education admission, i.e. for completion of Newstep in 2018 onwards.

Foundation Studies students who have not met the HSC Band 5 requirements as above, but have completed the Enabling program will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of choice.**


**For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies, first year courses.

Open Foundation* (Part time, Online and Intensive) (40 unit program)

The following will meet the HSC Band 5 requirement:

  • Successful completion of 40 units of study in Open foundation study in any discipline area with a credit grade (or higher) in each course; and
  • Successful completion of 40 units of undergraduate study within the relevant undergraduate teacher education program.

*This will apply from 2017 onwards for undergraduate teacher education admission, i.e. for completion of Open Foundation in 2016 onwards.

Foundation Studies students who have not met the HSC Band 5 requirements as above, but have completed the Enabling program will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of choice.**


**For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies, first year courses.

Yapug (80 unit program)

The following will meet the HSC Band 5 requirement:

Successful completion of 80 units of study in Yapug; with the completion of the following courses with a credit grade (or higher):

  • English - Both EPHUMA112/EPABOR112 Aboriginal Tertiary Foundation Studies 1 and EPHUMA124/EPABOR124 Aboriginal Tertiary Foundation Studies 2; AND
  • ANY 2 other approved Yapug courses with a credit grade or higher.

*This will apply from 2019 onwards for undergraduate teacher education admission, i.e. for completion of Yapug in 2018 onwards.

Foundation Studies students who have not met the HSC Band 5 requirements as above, but have completed the Enabling program will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of choice.**


**For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies, first year courses.

If you did not achieve three HSC Band 5s with one in English in the Higher School Certificate, but your overseas qualification is assessed as meeting the Selection Rank cut-off for the program, you will be admitted to the undergraduate teacher education program of your choice. Students study the same first year as those who do meet the Band 5 requirement.

* For applicants in this category, progression to second-year Education courses is contingent upon passing 80-units of Discipline Studies, first year courses (including MATH1900) and completion of all the non-academic requirements.

No. If you have successfully completed one year undergraduate or postgraduate full time study (or equivalent part time study) at University, you are deemed to have met the HSC Band 5 requirement. If your University studies are assessed as meeting the Selection Rank cut-off for the program, you will be admitted directly into the undergraduate teacher education program of your choice.

No. If you have successfully completed one year undergraduate or postgraduate full time study (or equivalent part time study) at University, you are deemed to have met the HSC Band 5 requirement. If your University studies are assessed as meeting the Selection Rank cut-off for the program, you will be admitted directly into the undergraduate teacher education program of your choice.

Learn more about the NSW requirements for an undergraduate teacher education degree. For more details, you may also contact your Student Progress Advisor.

If you are applying to start a Bachelor of Education (Primary) or Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) in 2021, you do not need maths as a subject. NESA have communicated that from 2022, students planning to study a Bachelor of Education Primary or Bachelor of Education Early Childhood will need a minimum HSC Band 4 in mathematics. Students without the HSC Band 4 in Maths must pass MATH1900 in their first 80 units of study . If you are able to include mathematics in your subject selection for the HSC, we encourage you to do so. We will provide further updates as soon as available. If you have any questions, please contact futurestudents@newcastle.edu.au


Further information

GREAT TEACHING, INSPIRED LEARNING

From 2016, the NSW Government's Great Teaching, Inspired Learning blueprint for action set new requirements to ensure new teachers are thoroughly prepared for the classroom. This includes actions to ensure students entering teaching degrees are strong academic achievers.

Entrants to NSW undergraduate programs now require HSC Band 5 results in a minimum of three subjects, one of which must be English. Learn more about the NSW requirements for an undergraduate teaching degree.

For more details, you may also contact your Student Progress Advisor.