Study Primary Teaching Studies

If you are searching for a challenging and rewarding career that will utilise your communication and leadership skills to shape the future of children, then the Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) is for you.

Using your existing degree as a foundation, the Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) offers you a highly regarded advanced teaching degree which will allow you take your new skills and apply them in your home country.

Our program incorporates Quality Teaching, the NSW model of pedagogy which was developed and refined by researchers at the University of Newcastle. The courses you will study will develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions you will need for a successful career in teaching. You will also undertake placements, with the final placement completed in your home country.

If you are from a country that requires an accredited teaching degree, then we encourage you to confirm this program fulfils the requirements before applying.

Why study with us?

  • State of the art technologies and experience based learning in our new suite of interactive learning environments – SimTeach, SimCave and SimSchool immerse students in both virtual reality and hands on experiences.
  • Quality Teaching Model – a framework highlighting three key concepts, or dimensions, of teaching that make a difference for student outcomes, backed by robust evidence.
  • Stand out with an Australian degree - graduate with a degree from one of the top 175 Universities in the world, ready to apply what you’ve learned in your home country (QS World University rankings 2024).
  • Graduate work-ready - students undertake 70 days of formal professional placement in schools and 5 days of career-ready placement, including the final placement in your home country.
  • Become an industry expert - you’ll graduate with high-level communication and leadership skills to enhance learning and shape the futures of primary students.

Master of Teaching student with students in classroom

Top 175 ? university in the world
World top 175 ? for Education

What you will study

The University of Newcastle’s Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) will see you complete 150 units of core courses and 10 units of electives. The core courses place focus on the following key learning areas:

  • English;
  • Mathematics;
  • Creative and Performing Arts;
  • Science and Technology;
  • Physical Development, Health and Physical Education; and
  • Human Society and its Environment
2024 Program Handbook

Refer to the program handbook for details of the complete program structure, course requirements and availability.

View program handbook

My Degree Planner

Use our degree planner to see what your study journey through the Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) might look like.

Prospective student planner Current student planner

Career

Career opportunities

At the completion of your Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) degree you will be equipped with the appropriate theoretical and practical skills and knowledge to flourish as a successful primary school teacher. You will enter the education system in your home country as a capable and professional individual with a well-developed sense of professional ethics.

You will be prepared to begin your career teaching students from Kindergarten to Year 6 and have the opportunity to embark on some of the following career pathways:

  • Classroom Teacher;
  • School Executive and Principal;
  • Home School Liaison Officer;
  • School Counsellor;
  • Teacher Librarian; and
  • Learning Assistance Support Teacher.

Practical experience

Students complete 20 days of observation in an Australian school, and 50 days of formal professional experience as a final placement in your home country to gain relevant experience, and includes 5 days of Work Integrated Learning in educational settings.

This degree requires students to participate in placements in NSW Department of Education or other NSW schools, service, or relevant education facility. During placement, students will be subject to the policies and procedures of the placement facility. Students must meet all the Education Placement Requirements for their Australian placements, including a NSW Working with Children clearance.

Professional recognition

This program does not meet the requirements for Australian accreditation (i.e. NESA).

Application info

Applying for Master of Teaching (Primary Studies)

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Apply to study in Australia

The Master of Teaching (Primary Studies) is not a New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) accredited program, which means upon completion of the program you will not qualify to practice as a teacher in NSW.

Completion of the program requires students to return to the state, country or territory in which they intend to teach to undertake the final professional experience placement in the final trimester of the program.

Admission to this program is restricted to applicants from countries where there is no reciprocal accreditation with NESA.

Prior to admission to the program, please ensure that you have verified your eligibility to undertake placement with the relevant education authority and be qualified to teach in your chosen state, country or territory.

Both students and education agents can submit applications online. This is our preferred way of application. You can save your application after you have started, and come back to it later.

Before submitting your application, please have a look at the Master of Teaching admissions booklet.

Before you get started

To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:

  1. Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
  2. Review the program fees and costs.
  3. Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date. Please view the application closing date.
  4. If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.

You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.

Postgraduate application process

Other things to consider

Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:

Admission to the program is available to International students only and requires:

  • the successful completion of a qualification equivalent to a completed Bachelor degree, with at least one year of full-time equivalent studies relevant to one or more areas of the primary school curriculum in their own state, country or territory or the country in which they intend to teach, and
  • a written piece of work

All Applicants must have an English Language proficiency equivalent to an IELTS Overall Score of 6.5, with a Section Minimum in all areas of 6.5.

Admission to this program is restricted to applicants from countries where there is no reciprocal accreditation with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Prior to admission to the program, applicants must verify their eligibility to undertake placement with the relevant education authority and be qualified to teach in their chosen state, country or territory.

This degree requires students to participate in two placements in two distinct settings:

  1. Completion of 20 days of  teacher observations in a NSW Department of Education or other NSW school or service providers; and
  2. Completion of 50 days of supervised practice in a primary setting in their own state, country or territory or the country in which they intend to teach.

Placements may extend beyond normal trimester times and students must meet their own associated travel and accommodation costs, where applicable.

During placement, students will be subject to the policies and procedures of the placement facility.

Students must meet all the Education Placement Requirements, including a NSW Working with Children clearance.

Students must check the Professional Experience Website for all placement information.

In addition to meeting the University's overall requirements for academic progression, students must satisfactorily complete the following courses to progress in their program.

EDUC6915 - International Internship: Primary

EDUC6914 - Australian Primary Education

You can look at Uni prep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.

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