Master of Teaching (Primary)

The Master of Teaching (Primary) at Avondale University is a two-year postgraduate qualification for people who want to teach children in primary school. It leads to a teaching qualification, so you'll cover the full primary curriculum: English, mathematics, science, history, geography, the arts, health and physical education. You'll also study child development, how children learn to read and write, classroom management, assessment, and how to work with children who have additional needs. Because it's a master's degree, there's a research component as well, where you look closely at an issue in primary teaching and write it up.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees usually run one to two years full time. This one is two years, which is typical for a teaching qualification that includes professional experience. Study is organised into units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass a certain total to graduate. Avondale runs its academic year in semesters. You'll do core education units, curriculum units for each key learning area, and at least one professional experience placement in a primary school. Some master's programmes finish with a capstone unit or a small research project; here the research element is built into the degree.

Professional experience is the part that matters most. You'll spend time in real classrooms, working alongside a supervising teacher, planning lessons, taking small groups, and gradually taking on more of the class. Avondale has connections with schools, and placements are arranged so you get experience across different year levels and school settings. You'll also need to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements that all Australian teaching graduates must pass before they can register. The exact placement days and units are set out in the course structure, so check the official page.

Skills you build

You'll learn to plan a sequence of lessons that builds across a term, not just one-off activities. You'll practise managing a classroom, assessing where each child is up to, and adjusting your teaching. You'll get better at explaining ideas clearly, working with parents and other staff, and keeping records. The research side teaches you to read evidence, gather data in a classroom, and use it to change what you do. By the end you should be able to walk into a primary classroom and run it.

Who this suits

This degree suits people who already have a bachelor's degree in something else and want to move into primary teaching. That could be a graduate in arts, science, or business who has decided teaching is the job they want. It also suits people working in schools as education assistants or support staff who want to qualify as a teacher. You'll need to meet the English language requirement, which for teaching is higher than for most courses: IELTS Academic 7.0–7.5 overall is the usual standard for teaching, nursing, medicine, law and social work, with equivalents accepted through TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or the university's own English programmes. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details, including tuition, on the official CRICOS page.

• Primary school teacher in government, Catholic and independent schools across Australia
• Relief or casual teacher, working across different schools and year levels
• Specialist primary teacher in areas like literacy support, numeracy support, or special education, depending on your electives and school needs
• Education officer in museums, zoos, galleries, or community organisations running school programmes
• Curriculum or resource developer for education publishers or online learning providers
• Education adviser in community services, early intervention, or child and family support organisations
• Private tutor or learning centre teacher, working with primary-aged children and their families