Master of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

This is a two-year master's degree for people who want to teach children from birth to eight years old. You'll study how young children learn, how to plan and run early childhood settings, and how to work with families and communities.

What you'll study

The course is made up of units of study, each worth credit points. You'll cover child development, curriculum and instruction for early years, play-based learning, literacy and numeracy in the early years, and working with children who need extra support. You'll also learn about Australian early childhood policy and the frameworks that guide practice in long day care, preschool and the early years of school.

Most Australian master's degrees are one to two years full-time. This one is two years, which is typical for a teaching qualification that leads to registration. You'll usually study full-time, with semesters or trimesters depending on how the school timetables it. Check the official page for the exact structure.

Practical experience

Teaching degrees in Australia include supervised professional experience in real settings. You'll go on placement in early childhood centres and schools, working alongside qualified teachers. This is where you put the theory into practice, planning lessons, observing children, and getting feedback from mentors. The placements are a required part of the course, not an add-on.

Skills you'll gain

You'll learn to design learning experiences for young children, assess their development, manage a classroom or playroom, and communicate with parents and colleagues. You'll also build skills in reflective practice and working within professional and ethical standards.

Who it's for

This suits people who already have a bachelor's degree in another field and want to move into early childhood teaching. It also suits early childhood educators who want to upgrade their qualifications to a master's level and take on leadership or specialist roles. If you're an international student, you'll need to meet the English requirement, for teaching courses, that's usually IELTS Academic 7.0–7.5 overall, higher than the standard 6.0–6.5 for many other courses. The Department of Home Affairs also sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. While you study, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight.

Graduates often apply for registration with the relevant teacher regulatory authority in the state or territory where they want to work. Check the official CRICOS page and the university's course page for details on accreditation, fees and intake dates.

• Early childhood teacher, in long day care centres, preschools and kindergartens
• Kindergarten teacher, in community and government-funded preschool programmes
• Early years teacher, in the first years of primary school
• Educational leader, supporting curriculum and practice in early childhood services
• Family day care coordinator, overseeing home-based care and education
• Early intervention assistant, working with children with developmental delays or disabilities
• Childcare centre director, managing staff, programmes and compliance

These roles are found across Australia in early childhood education and care services, schools, and community organisations. The sector employs teachers in metropolitan, regional and remote areas. Many graduates also work in government departments and non-profit organisations focused on children and families.