Master of Teaching (Primary)

The Master of Teaching (Primary) at Edith Cowan University is a two-year postgraduate qualification for people who want to teach children in primary school. It sits at AQF level 9 and is a coursework master's, not a research degree. You will study how children learn to read and write, how to plan and teach English, mathematics, science, humanities and social sciences, health and physical education, and the arts across the primary years. Units also cover child development, classroom management, assessment and reporting, teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and working with children who have additional needs. Because this is an initial teacher education qualification, it includes supervised professional experience in schools.

How the course is structured

Australian master's degrees are measured in units of study and credit points. At ECU, this course is normally full-time over two years, with semesters or trimesters depending on the intake. You complete core curriculum and education units, plus professional experience placements. The placements are the practical core: you spend blocks of time in primary classrooms, usually in Perth or regional Western Australia, working alongside a supervising teacher. You build up from observing and teaching small groups to taking responsibility for planning and teaching lessons. Some students complete a final professional experience in a different school setting to broaden their experience.

Credit points and unit details are published by the university. If you have already completed a teaching degree or relevant postgraduate study, you may be able to apply for credit, but this is assessed case by case. Confirm the exact structure, placement requirements and any capstone or final professional experience unit on the official ECU course page.

Skills and who it suits

You will learn to design lessons, manage a classroom, assess student progress, and communicate with parents and colleagues. You will also learn how to use evidence and data to adjust your teaching. The course suits people who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to move into primary teaching, as well as those who want to formalise their teaching career. It is not a research pathway; it is a professional qualification for registration as a primary teacher in Australia.

English requirements for teaching courses are higher than for many other programs because you need strong spoken and written English in the classroom. International applicants should check the exact IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or equivalent score required for this course, as published by ECU. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia for a period. Always check current visa rules on the Department of Home Affairs website.

• Primary school teacher in government, Catholic and independent schools across Australia
• Relief or casual teacher in primary schools
• Education support or literacy and numeracy intervention roles in schools
• Curriculum resource developer for education publishers or online learning providers
• Early years or primary program coordinator in community organisations
• Teacher in international schools (subject to local registration requirements)

Graduates normally apply for teacher registration in the state or territory where they want to work. In Western Australia, that is the Teacher Registration Board of WA. Registration requirements include completing an accredited teaching qualification and meeting English and suitability checks. Check the registration body for your state or territory.