Master of Teaching (Primary)

The Master of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to become primary school teachers. You'll study how children learn, how to plan and teach the key learning areas of the primary curriculum, and how to manage a classroom. The course is taught across semesters, with each year split into two main study periods. You'll complete units of study in curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, assessment, and teaching children with diverse needs, each carrying credit points that build towards the 160 credit points typically required for this master's degree. Because this is an initial teacher education qualification, it includes supervised professional experience placements in Australian primary schools, where you'll work alongside a supervising teacher and gradually take on more responsibility for planning and teaching lessons.

As a master's degree, this sits at Level 9 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, above a bachelor's degree and below a doctorate. That means the work is more advanced than an undergraduate teaching degree: you'll be expected to read research, analyse classroom evidence, and reflect on your own practice. Most students complete the degree in two years of full-time study. If you study part-time, it takes longer. The course usually finishes with a final professional experience placement or a capstone unit that pulls together what you've learned across the degree.

Primary teaching is a hands-on job, so the course leans heavily on practicum. You'll spend time in real classrooms in Western Australia or New South Wales, depending on where you study, observing experienced teachers and then teaching your own lessons. By the end, you should be able to plan a term of work, assess student progress, manage a class of 25 to 30 children, and talk to parents about how their child is going. You'll also learn about the Australian Curriculum and how to adjust it for children who need extra support or extension.

This degree suits people changing careers into teaching, as well as recent graduates who want to teach primary school rather than secondary. If you're an international student, you'll need to meet the university's English requirement, which for teaching is higher than for most courses because you'll be communicating with children, parents and colleagues. The Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 039694K. Check the official University of Notre Dame Australia page and CRICOS for the most current details on structure, fees and entry requirements.

• Primary school teacher in government, Catholic and independent schools across Australia
• Relief or casual teacher, often the first step into a school after graduating
• Education support officer or teacher's aide, working with students who need extra help
• Curriculum coordinator or year-level leader, after gaining classroom experience
• Early years or junior primary teacher in early childhood settings that run school-readiness programmes
• Community education officer in museums, libraries or not-for-profits
• Education consultant or resource developer for publishers and edtech companies
• Private tutor or learning centre teacher, especially in literacy and numeracy