Key details
Duration
Intake
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
160Course code
Overview
If you already hold a bachelor degree in a field other than education, a Master of Teaching can help you to become a teacher in two years. At CDU, you can study your Master of Teaching online or on campus, part time or full time. This makes it easier to study where, when and how it suits you.
On graduating, you'll be eligible to register as a teacher in all states and territories in Australia.
The Master of Teaching qualifies you to teach early childhood (birth to year 7), primary (transition to year 7) or secondary (year 8 to 12). Before you start studying, you'll need to choose the stream that suits your career goals and interests.
The course prepares you for new and changing roles as an educator. You will develop continuing awareness of the environmental and cultural influences on teaching and learning. You'll also explore the needs of learners and communities with diverse linguistic and cultural orientations, including Indigenous learners.
As a teacher, your levels of personal literacy and numeracy will be broadly equivalent to the top 30% of the Australian population.
The Early Childhood and Primary stream has a requirement of 70 to 80 days of Professional experience
The Secondary stream has a requirement of 60 to 80 days of Professional experience.
Professional recognition
The Master of Teaching has been accredited through the Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory. It is consistent with the standards established by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership for the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia.
The Early Childhood and Primary Teaching stream in this program is approved with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) .
Graduates of the course will be eligible for teacher registration across all Australian State and Territory jurisdictions (subject to meeting other eligibility criteria such as the National Literacy and Numeracy test for Initial Teacher Education aligned with Teacher Registration Requirement, English proficiency and suitability to teach).
Before applying for admission, students intending to seek employment should have the relevant State/Territory employment authority (eg State or Territory Department of Education, or Catholic Education Office) confirm their eligibility and suitability for employment.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2022: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study is AUD $28,104.00. This equates to $3,513.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Why study education at CDU?
Educate and inspire the next generation with a teaching degree at CDU. You'll gain the skills and knowledge to enter the classroom with confidence, equipped with a nationally-accredited degree to work anywhere in Australia.
- #1 for teaching employment outcomes in Australia (GUG 2022)
- Study online, on campus, full-time or part-time as it suits you
- Complete placements close to home
- Unique opportunities for regional and remote placements
What will I study?
The Master of Teaching runs in three streams: early childhood and primary teaching, primary teaching and secondary teaching. You will need to choose a stream when you apply for the course.
Course structure
Depending on your stream, you'll study a range of core units and specialist elective units. These units are designed to give you skills and techniques for fostering positive development and learning in the children you'll teach.
The Master of Teaching includes theory-based study and practical placements. Over the course of your degree, you'll complete four professional experience blocks in schools and at learning sites. These will require a full-time commitment.
You can study the Master of Teaching online as an external student, on campus as an internal student, or as a mix of both. All students have access to and are encouraged to use online learning materials and interaction.
All students must pass prior to graduation the ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) as required by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). The cost of the testing will be met by the student. Refer to https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/
Please check the pre-requisite and assumed knowledge requirements prior to enrolment.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
The Early Childhood & Primary and Primary streams have a requirement of 70 to 80 days of Professional experience. The Secondary stream has a requirement of 60 to 80 days of Professional experience.
Professional Experience units MUST be undertaken in the following sequences:
Early Childhood and Primary and Primary streams: EPE510, EPE520, EPE540, EPE530;
Secondary stream: EPE510, EPE520, EPE531.
Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
Core Units (4 units) |
40cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 40 credit points as per the list of units detailed below:
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment |
Specialist Elective (12 units) |
120cp |
Specialist Elective units totalling 120 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below: EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY PRIMARY ECU500 Arts Education SECONDARY Group C (40 cp) e.g. for Science teaching area, you will need to undertake: ECM501 Teaching the Curriculum: Junior Secondary Science Group D (20cp) Further Education or Group E (20cp) Discipline Group D (20cp) EMA512 Mathematics and Context Group E (20cp)
|
160cp | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Course Structure Change and Transition Arrangements - 2022
There has been a small course structure change for the mathematics units included in the primary stream.
There is no change to the early childhood and primary or the secondary streams.
Primary stream
EMA522 Mathematical Content Knowledge for Teaching (previously Primary Specialisation: Mathematics) has been moved to a required specialist elective.
EMA512 Mathematics and Context has been moved from a required specialist elective to an optional specialist elective
>Existing students who have already completed EMA512 are not required to also complete EMA522 but may take it as specialist elective.
>Existing and new students who have not yet completed EMA512 should complete EMA522 as the required mathematics unit.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO |
ECE500 Play, Pedagogies and Philosophies in Early Childhood | SE | EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners | CO |
ECU511 Arts, Health and PE for the Early Years | SE | ECL523 Mathematics with Young Children | SE |
ELA512 English Literacy: Reading and Writing | SE | EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO |
Year 2 | |||
ECE510 Leadership, Advocacy and Research | SE | ECL516 Early Years Literacy and English | SE |
EMA511 Mathematics and Pedagogy | SE | ECU501 Humanities and Social Sciences Education | SE |
EPE540 Specialist Knowledges and Pedagogy | SE | EPE530 Classroom Ready: Impactful Teaching | SE |
Specialist Elective Group A | SE | ESC511 Science and Technology in Education | SE |
PRIMARY
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO |
ECU503 Health and Physical Education | SE | EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners | CO |
ELA511 English, Language and Literacy | SE | EMA522 Mathematical Content Knowledge for Teaching (replaces EMA512) | SE |
Specialist Elective Group B | SE | EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO |
Year 2 | |||
ELA512 English Literacy: Reading and Writing | SE | ECU501 Humanities and Social Sciences Education | SE |
EPE540 Specialist Knowledges and Pedagogy | SE | EPE530 Classroom Ready: Impactful Teaching | SE |
EST532 Projects in Researching Classroom Practice | SE | ECU500 Arts Education | SE |
EMA511 Mathematics and Pedagogy | SE | ESC511 Science and Technology in Education | SE |
SECONDARY
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO |
ETL502 Secondary Schooling Operations and Practices | SE | ETL501 Learning and Teaching Adolescents | SE |
Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Junior Secondary | SE | EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners | CO |
Specialist Elective Group D or E | SE | Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Senior Secondary | SE |
Year 2 | |||
Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Junior Secondary | SE | Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Senior Secondary | SE |
ELA513 English as an Additional Language | SE | EST504 Digital Technologies and Education | SE |
EST532 Projects in Researching Classroom Practice | SE | EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO |
EPE531 Impactful Teaching and Learner Engagement for Secondary | SE | Specialist Elective Group D or E | SE |
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | ||
ECL523 Mathematics with Young Children | SE | ||
EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners | CO | ||
ECU501 Humanities and Social Sciences Education | SE | ||
Year 2 | |||
EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO | EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO |
ECE500 Play, Pedagogies and Philosophies in Early Childhood | SE | ECL516 Early Years Literacy and English | SE |
ECU511 Arts, Health and PE for the Early Years | SE | EPE540 Specialist Knowledges and Pedagogy | SE |
Specialist Elective Group A | SE | ESC511 Science and Technology in Education | SE |
Year 3 | |||
ECE510 Leadership, Advocacy and Research | SE | ||
ELA512 English Literacy: Reading and Writing | SE | ||
EMA511 Mathematics and Pedagogy | SE | ||
EPE530 Classroom Ready: Impactful Teaching | SE |
PRIMARY
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | ||
EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners |
CO | ||
EMA522 Mathematical Content Knowledge for Teaching (replaces EMA512) | SE | ||
EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO | ||
Year 2 | |||
EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO | ECU501 Humanities and Social Sciences Education | SE |
ECU503 Health and Physical Education | SE | EPE540 Specialist Knowledges and Pedagogy | SE |
ELA511 English, Language and Literacy | SE | ECU500 Arts Education | SE |
Specialist Elective Group B | SE | ESC511 Science and Technology in Education | SE |
Year 3 | |||
ELA512 English Literacy: Reading and Writing | SE | ||
EPE530 Classroom Ready: Impactful Teaching | SE | ||
EST532 Projects in Researching Classroom Practice | SE | ||
EMA511 Mathematics and Pedagogy | SE |
SECONDARY (Study Plan revised 28/03/2019)
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
EPE510 Education in Context: Preparation for Practice and Assessment | CO | ||
ETL501 Learning and Teaching Adolescents | SE | ||
EST503 Teaching Indigenous Learners | CO | ||
Specialist Elective Group D or E | SE | ||
Year 2 | |||
EPE520 Developmental Learning and Pedagogy | CO | EST504 Digital Technologies and Education | SE |
ETL502 Secondary Schooling Operations and Practices | SE | EST535 Society and Education (replaces EST531 from 2020) | CO |
Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Junior Secondary | SE | Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Senior Secondary | SE |
Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Junior Secondary | SE | Specialist Elective Group C - ECM Senior Secondary | SE |
Year 3 | |||
ELA513 English as an Additional Language | SE | ||
EPE531 Impactful Teaching and Learner Engagement for Secondary | SE | ||
EST532 Projects in Researching Classroom Practice | SE | ||
Specialist Elective Group D or E | SE |
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Early Childhood -
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree or equivalent international qualification in either early childhood, primary or an area relevant to early childhood/ primary curriculum, such as art, music, technologies, English, health and physical education, mathematics, science or humanities and social sciences (e.g. history and geography).
Primary -
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree or equivalent international qualification with at least one-year equivalent full-time study in an area relevant to primary curriculum, such as art, music, technologies, English, health and physical education, mathematics, science or humanities and social sciences (e.g. history and geography).
Secondary -
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree or equivalent international qualification comprising of a major sequence and a minor sequence in two of the following secondary teaching areas: English, legal studies, Indigenous studies, accounting, business studies, economics, geography, history, mathematics, languages other than English, music, technologies, visual arts, chemistry, biology/ecology, environmental science, physics and health and physical education.
A major sequence is defined as one quarter of a three-year degree and a minor sequence is defined as one sixth of a three-year degree.
Note: if you have completed a major sequence in a teaching area, but do not meet the minimum requirements of one sixth in a second teaching area you are required to contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 or student.central@cdu.edu.au for advice before submitting your application to study.
Additional admission requirements
Applicants must complete the Teaching Capabilities Statement used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.
Essential requirements
Criminal History Check
You must have cleared a Police Check and/or Working with Children Check before you can undertake your practical placements. If your Police Check and/or Working with Children Check are not cleared by the education sector, you will not be able to undertake practice teaching placements and therefore, will not meet the requirements of the course.
English language requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either:
- two years higher education (tertiary) study in English in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America.
- undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 (effective as of Semester 1 2021 and future intakes). |
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 185, with no skill below 185. |
Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | Test not accepted for this course. |
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 65 with no score lower than 65. |
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 94 with no score less than 23 in speaking and 24 in listening, 24 in reading, 27 in writing. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
Charles Darwin University has arranged some great placements for me, all within 10 minutes of my home in regional New South Wales. I like that you're in a classroom early in the degree, learning the ropes. And I got to experience different types of schools, demographic areas and leadership styles.
Matt
CDU Student

Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
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How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC or TAS.
UAC
UAC is the application channel for residents of NSW.
International applications
Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.
You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.
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