Masters (Coursework)
UNSW's Master of Teaching (Primary) is the only degree of its kind in Australia - it's an innovative postgraduate program that will provide you a fast-track to employment as a primary school teacher.
UNSW's Master of Teaching (Primary) is the only degree of its kind in Australia - it's an innovative postgraduate program that will provide you a fast-track to employment as a primary school teacher. The program is a two-year equivalent teacher degree, that can be completed in 1.3 years full-time (four terms).
Developed in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and local primary school networks, and accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), our program will equip you to teach kindergarten through to year six in diverse learning environments, government and non-government primary schools, and in all states of Australia and overseas.
Throughout the program you will develop the requisite knowledge and skills to enable you to meet the Australian graduate teacher standards. Academic lecturers and local teachers with experience in primary education work together to provide core education courses and discipline-specific curriculum and pedagogy studies within the six key learning areas of the primary curriculum:
Work part-time and earn a salary as a paraprofessional teacher in a Riverina local school while studying. Find out more.
Master of Teaching (Primary) 2024 Information Pack (2025 version is progress)
Practical experience
The degree is founded on in-school professional experience and learning in-practice with ongoing support from experienced UNSW School of Education Academics. The theoretical concepts you learn in your courses are applied directly to the classroom in this unique site-based degree.
Your professional journey to becoming a graduate teacher is enriched through the dynamic interaction of practice and theory through site-based experiences during your degree program. The journey begins with your In-School Teacher Education Program (INSTEP) that commences in term one. This is your first opportunity to work with students and learn from experienced primary teachers and is continued throughout the program with further site-based experiences as well as supervised professional experience.
Connect with the education sector
UNSW is a valued partner to industry, community, and government organisations, domestically and internationally. We maintain close links with leading public and private schools in Australia, and we're the only university to have a formal partnership with the NSW Association of Independent Schools. UNSW School of Education is also a preferred provider of professional development and training for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
To enrol in the Master of Teaching (Primary), you'll need a recognised three-year bachelor degree with Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60+.
You must have completed a recognised undergraduate degree with a major relevant to one or more of the six Key Learning Areas (KLAs) below, consisting of at least eight units (courses) of undergraduate study, with no more than two at first year (level 1) and at least two at third year (level 3).
Key Learning Areas include:
Additional requirements:
When submitting your application you will also need to prepare a personal statement outlining why you will be suitable for primary teaching. Your statement should be no more than 150 words and include your reasons for wanting to be a teacher and why you are well suited for that role.
A personal statement is required for all applications, regardless of whether you apply to UNSW directly or via UAC.
Minimum Mathematics Requirement
You must meet the minimum mathematics requirement as follows:
Have completed a two-unit course if HSC* Mathematics (after 2001) and have achieved a minimum Band 4 (70+) in the subject
OR
Have completed 0.125 EFTSL unit of Mathematics in a prior degree and achieved a minimum mark of 65 (credit)
OR
Complete an equivalent two-unit tertiary preparation course via TAFE NSW and achieve a minimum band 4 (70+). This course must be completed prior to commencement of EDST6765 Professional Experience 2 (final 9-week placement)
*If you completed the HSC after 2001, please provide a copy of your results.
If you did not complete the HSC, you may be asked to provide evidence of meeting the minimum mathematics requirement as stated above.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
To enrol in the Master of Teaching (Primary), you'll need a recognised three-year bachelor degree with Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60+.
You must have completed a recognised undergraduate degree with a major relevant to one or more of the six Key Learning Areas (KLAs) below, consisting of at least eight units (courses) of undergraduate study, with no more than two at first year (level 1) and at least two at third year (level 3).
Key Learning Areas include:
English
English with a strong core component of study of English literature, communications, creative writing, language studies (English), linguistics, literature studies, media studies (i.e., the theoretical study of media or where the product is a literary text).
Mathematics
Pure or applied mathematics, other studies of mathematics that are relevant to the central concepts, modes of enquiry and structure of the content/discipline(s). Science and technology
Agriculture
Architecture, biology, bio-technology, chemistry, computing studies, design - interior, industrial, graphics, fashion, product, landscape (2 units only), design and technology, engineering, geology, earth and/or environmental science, materials science, medicine, nursing, physics, psychology.
Human society and its environment
Humanities and social sciences, aboriginal studies/languages, anthropology, archaeology, Asia or Pacific studies, economics/business studies, cultural studies/ sociology, geography/environmental studies, government and citizenship, history, legal studies, political science, studies of religion.
Creative arts
Dance including practical experience in choreography and performance in several dance styles and dance history/theory, drama including experiential involvement in making and performing drama, music including performing (singing, playing and moving), listening and organising sound (composing) within a wide range of repertoire, visual arts including art making and art history/theory.
Personal development, health and physical education
Physical education, family studies, sports science, health studies, human movement, nutrition.
Minimum Mathematics Requirement
You must meet the minimum mathematics requirement as follows:
Have completed a two-unit course if HSC* Mathematics (after 2001) and have achieved a minimum Band 4 (70+) in the subject
OR
Have completed 0.125 EFTSL unit of Mathematics in a prior degree and achieved a minimum mark of 65 (credit)
OR
Complete an equivalent two-unit tertiary preparation course via TAFE NSW and achieve a minimum band 4 (70+). This course must be completed prior to commencement of EDST6765 Professional Experience 2 (final 9-week placement)
*If you completed the HSC after 2001, please provide a copy of your results.
If you did not complete the HSC, you may be asked to provide evidence of meeting the minimum mathematics requirement as stated above.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
This Master of Teaching (Primary) degree will enhance your career options and professional advancement within the Primary School education sector in all states across Australia, as well as internationally.
The coursework in this degree develops the necessary knowledge and skills to enable you to meet the Australian graduate teacher standards, including disciplinary content beyond the key learning areas of specialisation.
As a result, you'll qualify as a generalist primary teacher as well as a specialist in at least one key learning area (based on your prior degree).
New South Wales Education Standards Authority
This program is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) as providing preservice teacher training for graduate students and an advanced initial primary teaching qualification, for both government and non-government schools.