The entry requirements to study education will vary based on the course you want. Academic requirements will differ between educational institutions and the level of study you undertake. For the most accurate information, you should view the course information on the institution’s website.
Typically, you’ll need to have an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent to complete an undergraduate degree.
For postgraduate courses, satisfactory completion of an undergraduate degree is required. However, some institutions may take relevant work experience or research ability into consideration as well.
For Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses, most students will need to have reached a level of study equivalent to the Australian Year 10. Some courses may require extra prerequisite subjects or work experience.
When studying education in Australia, there are several skills that will help you be the best educator you can be. While some things can be learned, these are some intrinsic skills you should possess, or be willing to work on:
If you consider yourself a good teacher, and someone who can inspire and motivate people to achieve their best, you might have what it takes to thrive working in the education field. If you have great interpersonal skills, speaking and listening skills and critical thinking, an education course might be the perfect fit.
There are several pathways to study education courses, from TAFE certificates to university-level degrees. To find the best course in Australia, you need to decide where you want your education career to take you, while also considering your current level of knowledge and any previous study you’ve done.
Here are some of the different education courses available in Australia:
There are several career pathways following an education course. Here are some potential jobs:
University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University, University of Queensland and the University of Sydney are some of the leading institutes to study education. There are also TAFE courses if you’d like to earn a Cert III or Cert IV in education, as well as additional courses and certificates run by education platforms like Open Colleges.
How much you can earn with an education qualification varies. First year teachers can expect to earn around $73,737 per year, while principals can earn around $194,816 per year.
Over the next five years, the Australian government predicts that there will be a high number of job openings as a primary school teacher, with a Bachelor Degree the most common level of education to work in this field.
Meanwhile, over the next five years, it is expected there will be an average number of job openings as Early Childhood Educators, with a Bachelor Degree the most common level of educational attainment for this profession.
Government funding assists students by subsidising their tuition fees, with funding varying between states and territories. In NSW, for example, Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It helps people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers. Under Smart and Skilled, the NSW Government contributes to the cost of each course with the student paying the balance. There are no current education subsidies from the Australian government.