Intakes: 

2023: February, July, October
2024: February, April, July, September

Duration: 
1 year
Fees: 

2023: A$12,800*
2024: A$14,300*
* fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Overview

Achieve your dream of becoming a teacher – even if you missed selection for the Bachelor of Education. This education course prepares you to enter the second year of a teaching degree.

This teaching program has been designed for students who didn’t meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education through the VTAC (or direct) selection process.

This Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) accredited education pathway course will help you build the skills needed for a career in education.

Progress to a bachelor degree

Successful completion earns you a place in the second year in one of these specialised courses:

After completing additional requirements, you will also be eligible for:

Find out more about education pathways.

If you continue to the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you’ll be job-ready before you graduate – thanks to your extensive experience teaching in a classroom. You’ll be ready to work locally or overseas in a profession with increasing demand around the world.

Our teaching degrees offer exciting opportunities for professional experience through work placements, including:

  • teaching in rural/remote locations
  • overseas study tours in Malaysia, China, Timor Leste and more
  • sports, literacy and leadership programs with sporting organisations including the Western Bulldogs
  • mentoring school students in university-ready skills
  • creative art projects.

VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.

 Sam posing casually, smiling with hand in pockets, in front of students at a computer hub

Build essential literacy and numeracy skills for a career in education, and prepare to enter the second year of a teaching degree.

Careers in education

This course may help you find work as a teacher aide, supporting teachers in their work.

Once you’ve completed the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you could find a rewarding career in a public or private primary or secondary school.

Demand for teachers in Melbourne’s west is high – and set to continue rising. The Department of Planning and Community Development figures predict greater than 40%  increase in births in the region in the next five years.

Salaries & job growth

Find salaries, employment predictions and more across the teaching professions:

Course structure

To attain the Diploma of Education Studies students will be required to complete:

- 96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) of Core studies

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Appraise a broad and coherent body of knowledge of in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context;  
  2. Apply knowledge of educational issues to improve educational practices;  
  3. Discuss a range of learning theories and identify how they enhance student learning;  
  4. Develop students' capabilities and capacity in literacy and numeracy that enhance communication for academic contexts, including in the use of Information and Communication Technologies;  
  5. Foster creative skills and thought processes so as to prepare to confront and pro-actively engage with 21st Century challenges;  
  6. Develop contextual understandings of contemporary life in a global community, and collaborate with colleagues to promote principles of peace, sustainability, ethical conduct, and political and economic freedom;  
  7. Articulate and review the concepts of inclusion, equity and access for socially just education;  
  8. Investigate the changing nature of society to prepare for the development of educational policies and processes relevant to students' needs.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent).
PLUS
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Additional information

International students from non-English speaking countries are required to demonstrate a minimum IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no score below 6.0 in any of the four skills areas on entry to the program.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Certificate IV in Education Support

Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Certificate IV in Education Support

Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

Find out more about our study pathways to VU

How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

Apply

If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.