Australian residents
International students
Intakes: 

2024: February, July

Duration: 
4 years
Location: 
Footscray Park
Fees: 

2024: A$15,500*
* fee per semester

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

Overview

Get qualified as both a primary and secondary school teacher with a Bachelor of Education (P-12) from Victoria University (VU). 

Become a well-rounded teacher with this unique education degree that allows you to teach any school level. Granting the qualifications for Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) accreditation, VU’s P-12 teaching degree is one of the only courses of its kind in Australia.

If you’re looking to specialise in a study area relevant to all ages, this teaching degree will allow you to choose from a wide range of job opportunities. Or, if you’re unsure which age group you’ll be suited to teaching, this is an excellent way to keep your options open.

Ninety-three percent of our Bachelor of Education students are employed within the first four months of graduation (VU Australian Graduate Survey).

Choose your specialisation to start your teaching career in the area that fits with your passions and interests.

On top of your specialisation units, you’ll study core primary teaching subjects, as well as curriculum and pedagogy units for both junior and senior secondary teaching.

Depending on your specialisation, you could focus your teaching expertise on anything from mathematics to English literary studies to biology to outdoor education to media studies, or a specialist in a particular area such as disability studies in education or student welfare. 

As a Bachelor of Education (P-12) student, you’ll get work-ready with 103 days of work experience – that’s more than the 80 days required by the VIT.

You’ll split your supervised teaching placements between primary and secondary schools, building your confidence teaching all age groups. This extensive classroom teaching experience will ensure you’re confident and job-ready before you graduate, ready to work locally or overseas.

Plus, in your fourth year you can choose our innovative Permission to Teach (PTT) internship, in which you’ll be employed in a primary school working three days per week while you complete your studies. 

As part of your education degree, you can choose from education work placements as diverse as:

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

You can also gain course credit while studying overseas to immerse yourself in a new culture and build skills to stand out in the job market. 

Take advantage of our strong industry connections, with placement opportunities for VU students at more than 200 schools across Melbourne. Our partners include a host of primary, secondary and P-12 schools, large and small, including:

  • Mount Ridley College, Craigieburn
  • Greenvale Primary School
  • Methodist Ladies College (MLC), Kew
  • Sunshine Special Development School
  • East Preston Islamic College.
VU’s practical learning – Education - Transcript

Careers in teaching

With this unique degree, you have the option to find work in both primary and secondary schools, both public and private. Depending on your specialisation, you could find a role teaching topics including English, maths, science, creative arts, business, health, physical education (PE), psychology or welfare studies.

The teaching industry is expected to grow over the next five years, reaching 157,300 primary school teachers and 160,100 secondary school teachers in Australia by 2026. Both primary and secondary school teachers can earn much higher salaries than the average Australian. 

 

Placements that pay off

Placements that pay off

VU’s extensive practical placements and industry connections took Joshua Le from the classroom into his dream career as an educator.

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VIT logo accredited till Oct 2026

Graduates from the Bachelor of Education are qualified to be accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching and to teach in primary and secondary school settings.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Education (P-12) students will be required to complete 384 credit points consisting of:
240 credit points of Core studies
96 credit points of Major studies
48 credit points (either Option A or B)

Option A
(This option is recommended for students who choose to undertake a second Secondary teaching method)
48 credit points of Minor Studies
Option B
(This option is suitable for students who require more flexible enrolment opportunities)
48 credit points of any Minors or Elective units.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the required benchmarks for LANTITE prior to commencement of their second year placement units.
Students are required to pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to be eligible to graduate from their Victorian Institute of Teaching-accredited program.
Students will need to monitor the VIT website for details in relation to the tests that will be considered; a link to advice and fact sheets about the test and to the external test provider. Refer to www.vit.vic.edu.au
Students also complete a minimum of 80 days Professional Experience comprising well-structured, supervised and assessed teaching practice. This course has organised 103 days, which substantially improves the minimum.

Year 1

Year 2

And

Secondary Discipline Specialisation Major Unit 1 Level 1

Secondary Discipline Specialisation Major Unit 2 Level 1

And select between Option A and Option B:

Option A

Minor unit 1

Minor unit 2

Option B

Any Minor Unit OR Elective

Any Minor Unit OR Elective

Year 3

And

Secondary Discipline Specialisation Major Unit 3 Level 2

Secondary Discipline Specialisation Major Unit 4 Level 2

And

The following Secondary Discipline Specialisation Major Units 5 and 6 Level 3

And select between Option A and Option B:

Option A

Minor unit 3 Level 2

Minor Unit 4 Level 2

Option B

Minor Unit OR Elective

Minor unit OR Elective

Year 4

And

Curriculum and Pedagogy Unit Major Unit 7 Level 3

Curriculum and Pedagogy Unit Major Unit 8 Level 3

Education Elective Units

Majors

Minors

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

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

  1. Exhibit a broad and coherent body of knowledge of pedagogy, curriculum and assessment based on learning theories and research into how students learn in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context,  
  2. Critically review the development of educational policies and knowledge of educational issues to improve classroom practice in primary and secondary classrooms and strengthen students' relations with their local community,  
  3. Plan learning programs that richly embrace a varied curriculum and that articulate and exhibit the ideologies of socially just education through awareness, inclusion, equity and access in ways that respond to students' diverse physical, social, cultural and intellectual characteristics,  
  4. Analyse the importance of fostering creative skills, thought processes, oral and written communication techniques, including in the use of Information and Communication Technologies, to engage and connect with students, their parents/carers and the wider community so as to prepare them to confront and pro-actively solve 21st Century challenges,  
  5. Develop contextual understandings of contemporary life in a global community, and collaborate with students and colleagues to promote principles of peace, sustainability, ethical conduct, and political and economic freedom,  
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of relevant discipline-based content to plan, deliver and assess high quality educational programs to primary and secondary school students.  

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) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English (or equivalent) other than EAL.
PLUS:
Units 1 and 2: satisfactory completion in two units (any study combination) of Maths: General Mathematics, Maths: Mathematical Methods or Maths: Specialist Mathematics or Units 3 and 4: any Mathematics.
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 7.0 (with no band less than 7.5 in Speaking and Listening, and 6.5 in Reading and Writing).

Successful completion of a non-academic attributes assessment, for example, the CASPer test or equivalent. CASPer is an online test designed to assess and applicant's personal and professional attributes and is a requirement for all initial teacher training courses in Victoria.

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

Additional information

Students will also have to satisfy the National requirements for teacher registration through satisfactory completion of the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students prior to starting the course or prior to commencement of their second full-time year of study. A satisfactory achievement of the benchmark of the test is required before course completion for teacher registration can be approved.

Students will require a Working with Children Check to be eligible to undertake and participate in workplace visits, placements or projects. Use the following site link to obtain additional information:
http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

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.

Diploma of Education Studies

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

Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation 22602VIC

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.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

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.