Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1
- Duration
- 1.3 - 1.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
-
Kensington
- Codes
- UAC code 910201
- Program code 8926
- CRICOS code 073442C
-
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2024 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $4,500*
-
2024 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
- $9,000*
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $42,000*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $88,000*
Fees
Fees
-
80 days’ practical experience
-
NESA accredited
-
Research-led teaching
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The UNSW Master of Teaching (Secondary) is a full-time postgraduate teacher education course that will provide you a fast-track to employment as a secondary school teacher. This is an accelerated teaching degree, which includes practical in-school experience. After one year of full-time study, you’ll be eligible for employment as a secondary school teacher.
At UNSW, we specialise in educational research and teacher education, with a focus on secondary and higher education contexts. Our secondary teaching postgraduate degree is uniquely designed to provide a nationally accredited teaching qualification, and support you as you transition into your first year of teaching.
Information pack
Key features
Channel theory into practice
You’ll learn innovative teaching methods that link practice with theory. The degree is founded on in-school experience and learning in practice with ongoing support from experienced UNSW academics. The theoretical concepts you learn in your courses are applied directly to the classroom in this unique site-based degree.
Professional experience
You’ll undertake up to 80 days of supervised teaching in three schools, giving you professional practice and a wide range of teaching opportunities. With expert supervision from UNSW School of Education staff and site-based teachers, you’ll be immersed in the classroom five days a week during your professional experience (PE) blocks.
Connect with the education sector
You’ll benefit from our strong ties to 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 internationally, and are the only university to have a formal partnership with the NSW Association of Independent Schools.
UNSW School of Education is a preferred provider of professional development and training for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). The UNSW Master of Teaching (Secondary) is also recognised as a formal teaching qualification in Australia and widely accepted internationally.
Riverina teaching hub
Work part-time and earn a salary as a paraprofessional teacher in a Riverina local school while studying. Find out more.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
- Study at a school benchmarked with the highest global rating for Education research (ARC, Excellence in Research for Australia)
- Gain accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
- Access to Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for domestic students
- Be supported by our diverse, collaborative and inclusive Arts, Design & Architecture community.
- Learn through research-informed teaching
- Prioritise career success – UNSW won the Australian Financial Review’s Most Employable Students Award in 2023.
- Benefit from strong industry links and partnerships
- Access world-class alumni connections
- Join a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
- Join a community that’s part of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities
Want to see more from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture?
Entry requirements
A recognised three-year Bachelor degree which meets the prerequisites for their selected teaching methods/specialisation/s.
These prerequisites normally involve at least a major (three consecutive years of study, usually six courses) in the main teaching specialisation, and a minor (two years of study, usually four courses) in the second teaching specialisation.
Additional WAM requirement: Entry into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) requires a WAM of 60 or higher.
IMPORTANT: All students must qualify in one or more first teaching areas and, depending on prior study, may be eligible to qualify in two first teaching areas or a first and up to two additional teaching areas.
First Teaching Area requirements: A sequence of at least six units in a specialist teaching area equivalent to 0.75 EFT (i.e. for UNSW graduates 36 UoC), at AQF Level 7 (undergraduate bachelor level), studied over three levels or years with at least 2 of these units at Level (Year) 3 or above and no more than two units at Level (Year) 1, or the equivalent at the postgraduate level.
Note: Music and Visual Arts can only be taken as a first teaching area.
Additional Teaching Area Requirements: A sequence of at least four units in a specialist teaching area equivalent to 0.50 EFT (i.e. for UNSW graduates 24 UoC), at AQF Level 7 (undergraduate bachelor level), studied over two levels or years with at least 2 of these units at Level (Year) 2 or above and no more than two units at Level (Year) 1, or the equivalent at the postgraduate level.
English language requirements
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:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
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.
Additional English language requirements:
A very high level of competence in spoken and written English is required equivalent to a Band 5 in HSC English Advanced, Standard English or English as a Second Language, or an overall IELTS score of 7.5, with a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and listening and a minimum of 7.0 in reading and writing, or the equivalent.
To enrol in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you must have completed an undergraduate degree with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60+. Your undergraduate degree will need to meet the following prerequisites for your selected teaching methods or specialisation(s).
First teaching specialisation – a major, consisting of a sequence of at least six units of undergraduate study in a pedagogy area, with no more than two at first year and at least two at third year.
Additional teaching specialisation – a minor consisting of a sequence of at least four units of undergraduate study in a teaching area, with at least two of these at second year or above.
Additional English language requirements:
A very high level of competence in spoken and written English is required equivalent to a Band 5 in HSC English Advanced, Standard English or English as a Second Language, or an overall IELTS score of 7.5, with a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and listening and a minimum of 7.0 in reading and writing, or the equivalent.
Additional requirements:
By the first week of your course in Term 1, you will need to complete your:
- Working with Children Check
- Anaphylaxis training
Before going out to your first school placement, you will need to:
English language requirements
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:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
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.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is a 1.3 year program consisting of 15 courses and two placements. These courses will be different depending on which teaching specialisation area (method) you choose.
The program generally includes:
- 6 Core education courses
- 4 Courses from your teaching specialisation (called methods)
- 3 Electives
- 2 Professional placements (including an internship)
Full program structure
Each university year at UNSW has three terms and an optional summer study period. Depending on how you plan your study load, you can fit two or three courses into a term and one elective in a summer term.
The Master of Teaching can be completed in 1.3 years full-time (four-terms), or 3 years (9-terms) part time. The full-time program has a fixed timetable in which you’ll complete four courses each term instead of the usual three.
Below is an example of a standard three-term, full-time study plan:
First term
- 2 Core education courses
- 2 Method courses
Second term
- 1 Core education course
- 2 Method courses
- Professional placement – 4 weeks
Third term
- 2 Core education courses
- Professional placement – 9 weeks
Fourth term (Term 1 of your second year)
- 1 Core education course
- 3 Education electives*
*Electives
You’ll choose your three electives from the Master of Education courses available – a variety of courses are offered each term. We recommended that two out of three electives you choose focus on students with diverse needs.
Teaching Specialisations
Subject to changing demand, teaching specialisations offered include:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Chemistry/Biology
- Drama (Theatre and Performance Studies)
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Economics
- English*
- English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)
- Geography
- Graphics and Multimedia Technology
- History - Ancient
- History - Modern
- Investigating Science
- Languages: French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and /or Korean (A high level of competence in spoken and written language is required. A minor without prior studies or background in the language is usually insufficient to qualify as a teacher of the language).
- Legal Studies
- Mathematics*
- Music*
- Physics
- Science
- Society and Culture
- Visual Arts*
*Can be taken as an extended teaching specialisation
You can explore this structure in more detail, or find out what a part-time study load would look like through our sample program. For further information on coursework, course listing, descriptions and timetables please see the UNSW Online Handbook.
Future careers
This Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree will enhance your career options across a broad range of educational institutions.
Our graduates work as secondary school teachers or as education professionals in other areas related to education and training. Many graduates also progress into specialist fields of education by developing and extending their understanding of a critical area of knowledge.
Accreditation
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 secondary teaching qualification, for both government and non-government schools.
How to apply
Applications for the T1 2025 intake open via the UAC website on 4th September, 2024.
Applications for domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Postgraduate.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
$4,500*
$9,000*
All places within this degree are Commonwealth supported. This means that if you receive an offer from UNSW Sydney as a domestic student, you will have a substantial proportion of your fees subsidised by the Australian government. Start your application today with our guide on how to apply.
*The indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fees are an estimate based on the relevant student contribution band/s for a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a standard full-time load of 48 units of credit per year (1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load/1 EFTSL). To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fee listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
"The internship opportunities were fantastic. It connected me directly with my first job through the internship programme as I was offered a contract at Fort Street High School while finishing my degree."
