#2 in Australia for education and educational research*
#11 in the world for education and educational research*
Accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching
Key facts
Duration
2 years full-time - 16 credit points
Deakin courses can also be studied part-time over a longer period.
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
If you’re passionate about nurturing young, inquisitive children from prep to grade 6 and are motivated to make a genuine impact on future generations, Deakin's Master of Teaching (Primary) is for you.
Ready to become a highly sought-after primary school teacher with a holistic understanding of how young people learn and make sense of the world?
The Master of Teaching (Primary) is infused with practical learning. With a focus on dynamic skills and communication, you will graduate classroom-ready, a finely tuned educator and leader with a set of adaptable techniques.
A career in education provides flexibility, variety and security. Learn first-hand from highly experienced and passionate teachers who understand the importance of recognising all students as people first.
Discover how to shape teacher/student relationships to ensure students build positive connections with their peers, their school and themselves. Gain the critical knowledge required for modern-day digital classrooms, engaging with topics such as diversity and inclusion, teacher inquiry, context and leading-edge research, coupled with culturally relevant approaches to teaching.
At Deakin you will also collaborate with early childhood educators, primary and secondary teachers. Our multidisciplinary approach will enable you to gain a well-rounded view of how young people learn.
This, combined with at least 60-days of professional placement and your completion of a Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA), benchmarked against national standards, means you will be set for success in the classroom anywhere in Australia and beyond.
Course information
Course structure
To complete the Master of Teaching (Primary), you must pass 16 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 12 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points in the following specialisation^:
- Primary Extended Curriculum.
^Internship [Specialisation no longer offered for enrolment].
Most units are equal to one credit point.
As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
12
Core and Professional experience credit points
4
Specialisation credit points
16
Total credit points
Core units
- Australian Literacy Test (zero (0) credit points)
- Australian Numeracy Test (zero (0) credit points)
- Language, Literacies and Learning
- Numeracy, Social Justice and New Pedagogies
- Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Education
- Primary Humanities
- Primary Mathematical Development
- Primary Literacy
- Primary Science and Technology Education
- Arts, Humanities and Sustainability in Primary Education
Professional Experience Placement Units*
- Orientation to the Teaching Profession
- Building Capacity in Professional Experience
- Reflecting On Practice in Professional Experience (2 credit points)
*please note unit rules for order in which these must be completed. Noting additional placement units are listed in the specialisation options
Specialisations
Students complete the remaining four credit points from one of the following specialisations
Internship [unit no longer available for enrolment]
Primary Extended Curriculum
4 credit points including;
- Creativity and the Arts
- Primary Health and Physical Education Pedagogies
- Curriculum Inquiry in Professional Experience (Professional Experience Placement Unit)
Plus one unit from Primary Specialisations (aligned with undergrad minor) List A
Primary Specialisations List A
For Primary Extended Curriculum, choose one unit from below (aligned with undergrad minor)
- English Curriculum Inquiry
- Mathematics Curriculum Inquiry
- Humanities Curriculum Inquiry
- Science Curriculum Inquiry
- Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry
- Teaching and Learning in Languages Classrooms
- Pedagogy for TESOL and EAL Learners
- Health Curriculum Inquiry
- Physical Education Curriculum Inquiry
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Mandatory student checks
Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.
Inherent requirements
It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.
Immunisations
Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.
Participation requirements
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Completion of a minimum 60-days of supervised professional experience (70-days for Primary Extended Curriculum), and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment. This must be completed in the final year of study. Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- completion of a bachelor degree in a different discipline
In addition, you are required to have at least one year of full-time or equivalent study relevant to one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum, including a minor in one Australian Curriculum Learning Area F-10.
For more information see F-10 Learning Areas.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- completion of a bachelor or master degree in a recognised English-speaking country (clause 27)
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0) speaking and listening 7.5
- PTE Academic: minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65) speaking and listening 73
- completion of DUELI English for Teaching program, with a WAM of 60
Non-academic requirements
All applicants must sit the Casper test. Casper is a requirement for many of the initial teacher training courses in Victoria. It is a non-cognitive online test designed to assess an applicant's personal and professional attributes.
Learn more about how to register for Casper and deadlines for sittings for VTAC applications and direct applications.
Admissions information
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations.
Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. Recognition for Prior Learning in the Master of Teaching (Primary) is restricted by the professional accreditation structures of the course. Students are encouraged to apply for credit for comparable curriculum discipline units completed at postgraduate level.
Credit is not available for any work experience whether paid or unpaid, qualified or unqualified teacher or teacher aide against the academic professional experience units.
You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook. Learn more about fees and available payment options.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
From 1 July 2025, the Australian Government is intending to introduce the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to assist eligible students with costs related to mandatory placements in higher education courses for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.
Search or browse through our scholarships
Victorian Government placement grants
Grants ($140 - $420 per day) are available to support completing a teaching placement in an eligible regional or remote Victorian government school. Visit the Victorian Government Pre-service Teacher Placement Grant program.
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
Applications for Trimester 1, 2026 open in July.
In the meantime, why not speak to our student advisers about your course and career options? It’s the best way for future students like you to get expert advice on preparing your application.
 | To learn more about what the Master of Teaching at Deakin has to offer, download our course flyer. (PDF, 330.7KB) |
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Research Information
This is a graduate entry teaching course that introduces research based practice throughout the core professional studies units (a total of six credit points), which includes demonstrating their application of knowledge and skills through their 70 days of professional practice in education based contexts e.g. primary schools. As part of the series of core professional studies units, students are also required to complete a capstone assessment in the final year (2 credit point unit) to demonstrate their evidence based professional practice informed by data analysis and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
As one of the largest growing employment sectors in Australia, there are many career opportunities to explore.
The knowledge and skills you will develop through the Master of Teaching (Primary) prepare you well for a diverse range of industries and settings, including:
- teaching in public, independent or private schools
- arts, museums and learning centres
- corporate learning and development
- counselling
- human resources
- policy
- universities
- youth work.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a nationally accredited course and students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon graduation. If you intend to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate you may be required to provide further information. Applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory, carefully.
Course learning outcomes
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