Master of Education

Graduates of this course become discerning researchers who are critical about their consumption of research. Drawing on your discipline-specific knowledge, you will be well-equipped to design and justify creative solutions to real-world educational problems, while reflecting on and reflexively analysing your own practice. You will also graduate ready to apply theories and research methods to ethically explore areas of concern in education practices.

Skills and tools in this course:

1. Research literacy.
2. Industry-relevant digital practices and technologies.
3. Explore diverse perspectives and inclusion.
4. Ethical and legal awareness.
5. Evidence-based and practical course.
6. Critical consumer of education research.

The Master of Education provides a focused and specialised opportunity for education practitioners to upskill, enhancing their research ability and expertise in particular areas of educational research. With the flexibility to choose your units from a diverse range of units, including university-wide options, you can tailor your Master of Education pathway to acquire dynamic skills in in-demand specialised areas. The course focuses on specialised and innovative study areas and is designed for professionals in both formal and informal educational roles, across sectors such as early childhood, school education, vocational and higher education, as well as corporate and community settings. It supports those looking to enhance their current practice or pivot into new areas within the education field.

This course is geared toward those with relevant employment experience who are either seeking a career change within education or looking to enhance their existing education career. 

There are several ways to attain your Master of Education, depending on your background. Each pathway allows you to combine core Units with a combination of units or Graduate Certificates in the following specialisation areas:

• Autism Education
• Career Development and Counselling
• Indigenous Education
• Innovative Learning Design.

This course is not an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course and does not qualify graduates for teacher registration in Australia.

Recommended study pattern

The degree structure consists of 36 credit points of core units, 48 credit points in a selected major, and 60 credit points of complementary studies. 

Core units: 36 credit points

• An Education major: 48 credit points from one of the following disciplines:
• Autism
• Career Development and Counselling
• Indigenous Education
• Innovative Learning Design
• Complementary studies: 60 credit points chosen from Education unit options or university-wide unit options.

Core units

EUQ661 is a prerequisite for EUQ675 and EUQ674. EUQ661 can be enrolled in the same teaching period as these units.

Introduction to Education Research (EUQ661)

Program Evaluation and Surveys (EUQ674)

Practitioner Inquiry (EUQ675)

Education major options

Select one major from the Education Major Options list (Autism, Career Development and Counselling, Indigenous Education, Innovative Learning Design), comprising 48 credit points.

Autism major

Attributes of Autism: Historical Perspectives, Co-Occurring Conditions and Cognitive Theories (EUQ667)

Universal Educational Supports for Autistic Learners (EUQ654)

Targeted and Intensive Educational Supports for Autistic Learners (EUQ655)

Supporting Relationships, Collaboration and Transitions (EUQ656)

Career Development and Counselling major

Counselling Skills and Contexts (EUQ670)

Evolving Perspectives in Career Development (EUQ671)

Career Development Programs (EUQ672)

Career Counselling (EUQ673)

Indigenous Education major

Indigenous Australian Knowledge Societies (EUQ657)

Indigenous Australian Education and Policy since 1788 (EUQ658)

Global Perspectives in Indigenous Education (EUQ659)

Personal Journeys in Indigenous Australian Education (EUQ660)

Innovative Learning Design major

Designing for Learning (EUQ648)

Authentic Learning and Assessment (EUQ649)

Future Trends in Learning Design (EUQ650)

Inclusive Learning Design: Embracing Diversity (EUQ666)

Complementary studies

60 credit points chosen from Education unit options or university wide unit options (a maximum of 36cp from university-wide unit options for 144cp MEd or a maximum of 12cp for university-wide unit options for students with 48cp of advanced standing). Please see below for university-wide options:

• Developing Impactful Public Policies (JSQ165)
• Dynamics of Domestic Violence (JSQ201)
• Working with Domestic Violence Victim-Survivors (JSQ204)
• Preventing Sexual Violence (JSQ221)
• Sexual Violence in Diverse Communities and Contexts (JSQ224)
• Introduction to Data Science (IFQ509)
• Programming Fundamentals (IFQ581)
• Trust and Artificial Intelligence (IFQ521)
• Managing Project Teams (PMQ504)
• Project Management Principles (PMQ610).

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of the Master of Education, students must complete a total of 144 credit points.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $7,050

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

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12

If you qualify for the 1-year program you will be automatically granted 48 credit points of general advanced standing towards the option units.

• A bachelor degree in any discipline plus graduate certificate in teaching or education, or
• a graduate diploma (or higher qualification) in teaching or education, or
• a bachelor degree in teaching or education followed by at least two years full-time (or equivalent) work experience in teaching or education.

Relevant work experience

Teacher/educator/academic working in any formal education setting (i.e., early childhood, schools, special education, adult education, VET, and higher-education) or any education focussed role in other organisations or groups.

People working in education-support roles in any formal or informal education setting (e.g., teacher aide, counselling, community education counsellors, youth/social worker, educational psychologist, chaplain, academic advisors, school nurse, school police officer).

People working education-focussed roles in other organisations, services or groups (e.g., learning design, curriculum design and development, language and numeracy education, workplace and organisational learning/training, community and public education/training, education project management, educational research, private tutors).

People working in education administration, leadership and management, policy or governance, and educational consulting (e.g., education departments, related statutory authorities, related professional associations, international agents, international education professionals).

For reference, individuals with qualifications or experience in the following fields may be involved in contemporary educational work.

Teaching or education (including, education qualifications related to early childhood, primary to secondary schooling, higher education, training and development, applied learning, adult learning, community learning).

Learning management/learning design (i.e. learning design similar qualifications).

Career development and/or counselling

Languages/linguistics

Psychology/educational psychology/organisational psychology

Sociology

Allied health professionals (speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists)

School based nursing (i.e. Nursing qualification)

School based policing (i.e. Policing qualification)

Business/commerce

Arts (e.g. social sciences, humanities, animation/interactive media)

Media/communication

Human resources, management, and IT.