Master of Teaching (Primary)

Creative Teaching

Engage students through innovative and imaginative approaches to the curriculum.

Research Methods

Develop a range of research methods that can be used to improve educational outcomes for students.

The Digital Age

Develop a vision for contemporary teaching in a digital age.

Teaching the Child

Take on a holistic approach to focus on ‘teaching the child’ rather than ‘teaching the subject’.

Classroom Techniques

Head into a school to teach independently, and research classroom techniques prior to graduation.

Help children get the start they deserve; become a primary teacher. If you have an undergraduate degree and want to take the next step into teaching, a Swinburne Master of Teaching will qualify you to teach in primary schools across Australia. You will build on your prior study and develop effective teaching techniques that engage and inspire your students.

Led by experienced education professionals with recent or current teaching practice, this course combines online learning with teaching placements in in real school classrooms. Our students get great feedback from their placement schools – we ensure you are prepared and supported to make your placement a positive experience.

As a Swinburne Online student, you will also have access to unique development opportunities. These include the Swinburne Teachers and Regional Remote Schools (STARS) program, which is part of the Access Quality Teaching Initiative. The program will place you in professional experience placements in regional, remote and/or lower socio-educational advantage schools in Victoria, giving you valuable experience with a diverse range of educational communities.

When you graduate, you’ll be qualified to practice as a primary teacher, with accreditation from the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

This course is not available to international students.

Recommended study pattern

Education Foundation units

Understanding Theories of Teaching, Learning and Development (EDU60017)

Curriculum Development, Assessment and Responsive Pedagogy (EDU60043)

Education Discipline units

Arts and Design Technology in Primary School (EDU70006)

English in Primary School (EDU70007)

Health and Physical Education in Primary School (EDU70008)

Humanities in Primary School (EDU70009)

Mathematics in Primary School (EDU70010)

Science in Primary School (EDU70011)

Advanced Educational units

Understanding Indigenous Education & Perspectives (EDU80012)

Teaching for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDU80014)

Literacy Across the Curriculum (EDU80016)

Numeracy Across the Curriculum (EDU80017)

Supporting Students with English as an Additional Language (EDU80047)

Building and Sustaining Positive Relationships (EDU80048 )

Primary Specialisation (EDU80052)

Supervised Professional Experience units

Supervised Professional Experience 1 (EDU60044)

Supervised Professional Experience 2 (EDU70016)

Supervised Professional Experience 3 (EDU80015)

Placement Requirement - Master of Teaching (Primary):

3 Units x 20 days. Total: 60 days.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Teaching (Primary), students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:

• Two (2) Educational Foundation units (25 credit points)
• Six (6) Educational Discipline units (75 credit points)
• Seven (7) Advanced Educational units (87.5 credit points)
• Two (2) Supervised Professional Experience units (two non-credited units)
• One (1) Supervised Professional Experience units (12.5 credit points)

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

Indicative total fee $51,360

The amounts shown here are 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.

Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

Learn more about Swinburne.

Explore Swinburne courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

17

To gain entry to this course, applicants must have completed a recognised bachelor degree relevant in one or more areas of the Primary curriculum and meet the English language requirements.

CASPer suitability tool

From 2018, under the new AITSL and government Initial Teacher Education (ITE) requirements, all students applying to ITE courses across Australia will need meet suitability for teaching (non-academic selection) criteria as a part of course entry criteria.

If you’re looking to apply for our Master of Teaching (Primary) course, you will need to complete the CASPer suitability tool.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.

Placements are flexible

Professional experience, or placements in primary school settings, form part of the Master of Teaching (Primary) course. Placements are a key part of your education course and are a requirement for teacher registration.

Swinburne Online offers pre-service teachers the unique opportunity to engage in a flexible placement model during each Quarter. This means pre-service teachers are able to choose dates within each Quarter to complete the required number of days specified for each Professional Experience. This flexible model supports Swinburne Online pre-service teachers to organise placements around their work or family commitments.

During this time, all Swinburne Online pre-service teachers are also enrolled in a professional experience or placement unit and are supported by eLearning Advisors (eLAs), who are also teachers themselves. They are passionate professionals with years of industry experience, specially trained for teaching online students. They will help to guide pre-service teachers through their unit content and are on-hand to help with any placement related questions.