Secondary education courses

A secondary education degree means you can teach students between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. If you're interested in teaching younger students, you may want to consider a primary education course.

It depends on the path that you choose. 

If you jump straight into an approved secondary teaching degree, it will take you 4 years of full-time study to complete a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) and become a teacher. If you already have an undergraduate degree in another discipline, you can fast-track your progress by enrolling in a Master of Teaching (Secondary Education). This will only take 2 years to complete full time.  

With a flexible online study path, you can choose how many subjects you take at once and graduate at a faster or slower pace.   

Read more about how to become a secondary school teacher.

If you don’t have the ATAR needed to get into a secondary education degree, there are other ways to gain entry. Through Open Universities Australia, there are two study pathways you can consider: 

An undergraduate certificate: If you didn’t complete Year 12 or get the required ATAR, you can enrol in an undergraduate certificate in education, such as the Undergraduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching Education Studies. This certificate has no entry requirements and is open to everyone. After completing the four subjects, you can continue straight into a Bachelor of Education with full academic credit.  

Single subjects: If you’re not quite sure teaching is the right fit for you, you can enrol in single subjects from a Bachelor of Education, such as Professional Teaching Practice 1, without an ATAR. This lets you explore whether the study area is right for you before committing fully. Once you’ve completed your subject or subjects, you can either decide to step away or use them to qualify for entry into the full degree. 

A consultation with a student advisor is a great way to gain more information about which study pathway is best for you.

In a secondary education degree, you’ll learn how to:  

• Design and deliver engaging lesson plans based on the Australian curriculum.  

• Manage and lead a diverse classroom, adapting to different learning styles and abilities.  

• Use technology effectively in the classroom to enhance learning.  

• Assess student progress and provide constructive feedback.  

• Understand adolescent development and behaviour to support student wellbeing.

Studying a secondary education course online offers flexibility and convenience, allowing you to balance study with other commitments. You’ll engage with a variety of interactive materials, such as lectures, readings, and discussion forums, all designed to enhance your learning experience. 

Online study also gives you the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students and lecturers from across Australia, providing a rich learning community. While the format is flexible, you’ll still gain practical teaching skills and knowledge through structured coursework, ensuring you’re fully prepared for your career.

Yes! When you study an online education degree, you’ll still go on teaching placements. These placements give you hands-on experience in the classroom, where you’ll apply your learning in a practical setting. Your university will help arrange these placements, and they are a key part of becoming a qualified teacher, ensuring your education is both theoretical and practical.

Yes, you may be eligible to apply for a weekly Commonwealth Prac Payment to help cover your living costs while you're on placement.

You can apply for this payment through your chosen university.

Visit our Commonwealth Prac Payment page to read more about how it works and whether you're eligible.

Secondary teaching students must choose 2 teaching specialisations. Your options are:  

• Arts (Visual Arts or Drama) 

• English 

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) 

• Mathematics 

• Physical Education 

• Science 

• Technologies 

If you’d like to support students with disability or other diverse learning needs, you may like to consider studying a special education course after you have qualified as a teacher.

There are a wide range of careers you can explore beyond teaching in a classroom, including:  

• Education consultant  

• Curriculum developer  

• Education administrator or coordinator  

• Private tutor  

• Educational content creator  

• Youth worker or mentor  

• Policy advisor in education  

And if you’re interested in progressing your career, an education leadership course can help you get there.

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

• Browse the options on this page.

• Use our comparison tool to explore the different choices.

• Need help? Book a free phone consultation with a student advisor for personalised guidance.

2. Start your enrolment

• When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

• Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

• You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of identity

  • Your tax file number

  • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.