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Tertiary education courses

Get ready to teach at university and support adult learners

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Introduction to Tertiary education

Whether you’re currently teaching at university or TAFE, work in curriculum and learning design, or manage student academic success programs, a tertiary teaching course could help bring fresh perspectives to your career. 

Get involved in educational research, discover new methods and technologies for effective learning, examine contemporary approaches to assessment and evaluation, and so much more. 

Start here to compare the tertiary teaching courses that are available online with leading universities.   

Explore tertiary education courses
Open Universities Australia student, Louise, standing in front of a whiteboard.
Louise studied education with Curtin University through Open Universities Australia

Discover tertiary education courses

Online tertiary education degrees

Curtin University

Transform your tertiary teaching practice

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
University of Notre Dame Australia

Become a more effective higher education teacher

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
University of Notre Dame Australia

A step on your journey in university teaching

Study method
100% online
University of Notre Dame Australia

Specialised teaching knowledge for higher education research and practice

Study method
100% online
Torrens University Australia

Help students overcome barriers to learning

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

Study tertiary education with leading Australian universities.

Explore tertiary education courses

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Our student advisors are here to guide you with expert advice on:

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  • Understanding your funding options

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Tertiary education study FAQs

What is a tertiary learning and teaching course?

Tertiary learning and teaching courses are for educators who already teach or design curriculums at a university level. They are also for TAFE and vocational teachers who want to teach higher education courses. 

Whether you’re early in your career or have years of experience, these courses can enrich your planning, instruction, assessment and evaluation skills—helping improve your students’ learning experience. 

To enter a tertiary teaching course, you will typically already have at least a bachelor degree in your field. 

You can enrol in higher education teaching qualifications at the graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters level, with one articulating into the next.

What will I learn?

In the graduate certificate, you’ll cover core topics such as the design of higher education learning programs, best practice for assessing and evaluating students, and innovation in teaching. 

The graduate diploma expands on the graduate certificate, with additional units—on researching the practice of teaching to explore solutions for current challenges in higher education learning, on how to teach diverse student groups, leadership and much more. 

At the masters degree level, you’ll study all of the above, plus improve your scholarly reading and writing skills and even design and work on a pedagogical action research project. 

Some courses will help you build a portfolio of evidence of your teaching philosophy. 

Why should I study learning and teaching for higher education?

These courses will help you go after new career opportunities. Maybe you want to go after a promotion, move into a different role, increase your chances of securing funding for educational research projects, or get published.

If you’re already a lecturer or professor at university, you’re undoubtedly an expert in your field of study, but perhaps wish you were better at transmitting your knowledge to your students. 

A higher education teaching qualification could help you be more effective in this portion of your job. You’ll even find units on supervising postgraduate research students in some tertiary teaching courses. 

Why should I study learning and teaching for higher education online?

It's a flexible way to upskill while maintaining balance in your life. 

Most of the university teaching courses available through us are 100% online, which means you won’t have to take time off work to attend campus for classes. Plus, you can adjust your course load to suit your schedule—taking as little as one subject at a time. 

Find out more by speaking to our friendly student advisors.

What jobs will I be able to get with my qualification?

If you’re teaching at an institution that offers both TAFE and higher education courses, you open yourself up to teaching at the degree level. 

Already working at a university? A tertiary teaching course could help you move into leadership roles within your department or faculty. 

For curriculum designers, learning designers and those whose roles are focused on improving student learning outcomes, you’ll position yourself for senior and leadership roles in your specialised field. 

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

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We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 523,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

The University of Notre Dame Australia logoThe University of Newcastle logo
Swinburne University logoMacquarie University logo
Bond University logoJames Cook University Australia logo
Torrens University Australia logoUniversity of New England logo
University of Southern Queensland logoUniversity of Adelaide logo
RMIT University logoSouthern Cross University logo
Edith Cowan University logoThe University of Queensland logo
University of Tasmania logoUniversity of the Sunshine Coast logo
University of South Australia logoAustralian Catholic University logo
Australian National University logoGriffith University logo
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