Overview
Achieve your dream of becoming a teacher – even if you missed selection for the Bachelor of Education. This education course prepares you to enter the second year of a teaching degree.
This program has been designed for students who didn’t meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education through the VTAC (or direct) selection process.
We help you build the literacy and numeracy skills needed for a career in education, over a longer 16-week semester.
Successful completion earns you a place in the second year of the Bachelor of Education (P-12), where you’ll learn to teach all age groups – from prep to Year 12. For the degree program, you’ll choose a specialist teaching area in:
- art, music, digital media or media studies
- outdoor or physical education (secondary)
- psychology, student welfare
- disability studies in education
- health or food technology
- English literacy studies
- environmental science
- mathematics
- humanities
- biology.
Real classroom experience
If you continue to the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you’ll be job-ready before you graduate – thanks to your extensive experience teaching in a classroom. You’ll be ready to work locally or overseas in a profession with increasing demand around the world.
National & international teaching opportunities
Our teaching degrees offer exciting opportunities for professional experience through work placements, including:
- teaching in rural/remote locations
- overseas study tours in Malaysia, China, Timor Leste and more
- sports, literacy and leadership programs with sporting organisations including the Western Bulldogs
- mentoring school students in university-ready skills
- creative art projects.
Learning advice
VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.
Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.
We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.
Our programs include:
- workshops
- drop-in sessions
- peer mentoring
- maths and writing resources
- resume and career guidance.
We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call back
Build essential literacy and numeracy skills for a career in education, and prepare to enter the second year of a teaching degree.
Careers in education
This course may help you find work as a teacher aide, supporting teachers in their work.
Once you’ve completed the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you could find a rewarding career in a public or private primary or secondary school.
Demand for teachers in Melbourne’s west is high – and set to continue rising. The Department of Planning and Community Development figures predict greater than 40% increase in births in the region in the next five years.
Salaries & job growth
Find salaries, employment predictions and more across the teaching professions:
This course is approved as a pathway program by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), the independent statutory authority for the teaching profession. It is a legal requirement for all teachers to be registered with VIT in order to be employed in a school or early childhood education and care service or Victorian children’s service.
Course structure
To attain the Diploma of Education Studies students will be required to complete:
- 96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) of Core studies
Course structure and units
-
- Unit code
- AEK1006
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1000
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1001
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1004
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1005
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1007
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1008
- Credits
- 12
-
- Unit code
- EDC1010
- Credits
- 12
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
| 1. | Appraise a broad and coherent body of knowledge of in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context; | ||
| 2. | Apply knowledge of educational issues to improve educational practices; | ||
| 3. | Discuss a range of learning theories and identify how they enhance student learning; | ||
| 4. | Develop students' capabilities and capacity in literacy and numeracy that enhance communication for academic contexts, including in the use of Information and Communication Technologies; | ||
| 5. | Foster creative skills and thought processes so as to prepare to confront and pro-actively engage with 21st Century challenges; | ||
| 6. | Develop contextual understandings of contemporary life in a global community, and collaborate with colleagues to promote principles of peace, sustainability, ethical conduct, and political and economic freedom; | ||
| 7. | Articulate and review the concepts of inclusion, equity and access for socially just education; | ||
| 8. | Investigate the changing nature of society to prepare for the development of educational policies and processes relevant to students' needs. |
What's a unit?
A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.
Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.
Credits
Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- Commonwealth supported place pay tuition fees that are partly subsidised by the Australian government
- full fee-paying place need to pay the full amount for all enrolled units before census each study period.
In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admissions
Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.
Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.
Admission criteria
The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.
Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)
- Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
- an Australian or overseas equivalent or
- an International Baccalaureate (IB).
Importance of ATAR for this course
We consider both ATAR and other criteria
ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria
Admission criteria
Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
Why is ATAR not applicable?
You will not need an ATAR score to meet the admission requirements for this course. Only the successful completion of your secondary school studies, and any additional prerequisites. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their prior experience, ATAR, age, socioeconomic or educational background.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study
This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.
Admission criteria
Certificate IV in Liberal Arts (or equivalent).
OR
Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (or equivalent)
Applicants with higher education study
This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.
Admission criteria
Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.
Applicants with work & life experience
This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.
Admission criteria
Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience will be considered for admission to the course.
Additional information
International students from non-English speaking countries are required to demonstrate a minimum IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no score below 6.0 in any of the four skills areas on entry to the program.
Pathways & credits
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Pathways from VU courses
If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.
You will be guaranteed entry only.
You will be guaranteed entry only.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Pathways from other institutions
If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.
Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia
You will be guaranteed entry only.
Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia
You will be guaranteed entry only.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Credit for skills and past study
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.
Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.
Pathways to further study
On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.
Find out more about our study pathways to VU
How to apply
Available start dates:
- 31 July 2023
Before you apply
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
- Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Find out more about applying for our courses.
Apply direct to VU
Direct applications are due on 23 July 2023 for our next intake which starts on 31 July 2023.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now
Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Get help
- Visit a student service centre
- 1300 VIC UNI (1300 842 864)
- Request a call back
- Visit the glossary
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
