Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Education (Primary) |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Deakin course code | E359 |
| Course version | 7 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent or 3 years full-time accelerated mode* |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 118365B Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
| Supplementary Information | * An optional accelerated course structure is available in this course, allowing students to complete the course in 3-years duration by enrolling into 8 consecutive trimesters. Students undertaking the accelerated course structure are required to enrol in Trimester 3 of the first and second year of the course. All students are advised to seek course advice prior to attempting the accelerated course structure from Student Central. International students on a student visa who complete the course earlier than the registered 4-year course duration will have their early completions reported to the Department of Home Affairs, resulting in their CoEs updating to ‘Finished’ status. International students who complete the course early are required to either enrol into another CRICOS registered course that is of the same AQF level as their visa was granted for or depart Australia within 28-days from the date of their early completion reporting. International students are advised to seek visa advice by contacting a Registered Migration Agent on the MARA website. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Build a solid foundation in primary curriculum (foundation to Year 6) and graduate in-demand and classroom-ready when you study Deakin’s accredited Bachelor of Education (Primary). Learn how to teach across a range of subjects and specialisations from mathematics, science, the arts and literacy.
Ranked #3 in Australia and #13 worldwide for education and educational research*, Deakin is the only university to embed the Berry Street Education Model into all of our initial teaching degrees. You’ll graduate equipped with practical, trauma-informed strategies to support every learner. You’ll know how to manage safe, healthier and more engaging learning environments and build positive classroom relationships to promote academic success – giving you and your employer confidence.
Fast-track your career with our accelerated learning option. Achieve a four-year equivalent qualification in only three years of full-time study if you undertake selected units in Trimester 3.
Want to inspire the next generation and make a real difference as a primary school educator?
Our industry-shaped courses are developed and reviewed with input from professional educators and the education sector, meaning your learning will be highly relevant to your future teaching career. Build your confidence under the expert guidance of experienced staff who are recognised leaders and innovators in their fields.
Our Professional Experience Program will give you real-life teaching experience with guaranteed placements throughout your degree. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we will arrange at least 80 days of placements for you in schools where you will learn from experienced teachers. You will also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for your teaching career.
Choose a specialisation and develop advanced skills in a priority area of the primary curriculum, such as:
- health and physical education
- humanities
- English
- mathematics
- science
- the arts.
Broaden your perspective by choosing to take part in our rural, regional, remote, or metropolitan placements. You will have the opportunity to learn within a diverse range of communities in Australia or learn about intercultural education when you travel overseas – all while gaining credit towards your degree.
To be considered for an offer, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
* U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2025-2026
Indicative student workload
Typically 150-hours of learning and assessment activities per Deakin credit point (as per AQF Explanation).
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a nationally accredited course and students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon graduation. If you intend to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate you may be required to provide further information.
Applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory, carefully.
Career opportunities
Employment in education and training is projected to grow by 12.4% or 150,100 new jobs by 2034 according to Australia Government employment projections.^ Deakin’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) will equip you with the practical skills, classroom experience and networks needed to begin a successful career in education. You’ll graduate ready to teach in primary schools setting in the public, Catholic or independent education sectors. Graduates may also find work across a diverse range of fields including in:
- community services
- government agencies
- not-for-profit organisations.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
^2024 Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections May 2024 to May 2034.
Participation requirements
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
This course includes 80-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA)*. This must be complete in the final year of study. Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards. Students who do not pass the DTPA must seek advice from the course director.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Teacher Education Graduation requirements
Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.
Working with Children Check
Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.
Inherent requirements
It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Deakin University initial teacher education inherent requirements.
Immunisations
Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.
Pathways
Don’t quite meet the entry requirements for this course? The Associate Degree of Education (E200) can be used as a guaranteed entry pathway into the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and counts as credit towards your first year of study*. You’ll gain a solid foundation of relevant knowledge and be ready to transition seamlessly into your goal degree.
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) provides an approved pathway from the Associate Degree of Education (E200)*. On successful completion of the Associate Degree of Education students are eligible to articulate (or pathway) into the Bachelor of Education (Primary) into the second year of the course.
Applicants who have completed the Advanced Diploma of Rudolph Steiner Education may articulate into the Bachelor of Education (Primary). Applicants are advised to contact the Faculty (details above) for course advice and credit arrangements.
All Applicants into E359 Bachelor of Education (Primary) must complete an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes. Deakin University is using the Casper test. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.
* Specific units of study must be completed within E200 for full credit to be granted. You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system. We recommend speaking with one of our student advisers before selecting your units. Students are also required to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career – as part of the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary).
Contact Hours
For each unit of study, you are expected to participate in at least three hours of formal contact each week of trimester. A minimum of 6-hours of study time in addition to the formal contact is also expected for each unit each week.
You will complete a minimum of 80-days supervised school experience over the duration of the course, providing hands-on experience in a primary school setting.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Acquire broad and coherent theoretical knowledge and understanding of education and the application of this knowledge and skills in teaching and learning, particularly for primary school contexts |
| Communication | Engage in appropriately diverse effective interpersonal, oral, written, digital and non-verbal communication with students, their parents or caregivers, colleagues and other stakeholders to demonstrate empathy, develop rapport and build professional teacher/ student/ parent/ caregiver relationships with trust for quality learning and teaching. |
| Digital literacy | Select, collect, use and create a range of digital teaching and learning resources and technologies to support student engagement and learning. |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate and synthesise contemporary research and theoretical perspectives relating to teaching, student learning, and using diverse assessment data to make judgements about the use of appropriate teaching, learning and assessment strategies. |
| Problem solving | Critically reflect on professional practice to generate creative, innovative and authentic solutions to a range of real-world problems encountered in the learning and teaching contexts and professional learning communities. |
| Self-management | Actively work and learn independently with responsibility taken for professional actions and judgements |
| Teamwork | Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals, families and members of the wider community who share responsibility for student learning and their wellbeing. |
| Global citizenship | Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self-knowledge of decolonial praxis in the design, delivery and evaluation of teaching and learning that honours and respects the educational expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and diverse learners, families and communities. |
Approved by Faculty Board
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Education (Primary) you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
- ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
- ETI010 Trauma Informed Practice (zero (0) credit points)
- ESL010 Science Education Lab Safety Induction (0-credit- point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
- 31 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of advanced study according to primary subject specialisation
- a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
- a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 or above
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full- time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
To be completed in the first year of study:
| ETI010 | Trauma Informed Practice (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
| ELN010 | Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
| ELN011 | Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
| ESL010 | Science Education Lab Safety Induction (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
Year 1
| ECL101 | Science of Reading |
| EEH116 | Teaching Primary Health and Physical Education |
| EEO101 | Teaching Primary Humanities 1 |
| EES102 | Scientific Knowledge for Primary Teachers |
| ETP103 | Foundations of Teaching: Becoming a Professional |
| ETP104 | Foundations of Teaching: Planning for Teaching and Learning |
| ESM102 | Mathematical Knowledge for Primary Teachers |
| EDU210 | The Brain and Learning |
Year 2
| ECL210 | Multiliterate Learners in Early Years Environments |
| ETP200 | Classroom Management |
| ESM201 | Teaching Primary Mathematics and Numeracy: F-2 |
| EES245 | Teaching Primary Science 1 |
| ETP202 | Classroom Pedagogies |
| ECA215 | Teaching Primary Creative and Performing Arts 1 |
| IND202 | Decolonising Teaching and Learning: Recognition, Relationships and Reconciliation on Unceded Lands |
| EWB205 | Creating an Inclusive Primary Classroom |
Year 3
| EEO312 | Teaching Primary Humanities 2 |
| ETP304 | Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Feedback Practices |
| ETP305 | Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Feedback Application |
| ECL310 | Teaching Primary English and Literacy: 3-6 |
| ESM304 | Teaching Primary Mathematics and Numeracy: Years 3-6 |
| EES344 | Teaching Primary Science 2 |
| EWB300 | Supporting Students with Additional Needs in the Primary Classroom |
Plus:
- 1 credit point specialisation unit from the table below;
Year 4
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
| ECL402 | Literacy and Numeracy Across the Primary Curriculum |
| ECA415 | Teaching Primary Creative and Performing Arts 2 |
| EPR786 | Transition to the Profession 1 |
| EPR787 | Transition to the Profession 2 |
| ECL410 | Teaching Primary English and Decision Making |
| EWB404 | Teaching Primary Health and Wellbeing |
| EWB405 | Teacher Wellbeing and Longevity in the Profession |
Specialisations
English (SP-E359010)
| ALL153 | Literature for Children and Young Adults |
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
Mathematics (SP-E359009)
| SIT190 | Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs |
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
Science (SP-E359003)
| SLE103 | Ecology and the Environment |
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
Humanities (SP-E359004)
| IND101 | Introduction to Aboriginal Studies |
OR
| IND102 | Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines |
and
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
Physical Education (SP- E359011)
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
The Arts (SP-E359012)
| IND102 | Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines |
| ETP405 | Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
Work experience
Professional Experience Placement
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is undertaken under the banner of Professional Experience Placements; however, it is important to note the other activities that have been undertaken throughout the review period that contribute to WIL outcomes. Students in ECL410 and EES440 complete these units through an embedded school-based delivery model to support the application of knowledge in practice and with the support of classroom-based teachers.
Students will satisfactorily complete 80-days of professional experience placement in primary education settings, as outlined below:
- ETP103 Foundations of Teaching: Becoming a Professional: 5-day on-site professional observation experience (placement) in a primary school, 1 day in each of the following areas:
Foundation
Year 1 or 2 or Year 1/2
Year 3 or 4 or Year 3/4
Year 5 or 6 of Year 5/6
Specialist area/s - ETP104 Foundations of Teaching: Planning for Teaching and Learning: 10-day on-site professional experience (placement, to be completed in a 2-week block) per trimester.
- ETP200 Classroom Management: 10-day on-site professional experience (placement) completed once day per week over the trimester.
- ETP202 Classroom Pedagogies: 15-day on-site professional experience (placement) (10 days completed once day per week over the trimester and 5 days in a block at the end of the trimester).
- ETP304 Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Feedback Practices: 10 day placement completed in a two week block during the trimester.
- ETP305 Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment and Feedback Application: 10-day placement completed in a two week block during the trimester.
- EPR786 Transition to the Profession 1: 20-day placement completed in a four week block.
The School of Education Professional Experience Office makes all arrangements for preservice teacher placements. The number of professional experience days align with requirements of external regulatory authorities (Victorian Institute of Teaching VIT).
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.