On Application

Teaching Capabilities Statement

All students commencing an initial teacher education program in Australia are required to meet both academic (ATAR, STAT or GPA) and non-academic entry requirements. 

The Teaching Capabilities Statement is the non-academic entry requirement and is to be submitted as part of your application (See ‘How do I submit the statement?’ below). It is a 400-600 word submission that helps us understand your suitability to study and work in the teaching profession. It should cover the below dot points: 

• Explain what you think teaching involves
• Outline the personal and academic qualities you possess that will enable you to become an effective teacher
• Describe your attitude to learning and provide an example of something you have learned that was meaningful.

 When submitting the statement, you should: 

• Consider each dot point as important and address each one separately.
• Provide evidence where possible for a statement. For example, if you want to say that you have strong resilience and deal with challenges happily, then give examples of this, such as "my resilience is demonstrated by the fact that during year 12 I was sick for a month with glandular fever and…"
• Remember that evidence may be relevant to more than one dot point – it is acceptable to include the same examples in addressing more than one of the dot points
• Keep to the word limit of between 400-600 words.
• It is up to you how you write your statement. However, writing in the first person best supports your ability to share your personal perspective (for example, “I believe that teaching is…”). Avoid a reporting or resumé style so you can focus on presenting your personal qualities.

Students applying through SATAC: We recommend you draft a response to the questions in Microsoft Word prior to submitting your SATAC application. You will be required to copy and paste into a text box in the online system.  

 Please note once you submit your statement you cannot make any changes or edits. Your submission is final.  

View Teaching Capabilities Statement FAQs

Learning Area Requirements for Master of Teaching Programs 

Learning Area Requirements must form part of the applicants' prior undergraduate degree. 

Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and Master of Teaching (Primary)  

The learning area forms the basis of the Primary specialisation required within the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and Master of Teaching (Primary) degrees according to the requirements of the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia (2015). 

Applicants must have completed:

• A Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution with a competitive GPA, noting that admission is competitive and based on academic merit. 
• Additionally, within their Bachelor degree or equivalent, applicants will need to have completed a total of one year, full-time equivalent study that has direct relationship to one or more Learning Areas that align with the Australian Curriculum primary school curriculum. A minimum of half a year of that study will need to have been focused on only one Learning Area. 

Indicative learning area studies are listed below: 

• Art: Visual Arts, Dance, Performing Arts, Music, Media Arts.  
• English: English Language, English as an Additional Language or Dialect, Literature, Literacy.  
• Mathematics: Numeracy, Number, Measurement, Algebra, Geometry, Probability and Statistics. 
• Science:  Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences. 
• Languages: Languages Other Than English.  
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Economics and Business, Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship.  
• Health and Physical Education: game sport analysis and pedagogy, fitness and lifestyle, outdoor education, principles teaching and coaching, health education, dance education. 
• Technologies: Food and Textiles, Design and Technology, Digital Technologies. 

Master of Teaching (Secondary)  

Applicants must have completed:

• A Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution with a competitive GPA, noting that admission is competitive and based on academic merit; and
• a major and preferably a minor (not essential) in the Learning Area in which they intend to specialise, aligned with the Australian Curriculum.

The Discipline Specific Learning Areas aligned to the Australian Curriculum include: 

• Arts Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Arts Education. These include dance, drama, media arts, music, and visual arts. Applicants for Arts Education may qualify with a major and a minor in different Arts areas or a minor in a different approved learning area.
• English Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to English Education. Studies must include English language, literacy and literature (including, but not limited to, poetry, prose, dramatic literatures, children’s literature, postcolonial literatures, diaspora, and literary theory). Applicants will normally have completed a major in English and a minor in a different approved learning area.
• Health and Physical Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Health and Physical Education, such as Human Movement. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Health and Physical Education and a minor in a different approved learning area. A completed degree in Sport & Recreation Management or Exercise and Sport Science or equivalent will not be considered for entry.
• Humanities and Social Sciences Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Humanities and Social Sciences. Studies could include Geography, History, Civics & Citizenship, Economics and Business. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Humanities and Social Sciences and a minor in a different approved learning area.
• Languages Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major learning area relevant to Languages Education. These include Languages Other Than English. Applicants will have completed a major in Languages and a minor in a different approved discipline-specific learning area aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
• Mathematics Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Mathematics Education. Studies must include algebra and geometry and may include statistics and probability. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Mathematics and a minor in a different approved learning area.
• Science Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Science Education. Studies must include Biology, Chemistry or Physics and may also include Earth & Environmental Sciences. Applicants for Science Education may qualify with a major and minor in different Science areas or a minor in a different approved learning area.