Entry Requirements

All applications to commence study in our Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching degrees require applicants to submit a 400-600 word Teaching Capabilities Statement in addition to your SATAC application.

This supports the national priority to ensure those entering the teaching profession have the personal qualities to best support learners and graduate as classroom ready teachers. The Teaching Capabilities Statement complies with the national Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) initial teacher education program standard of academic and non-academic entry requirements. 

View Teaching Capabilities Statement FAQs

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 in their three-year Bachelor degree, one year of full-time equivalent study relevant to one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum (Arts, English, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technologies).  
• At least half of the learning area studies must be in a single 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 three-year Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognized higher education institution
• A major and preferably a minor in the Learning Area in which they intend to specialise, aligning with the Australian Curriculum (Majors consist of a minimum of 6 courses/27 units or equivalent with a minimum of 2 courses at Australian 2nd year undergraduate level or equivalent. Minors consist of a minimum of 4 courses/18 units or equivalent with a minimum of 2 courses at Australian 2nd year undergraduate level or equivalent.

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 must include Geography and History, and should also include 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 & 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.

In the lead-up to each professional experience placement you need to ensure that a number of important pre-requisites and requirements are completed or satisfied. It is your important professional responsibility to ensure that you undertake to do this.

A full list of these requirements are available here.

To ensure the safety of children and young people in education and care settings, it is a requirement that all adults working in education and care sites have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) from the Department of Human Services (DHS).

South Australia has strong, effective and transparent screening laws for people working or volunteering with children. Prior to your current Child Related Employment Screening (CRES) expiring, you will need to apply for a WWCC.

Please note:
1. The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) is now called Department of Human Services (DHS).
2. A Police Check from SA Police (SAPOL) is different to the CRES from DCSI or WWCC from DHS.

Your Working with Children Check (WWCC) must be completed prior to being eligible for placement and can take up to 6 weeks to be processed. Strict confidentiality is maintained during the screening process. The University has no influence over the timeline or outcome of the screening application as the screening process is undertaken by DHS.

All education students enrolled in programs at UniSA and who are completing any in-school or site (i.e. preschools and childcare settings) observations, activities or professional experience placements, must undertake mandatory training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect prior to the commencement of the activities or placements.

In South Australia child protection legislation and policy require all organisations to establish and promote child safe environments. Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect training is required of all individuals working with children and young people.

All students who complete their program as of the 1 January 2019 and beyond will be required to meet the required standard in the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to graduation.

Students will undertake the national literacy and numeracy tests during the first year of their program. Students will be required to meet the standard of each test as a prerequisite for their final Professional Experience Placement course.

The University will provide a range of supports for students who do not achieve the required standard in either the literacy or numeracy or both tests. Students will be allowed three attempts at each test. Any student who fails to meet the standard on three occasions in either the literacy or numeracy test will usually be counselled to transfer to an alternative program.

Preservice Teachers enrolled in the Early Childhood strand must complete Basic Emergency Life Support (via Department for Education) or Applied First Aid before commencing the following courses:

• EDUC 1044 Professional Experience 1: Birth—Three Years (Undergraduate)
• EDUC 5186 Professional Experience and Reflection 1: Introduction to Early Childhood Educators' Practices (Postgraduate)

It is your responsibility to register for training at any Registered Training Organisation that facilitates First Aid Training.

First Aid Training Adelaide CBD also offer Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Basic Emergency Life Support (BELS) First Aid training every day of the week. Register online at their website.

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed the training prior undertaking your placements.