The University of Sydney

Master of Teaching

Graduate

Details

University Location Sydney, New South Wales
City Population 6 million
Student Population 73,000
Int'l Student Population 10,600
Main Campus Camperdown / Darlington
Program Campus Camperdown/Darlington
Program Duration 2 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $49,500 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake February
Next Available Intake 2025
Application Deadline January 14 each year*

Overview

First offered in 1996, the University of Sydney’s Master of Teaching was the first of its kind in Australia and remains one of the most successful teaching training programs in the nation. The program includes significant contact with students, teachers, parents and administrators in school and community contexts.

The University of Sydney has an international reputation for excellence. Many of its MTeach students are offered full-time employment before completing their degrees. Sydney graduates’ outstanding performance in their profession has contributed to the reputation the program has–in Australia and overseas–for providing leadership and innovation in teacher education.

 

Program

Master of Teaching Primary

The Master of Teaching Primary program is designed for those who wish to teach Kindergarten to Grade 6.

As a Sydney teacher education student, you will undertake an internship of at least 40 days (usually 45 days) in a primary school during the second semester of your second year the program. Internship placements are approved by the faculty, and your placements will be in an area in which you are enrolled and are conditionally certified to teach. During the internship, you will be assigned to one or more mentor teachers, usually in a single discipline area, and will be responsible for teaching one or more classes for a total of between 14 and 17 lesson periods per week.

Primary
Applicants for the MTeach (Primary Education) must have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) that included either studies of at least one year (2 units) in each of four different Key Learning Areas (KLAs) listed below; or studies of at least one year (2 units) in two KLAs listed in the table plus studies of at least two years (4 units) in a third KLA.

  • Health and Physical Education
  • English
  • Creative and Practical Arts
  • Science and Technology
  • Human Society and Its Environment
  • Math

Applicants who are 1 or 2 units (up to one half of a semester of full-time study) short of meeting the prerequisites for admission to the Master of Teaching may be given special permission to study the deficient units at another faculty or institution while also studying for their teaching qualification.

Master of Teaching  Secondary

The Master of Teaching Secondary is designed for those who wish to teach grades 7 though 12.

If your ambition is to teach science, mathematics or languages, you can study one of these as a double-method teaching area, and you won’t need to study a second area. Alternatively, you can choose to study two single-method teaching areas, potentially broadening your future employment options.

You will gain hands-on experience with 40 days of teaching practice in schools, a 45-day internship and a professional research project. This experience will ensure you develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to become a successful teacher at early childhood, primary or secondary level.

Secondary
1st Teaching Method is a core teaching specialization. It corresponds to the “major” area of study completed at undergraduate level. The New South Wales Institute of Teachers requires applicants for accreditation to have met the prerequisites for one 1st Teaching Method in order qualify for accreditation as a secondary-school teacher.

2nd Teaching Method (if any) is an area of (lesser) specialization. It corresponds to a “minor” area of study completed at undergraduate degree. Some areas such as “Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages” and “Classical Hebrew and Judaism” can only be studied as a second Teaching Method.

Some combinations of secondary teaching methods:

  • English/History-Modern
  • Math/Science
  • Math only (double method)
  • Science only (double method — e.g., Chemistry/Biology)
  • Business Studies/Legal Studies
  • Languages/TESOL

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have an undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution; and have completed undergraduate subject areas that satisfy the subject specialist requirements of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (as listed above).

Applicants who are one unit (equivalent to one quarter of a semester of full-time study) short of meeting the prerequisites for one single-method curriculum area, or two units short of meeting the prerequisites for two curriculum areas (as either two single-method curriculum areas or one double-method curriculum area) may be given special permission to study the deficient units concurrently with another faculty or at another institution.

Admission Timeline

*While Sydney has a general application deadline of January 14 each year, you are encouraged to apply a minimum of 6 months prior to the program start date.