Bachelor of Education (Primary)

School of Education

If you are passionate about teaching children and fostering an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, The University of Notre Dame Australia’s  Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree is the ideal choice for you. The four-year degree has flexible full-time or part-time study options available. Our degree will prepare you to teach primary-aged children in Catholic, Independent and Government Schools in Australia. Contact us today to be the future of education.

• Why study this degree?

  If you want to share your knowledge and shape the minds of primary-aged children, we recommend the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) qualification. This nationally recognised four-year teaching degree combines educational theory and classroom learning with an essential practical component.

  When you study for a Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree at Notre Dame you will be inspired by our innovative approach to teaching and learning with the latest in learning technologies. Our degree will provide the academic skills you need to support, engage, and extend primary-aged children by integrating theory and practice.

  As part of your degree, you will choose one specialist subject area. So follow your passion and choose from Science, HASS, Special Needs, Drama, Service Learning and Social Justice, Mathematics, and English.

  You will complete 32 weeks of school-based professional teaching practice as an integral part of your degree. You will experience total immersion in a classroom environment and gain valuable insights into your chosen career. Get in touch today to find out more.

  Please note: Education students in WA must sit the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). The test is administered externally by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). You must register and pay for the test.

• Program summary

  Year One

  • Information Literacy Skills for Education Studies
  • Introduction to ICT for Teachers
  • Introduction to Teaching and the Curriculum Framework
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Classroom Immersion: Primary (2 weeks professional experience)
  • English 1: Functional Literacy
  • Mathematics 1: Introduction to Mathematics Teaching and Learning
  • Psychological Principles of Classroom Management
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Introduction to the New Testament
  • One Specialisation Subject

  Year Two

  • Introduction to Teaching Skills
  • School Experience 1: Primary (10 weeks professional experience)
  • Teaching Method 1: Primary
  • English 2: Reading & Viewing
  • Transforming Learning Through ICT
  • Mathematics 2: Number and Algebra
  • STEM in the Primary Years
  • Principles of Primary Religious Education 1
  • Humanities  and Social Sciences 1
  • One Specialisation Subject

  Year Three

  • School Experience 2: Primary (10 weeks professional experience)
  • Teaching Method 2: Primary
  • Drama, Dance and Visual Arts
  • English 3: Writing and Spelling
  • Mathematics 3: Measurement and Geometry
  • Advanced Teaching Skills
  • Primary Science
  • Music Education
  • Catering for Students with Special Needs
  • Sacraments in Catholic Tradition
  • One Specialisation Subject

  Year Four

  • Principles of Primary Religious Education 2
  • Humanities and Social Sciences 2
  • Mathematics 4: Statistics and Probability
  • English 4: Oral Language, Speaking and Listening
  • Working with Indigenous Students
  • Professional and Legal Responsibilities of the Teacher
  • Christology
  • Teaching Internship: Primary (10 weeks professional experience)
  • One Specialisation Subject

  Specialisation Subjects

  • Science
  • HASS
  • Special Needs
  • Drama
  • Service Learning and Social Justice
  • Mathematics
  • English

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements WA

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below.  In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency.  We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program.  See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Education (Primary) graduates will:

  1. Demonstrate the required knowledge of curriculum as prescribed in the WA Syllabus documents and the Australian Curriculum
  2. Employ effective practices for planning and implementing teaching and learning engagements for children of diverse backgrounds and abilities, and based on sound understandings of pedagogy that draw on research and theory
  3. Demonstrate learning gained from applying on-campus studies of research-based theory in multiple, varied and extended Professional Experience opportunities with accomplished teachers in a mentoring context in classrooms and schools
  4. Have established relevant and current understandings of child development for the physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and cultural domains that will enable accurate and useful planning, programming, and assessment of learning and for learning
  5. Utilise skills for engaging appropriately and effectively with parents and caregivers, as well as stakeholder professionals and external organisations, through the acquisition of a wide and varied repertoire of assessment, evaluation, reporting and communication strategies; and
  6. Exemplify dispositions of critical reflection for
     1. The continual improvement of teaching
     2. Commitment to ongoing learning to maintain and improve knowledge and skills
     3. Effective collaboration to engage with professional colleagues within and beyond the school
     4. Mindfulness of all aspects of children’s achievement and wellbeing within schools and school systems.

• Practical component

  You will complete 32 weeks of teaching practice in various Primary School settings.

  • EDUC1391 Professional Experience 1 Primary (2 continuous weeks in duration – 80 hours)
  • EDUC2394 Professional Experience 2 Primary (10 continuous weeks in duration – 400 hours)
  • EDUC3394 Professional Experience 3 Primary (10 continuous weeks in duration – 400 hours)
  • EDUC4391 Professional Experience 4 Primary (10 continuous weeks in duration – 400 hours)

  To be able to undertake Professional Experience all students must complete a Working with Children Check, and an Education Policy History Check. Students must maintain valid checks throughout the duration of their program.

• Career opportunities

  Teachers graduating with a Bachelor of Education (primary) will be able to work in Australia as primary school teachers in Catholic, Independent and Government schools.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Professional accreditation

  The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is accredited by the national body the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) via the agency of the Teachers Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).

• Study abroad

  A global perspective adds a valuable dimension to your university education. At Notre Dame University you can study while experiencing the world. We encourage students to become active global citizens through a range of exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit International Opportunities to find out more.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  
  

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  
  

  International Full-Fee Paying
  Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

  
  

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• Student profile data

  The tables below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Fremantle Student Profile Data

  TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Education (Primary) BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	37	46%
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	N/P
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	<5	N/P
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	<5	N/P
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	8	10%
  Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	29	36%
  International students	N/A	N/A
  All students	81	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Education (Primary) ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	90.30	94.30
  Median rank to receive an offer	78.43	81.425
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	65.05	70.00

  Sydney Student Profile Data

  TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Primary Education BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	17	10%
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	N/P
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	8	4%
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	N/A	N/A
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	9	5%
  Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	142	80%
  International students	N/A	N/A
  All students	178	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Primary Education ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	91.25	93.25
  Median rank to receive an offer	78.75	84.00
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	62.30	70.30

  Notes:  

  “<5” – the number of students is less than 5
  N/A – Students not accepted in this category
  N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

  In 2022, due to COVID, additional adjustment factor points were granted to applicants from NSW, ACT and VIC.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?

  Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.

  
  

  For more information, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 8 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.

  
  

  All international enquiries should contact the International Students Office on international@nd.edu.au.