Bachelor of Primary Education

School of Education

At The University of Notre Dame Australia, we pride ourselves on creating job-ready graduates who are in great demand in the workforce. This is especially true of our Education degrees, where you will be supported through in-depth mentoring by practising teachers and academics. Designed to be completed over four years of full-time study, the Bachelor of Primary Education is a comprehensive degree that combines crucial theory with approximately 27 weeks of practical supervised teaching experience.

• Why study this degree?

  Is your ambition to teach young children? If so, this four-year teaching degree from The University of Notre Dame Australia is the ideal choice, combining educational theory and classroom learning with considerable hands-on professional experience at prior to school/early childhood settings and primary schools across New South Wales and beyond. Over the four-year degree, you will be expected to complete approximately 27 weeks of supervised teaching.

  Fully accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), your Bachelor of Primary Education will provide you with the opportunity to teach in all sectors of school including:  Catholic, Government, Independent and prior to school/early childhood settings throughout Australia and in many other parts of the world.

  Notre Dame’s School of Education in Sydney has received recognition from International Baccalaureate (IB) to provide selected graduates with the prestigious IB certificate in teaching and learning qualification. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to apply to the IB Organisation for the IB certificate in teaching and learning.

  Please note: Initial Teacher Education students must have achieved a standard of three Band 5 (one in English) and a Band 4 Mathematics results on admission, or must alternatively be admitted and successfully pass eight discipline (non-ITE) courses in their first full-time year of university study to be eligible to enrol in curriculum and pedagogy courses or undertake supervised professional experience. All teacher Education students in NSW are required to enrol, pay and sit the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) and demonstrate the required minimum level of personal literacy and numeracy prior to their final professional experience. Students are encouraged to sit the test early in their degree.

• Program summary

  Year One
  Students are required to take six  (6) courses and two (2) CORE  courses in Year One.

  • The Global Citizen
  • Mathematics and Numeracy
  • Academic Skills and Digital Literacy
  • English Language and Literacy
  • Learning and Development
  • Science and Technology
  • CORE: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE: Elective

  Year Two

  • Foundational Principles of Teaching
  • Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
  • Mathematical Foundations and Perspectives
  • Reading, Viewing and Listening
  • Visual Arts
  • Australia and the World
  • Reading and Literacy in the Early Years
  • Professional Experience 1: Primary
  • 1 Specialisation course

  Year Three

  • Mathematical Understanding and Fluency
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: Culturally Responsive Connections
  • Science and Technology: Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • Music, Dance and Drama
  • Inclusive Education
  • Writing, Representing and Speaking
  • Professional Experience 2: Primary
  • 1 Specialisation course

  Year Four

  • Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
  • Professional Engagement
  • 1 Elective
  • Professional Experience 3: Internship
  • 2 Specialisation courses

  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.

  Specialisation courses in Religious Education and Early Childhood Education, and course requirements relating to the International Baccalaureate Education pathway are undertaken across the four years of the program.

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

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements NSW

  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

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 2 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 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 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 Primary Education graduates will be able to:

  1. Apply evidence-based learning and teaching approaches that demonstrate expert judgement in being inclusive of all learners
  2. Synthesise relevant curriculum to design and implement pedagogy that responds to a diverse range of learners
  3. Apply advanced literacy and numeracy knowledge and skill across all curricular areas
  4. Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of scholarly practice to extend professional understanding through inquiry and research
  5. Establish dispositions of critical reflection to continually improve the teaching and learning cycle
  6. Integrate creative, effective, and contemporary information and communication technologies to enhance learning
  7. Interpret student data to design and implement authentic assessment to report on and improve student learning
  8. Articulate professional values and ethical standards that demonstrate a commitment to secure socially just and sustainable futures for learners; and
  9. Engage appropriately and effectively with parents and caregivers and other educational stakeholders to inform responses to education priorities.

• Practical component

  Students are required to complete approximately 27 weeks of professional experience as indicated in the Bachelor of Primary Education Award Requirements. To be able to undertake Professional Experience all students must complete a Working with Children Check, Anaphylaxis e-training, Child Protection Awareness Training and sign the DoE Consent Form. Please visit this page for further details.

• Career opportunities

  The following careers are open to graduates of this program:

  • Catholic schools
  • Independent schools
  • Government schools
  • Prior to school settings: Early Childhood Education & Care centres, and Family Day Care centres.

  Furthermore, when gaining your International Baccalaureate Certification, you will have an edge when it comes to teaching at one of 4500 International Baccalaureate schools in over 100 countries.

• 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

  This degree is fully accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Australian children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

• 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 give 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.

  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

• 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 2 8204 4404 or email sydney@nd.edu.au.

  
  

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