Teaching and education courses
Every way into a school classroom starts with a degree. A music education degree is the quickest route at some universities, while the other teaching degrees take longer. Here's which course leads to which classroom, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 3 years
- Bachelor degree, typical full time length
- What the jobs pay
- $99,100 to $130,900
- median pay across 4 jobs
- Demand
- 2 of 4 jobs
- are on the national shortage list
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
Bachelor of Music (Music Education)
Become a music teacher
Teach classroom music and instruments in a school, and help students learn to play, sing and read music.
Median pay$130,900
- How long it takes
- 3 to 4 years full time
- How you'll study
- On campus
A bachelor degree in primary or secondary teaching
Become a primary or secondary teacher
Teach a class of children in a primary or secondary school, planning lessons, marking work and helping students who need extra support.
Median pay$120,700
- How long it takes
- 4 years full time
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
The school teaching degrees compared
All of these lead to teacher registration in a school or early learning setting. The main differences are the ages you'll teach and the teaching areas you choose. Most can be studied online at one or more universities.
- Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary EducationCovers early learning settings and primary school in one degree, including child development, literacy and numeracy, with placements in both.How long4 yearsStage you can teachEarly childhood and primary
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)Combines early childhood and primary teaching, so you can work in an early learning service or a primary school, with placements in both settings.How long4 yearsStage you can teachEarly childhood and primary
- Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary)Prepares you for both stages of school. You cover core primary subjects and choose a specialist area for the older years, with placements in primary and secondary schools.How long4 yearsStage you can teachPrimary and secondary
- Bachelor of Education (Primary)Prepares you to teach in primary schools, covering the curriculum, inclusive education and student wellbeing, with extended supervised placements in schools.How long4 yearsStage you can teachPrimary school
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary Arts)Combines subject study in one or more arts teaching areas with education units on curriculum and teaching methods, plus placements in schools.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Education (Secondary)Prepares you to teach in secondary schools, combining education theory with your chosen teaching areas, including curriculum, adolescent development and inclusive practice.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Education Secondary (English)Trains you to teach English in high school, combining English language and literature with how young people develop and how to manage a classroom.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Education Secondary (Health and Physical Education)Prepares you to teach health and physical education in high school, including how teenagers learn and develop, often with a second teaching area.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Education Secondary (Mathematics)Trains you to teach mathematics in high school, studying the maths content and how students learn it with placements in classrooms. Some pathways are shorter for people who have already studied.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Primary EducationFocuses on primary school teaching, covering the subjects in the primary curriculum along with child development and classroom practice, and many weeks of supervised placement.How long4 yearsStage you can teachPrimary school
- Bachelor of Secondary EducationTrains you to teach in high school. You choose two teaching areas, study the subject content you will teach, and do extended placements in secondary classrooms.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
- Bachelor of Secondary Education (Health and Physical Education)Prepares you to teach health and physical education in high school, usually with a second teaching area such as English, maths or science, alongside regular school placements.How long4 yearsStage you can teachSecondary school
Other university courses
- Bachelor of Educational Studies3 years. For people interested in education who don't want to teach in a school. It can lead to training, tutoring or program roles, or to a teaching master's.
Can help with: instructional designer
- Graduate Certificate in Education6 months. A short postgraduate course for teachers and academics, or for professionals from other fields who want to understand learning and explore a move into teaching.
Can help with: instructional designer, tutor
- Bachelor of Education4 years. A general teaching degree. Many versions let you choose early childhood, primary or secondary teaching, while some are research focused honours programs.
- Bachelor of Education Studies3 years. Studies education without qualifying you to teach, and can lead to support, policy or training roles, or further study.
Can help with: dance teacher, learning and development manager, learning and development specialist
- Diploma in Education Studies1 year. A short introduction to education that providers describe as a stepping stone into a bachelor degree. It does not qualify you to teach.
- Undergraduate Certificate in Education6 months. A short introduction to how people learn and why we teach, often used as an entry route into a full teaching degree.
- Bachelor of Education (Health and Physical Education)4 years. Trains you to teach health and physical education in schools, combining how the body moves and how people stay well with teaching methods and placements.
- Bachelor of Health and Physical Education4 years. Prepares you to teach health and physical education in secondary schools, covering how the body works in exercise and how movement skills develop.
- Undergraduate Certificate in Education Studies6 months. A taste of education for people not ready to commit to a degree, looking at curriculum ideas and education outside schools.
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
Early Childhood TeacherWhat you needA teaching degreeMedian pay$99,100In demand
Primary School TeacherWhat you needA teaching degreeMedian pay$115,800- Secondary School TeacherWhat you needA teaching degreeMedian pay$120,700In demand
- Music TeacherWhat you needBachelor degreeMedian pay$130,900
“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.
Still not sure which one fits you?
Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.