Overview

Our Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) qualifies you to teach children from 0-5 years of age. 

You’ll learn how to keep tiny attention spans interested and prepare for a rewarding career in kindergartens, preschools, early learning centres and more. 

Discover how to respond to students and families of diverse cultures and backgrounds, including Indigenous cultures.

View Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) course handbook

Skills you’ll learn

  • Emerging technologies
  • Leadership
  • Problem-solving
  • Innovation
  • Intercultural competence
  • Contextual and theoretical knowledge

Your career opportunities

  • Early childhood educator
  • Primary school teacher
  • Early childhood teacher
  • Classroom teacher
  • Generalist primary classroom teacher
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Why Swinburne?

Top 500 in the world for education

5 stars for overall experience

5 stars for teaching quality

#1 in Melbourne for support services

  • Side view head shot of a smiling mixed race female wearing a headset, with laptop communicating via video chat.

    Study with Swinburne Online

    With Swinburne Online, the learning experience is 100% online and studied at your own pace. Our courses are built for the jobs of the future with a focus on collaboration and our flexible learning environment empowers you to study on your own terms. They are developed by leaders in the field and taught by professionals with industry experience.

Qualifications

One of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

  • Completion of an approved Diploma or Advanced Diploma

  • Completion or partial completion of an approved Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree

Course prerequisites

VCE Units 3 and 4 – a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

Other requirements

All applicants must sit and achieve an appropriate standard on a selection test used to assess an applicant’s non-academic personal and professional attributes. 

LANTITE: Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

Applicants applying to transfer from another initial teacher education course must disclose all LANTITE (National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students) attempts. 

Applicants who have unsuccessfully attempted the LANTITE three or more times will not be eligible to receive an offer.

Casper test

All applicants (both standard entry and non-year 12 entry) must sit the Casper test. Casper is a non-academic online test designed to assess an applicant's personal and professional attributes. Please note Swinburne will consider Casper test results taken within the past year. It is an Australian Government accreditation requirement that all initial teacher education courses include non-academic selection criteria. To ensure you don’t miss the Casper test deadlines, register for your sitting or for further information about the test.

Current Year 12 students can check VTAC deadlines on their website.

Admission to this course will consider both academic and non-academic results.

Working with Children Check

All enrolled students must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the appropriate State Authority). A Police Check may also be required by a school prior to a placement. View the list of each state's requirements click here.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Primary), students are required to complete 400 credit points comprising of 32 units of study (12.5 credit points each). The 400 credit points must comprise of: 

  • 28 units of core education and early childhood studies (350 credit points)

  • 4 units of other studies comprising of a minor or elective units (50 credit points). Find out more.

Swinburne Online offers a flexible degree structure allowing students to adjust their study commitment throughout the duration of their program. Students have the flexibility to study between one and four units per teaching period.

28
Core units
+
4
Elective units
=
4-year bachelor degree

Your units

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Learning and Communicating Online
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
COM10003
Theories of Teaching and Learning
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU10004
The World of Maths
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU10003
Understanding Language and Literacy
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU10002
Indigenous Education and Perspectives
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU10005
Introduction to Curriculum Planning and Assessment: Practicum 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU10001
Developing Literacy
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20001
Mathematics in Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20002
Understanding and Supporting Inclusion
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30005
Social and Emotional Learning
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20014
Health and Physical Education
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30014
Curriculum, Planning and Assessment for Primary: Practicum 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20006
Contemporary Perspectives of Learning and Development
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20003
Arts Education
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40008
Teaching the Humanities
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40011
Discovering Science
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30011
Curriculum and Pedagogy for Primary: Practicum 3P
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30015
Teaching Science
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30064
Integrated Studies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40007
Teaching Technologies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30059
Teaching English
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30063
Mathematics in the Primary Classroom (Mathematics Specialisation)
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30066
Teaching English (English Specialisation)
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30067
Supporting Diversity and Equity
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30013
Supporting Diversity and Equity
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30013
Advocacy and Social Justice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40004
Ready to Teach Professional Experience: Practicum 4P
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40012
Sustainable Education and Perspectives
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU20005
Teaching in Australian Schools
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU30016
Assessment for Primary
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EDU40010

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$4,445

Total fee* ($AUD)

$17,780

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$0.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply to 2024 unit enrolments for HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. International tuition fees are generally inclusive of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front. 

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Financials
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2024 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
BA-EDUPRI
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Last date to apply
03-July-2024
Start dates
08-July-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Last date to apply
30-October-2024
Start dates
04-November-2024
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start dates
08-July-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start dates
04-November-2024
Upcoming events
Swinburne Innovation Challenge
26-June-2024