General Information

Overview

Become an inspiring teacher and engage children across a range of subjects using the latest teaching techniques and technology. Through collaborative group activities and school-based practical placements you'll develop the skills to design effective learning experiences, including addressing diversity to tailor learning experiences to the needs of your students.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Education (Primary) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.


*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 37.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Any of the following recommended units may be undertaken as an elective unit. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • EDU30001 Imagining the World Through Language and Literature
  • EDU30002 Science and Technology
  • EDU30004 Wellbeing and Resilience
  • EDU30005 Understanding and Supporting Inclusion
  • EDU30006 Families, Community and Citizenship
  • EDU30007 Imagining the World Through the Arts
  • EDU30062 Educational Leadership, Management and Program Assessment
  • EDU40001 The Healthy and Active Child
  • EDU40002 Play and Environment
  • EDU40003 Identity: the Early Childhood Profession(al)
  • EDU40004 Advocacy and Social Justice
  • PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
  • PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
  • PSY20006 Cognition and Human Performance
  • PSY20007 Developmental Psychology
  • PSY20016 Social Psychology
  • PSY30003 Psychology Project
  • PSY30008 Psychology of Personality
  • PSY30016 Mental Health Diversity, Diagnosis and Treatment

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the Bachelor of Education (Primary), graduates will be able to: 

  • show broad and coherent knowledge of students aged birth to 12 years and how they learn with capacity to show initiative and judgement when making decisions or solving problems 
  • show broad and coherent knowledge of Primary School content areas within the Australian context and capacity to critically review theory and practice 
  • demonstrate the capacity to show initiative and judgement to plan for, and implement, effective teaching and learning in diverse contexts with the capacity to solve problems with intellectual independence 
  • demonstrate the capacity to adapt knowledge and skills to critically analyse information in diverse contexts, and to create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments 
  • demonstrate the capacity to assess, provide feedback and report on student learning using clear and coherent communication with the ability to critically analyse, consolidate and synthesise assessment information 
  • show responsibility and accountability for own learning to identify, engage in and apply professional learning, individually and in collaboration with others 
  • demonstrate the capacity to engage professionally with colleagues, families and children, and the communication skills to present clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas.

Career opportunities

Graduates with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) will be specialised in the education and development of young children from five to 12 years of age. They will be qualified to undertake teaching positions in primary schools.

Professional recognition

This course meets the academic requirements outlined by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). VIT recognition enables graduates to register as a teacher Australia-wide.

Course rules

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

  • 29 core units (362.5 credit points)
  • 3 units of other studies comprising of elective units


In addition, students are responsible for arranging and successfully completing the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) normally within three attempts through the Australian Council for Education Research prior to completing 200 credit points of study.

Academic Progress - special requirements

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, the Bachelor of Education (Primary) has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62(2): 

1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they: 

(a) behave in a manner which breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a teaching placement 

(b) fail to attempt both component tests of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to completing 100 credit points of studies 


2. A student is classified as having 'unsatisfactory progress' if they: 

(a) fail to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to completing 200 credit points of studies or following three attempts 

(b) fail a Teaching Placement unit 

(c) have their teaching placement terminated early by a school. In the case of early termination of a teaching placement by a school, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress' and a progress review processes will commence within two weeks of the cessation of the placement. 


Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be subject to the show cause provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) is 150 credit points (normally 12 units).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Extra requirements for this course

Casper  

All applicants must sit the Casper test. Casper is a requirement for many of the initial teacher training courses in Victoria. It is a non-cognitive online test designed to assess an applicant's personal and professional attributes. Casper tests are valid for one year from the date they were taken. To register for your sitting or for further Information about this test, visit the Casper website.

LANTITE  

To be eligible to graduate, students must pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initital Teacher Education (LANTITE) which is required to become a registered teacher. This test is run externally and at the applicant's own cost. Applicants must disclose all attempts in their application. Three or more unsuccessful attempts will mean applicants are not eligible to receive an offer.

English language requirement

Applicants who did not complete their studies in English at an approved Institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America must sit an approved English language test and meet the minimum requirements.  

Minimum scores required:  

  • PTE: Minimum score 58 (no communication skill less than 50) 
  • IELTS academic module: Overall band 6.5 (no band below 6.0)  
  • TOEFL IBT: Minimum score 79 (reading no less than 18, writing no less than 20)

Working with Children (WWC) Check

All enrolled students must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the appropriate State Authority).

Police Record Check

A police record check may be required by a school prior to a professional placement. Find out more about national police record checks and fingerprinting.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR 

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Minimum ATAR including selection adjustments: 70. 

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne. 

Subject adjustments 

A study score of 25 in any English, Literature, Health and Human Development, any LOTE, any Mathematics, any Science or Sociology equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 15 points.  

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any Mathematics or equivalent.

Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2022

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors		 Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 95.9 98.35
Median rank to receive an offer 72.9 78.2
Lowest rank to receive an offer 70.6 70.7

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

Bridging courses 

Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

Student profile

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

  Semester 1, 2022
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 91 54%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 58 34%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) <5 <5
(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, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) 15 9%
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) N/A N/A
International students <5 <5
All students 169 100%

Notes:

"<5” – the number of students is less than 5
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Education (Primary)?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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