Prerequisites for the Bachelor of Teaching and Master of Teaching

The prerequisites for particular BTeach and MTeach courses at the Faculty of Education and Social Work are listed in detail the pages dedicated to those courses, however, regardless of the course being undertaken, graduate-entry teaching degrees in NSW have four basic prerequisites. These are outlined below.

• Completion of a first degree at an accredited university, for example, a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. TAFE qualifications and work experience are not sufficient for admission.
  
  
• A good academic record. The program has high academic standards, so applicants who have a pattern of 'fail' grades or conceded passes will not be offered a place.
  
  
• Proficiency in the use of English language (oral and written) and mathematics. Good oral communication is essential. If English is not your first language, you will also need English certification. For more information, see English Language Requirements.
  
  
• Completion of university studies in subjects you wish to teach. At a minimum you must satisfy the accreditation requirements of the NSW Institute of Teachers for each curriculum area in which you are hoping to gain teaching qualifications.
  

The secondary-school curriculum-area prerequisites published on this website are subject to change and revision. Check back regularly for prerequisite updates.

Conditional offers

Applicants who are 1–2 units (up to one half of a semester of full-time study) short of meeting the prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Teaching may be given special permission to study the deficient units at another faculty or institution while also studying for their teaching qualification. Permission for concurrent studies is conditional upon the availability of places and:

• preference will be given to applicants who meet all the prerequisites at the time of enrolment
  
  
• may involve payment of full fees for concurrent coursework
  
  
• will only be granted to applicants who have a good academic record (for example, a credit average, or honours or higher degree)
  
  
• will only be given if the additional unit(s) does not impinge on attendance at compulsory timetabled courses
  
  
• the onus is on the applicant to find suitable unit(s) of study to meet the subject prerequisites specified in their conditional offer
  
  
• the unit must be taken in the first semester – concurrent study in the second, third or fourth semesters of the course is not normally possible for full-time candidates because of the block practicum sessions that occur in each of these semesters
  
  
• no more than two concurrent units of study will be approved.
  
  

Non-award study to achieve prerequisites

Applicants who do not meet the subject accreditation requirements for their desired degree and who are ineligible for special admission and concurrent study, will need to complete the extra units as non-award (non-degree) students before enrolling in the BTeach. This type of study can be undertaken at any university but attracts full fees because it does not qualify for HECS support. Enrolment should be sought at the institution of your choice through the faculty at that institution that offers the necessary units.

Self-assessment of relevant studies

On the application form you will be required to complete a self-assessment of the undergraduate and relevant postgraduate studies you have completed that you believe meet the prerequisites for the secondary curriculum areas or primary KLAs you intend to teach. For each relevant unit of study you will need to record the subject/unit code of your relevant previous studies, as well as the name and the short description of the content that was published in your university's handbook or a unit-of-study outline.

You may be asked to provide notarised copies of official handbook entries or subject outlines to validate your assessments when a provisional offer is made. In accordance with the requirements of the NSW Institute of Teachers and the University of Sydney, the basis for assessing all applications will be content, not the title, of previously completed units of study. This may mean that certain subjects that do not appear on the prerequisite list relating to a particular curriculum area may nonetheless meet the requirement for admission. This is determined only after an application is formally received and assessed.

We are unable to enter into correspondence about the suitability of particular subjects prior to the receipt of a formal application. The information published here should be used in conjunction with the information on the website of the NSWIT to guide you in your assessment of the suitability of your prior studies.

Teacher-accreditation requirements

Accreditation to teach in NSW schools as a primary or secondary teacher is determined by the NSWIT.

Although the prerequisites listed on these pages are designed to meet the accreditation requirements, it is the responsibility of each applicant to determine their eligibility for accreditation with prospective employers (based on their individual academic qualifications, including those completed before enrolment in BTeach/MTeach).

International applicants, who do not wish to be accredited in NSW, may apply for special permission to enrol if the accreditation requirements of overseas employing authorities differ from those that apply in NSW.

Further information on the minimum requirements for accreditation as a primary or secondary teacher in the NSW school system is available from the NSWIT.