Overview
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in 2021 and 2022.
Students commencing this course in 2021 and 2022 can commence their studies remotely whilst the Australian border remains closed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Remote study is not available for some units of study and/or placements essential to this course and you will be required to attend in-person on campus from Semester 1, Year 2.
The new four-year Bachelor of Education (Secondary) has replaced the previous five-year combined education degrees. This course will give you a professional qualification to teach in secondary schools, giving you the opportunity to specialise in the areas of humanities and social sciences, mathematics or science.
The redesigned Bachelor of Education (Secondary) degree aims to ensure our secondary teachers will be responsive to the future of education and be leaders in the field. The new degree aims to answer the ongoing challenges and innovations within the broader education industry and equip students to have better opportunities to engage in a range of learning contexts, to address challenges during these unprecedented times, and ultimately be immediately job-ready.
Benefitting from a redesigned approach to discipline and curriculum, and embedded learning from Country, the course covers innovations in areas such as sociological perspectives in education, psychological perspectives in education, Aboriginal education, and special and inclusive education.
You will be taught by world-leading experts in learning sciences and curriculum to design and develop frontline practices, through new modalities of teaching and multi-disciplinary approaches. You will also gain a strong practical and theoretical preparation for teaching. School observations and work-based training, offered in partnership with participating schools, are integral components of your developing professional experience. These experiences will provide you with the opportunity to develop your teaching skills and professional understanding of how to work in schools.
An advanced coursework or an honours pathway is also available in the new five-year Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Secondary).
For language studies: Pathways are available for applicants with no prior language experience, as well as for those with prior experience in the respective language of study.
This course is offered full-time or as structured part-time mode, day-time only. All professional experience placements are only undertaken full-time.
Subject areas
Shared pool
Admission, fees and how to apply
Depends on your qualification, citizenship status
The details on this page based on your selections are a guide only, and are subject to change.
English language proficiency
Find out if you need to prove English language proficiency (depends on your country of origin and educational background).
Your fee
How to apply
Prospective domestic students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for a Commonwealth supported place . Refer to the UAC website for key dates. Separate scholarship deadlines apply, visit the scholarships website for details.
For other useful information, visit our How to apply page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Current students applying to transfer from a diploma to a bachelor's degree must apply through UAC.
Refer to the UAC website . Separate Scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
Starting date
Semester 1 (February)
Visit the How to apply page for detailed information on if you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). If you are a direct applicant, when you are ready to apply select the `Apply’ button on this course page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Closing dates
Direct applicants:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Starting date
Semester 1 (February)
What you'll study
Core studies in education plus intensive study and professional experience. You will be required to complete a minor in your first teaching area and at least four units of study in a second teaching area. A guide will be provided to you upon enrolment.
Teaching areas include:
- Aboriginal studies
- biology
- chemistry
- business studies
- drama
- economics
- English
- geography
- Judaic studies
- history (modern or ancient)
- languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew (modern or classical), Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Modern Greek or Spanish
- mathematics
- physics
- Teaching English as a second language (TESOL)
Below are the acceptable teaching areas for students undertaking the combined Education/Arts undergraduate degree. Please note that this list does not take into account the combinations possible for NESA Accreditation. You need to see a Program Support Manager in Education 307 to ensure that your preferred combination is possible.
| First Teaching Area | Second Teaching Area |
| Aboriginal Studies | Aboriginal Studies (2nd or 3rd Teaching Area) |
| Ancient History | Ancient History |
| Arabic | Arabic |
| Chinese | Biology |
| Drama | Chemistry |
| Economics (Political Economy major) | Chinese |
| English | Commerce |
| French | Drama |
| German |
Economics (Politucal Economy units) |
| Hebrew (Classical or Modern) |
English |
| Indonesian | French |
| Italian | Geography |
| Japanese | German |
| Korean |
Hebrew (Classic or Modern) |
| Latin | Indonesian |
| Modern Greek | Italian |
| Modern History |
Japanese |
| Spanish | Korean |
| Latin | |
| Mathematics | |
| Modern Greek | |
| Modern History |
|
| Physics | |
| Spanish | |
| TESOL (2nd or 3rd Teaching Area) |
Work component
Mandatory work component = 560 hours.
This mandatory work component must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.
COVID-19
It is important you are aware that all people working at school or in early education and care facilities, including students on placement, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19: see the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Education and Care Workers) Order 2021. An exemption from vaccination is available only if you are unable to be vaccinated in the rare situation of a medical contraindication and you can provide the required evidence.
While the Order is a temporary measure under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW), the government may make further similar orders, and educational facilities that provide placements to students may also introduce their own vaccination requirements. It is therefore possible that vaccination against COVID-19 will be a continuing requirement to meet the requirements of your degree and practice in your profession.
If you choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you will not be able to undertake placement(s) at facilities covered by the Order or facilities with their own vaccination requirements. This may result in you being unable to complete your degree.
Completion requirement
Under normal progression, a student shall undertake and successfully complete all units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester as prescribed for the course. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for their units of study. Except with the permission of the Dean, a candidate must complete all unit of study requirements specified for each year, including professional experience units, before proceeding to the next year.
Sample study plan (students commencing 2022)
Year |
Sem |
Unit of study |
Other Units of study |
First Teaching Area Units of Study |
Second Teaching Area Units of Study |
|
1 |
1 |
Rethinking Education |
Elective/OLE |
1st teaching area 1000-level units of study |
2nd teaching area 1000-level units of study |
|
|
2 |
Sociological Perspectives in Education |
Elective/OLE |
1st teaching area 1000-level units of study |
2nd teaching area 1000-level units of study |
|
2 |
1 |
Aboriginal Education |
1st teaching area 2000-level units of study |
1st teaching area 2000-level units of study |
2nd teaching area 2000-level units of study |
|
|
2 |
Special and Inclusive Education |
Pedagogy, Leading and Learning 1 |
1st teaching area 3000-level units of study
|
LANTITE |
2nd teaching area 2000-level units of study |
3 |
1 |
Psychological Perspectives in Education |
Table A elective or 2nd teaching area 3000-level units of study |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 1A |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 1B |
|
|
2 |
Selective unit |
Pedagogy, Leading & Learning 2 |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 2A |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 2B |
|
4 |
1 |
Interdisciplinary Unit |
Pedagogy, Leading & Learning 3 |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 3A |
Discipline and Curriculum Knowledge 3B |
|
|
2 |
Education Capstone |
Prof Engagement Final Practice |
1st year area 3000-level units of study |
Table A elective or 2nd teaching area 3000-level units of study |
|
Admission requirement
Admission to this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
- a secondary education qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), or approved higher education study, including approved preparation courses.
- Applicants to all undergraduate education degrees (except Early Childhood) will be required to complete a brief personal statement. For more information, visit our personal statement FAQ page.
- English language requirements where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites for NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
Band 5 in three HSC subjects (or equivalent) one of which must be English (English Standard or English Advanced or ESL/EALD).
Similar requirements will be applied to the IB and other Australian Year 12 qualifications. For other secondary qualifications applicants will need to achieve the minimum scores provided as a guide as well as achieve good results in English (not ESL). Applicants who must meet English proficiency requirements through an English proficiency test such as IELTS must meet those requirements separately. Applicants must also meet any additional requirements as set by regulatory bodies or accrediting agencies.
Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE)
The requirement to complete the LANTITE applies to all students enrolled in the BEd (Primary); BEd (Health and PE); BEd (Secondary); BEd/BAS (Secondary); and all Master of Teaching programs except MTeach (Early Childhood).
All BEd students are expected to sit and pass the test within the first two years of candidature.
For information about teacher-accreditation requirements in NSW, including the testing, visit the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
Inherent requirements for programs in secondary education
To assist students to make informed choices about their study, the Sydney School of Education and Social Work has identified inherent requirements for this degree. In order to successfully complete such a course, students must possess these qualities and skills (PDF).
Course opportunities
The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) includes significant professional experience placements in schools. The placements begin in the third year of the course and the amount of responsibility and duration of the placements progressively increases until the final placement in which students are competent to teach under minimal supervision.
Professional accreditation
The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) program is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
Graduate opportunities
You'll be qualififed to teach in secondary schools, in areas including:
- Aboriginal studies
- biology
- chemistry
- business studies
- drama
- economics
- English
- geography
- health and physical education
- history (modern or ancient)
- languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew (modern or classical), Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Modern Greek or Spanish
- mathematics
- physics
You'll also have expertise to act in variety of other education roles including: curriculum consultant; educational administrator; educational researcher; government policy adviser.
Domestic students
International students
