410 Gone
Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February
- Cairns: February
Fees
$4,627.00+
$25,255.00^
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load. Please note this estimate is variable and subject to fluctuation depending on choice of elective subjects.
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2025, which are subject to change in following years.
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry Requirements
AQF Level 7 bachelor degree which includes subjects in two teaching areas appropriate to curriculum in Australian secondary schools
QTAC Codes
- 313321
- 323321
Course detail
Looking for a career change into education? Gain the qualifications and knowledge necessary to enter the teaching profession. Become prepared to respond to the diverse learning needs of secondary school students in both urban and rural communities with the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) at JCU.
The Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) is designed to equip you with the capacity to design, implement and critically reflect on teaching, to enhance learning outcomes for all students. This education degree has a strong focus on pedagogy appropriate to a diverse range of students and settings. You will be particularly equipped to work in tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous contexts by developing a strong knowledge of learning styles and pedagogical frameworks relevant to each setting.
Throughout this Education degree, you will have opportunities to maximise your professional experience through prescribed placements in secondary schools. You will undertake a placement in each of the first three phases of your degree, alongside your coursework. You will complete a total of 60 days of placement and 20 days of integrated coursework days in school settings. In the fourth and final phase of your degree, you will undertake a 20-day capstone experience in a school or a community-based service-learning experience. Your placements will give you firsthand experience of leading learning in school settings, particularly in the context of regional, rural and remote communities in Northern Queensland.
Tailor your degree to equip you to teach in two learning areas of the Australian Curriculum, from Years 7-12. Upon completion of this Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary), you will be prepared to be a teacher with increased capacity to direct curriculum, assessment and differentiated learning opportunities, with a view to enhanced learning outcomes for all students, including those from diverse cultural, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds and with specific learning needs.
As a graduate of the Master of Teaching and Learning, you will be eligible for registration with the Queensland College of Teachers.
All students enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education course must achieve the required standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy Tests for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE).
Consult the handbook for entry and additional requirements and further information.
Additional information
Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)
With this postgraduate degree, you can expect to learn a flexible, adaptable approach to pedagogy that you can apply regardless of your next destination. Graduates of this degree can pursue a range of opportunities in very different social and geographical settings. In other words, you will understand how to teach your students effectively regardless of their backgrounds. In fact, you will learn how to employ your cultural understanding to improve your teaching. Students are often motivated by different things depending on their cultural background, region, areas of interest, and perceived prospects, and your coursework will help you understand that and use it to their benefit.
What Your Coursework Will Look Like
This is a secondary school teaching master’s degree that does not lose itself in theory. Have you heard the saying, “the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else?” This course will be a slight variation on that. You will be learning the pedagogical strategies by using them in various school settings, including in rural, tropical, and Indigenous settings. The two-year degree includes 80 days of placement spread evenly throughout.
You will not be learning massive amounts of theory for a year straight and expected to use all of it at once in just a week. You will also not be taught dense and convoluted concepts which prove impractical in the real world. Instead, you will have four phases that will cover different aspects of secondary education. Each of these phases will contain 20 days of placement in secondary schools, where you can apply everything you are being taught and develop and refine your distinct teaching style early on. The last phase of your degree will contain a 20-day capstone placement in a school or community learning setting.
What Your Master of Teaching (Secondary) Will Do for You
This course, simply put, will help you truly understand the incredibly diverse industry you are entering and the sort of figure you will be in it. You will be reliably equipped to seek opportunities in religious, independent, and state schools alike. Some degrees offer little to no practical work at all, and their graduates have a hard time finding their feet. They step into a classroom for the first time with only theory as an indication of what to expect, and anyone who has met children knows that they defy all logic sometimes.
You will know where you want to teach based on practical experience in each environment. What is it like to teach students in remote and rural areas? How might your students view their courses differently in rural or Indigenous settings? How will different students remain motivated, and how can you help those who do not?
Lastly, you will learn what sort of educator you are. Every teacher leans towards a different pedagogical approach, and developing your style during your degree means you will be much more practised and refined by the time you graduate.
You can apply for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) in Queensland through the JCU Online Application Portal below.
Hide additional information
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary).
Excel in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms with the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) at JCU. This qualification is valued by state, Catholic, and independent schools in urban and regional Australia. Your skills will also transfer well to international settings.
JCU Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) graduates are highly valued in North Queensland and culturally diverse communities.
Graduates are prepared to work in Australian, international, rural, regional and remote schools. You could find work as a secondary teacher with specialist skills in Indigenous education, diverse student needs and regional teaching experience.
Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships
Full-time domestic students in this course are eligible to apply for the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship. These consist of yearly payments of $10,000, for the expected full-time duration of your degree. For undergraduate students, this is four years, or a total of $40,000, and postgraduate students receive $20,000 over two years. If you choose to complete your final professional placement in a government school located in a remote area, you may also be eligible for an additional $2000 payment.
Successful applicants are required to make either a four-year (undergraduate) or two-year (postgraduate) commitment to teaching in a government school. You must fulfil this commitment within 10 years.
Fees
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,627.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD25,255.00
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Learn more about fees and financial support
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.
Your academic criteria is measured against previous study. You must have successfully completed an AQF level 7 Bachelor degree with a minimum of 6 subjects in one teaching area (two at third year level) and 4 subjects in a second teaching area relevant to the Australian secondary school curriculum, especially: English, mathematics, chemistry, physics, technologies, humanities, languages, and industrial technology and design (manual arts).
Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
Important application update
Applications to study the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) for 2025 and beyond no longer require the completion of a Teacher Personal Statement (NARTE).
English language requirements
Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:
- An overall score of 7.5 in Academic IELTS with no sub-score less than 8.0 for Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 7.0 for Reading and Writing.
Real stories
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Student
Madelain Benedetti
Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)
This course has given me a wealth of teaching experience in many schools, both guided by an experienced educator and as an independent teacher. This has allowed me to develop my own ‘teacher identity’ – an integral aspect of being an educator. I have made some fantastic friendships that I know will last a lifetime.
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Alumni
Jonathan Walsh
Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)
I chose the Master of Teaching and Learning because it leveraged my existing education, knowledge and skills and focused them for a meaningful career in education. The best part was applying what we’ve learnt to real-life teaching situations with access to the best teaching experts that North Queensland has to offer.
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International student - Malaysia
Yong Mei Mun
Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)
I was considering a career change from being a scientist to a teacher and I was really attracted to JCU’s Master of Teaching and Learning program. The professional placements and internship mean I get to put my knowledge and skills into practice, which will greatly assist me in becoming a qualified educator.
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Lecturer
Dr Greg Burnett
Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)
The Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) degree attracts students from very diverse work and life backgrounds. It’s wonderful to think that these students will soon be in secondary schools making a difference in young people’s lives.
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Employer
Stephen Baskerville
Head of Campus, Kirwan State High School
We find that JCU graduates have highly developed professional knowledge and an openness to continuous learning. The level of practical experience they gain in their degrees helps them to transition quickly to full time teaching. JCU graduates have a strong understanding of teaching in a regional or remote context.