Course Overview

About This Course

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) qualifies you to teach children from birth to 12 years of age in childcare, kindergartens, preschools and primary school settings. Focused on developing children's foundation and early learning needs, this dual-accredited degree equips you with the pedagogical knowledge and experiential skills to inspire and support children in developing lifelong learning abilities. You learn how to engage children in exploring their creative, physical and cognitive capabilities within inclusive environments that encourage and nurture diversity. You build a solid foundation with a specialised teaching area chosen from literacy, numeracy or religious education, and your professional experience placements are conducted in both early childhood and primary education settings. You may also have the opportunity to complete a community engagement unit overseas, spending time with local communities and experiencing an international classroom, with ACU education students undertaking professional experience and community engagement in locations such as Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. The course totals 320 credit points across Education Studies, Effective Teaching, Primary Content and Pedagogy, Early Childhood and ACU Core Curriculum units, together with the ACER literacy and numeracy tests for initial teacher education. Professional experience is embedded in five units, with placements of 15, 20, 20, 20 and 25 days across years two to four, and you complete a community engagement unit, EDES206 Social Justice and Community Engagement for Educators, involving a minimum of 25 hours of direct service. The program is listed on the AITSL and ACECQA accredited programs lists, and graduates are eligible for registration as primary and early childhood teachers in government, independent, Catholic and other faith-based schools.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $6,544

Duration

4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026) | Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning August 2027 (Applications open April 2027)

Study Mode

Full-time or part-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, which includes meeting a minimum ATAR requirement. In addition, applicants in Victoria are required to demonstrate suitability for teaching. All applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in that policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at Year 12 level or equivalent:
- Australian Capital Territory: Prerequisites: Nil. Assumed knowledge: Studies in English (T); Studies in Mathematics (T)
- New South Wales: Prerequisites: Nil. Assumed knowledge: a minimum of three Band 5 HSC results (including one in English), and a Mathematics Band 4 HSC result. Note: this course is structured to allow applicants to meet the three Band 5 and/or the Mathematics Band 4 entry requirements.
- Queensland: Prerequisites: English (Units 3 & 4, C); General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Victoria: Prerequisites: English: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English; Mathematics: Units 1 and 2 - satisfactory completion of two units (any study combination) of General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics, OR Units 3 and 4: any Mathematics.
Alternatively, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants may be selected following an interview with the Course Adviser and staff of the campus Indigenous Higher Education Unit. They should have a minimum of three years' work experience, or Year 12 or equivalent, or relevant tertiary study skills or successful completion of a Tertiary Communication Skills program.
Indicative ATAR: 70.00 (Ballarat), 67.00 (Blacktown), 65.00 (Brisbane), 68.00 (Canberra), 70.00 (Melbourne), 67.00 (North Sydney), 67.00 (Strathfield).
Applicants who have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above are assigned a selection rank based on study level, duration and grade point average, and may apply for recognition of prior learning.
ACU also assesses applicants on prior VET study, and on work and life experience.

International students

International applicants need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate and must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, including the English Language Proficiency requirements. International students completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (either outside or in Australia), an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 must apply for admission through their local Tertiary Admission Centre and are assessed on their performance in those studies (ATAR or equivalent). Apart from this, international applicants meet the same academic prerequisites as domestic applicants. ACU does not publish a course-specific English test score for this course, so international applicants must meet ACU's English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

• Early years education
• Primary school education
• Policy development
• Community centre education
• Private colleges
• Inclusive education settings
• Education and training roles in other sectors - e.g. zoos
• Correction facilities for youth or adults
• Research
• Special education

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) / AITSL

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

AITSL / ACECQA

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units43 units

EDES100

Understanding Learning and Teaching

EDES103

Understanding Learners and Their Contexts

EDES106

Contemporary Learning Cultures and Contexts

EDES205

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges, Histories and Cultures

EDES206

Social Justice and Community Engagement for Educators

EDET100

Effective Teaching 1: Becoming a Teacher

EDET212

Effective Teaching 2: Curriculum Planning and Pedagogy in Early Childhood

EDET301

Effective Teaching 3: Engagement in Positive Learning Environments

EDET312

Effective Teaching 3: Understanding and Guiding Behaviour to Engage Young Learners

EDET300

Effective Teaching 4: Students with Disability and Inclusive Education

EDET400

Effective Teaching 5: Assessment and Data Informed Practice

EDET402

Effective Teaching 6: Reflective Practice for Teaching and Learning

EDEN100

Foundations of Literacy

EDEN103

Children's Literature for Teachers

EDMA150

Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching

EDAR290

The Arts Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment F 6

EDEN290

English Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1 (B-8)

EDHP290

Health and Physical Education Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)

EDMA293

Teaching Mathematics for Early Years

EDSI290

Science Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (B-12)

EDSS290

Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)

EDTE290

Technologies Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)

EDEN391

Teaching Primary English and Literacy

EDAR164

Nurturing Creativity in Young Children

EDEC100

Health, Family and Young Learner Wellbeing in the Early Years

EDEC101

Infant and Toddler Studies

EDEC112

Young Children's Social and Emotional Learning in Early Childhood Contexts

EDEC150

Play-based Learning

EDEC200

Environments for Learning in the Early Years

EDEC400

Professional Identities in Early Childhood

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

LNTE100

LANTITE - Literacy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

LNTE101

LANTITE - Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) take to complete?

The course has a total duration of 208 weeks (approximately 4 years) as listed in the CRICOS registry.

What is the total tuition fee for this course?

ACU's estimated total tuition for international students is AU$146,496, based on an indicative international first-year fee of $36,624 for this course.

Does this course include a work placement component?

Yes. Professional experience is embedded in five units across the degree, with placements of 15, 20, 20, 20 and 25 days in early childhood and primary education settings. You also complete a community engagement unit, EDES206 Social Justice and Community Engagement for Educators, with a minimum of 25 hours of direct service or equivalent.

At which campuses can I study this course?

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) is offered across multiple Australian Catholic University campuses, including Canberra (ACT), Blacktown CBD, North Sydney, and Strathfield (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), and Ballarat and Melbourne (VIC).

Is this course eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

This course may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a bachelor degree (Skills Level 1 qualification) with a duration greater than 92 weeks and falls within the Teacher Education: Early Childhood field of education (Narrow Field 0701). Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at the time of review.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $55,000 to $70,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $70,000 to $82,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $82,000 to $92,000 per year

Career Paths

Early Childhood Educator (Certificate III level)Early Childhood Teacher (ECT)Room Leader / Lead EducatorEducational LeaderChildcare Centre Director / Centre Manager

Key Skills

Child development assessment and observationPlay-based curriculum design and implementationApplication of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)Inclusive education practices for children with diverse needsBehaviour guidance and positive relationships with children

Full Course Overview

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