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Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
Are you ready to change the lives of children? An early childhood and primary teaching degree will prepare you to make an impact.
Undergraduate
Qualification
4 years full-time
Duration
Mar, Jul, Nov
Start Date
32
Units
100% Online*
Learning Mode
$4,627*
Fees
‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’
Kate, Swinburne Online Education graduate
21.6% ▴
As an Early Childhood Teacher, you’ll have a strong future ahead of you, with a 21.6% increase expected in the next five years.
Our undergraduate education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and student support.
Our undergraduate education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and student support.
Help young children develop the skills they’ll use for a lifetime; choose a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) online. With this qualification you can teach children aged between six weeks and 12 years old, in childcare centres, kindergartens and primary schools.
You will learn how to engage children with activities such as art, music, maths and literacy. You will develop the skills you need to respond to diversity and help each child get the most out of their education during their formative years.
Led by experienced education professionals with recent or current teaching practice, this course combines online learning with teaching placements in early childhood and primary school settings. Our students get great feedback from their placement schools and centres – we ensure you are prepared and supported by our course tutors and advisors to make your placement a positive experience.
Swinburne University has now incorporated the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA) into the final year of primary professional experience units. This narrative-based assignment will allow you to demonstrate your competence in classroom practice by creating a unit plan, lesson plans, assessing, reflecting and appraising your teaching. Connecting the academic program to your professional experience, the GTPA provides quality assurance of graduate readiness, giving you valuable experience to help you progress into your new career.
When you graduate, you’ll be qualified to practice as a childcare professional or primary teacher, with accreditation from the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
This course is not available to international students.
What will you learn?
- Curriculum Planning: Create learning activities to engage students and develop their skills.
- Child Behaviour: Understand why children display different behaviours and learn how to best approach them.
- Health & Activity: Explore a range of issues surrounding children’s health, nutrition and safety.
- Twenty-First Century Teaching: Embrace the role of being a teacher in an era of rapid change.
Learn more about our professional accreditations. Download a Course Guide.
Flexible study
Flexible study
What does flexible study mean for me?
Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to study how it suits you. Decide when and where it fits in with your life and tailor your study journey to your own needs. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.
Flexible study at Swinburne Online
Personalised study journey
Set a study pace that work with what’s going on in your life. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and the option of increasing your unit load as your progress. Interested in fast-tracking your studies? You also have the opportunity to complete up to 12 units per year.
Fit study around your life
You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners.
Multiple intakes
Start when it suits. Swinburne Online offers multiple intake dates and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or if you need to take a break.
7-day support
Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with any queries. You will also have dedicated online tutors in each of your units.
Structure
Structure
Your course structure
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) consists of 33 units, including 10 core units, 17 major units and five practicum units.
Your units are led by experienced education professionals with recent or current teaching experience and focuses on arming you with the practical skills you can take straight into the classroom. You will also undertake practicum units that will give you the opportunity to work and learn in an Australian school.
Primary specialisation
All pre-service teachers in a primary or early childhood primary initial teacher education courses must complete a primary specialisation component. It is an AlTSL requirement for all Primary ITE course accreditation.
This will result in Graduates who are generalist Primary Teachers with a specialisation. This is distinct from teachers who fulfil specialist roles in schools such as a health/physical education teacher.
These requirements will become more explicit once you are enrolled in the relevant unit.
View your course structure
Studying education with Swinburne Online is a unique opportunity. Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to success come graduation. View all units in your bachelor’s degree.
View All UnitsHow you'll learn
How you'll learn
Learning designed for online
Your study journey with Swinburne Online is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment, interact with your peers in the custom-built social platform, and receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand studying online.
Online classroom
You’ll complete each of your units in Canvas, your online classroom, and guided through coursework by an online tutor with real-world experience in your field of study. Canvas is where you’ll access classes, assignments and discussion boards with your peers.
Online campus
The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.
Tailored support
Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units and advisors to assist with any queries.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Non-Year 12 entry
- Completion of a VE Diploma in a related field from a public or dual sector TAFE, or Swinburne approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO)*.
- Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
- Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.
* Visit this website to determine if your RTO is public or dual sector. A public RTO will be listed as ‘Technical and Further Education Institute, Skills Institute, or Polytechnic.’ Dual sector RTO’s are listed as ‘University – Government’.
Read our Applying and Enrolling FAQs.
Entry via non-teaching degree.
Year 12 entry
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
VCE pre-requisites
Applicants must meet the associated minimum ATAR score
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (other than EAL) or at least 30 in English as an Additional Language
Additional requirements
CASPer
All applicants (both standard entry and non-year 12 entry) must successfully complete the CASPer assessment. CASPer is a non-academic suitability assessment tool designed to assess an applicant’s personal and professional attributes.
It is an Australian Government accreditation requirement that all initial teacher education courses include non-academic selection criteria.
To ensure you don’t miss the CASPer deadlines and to register for your sitting or for further information about the test, visit takecasper.com.
For current Year 12 students, to ensure you meet VTAC deadlines go to www.vtac.edu.au/admissions-tests.html.
Admission to this course will consider both academic and non-academic results.
If you’re looking to apply for our Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) course you will need to complete the CASPer suitability tool. Get in touch with a Course Consultant to find out more information.
English language proficiency
All applicants must demonstrate suitable English language proficiency for successful completion of the course.
The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
Working with Children Check and Police Check
All enrolled students must maintain a current Working with Children Check (from the appropriate State Authority). A Police Check may also be required by a school prior to a placement. For a list of each state’s requirements see www.careforkids.com.au.
Literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education
To be eligible to graduate, students must pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE), which is required to become a registered teacher. This test is run externally at the applicant’s expense. Applicants must disclose all previous LANTITE attempts (if any) through a personal statement and upload the results for each attempt. Applicants who have unsuccessfully attempted LANTITE three or more times will not be eligible to receive an offer for this course.
Once enrolled, all applicants must provide relevant Child Safety Screening clearance as your state of residence requires and maintain clearances throughout the duration of the program.
Courses are only available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and humanitarian visa holders.
Scholarships
The Victorian Government is now offering scholarships to encourage early childhood teachers throughout the state through the Early Childhood Scholarship Program. Students applying for an approved qualification may be eligible to receive up to $25,000 towards an early childhood bachelor degree. Find out more through the Early Childhood Scholarships Program Guidelines, and apply by visiting the Victorian Government website.
Fees
Fees
The estimated annual fee for this course is $4,627*. This is based on completing eight 12.5 credit point units in one calendar year.
*Unit fees are subject to change annually.
Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.
Discover more information about HELP loans.
Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.
Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships Program
Scholarships are available in a bid to increase the number of qualified early childhood teachers in the early childhood education sector in NSW. More information can be found here.
This course is not available to international students.
Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Become a teacher of the future
Our education graduates work in a range of rewarding roles and industries. The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) prioritises practical theory and experience inside a real classroom so that you can graduate with your foot already in the door. You will:
- Undertake practicum units that place you inside an Australian classroom
- Learn where the future of education is heading and how you can keep pace
- Learn from real educational professionals.
Early Childhood Teacher
Teach the basics of numeracy, literacy, music, and art to early childhood students.
Kindergarten Teacher
Guide young children in the acquisition of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, effectively preparing them for a successful transition to primary school.
Early Childhood Teaching Director
Develop the curriculum, set policies and oversee daily operations of an early childhood centre.
Primary School Teacher
Educate students aged 5–12 years through classroom lessons and educational programs covering a variety of subjects.
Accreditations
When you graduate, you’ll be qualified to practice as a childcare professional or primary teacher, with accreditation from the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
Testimonial
‘Swinburne Online gave me more flexibility, more support and more work experience so I could live my dream of being a teacher. I found that the knowledge that I was building throughout my studies supported my assistance in the classroom and led to being well prepared during placements. These opportunities, combined with a world-class education, have provided me with several job opportunities prior to graduation.’
Kate
Swinburne Online graduate
More Courses
Other courses you may be interested in
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)
Master of Teaching (Primary)
FAQs
What are other students asking?
Q.
Do I have to purchase learning materials?
A.
For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
Q.
Do I need to be logged on to study at specific times?
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you.
There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.
Q.
Which units should I start with?
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.