Master of Education

Course information for - 2025 entry

Offered at 1 locations

Duration

120 cp: 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time

160 cp: 2 years full-time or equivalent part-time

CRICOS Code
084792A, 099127M
IELTS
7.0 overall score (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all tests)
Fees (first year)*
$28728
Start dates
February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, July 2027

Overview

The Master of Education is for educators and sector professionals who wish to pursue further studies and develop advanced knowledge and expertise in educational practice.

Be part of a vibrant academic, research-led community and deepen your understanding of the latest and most effective pedagogical practices. Learn the latest evidence-based approaches to learning and augment your craft in professional application, rigorous innovation, focused leadership, and research in this area.

Enhance your area of specialisation by choosing from one of eight streams, including: Inclusive Practice; Literacy: Primary and Secondary; Literacy: Teaching Foundational Reading Skills; Literacy: Teaching Fluency, Comprehension and Writing; Research Methods; School Psychology; STEM and Wellbeing.

By embracing life-long learning, teachers and aspiring school leaders will be equipped with advanced practitioner knowledge, skills, and abilities along with a discrete pathway to doctoral research. Students wanting to progress to doctoral study on completion of this course must complete the sequence of Advanced Research methods within their studies.

This advanced education course asks you to reimagine the purposes of education and improve the educational setting you work in. If you are passionate about continual learning and want to advance your career, but do not hold a teaching qualification, you can complete an additional sequence of units to meet this degree's requirements.

The Master of Education is not an initial teaching qualification.

  • Top 50 Globally in education and fourth in Australia.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers as:

  • policy advisors
  • school leaders
  • curriculum advisors
  • consultants

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Admission Requirement A - One Stream and Elective units

  • One StreamSpecialisation Unit 110 cp
  • One StreamSpecialisation Unit 210 cp
  • Specified unitSpecified unitEDLE655 Data Information Systems: Using Research and Data for Learning Compulsory unit for students enrolled in the Research Methods stream. OREDRS651 Educational Research Methods Compulsory unit for students NOT enrolled in the Research Methods stream. 10 cp
  • Elective unitsElective Unit 110 cp
  • One StreamSpecialisation Unit 310 cp
  • One StreamSpecialisation Unit 410 cp
  • Elective unitsElective Unit 210 cp
  • Elective unitsElective Unit 310 cp

Please consult the unit list in the Course Enrolment Guide to see offerings for a particular year.

Admission Requirement A -Two streams

Please consult the unit list in the Course Enrolment Guide to see offerings for a particular year.

Admission Requirement B - Online

Please consult the unit list in the Course Enrolment Guide to see offerings for a particular year.

Admission Requirement B - International Intake (Melbourne)

Please consult the unit list in the Course Enrolment Guide to see offerings for a particular year.

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Masters (Coursework) - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

A student who has completed 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings of the Graduate Certificate in Education may exit with that award.

A student who has completed 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings of the Graduate Diploma in Education may exit with that award.

Additional course information

Participants with a teaching qualification complete the 120 credit point course. Participants without a teaching qualification complete the 160 credit point course from the Schedule of Unit Offerings outlined in the course handbook on the ACU website.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

a. Bachelor degree in Education; or a Bachelor degree and a recognised teaching qualification OR

b. Bachelor degree in an area other than Education

Students admitted under Admission Requirement A must complete 120 cp and students admitted under Admission Requirement B must complete 160 cp.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.

View transparency admission information

International applicants

If you’re an international applicant you’ll need the equivalent of an Australian bachelor’s degree.   

You’ll also need to comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, including the English Language Proficiency requirements. 

See the language requirements 

English language requirements

IELTS  overall score of 7.0. Individual score of 6.0 in all tests.

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Pathways

Further study

Graduates of this course may be eligible for entry into further postgraduate coursework degree programs and/or research higher degree, doctoral programs.

Fees

Course costs

  • Unit fee: $3591
  • Average first year fee: $28728
  • Estimate total cost: $43092

The Tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.

Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Search our scholarships  

How to apply

International applicants

Direct application

Apply now

Deferment

Yes. See Defer your offer.

Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.

Staff Profile

Professor Amanda Telford

Head of Discipline Postgraduate Education, National School of Education

Professor Amanda Telford is a teacher and researcher in health, wellbeing and educational leadership within the National School of Education. She is currently the National Course Coordinator of the Master of Education and has over two decades experience in senior learning and teaching leadership roles as a former secondary teacher and academic across four universities including: Associate Dean (Education) Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching), Interim Associate Dean (Partnerships) and Director/course coordinator across three universities. These senior academic leadership positions have enabled her to develop a deep understanding of policy, processes and regulatory requirements of universities and governing bodies. Prof. Telford is a multi- award-winning teacher, researcher and author, she has co-authored over 100 learning and teaching publications including over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 45 textbooks and book chapters used nationally and internationally at secondary and tertiary level. She has collaborated on more than 40 research projects with a learning and teaching, physical activity, physical education and/or wellbeing focus. The CLASS instrument she developed as part of her PhD to assess children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour is used in over 40 countries. Prof. Telford was a Chief Investigator on the ARC funded 'Girls Get Going' study and more recently the NHMRC funded 'TransformUs' project designed to revolutionize the classroom through movement which has already reached over 500 schools.

Dr Paul Kidson

Course Coordinator, National School of Education

Dr Paul Kidson is Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and the Head of Postgraduate Studies in the National School of Education. He has extensive school leadership and governance experience, including 11 years as a school principal, which informs the highly practical orientation of his academic research. In addition to his academic research and leadership, he is a member of Australian Council for Educational Leaders (NSW) Executive Committee, a Fellow of the Institute for Managers and Leaders, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors. His research adopts holistic and interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on a range of academic disciplines and insights. Through this, he explores how school leaders work effectively within, and critically transform, their complex professional lives. This encompasses broader systems and policies which govern the work of educational leaders, as well as how school leaders develop and sustain their personal experience of leadership. He is part of a large-scale research projects on school leadership, and one of the lead researchers on Australia’s largest and longest running principal well-being research project, the Australian Principal Occupational Health and Well-being Survey. 

Shanghai Ranking, Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022

 

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