Master of Secondary Teaching
Program code
5700
Available at
Nathan
Gold Coast
Mount Gravatt
Logan
South Bank
Online
Offshore
Other
Duration
1.5 to 2 years full-time
3 to 4 years part-time
Credit points
160
Indicative fee
$4,500.00* per year (more)
* 2024 indicative annual CSP
fee
About this program
You can choose to accelerate your studies over 1.5 years or study full-time over two years. If you choose the accelerated option you will be able to apply for registration six months earlier than graduates from other universities.
If you are a graduate from a non-education background, perhaps seeking a career change, and wish to teach in secondary school settings, this new degree will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge you need to register with the QCT.
You will learn the theory and practice of teaching, as well as about the characteristics of learners and teachers and the social contexts of education. The degree includes education studies, curriculum studies in two nominated teaching areas, and professional experience in secondary school settings. A maximum of four (4) curriculum studies courses will be taken from the curriculum study courses in the undergraduate degree.
You will need to be able to identify two of the following Teaching Areas (and students may choose to take teaching areas from another campus and travel to the campus at which those teaching areas are offered):
- Biology (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
- Business (Gold Coast and Online)
- Chemistry (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
- Design Technologies (Gold Coast and Online)
- Digital Technologies (Gold Coast and Online)
- Drama (Mt Gravatt and Online)
- English (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
- Food and Nutrition (Gold Coast and Online)
- Geography (Mt Gravatt and Online)
- Health and Physical Education (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
- History (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
- Instrumental Music (Mt Gravatt and Online)#
- Languages other than English (LOTE) (Mt Gravatt and Online)
- Mathematics (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
- Music (Mt Gravatt and Online)
- Physics (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
- Psychology (Mt Gravatt and Online)#
- Visual Arts (Mt Gravatt and Online)
# These teaching areas must be taken at a senior level and, therefore, require a minimum of six subjects in each area in the undergraduate degree.
Alternatively, if you have completed at least six subjects in psychology in your Bachelor degree, you may nominate one of the above teaching areas to a senior level (for which you meet the study requirements with a minimum of six subjects) and complete the Learning Enhancement specialist area. In this specialist area, you will gain the skills needed to provide learning support to students with additional needs. You will be able to work in secondary settings where you advise teachers in their planning and/or teach in secondary special education settings. A maximum of four (4) curriculum studies courses will be taken from the curriculum study courses in the undergraduate degree.
Note: The Australian Federal Government has mandated that all students of initial teacher education programs demonstrate they have been assessed as being in the top 30% of the adult population for personal literacy and numeracy. The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is administered and managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). While this is not a requirement for admission, all students will need to organise and demonstrate a pass result in all components of the LANTITE prior to graduation.
From 2025 all students will need to complete the LANTITE to be eligible to enrol into 7999EDN. There are four opportunities each year to sit LANTITE and students will need to plan ahead using the PEx calendar (Calendars and Handbooks (griffith.edu.au) to avoid clashes with first year professional experience times.
Griffith University pays for the initial attempt for each component by preservice teachers who are currently enrolled in an initial education program at Griffith University. Preservice teachers should consult the ACER website for information about LANTITE testing, restrictions, and booking information at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/ Preservice teachers can find preparation materials for LANTITE on their program sites and on the ACER website.
The Bridging maths for aspiring educators course caters to all students who need to meet the maths subject prerequisite for Griffith Initial Teacher Education program. Successful completion means you could commence your studies in the next available trimester. * [Find out more]
Scholarships and support
Take advantage of both Griffith University and Government scholarships offering a range of benefits¿from financial support, to mentoring, internships, and permanent employment opportunities.
Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $40,000 for the Bachelor of Education, and $20,000 for the Master of Primary Teaching or Master of Secondary Teaching, are available through the Australian Government Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program .
Turn to Teaching Internship Program
Students eligible for enrolment in the Master of Primary Teaching or Master of Secondary Teaching have the opportunity to apply for the Queensland Government Turn to Teaching Internship Program. Participants can fast-track their studies with financial assistance up to $20,000 and a paid teaching internship, where you'll receive classroom support and gain valuable professional experience. You may also secure a permanent teaching position in a Queensland state school upon completion.
Griffith scholarships
There are a wide variety of Griffith University scholarships available, providing financial support and more while you study.
| Code | Program title | Campus | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5587 | Master of Primary Teaching | Gold Coast, Mt Gravatt, Online | Trimester 1 only |
| 5700 | Master of Secondary Teaching (this program) | Gold Coast, Mt Gravatt, Online | Trimester 1 only |
| 4202 | Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching | Gold Coast, Mt Gravatt, Online | Exit point only |
| 3286 | Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching | Gold Coast, Mt Gravatt, Online | Exit point only |
*The Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (3286) and the Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (4202) do not lead to teacher registration.
*Note: Students exiting with either of these awards will have to reapply for admission via official admission channels if they wish to re-enter the Master of Primary Teaching.
Attendance information
The Master of Secondary Teaching program is offered full-time and part-time. International students must complete 75% of the program via face-to-face on-campus.
Professional experience is a mandated component of this program. The placements in secondary schools are organised by the School of Education and Professional Studies. Upon enrolment into the program, students will be asked to provide information to facilitate their placements.
Compulsory Tutorial Attendance for All Professional Experience Courses
Students must reach an 80% threshold for tutorial attendance and active participation in the lead up to placement for all Professional Experience courses. Students who cannot attend the full tutorial and thus cannot actively participate during the tutorial will not be able to proceed with the placement and complete the course.
Please be aware that courses in this program may not follow the standard academic calendar. After you have completed your enrolment each trimester, please check your timetable on myGriffith for details of when classes commence and the duration of professional experience placements.
Managing study interruptions
Leave of absence
Students may not take a leave of absence in this program without the approval of the Program Director. The Program Director will review applications for leave of absence relative to the maximum time available to complete the program, availability of required courses and the sequential nature of the program which necessitates completion of certain courses prior to continuing into professional experience placements.
Student Income Support
To be classed as a full-time student, you are required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points each standard study period. The minimum credit points for full-time enrolment in this program is 30 credit points.
Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 are deemed standard study periods. As Trimester 3 is a non-standard study period, continuing students moving from one year to the next will not be required to study during this trimester to be eligible for student income support.
Domestic students who commence in Trimester 3 may be eligible for student income support from the onset of study provided they are enrolled full-time in this study period.
Please refer to the Australian Government website for more details.
Work-integrated learning
Students will undertake 12 weeks of supervised professional practice. Total work placement (hours): 450.
My career opportunities
Graduates of the Master of Secondary Teaching will be eligible to apply for registration with the Queensland College of Teachers and be prepared for teaching positions in the public or private sector which can lead to senior positions such as a head of department or principal.
Students wishing to seek teacher registration in another state or internationally should seek advice from the appropriate professional body.
Program accreditation
The Master of Secondary Teaching is accredited by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT).
To obtain registration with the Queensland College of Teachers, graduating teachers must have evidence to demonstrate that their English language proficiency meets the minimum requirements for registration.
Professional Practice requirements
Students must reach an 80% threshold for tutorial attendance and active participation in the lead up to placement for all Professional Experience courses. Students who cannot attend the full tutorial and thus cannot actively participate during the tutorial will not be able to proceed with the placement and complete the course.
Working with Children Check (Blue Card)
Information for placements within Queensland
Before undertaking professional experience placements, all students in this program are required to:
- undergo the Working with Children Check and
- be issued with a Blue Card.
Students must hold a current valid Blue Card throughout the duration of each professional experience. Students may be asked to present their Blue Card to facility staff on the first day of each placement and should keep their Blue Card on them at all times while attending a professional experience placement.
The University is legally obliged to warn students that it is an offence for a disqualified person to submit a Blue Card application. Further information may be obtained from Queensland Government Blue Card Services, the Education Professional Experience Office or from any Griffith Student Centre.
Blue Card applications must be submitted online by the student via the Queensland Government Blue Card Services website. There is no fee for a student Blue Card.
Pathways to further study
Upon graduation, students with a GPA of 5.0 or higher will be eligible to follow a research pathway via the Master of Education and Professional Studies Research (5608) and then onto a PhD. Graduates may also choose to undertake a Graduate Certificate offered by the School of Education and Professional Studies to further specialise their teaching practice.
Commonwealth supported students
- The indicative fee represents the expected average fee for an annual full-time study load (80 credit points). This is based on average study patterns across courses and the Australian Government's broad discipline areas (student contribution bands). A student's actual annual fee may vary in accordance with his or her choice of majors and electives. The Australian Government sets student contribution amounts on an annual basis.
- Find out more...
Fee-paying postgraduate (domestic) students
Indicative annual tuition fee
The indicative annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load which is usually 80 credit points.
The indicative annual tuition fee is based on current conditions and available data and should only be used as a guide. These fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Tuition fees
- A fee-paying postgraduate student pays tuition fees.
- Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
- The tuition fee for students who commence their program prior to 2014 is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student commenced the program.
- The tuition fee for students who commence their program from 2014 onwards is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.
- Find out more...
Program fees for the Master of Secondary Teaching (5700)
If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.
Tuition fees for your degree program
Changing programs
If a postgraduate student changes to a different program they will be subject to the approved program fee for the trimester in which they are enrolled.
Further information
- Calculating your EFTSL
- Fees and Charges Procedure
- Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- Financial help and support
Additional fee information
This postgraduate program has Commonwealth Supported Places. If you are eligible, the Australian Government will contribute to the cost of this program but you will also be required to make a contribution.
Quotas are applied for admission to the Commonwealth Supported Places. Where demand exceeds the number of available places and all places have been filled for the current admission period, applicants who meet minimum program entry requirements may be eligible for a Fee-Paying Postgraduate place if such places are available. Please note that deferrals are not permitted for programs with Commonwealth Supported Places.
This program has been approved by the Australian Government for student income support (for example, Youth Allowance and Austudy). Students should contact Centrelink for more information about their eligibility for student income support payments.
Additional costs
Throughout your program you may be required to pay for the following items:
- Expenses associated with placements.