Skip to content
Undergraduate

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Domestic students International students
Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (BSED)
Entry requirements
ATAR 66.00
View full details
Study mode
  • External
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Springfield
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 4 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, Jul, Nov

Go to

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) overview

  • Are you looking for a degree that gives you flexibility, industry engagement, professional development and expert content knowledge? Our Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is for you.
  • USQ’s Bachelor of Secondary Education is designed to prepare graduates who are confident to teach a diverse range of students from Years 7 to 12, in a variety of contexts.
  • Your degree will prepare you to teach into a minimum of two subject areas, with over 20 different teaching areas from which to choose. Having two teaching areas makes you a flexible and desirable educator in the secondary school environment.
  • Our major and minor subject areas have been explicitly aligned with Queensland’s new senior subject offerings to ensure you gain a competitive edge as you prepare to begin your career in education and teaching.     
  • A key feature of the Bachelor of Secondary Education is the opportunity to complete your professional experience at a variety of locations including rural, remote and international placements. With over 800 placement partners, your placements may include a mixture of mainstream classroom settings as well as opportunities to engage in alternative educational settings.

Professional accreditation

  • As a graduate, you are eligible to apply for registration as a teacher through the Queensland College of Teachers. To be eligible for registration in Queensland, both domestic and international students must have at least 51% of supervised professional experience in Australian schools.
  • In addition to completing all requirements for the degree, students need to pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to graduation. It's recommended that students pass the LANTITE before the successful completion of 16 courses. Please register for the LANTITE test through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) website.

Career outcomes

  • As a graduate, you will have the skills and experience required to teach students in Years 7 to 12 in two teaching areas. Not sure if you want to work in the country or the city? In Australia or overseas? Teaching offers a lot of flexibility and diversity, with graduates gaining employment in settings such as hospital schools, international schools and flexi school delivery, as well as more traditional classroom settings.
  • Teaching skills are also in demand in other areas, including roles with human services, community-based government organisations and recreation and tourism industries.

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 66.00 68.00

Pre-requisites

  • Subject pre-requisites: English (Units 3 & 4, C); General Maths, Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Maths (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent. 
  • You will be required to submit a statement addressing suitability criteria. For information on selection guidelines, including the process for assessing an applicant's non-academic capabilities, please see the selection guidelines for initial teacher education courses. 

Note: You must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of professional experience placements within this degree.

Further admission information

Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.

USQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average OP/Ranks for this degrees' student cohort for Semester 1 from the previous year.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet USQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet USQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 7.5 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education (IHEPP) program.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 32 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Option 1

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 18
2 x major teaching areas (7-unit major)  14
incl. 80 days of supervised placement and 20 days of unsupervised placement
Total 32

Option 2

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 18
1 x major teaching area (7-unit major)  7
1 x minor teaching area (5-unit minor) 5
2 x electives/approved courses from a special interest area 2
incl. 80 days of supervised placement and 20 days of unsupervised placement
Total 32

Option 3

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 18
1 x extended major teaching area (9-unit major)  9
1 x minor teaching area (5-unit minor) 5
incl. 80 days of supervised placement and 20 days of unsupervised placement
Total 32

Refer to the USQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Note: Not all teaching areas are available entirely via external study. Not all teaching areas are made available every year in on-campus mode at USQ Toowoomba and USQ Springfield.

Teaching areas to choose from

  • Accounting
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Design and Technology
  • Digital Technology
  • Drama
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Economics
  • English
  • Film, Television and New Media
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Geography
  • Health and Physical Education (HPE)
  • History
  • Legal Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Religion and Ethics - subject to final University approval
  • Visual Art

Queensland students may also like to refer to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) website for guidance in choosing sought after teaching areas.

Professional experience

You will also need to complete 80 days of professional experience to gain valuable skills and experience in secondary classrooms. These experiences provide you with opportunities to put theory into practice. A minimum of 51 days of professional experience must be undertaken in Australian schools.

All students must be able to meet the professional requirements expected of teachers within this degree.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 3985
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 23120

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2022. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At USQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Apply via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you:

  • have never studied with USQ before, or
  • are a Year 12 student, or
  • want to transfer to USQ from another university.
Mode QTAC Codes
External 908145
Springfield 928411
Toowoomba 908411

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check our application closing dates.

Apply directly to USQ

You may be able to apply directly to USQ if you:

  • are a current or previous USQ student returning to study with complete or incomplete qualifications (excluding Head Start students), or
  • have recently graduated from TAFE.
Apply direct to USQ

The closing dates for applying directly to USQ are:

  • Semester 2, 2022 - applications close Monday 11 July, with Semester 2 commencing on Monday 11 July, 2022.
  • Semester 1, 2023 - application closing date to be advised. Semester 1 commences in February, 2023.

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at USQ that is relevant to you.

Students receiving computer assistance.

Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with Australia's #1 university for graduate starting salary* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide, 2022

Talk to us

Why study a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)? 

Do you want to help shape the lives of the next generation? A Bachelor of Education (Secondary) degree makes you eligible for teacher registration and allows you to teach two subject areas in the school curriculum. 

With the ability to specialise in two of your interest areas of choice i.e. History and English, you’ll be prepared to embark on a rewarding career in education and teaching, working in private or government schools.

Through professional experience placements, you’ll gain experience in classroom teaching, lesson preparation, and have the opportunity to interact with students in different schools and classroom settings.

What years will I be able to teach?

As a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) graduate, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and qualification to teach students in Years 7 to 12.

What are the entry requirements for a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)?

To gain entry into a Bachelor of Education Secondary degree, you will need to have studied English as well as General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, or Specialist Maths, or equivalent, at school. You will also need:

  • to have a minimum ATAR of 66.00
  • to submit a written statement addressing your motivation and suitability to become a teacher
  • to meet the physical and professional requirements before starting your prac placements, such as obtain a Working with Children Check (valid Blue Card). 

What are the study area options? 

Gain the education and teaching experience to teach a minimum of two subject areas. You can select from over 20 study areas to teach in. See the Degree structure tab above for a detailed list. 

How long does it take? 

A Bachelor of Secondary Education generally takes four years of full-time study to complete. If you already have an education qualification from TAFE or relevant work experience, you may be eligible to receive credit to help you finish your degree faster.

Are flexible study options available?

Make the right decision for your lifestyle and choose to study the Bachelor of Education full-time or part-time. A part-time study load is undertaking less than 6 courses during one academic year, which could be an option if you have other commitments while completing your degree. Discover more about the different ways to study at USQ.

Can I complete it online? 

You can complete most courses of the Bachelor of Education Secondary online, with exception to your practical placement courses, which will require you to attend a range of school settings.

How much does a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) cost in Australia?

The cost of studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education will vary depending on the institution you choose.

When you study with us, the first year of your studies will cost approximately AUD 4000 (Commonwealth supported place), not including:

  • textbook and resources costs
  • student services and amenities fees.

Please view the fees and scholarships section of this page for details on fees.

Why study with USQ?

As a teaching shortage looms, there has never been a better time to start a USQ Education and Teaching degree.

  • You have the opportunity to complete your 80 days of professional experience in a variety of locations, including, rural, remote and international placements, with this professionally accredited degree.
  • Explore a range of classroom settings, engaging in state, independent, Catholic or other faith-based schools, alternative, special and inclusive educational settings and with students who study via the School of Distance Education.
  • We offer interest free loans for educational costs incurred whilst on placement (e.g., travel, professional attire).