• Become an expert in your chosen field of education
• Ideal for educators looking to move into middle or senior positions
• Flexible course with eight specialisation areas
• Research pathway option available
• Fast-track option available for qualified teachers

The Master of Education is designed for a range of education professionals who want to develop or extend their expertise in education so they can move into leadership, specialist or coordinator positions. With eight specialisation areas, ranging from arts education to leadership and management, students have the opportunity to become true leaders in their field of interest. As well as an array of fields, the course offers educators professional learning in a wide range of settings, from early childhood through to vocational and adult education.

Who is the course for?

The Master of Education has been created for the learning needs of teachers or educators looking to specialise their knowledge in a variety of education fields. It will also benefit those currently in wider education-related roles, such as youth workers, policy makers, education administrators or managers, and those in tertiary education.

Watch our Education sector in review: Optimising technology in education webinar recording. Our panel of academic experts and alumni discuss how we can best optimise technology in the education sector. We explore opportunities and barriers that exist for students, staff and practitioners, and how technology can be used to foster better education standards.

Please note: the Master of Education is not a teaching qualification. For information on becoming a teacher, please visit the Become a Teacher page.

Why choose the Master of Education with us?

You’ll be taught by a number of internationally recognised education experts. As well as strong leaders and educators, the course has also been built for practical application in the real world. The capstones allow for work-integrated learning, allowing students to relate assignments back to professional learning in a meaningful way. Once you complete the course, you can take your learnings into a professional setting and make real impact.

The reputation of the University of Melbourne is strong and globally recognised, particularly for education where the Faculty of Education has been regularly ranked #1 in Australia. We are at the cutting edge of teaching and research.

Support in your postgraduate education studies

We take pride in the excellent support we offer our Master of Education students from enrolment, throughout their studies, and beyond. If you are an Indigenous student, we offer a range of support services here at the University of Melbourne via Murrup Barak. You can find out more on the Murrup Barak website.

Over the course of the degree, you will develop a strong foundation in education theory whilst being given the tools to apply these learnings in a practical way. This focus on real-world application will assist with progression in your role or promotion to positions of leadership and management in the education field.

Taught by internationally-recognised researchers and education leaders, through the course you will connect with the latest developments and research in the field, and gain the expertise to move beyond the classroom to explore system-level issues and challenges.

Study Structure

The flexible structure of the Master of Education, with a range of electives and specialisations, will allow you to qualify in your particular area of interest. Entry points to the course are in both semester 1 and 2, designed to suit most schedules. There are different offerings which you can take to complete the Master of Education, depending on your professional experience. For flexibility around professional or family commitments, we also offer the Master of Education on a part-time or full-time basis.

Standard program:

• This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience
• 200 points of coursework
• Year 1: 4 x compulsory subjects and 4 x specialisation subjects/electives. Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their specialisation subjects or electives
• Year 2: 6 x electives/specialisation subjects and 1 x capstone professional project subject
• Students in the full program may choose to complete up to two specialisations.

Fast-track program:

• Students who hold a four-year education degree (or equivalent) or an undergraduate degree in any discipline and at least 100 credit points (or equivalent) of graduate study in education can apply for this fast-tracked version of the course
• 100 points of coursework with advanced standing
• Year 2: 6 x electives/specialisation subjects and 1 x capstone professional project subject.

To specialise in a particular area, you must successfully complete each of the four specialisation subjects. However, if you wish to complete a general Master of Education without a specialisation, you may choose subjects from across the range of elective and specialisation subjects.

Research pathway:

• This pathway is designed for students intending to pursue graduate research, such as a PhD.
• The two research pathway subjects must be undertaken in the final 50 points of the course, and the following eligibility criteria must be met to enrol in the subjects:
  • Students in the 200-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 125 points of the course;
  • Students in the 100-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in their first 50 points of their course.

Specialisation options

Create the course your career needs with our Master of Education specialisation areas. Our eight specialisations and over 50 extra electives give you the ability to build a flexible course around your own interests, helping further your teaching practice. Whether you want to choose just one, or multiple specialisations, be in control of building a course that will give you the knowledge to accelerate your career in education.

Arts Education

Designed for creative practitioners and arts education professionals, it’s also relevant for arts education specialists, generalist teachers, artists, community educators and other practitioners who work with children and young people. Through engaging in critical inquiry into arts-based engagement, learning, pedagogy and practice, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to play a leading role in fostering creativity.

Assessment and Pedagogy

For classroom teachers and educators in a variety of learning environments such as schools, universities, vocational education, hospitals or other workplaces. Employing the latest research, and with a focus on collaboration and engagement, you’ll learn how to maximise student engagement, strengthen your skills as a practitioner, and become a leader in designing learning, assessment and related pedagogy.

Equity, Diversity and Social Change

Harness your passion to effect social change and foster equity and diversity in schools and other educational settings. Broaden and enhance your own practice by deepening your understanding of key concerns in contemporary policy and practice.

Leadership and Management

Designed for educators working in a range of educational settings in government and non-government sectors, VET and tertiary sectors, and workplace training contexts who are seeking to advance into leadership positions. Access practical knowledge, conceptual frameworks, and state-of-the-art research with a global perspective to help you grow into an effective and sought-after leader.

Literacy Education

For those wanting to learn more about literacy or interested in influencing literacy development. Equip yourself to lead schools and students in all facets of literacy development, from early years to adulthood, and gain contemporary in-depth knowledge of literacy policy, theory and curriculum.

Mathematics and Science Education

Whether you are a teacher, education leader, policy maker, educator or someone who engages with mathematics or science at work, equip yourself with research-informed knowledge, practical skills, and insight to empower your professional practice. Develop the understanding, skills and confidence to lead science, mathematics and numeracy learning and learn innovative approaches to teaching and communicating these subjects in ways that lift engagement and performance.

Policy in a Global Context

For a wide range of education professionals, in particular teachers or educators looking to move into education policy roles and school leaders seeking to better understand education policy and reform, plus those working in government or NGOs in policy roles. Delve into education policy in a global context and get an understanding of domestic educational policy and its relationships with education systems from around the world.

Student Wellbeing

Suited to teachers and other school staff who wish to deepen their knowledge of student wellbeing, as well as those working in or interested in student wellbeing roles. Develop your capacity to contribute engaging school communities that promote the wellbeing of all students and support their academic progress and personal development.

How will I study?

The Master of Education has been designed around the lives of working professionals. The delivery mode of our course is face-to-face classes on the Parkville campus, running evenings and weekends.

University Handbook: Master of Education

The Master of Education offers professional learning for educators in a broad range of fields, including early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary, vocational and adult. In this course you will develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of educational theory and practice in specialised areas of education. You'll also be exposed to the latest research that is driving change to policy and practice in educational settings worldwide. The course is designed for professionals who already hold, or seek to move into:

• Leadership and/or management positions within educational and professional settings
• Policy-making roles and responsibilities within government and non-government organisations
• Specialist and coordination positions
• Professional development/capacity building positions in educational, workplace and or community settings
• Other education and training settings.

Pathways

Advanced standing of up to 100 credit points of the 200 credit point degree will be granted to applicants who have either:

• A four-year education degree, or equivalent, or
• An undergraduate degree in any discipline and at least 100 credit points, or equivalent, of graduate study in education.

Students interested in completing a thesis are encouraged to apply for the Master of Education - Research. Graduates from this program are eligible to apply for entry to the Doctor of Education provided they achieve an H2A average in the program, and meet the other entry requirements.

Micro-credentials

The university also offers micro-credentials. These are small, industry-aligned and highly accessible short courses designed to help you upskill quickly.

Developed specifically for professionals, micro-credentials are underpinned by our cutting-edge research and world-class pedagogical practice.

You can complete one on its own or complete a series of four. These are designed to provide a pathway – otherwise known as 'advanced standing' – into the Master of Education. To use it in this way, you will need to complete all four micro-credentials in the relevant series, as each one is equivalent to one-quarter of a standard subject, and then apply for credit towards the qualification.

Leading Change in Learning Environments series

• Teaching in Innovative Spaces
• Teachers' Transitions to Innovative Spaces

Transforming Classrooms with Technology series

• Digital Tools for Inclusive Teaching

Highly employable

Finish your course confident of gaining employment, thanks to the excellent reputation of the Faculty of Education. We have been consistently ranked as #1 in Australia and in the top 15 globally for Education, meaning a degree from us is a globally recognised achievement.

Entry requirements for the 200-point program To be considered for entry into this course, you must have a three-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any discipline. Entry requiremen

IELTS (academic English Only): Overall 7.0 (with written 7.0 and no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 94 + ; Writing 27; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 65 + written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 185 + no less than 185 in Writing and 169 in each other skill