How to become a teacher
The world needs educators to transform children's lives for the better.
If you’re a hands-on, lifelong learner with a passion for uplifting others, a career in education could be your calling. Whether your dream is to lead from the front of the classroom, design innovative approaches to learning or shape future syllabuses, your work will help future students unlock their full potential.
Becoming a teacher all starts with an engaging, industry-aligned degree. To become qualified, you’ll need to complete a recognised teaching degree, which typically takes four years to complete. You’ll study a range of subjects to prepare you for work after graduation and most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your teaching skills during professional placements.
Why study to become a teacher?
Being a teacher is about more than simply delivering a curriculum to a classroom of students. It’s about supporting each individual to learn in a way that works best for them and guiding young people to explore their curiosity and learn by doing. It’s an immensely rewarding career that plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of young minds to solve the challenges of tomorrow.
Working as a teacher can expose you to life-changing experiences, like working overseas or in remote Australian communities. You might work with disadvantaged youth or with children who need additional support, knowing your positive impact will be felt for years to come. Alternatively, you may take a focus on Gifted Education for students who excel beyond their years. It can also lead you to other fulfilling future roles across education, advocacy and childcare.
Steps to becoming a teacher
The journey to becoming a teacher in Australia requires an open mind and a passion for learning. Between university, professional placements and accreditation, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop your individual teaching style. You’ll also unlock opportunities to take your teaching career overseas.
Here’s an overview of how to become a teacher.
- Step 1: Choose primary or secondary
- Step 2: Complete teaching degree
- Step 3: Kick off your teaching career
Do you feel drawn to guiding primary school-aged children through a wide range of subjects while helping them develop a lifelong love of learning? Or do you like the idea of teaching your favourite subject every day, supporting teenagers to explore their interests and plan for life after school?
Primary and secondary education have a lot in common, but they are two distinct professions, with unique challenges and opportunities. Think about where your own strengths and interests lie, the type of environment you’d like to work in, and the age range you believe you’d be best suited to teaching. If possible, visit several schools to get a feel for the different year levels – things may have changed a lot since you were a kid.
“If students do not think they are good at handling older teenagers and are more passionate about working with younger children, that may be the key. If they think they don’t mind which age group they will work with, then they can think about whether they only want to specialise in one or two subjects without having to teach any others, then secondary is good for them.”
— Dr Thu Ngo, Senior Lecturer, UNSW School of Education
At UNSW, we offer accredited undergraduate degrees in both primary and secondary education. In all our teaching programs, you’ll experience a mix of lectures, coursework and placements. where you’ll get the opportunity to plan and teach lessons in a real classroom setting. At UNSW, we provide 80 days of supervised work experience in a school, where you’ll develop lesson plans, teach entire classes and work alongside students from a range of different backgrounds.
You’ll also develop an understanding of educational priorities in Australia. This includes how to best support Indigenous students or students with English as a second language, and how to meet their unique needs across the curriculum.
Primary teaching degrees at UNSW
In UNSW’s primary education programs, the Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours) and Master of Teaching (Primary), you’ll grow your knowledge in the six key learning areas of the primary curriculum. These are: English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, History and Geography, Creative Arts, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.
Unlike many other Australian universities offering primary education, at UNSW you’ll also get hands-on classroom experience from year one, so you can get a true feel for the profession and begin carving out your unique teaching style.
“The Master of Teaching (Primary) course at UNSW prepared me well for the realities of the classroom. Through my placements, I developed practical skills in planning lessons that are both structured and flexible, allowing me to respond to the diverse needs and abilities of students. I learned strategies to make subjects like maths enjoyable and accessible, using creative and interactive approaches to spark curiosity and maintain engagement.”
— Meher Bhandari, UNSW graduate & primary school teacher
Secondary teaching degrees at UNSW
If you’d like to teach secondary, you can choose from six double degree options at UNSW. Each double degree will help you learn the foundational knowledge to work as a teacher while specialising in your chosen field.
Already have a Bachelor’s Degree?
If you already have a Bachelor’s Degree in your specialist subject, you can study to become a teacher through our Master of Teaching (Primary) or Master of Teaching (Secondary). These accelerated programs are unique to Australia and let you start teaching after just one year of full-time study.
Working throughout your teaching education
You might also find part-time or casual work during your teaching studies. As an undergraduate student, you could get experience in the classroom working as a Learning Support Office, where you work with children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities.
Kick off your teaching career
Once you’ve completed your degree, you’ll be ready to launch your teaching career. At UNSW, our education courses are accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), so all you’ll need to do is register with your state teaching authority and start looking for a job.
At UNSW, we’re ranked #1 in Australia for employability (QS World University Rankings, 2026). That’s because we build our courses around practical experience and professional skill development to ensure you graduate career-ready. Our employability services can help you kick off your teaching career with coaching, mentorship programs and a job board with opportunities from partners in Australia and around the world.
Teaching jobs in Australia
Working as a teacher in Australia can be both challenging and rewarding. Qualified teachers are in high demand due to the country’s fast population growth. Both private and public schools are increasingly offering generous incentives to entice teachers to take on positions in remote or disadvantaged communities ensuring everyone has access to quality education.
As for salary, a 2025 report benchmarks Australian teachers among the highest paid, earning well above the average across OECD countries. Australian primary school and secondary school teachers earn an average of $103,000, and even higher salaries can be unlocked at the school executive level, with the average Australian principal earning $195,000 (Seek, 2025).
Beyond the classroom, there are plenty of alternative career pathways within the education sector. With further study, you might lead the school as its Principal or move into a Department role writing and updating academic curriculums.
With a double degree, you might also consider pursuing a career in your chosen specialisation.
Future jobs in teaching and education:
- Primary school teacher
- High school teacher
- Assistant principal
- Academic or researcher
- Education policy development officer
- Corporate trainer
- TAFE or university staff
- Education consultant
- Curriculum officer
What are the skills of a teacher?
Great teachers are great communicators. They know how to explain things in a way that children and young adults understand. They also have a mix of interpersonal and professional skills to create safe, engaging learning environments. Education degrees at UNSW prepare prospective teachers with both the interpersonal qualities and the professional capabilities they need to inspire the next generation of learners.
| Interpersonal qualities | Interpersonal qualities |
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“The best primary school teachers I have come across are supportive, patient, creative, flexible and open to learning. You're always adapting based on the learners in front of you, I’d also say organisation and the ability to think on your feet are important,” says Meher.
“Having a Plan A, B and sometimes C can make a big difference, because no two days look the same in the classroom and programs need to remain engaging to drive student participation and motivation.”
Why study teaching at UNSW?
At UNSW, you’ll learn from world-class educational researchers and experienced practitioners in a supportive and inspiring environment. Through hands-on learning and evidence-based teaching, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to become a confident educator in the classroom and beyond.
“Overall, UNSW’s Master of Teaching gave me the tools to combine clear instruction, classroom management, and engaging content in ways that foster learning, inclusion, and a love of learning among students,” says Meher.
Classroom experience from year one
Unlike many Australian universities, our education degrees give you the chance to step into a classroom with a minimum of 80 days of practice teaching in more than one school. You’ll fast-track your skill development and get a feel for the profession right from the beginning.
Globally recognised for teaching and research
We’ve been recognised as one of the top-performing universities in the world for education, according to the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects for teaching and specialist programs and by QS World University Rankings by Subject. Our research-led approach means we’re constantly exploring new theories to advance teaching practices and policies across the globe.
Most employable graduates
UNSW is ranked #1 in Australia for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings, 2026) and has been recognised for producing Australia’s most employable graduates for six years in a row (Australian Financial Review (AFR) Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025).
NESA accreditation
We’re the preferred provider of professional development and training for the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Our courses are designed to align with industry standards and evolve in line with the teaching landscape in Australia.
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The fastest way to become a teacher in Australia if you already hold a bachelor's degree is to complete a postgraduate qualification in teaching, such as UNSW’s Master of Teaching (Primary) or Master of Teaching (Secondary). These accelerated programs, unique in Australia, let you start teaching after just one year of full-time study and complete your degree in under two years.
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The roles and responsibilities of a teacher are far-reaching and can vary based on their school, position and department. In general, teachers:
- Plan daily, weekly, and term-level lessons in line with the curriculum
- Deliver lessons using a range of technologies and techniques
- Supervise students during, between and occasionally before and after class
- Issue and mark assignments
- Create reports to track each student’s learning progress
- Discuss educational and behavioural issues with parents, students and department heads
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Salaries vary depending on factors such as experience, year level (primary or secondary), type of school (public or private) and whether you have a leadership position, among other factors. On average, both primary school and secondary school teachers in Australia earn $103,000 a year (Seek, 2025).
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Yes! We welcome hundreds of international students to study our education programs every year.
The entry requirements for international students vary between degrees. You must meet the minimum English language requirements and hold a recognised high school qualification. Check the individual degree pages for a full list of entry requirements. -
The cost of a degree in education is based on several factors, including whether you’re completing a bachelor's or master's degree. At UNSW, domestic students are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place for our teaching degrees. Estimated costs for all our domestic and international student fees can be found on each degree page.
Explore our degrees
Your teaching career starts here. Explore our education degrees to find a specialisation that suits your interests.
Our undergraduate degrees
- Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours)
- Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Aboriginal Studies (Indigenous Studies), Drama, English, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D), Geography, Languages (Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish), Legal Studies, Modern History, Music, Society and Culture.
- Bachelor of Commerce/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Business Studies, Economics.
- Bachelor of Design/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Computing Technology, Design & Technology, Graphics & Multimedia, Textiles & Design and Visual Arts.
- Bachelor of Economics/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Business studies, Economics.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Graphics and Multimedia Technology, Music, Visual Arts.
- Bachelor of Science/Education (Secondary) Teaching specialisations - Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science, Mathematics, Physics.
Our postgraduate degrees
