Key facts
Duration
2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
Course overview
Begin your journey to teaching by studying an Associate Degree of Education at Deakin – ranked #3 in Australia and #13 in the world for education and educational research.
Whether you are looking to forge a path in education, have never studied at university, or you are not sure if you meet the entry requirements, this degree is for you. It is designed to introduce you to what it's like to study at Deakin and to set you on the pathway to becoming a teacher.
You will complete core and elective units from our undergraduate teaching; Bachelor of Education (Primary). You can look forward to also developing the foundation skills required to succeed at university – digital literacy, teamwork, communication, critical thinking abilities and more.
Do you want to create a pathway to your ultimate career as a teacher?
Immerse yourself in the Deakin environment and experience our world-class teaching facilities while benefiting from a supported entry into tertiary study. Your study will enable you to gain deeper understanding of the following disciplines:
- arts education
- Australian history
- humanities
- literacy
- maths
- physical education
- science.
You will complete a professional experience unit, that will prepare you to teach in real-world primary school settings during your bachelor degree.
Once you have successfully completed your associate degree, you will be on track to step into one of Deakin's undergraduate teaching degrees to become a fully registered teacher.
Before beginning your further studies, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
Please note upon completion of the Associate Degree of Education you can go into any Deakin undergraduate teaching course (Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, or Bachelor of Education (Primary)). however, you will receive the most credit if you enter Bachelor of Education (Primary).
* U.S. News & World Report, Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2025–2026
Key dates
VTAC entries are closed.
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Associate Degree of Education
- Year
2026 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400310241 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400510241 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400710241 - Warrnambool, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) - Deakin code
- E200
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 6
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Choose a Deakin degree for vital industry experience on placements, hands-on learning in world-class facilities and guidance from industry-expert academics. We offer lifetime career support and are the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment.
Course structure
To complete the Associate Degree of Education, you must pass 16 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of core foundation units
- 12 credit points of core units
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
To be completed in the first year of study:
Foundation units
Core units
Foundation Units:
Core Units:
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
- Warrnambool
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
CHOOSE DEAKIN, THE #1 VICTORIAN UNIVERSITY FOR COURSE SATISFACTION
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Participation requirements
The Associate Degree of Education involves compulsory school placements of 5-days in year 2.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- successful completion of a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
- completion of a certificate III or higher in any discipline
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- secondary schooling in English
- IELTS 5.5
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
All Applicants for the Associate Degree of Education must complete the Associate Degree of Education Personal Statement Form.
Access and equity
Equity schemes and scholarships, formerly known as Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS), enable Deakin to consider any disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and how these have impacted your studies. Equity schemes help us identify whether you are from an under-represented group when making selection decisions for certain courses. It's important to note that participation in an equity scheme does not exempt you from meeting the standard course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin's equity schemes and scholarships.
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2026 students (PDF, 879KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Estimated tuition fee - (CSP) ?Enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) means the Australian Government pays part of your course fees directly to Deakin, and you pay a 'student contribution'.
$9,013 for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Learn more about fees.
The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website or estimate your tuition fees.
Commonwealth Prac Payment
The Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to help eligible students in teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work cover the costs associated with mandatory placements. For more information on the eligibility criteria and application process please visit our Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.
Scholarship options
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you’ll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply through VTAC
Applications for Trimester 1, 2027 will open on 3 August. Each year, thousands of students prepare for uni with the help of Deakin support services. We offer a huge range of support, including one-on-one consultations, webinars, online resources and events throughout the year.
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications for Trimester 1, 2027 open in July.
In the meantime, why not speak to our student advisers about your course and career options? It’s the best way for future students like you to get expert advice on preparing your application.
Pathways
This course is designed to support your pathway into one of Deakin’s undergraduate teaching degrees. On successful completion of the Associate Degree of Education, you may articulate into one of the degrees below and be eligible for guaranteed entry, subject to meeting the entry requirements of that course.
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
You may receive up to 12 credit points of Recognition of prior learning for units undertaken in E200 Associate Degree of Education. Completion of both the associate degree and the Bachelor of Education (Primary) can be undertaken in 5-years full-time.
Bachelor of Health and Physical Education
You will not be eligible for credit of Recognition of prior learning for units undertaken in E200 Associate Degree of Education. Completion of both the associate degree and the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education can be undertaken in 6-year full-time.
^ All Applicants into a Deakin teaching degree must successfully complete an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes. Deakin University is using the Casper assessment tool. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.
Career outcomes
As a graduate of the Associate Degree of Education, you will have guaranteed entry into our Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, or Bachelor of Education (Primary) and credit towards this degree, provided you successfully complete the Casper test.
An associate degree equips you with the skills to succeed at both university and in your future career. Open yourself to employment opportunities as a qualified teacher or across a range of fields, including:
- education
- government departments
- health sector
- media
- private academies/agencies
- public service.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply theoretical knowledge and skills in education to an emerging understanding of curriculum and pedagogy appropriate to the discipline-specific teaching and learning needs of students. |
| Communication | Use oral, written and electronic communication skills to coherently present knowledge and ideas in a range of educational contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Navigate a range of digital technologies in order to locate, analyse, synthesise and communicate complex information. |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse and evaluate educational and scholarly materials in order to articulate rationales and philosophies for approaches to teaching and learning: curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. |
| Problem solving | Use knowledge and skills in education to generate creative, innovative and authentic solutions to a range of real-world problems encountered in learning environment and communities. |
| Self-management | Act with autonomy, responsibility and accountability in learning and working independently and reflectively to deepen professional skills and knowledge of contemporary educational contexts. |
| Teamwork | Apply the theories of teamwork in order to work and learn collaboratively with others and as a member of a team in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Global citizenship | Apply emerging knowledge and skills in education to design innovative learning experiences that address social justice, equity, diversity and ethical issues. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2019
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our list of sources.
