Key facts
IELTS overall score of 6 (with no band score less than 6) or equivalent
4 years full time
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course information
Translate your passion for the study of sciences into a career that inspires others, with a Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching (Secondary) at Deakin. Create unique course combinations with science specialisations and graduate as a qualified secondary school educator.
This industry-led double degree allows you to fast-track your studies and graduate with two degrees, including a postgraduate teaching degree, in just four years. You’ll explore a broad range of science disciplines before focusing on a specialisation.
At the same time, develop the attributes, discipline-specific knowledge and professional behaviours required to practise as a secondary school teacher in Australia. Learn by doing and build practical experience through hands-on lab work, professional placements, work-integrated learning and international study experiences.
Are you ready to join Australia’s largest profession?
Start with Deakin’s Bachelor of Science, and alongside your core units, choose two science majors that will lead to your postgraduate specialisations. Create unique course combinations that when paired with teaching, customise your degree and boost your employability. Study disciplines including:
- animal biology
- cell biology
- environmental science
- genomics
- human biology
- mathematical modelling
- plant biology.
During your postgraduate studies, Deakin’s Professional Experience Program is a key part of your course, ensuring you have the practical skills needed from day one of your teaching career. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we’ll arrange at least 60 days of placements for you in schools where you’ll learn from experienced teachers. Students also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for teaching.
Take part in our study abroad and work-integrated learning programs and gain invaluable experience you won’t find in the classroom. You’ll have the opportunity to be a part of our Global Science and Technology Program or develop industry-relevant skills through our professional learning placements.
Before beginning your Master of Teaching, prospective education students need to successfully complete the CASPer test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
Read MoreCourse structure
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching (Secondary), students must complete a total of 36 credit points of units comprising of:
Bachelor of Science studies
Students must complete:
1. 7 credit points of core science units
2. 2 credit points of units as follows:
- Students who have not completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent take SLE133 and SLE155
- Students who completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent take SLE155 and 1 credit point elective (must be Science course grouped)
3. 6 credit point approved Science major sequence selected from either of the following 2 groups:
Major Group 1: Animal Biology, Cell Biology, Genomics, Human Biology and Plant Biology
Major Group 2: Environmental Science, Mathematical Modelling
4. 5 credit points of units chosen from another group of the Science majors listed above*
*Note: Students taking a major sequence in Group 1 must choose these 5 units from one of majors in Group 2. Students taking a major sequence in Group 2 must choose these 5 units from one of majors in Group 1.
5. Students must complete both units:
SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit point compulsory unit) and;
STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point unit)
6. 4 credit points selected from:
- EDU201 Educational Psychology
- EDU202 Educators and Learners
- EDU203 Literacy, Numeracy and Education
- EDU303 Education, Communication and Technology
- EDU301 Culture, Diversity and Participation in Education
- EDU302 Education and Humanitarian Development
Following successful completion of the first 3 undergraduate levels of the course, students with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) above 60 progress to the postgraduate level of the course. Students cannot progress to the postgraduate level of study without completing all 24 credit points at undergraduate level. A WAM of less than 60 results in an alternative exit from D304 with award S320 Bachelor of Science.
A Working with Children Check and completion of CASPer selection is required before commencing school experience in Trimester 3 of Year 3.
Master of Teaching (Secondary) studies
Students must complete:
- 7 core units (8 credit points)
- 2 curriculum study units in first teaching method area
- 2 curriculum study units in second teaching method area
This course includes 60 days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment.
Students are also required to complete below two zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) and
Bachelor of Science structure
Core Units
Plus 2 credit points as follows:
Or
And
1 elective unit (science course grouped)
Note: Students who have not completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent take SLE133 and SLE155. Students who completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent take SLE155 and a one credit point elective unit (science course grouped).
Major sequences - Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability
Students must complete 6 credit points from one of the following:
Major Group 1:
OR
Major Group 2:
Plus 5 credit points of units chosen from another one of the Science majors listed above*
*Note: Students taking a major sequence in Group 1 must choose these 5 units from one of majors in Group 2. Students taking a major sequence in Group 2 must choose these 5 units from one of majors in Group 1.
Plus 4 credit points selected from:
Master of Teaching structure
7 core units (8 credit points)
Plus two Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a first teaching method area
Plus two Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a second teaching method area
Secondary Curriculum Study Units
All Secondary candidates will have 2 methods (disciplines) as reflected in their undergraduate major and minor sequences related to the Australian Curriculum.
Candidates undertake 2 curriculum studies units (as prescribed) per method (4 units for dual/double), across 1 or 2 learning areas.
Note: D304 permits a choice between learning areas 2 or 3 from the Secondary Curriculum learning areas of 1:English, 2:Mathematics, 3:Science, 4:Humanities, 5:Languages, 6:Health and PE, 7:The Arts.
Learning Area 2: Mathematics
Single method: Mathematics
Learning Area 3: Science
Single method: One of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Env. Science
Plus one of
Dual method: Two of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Env. Science
Plus two of
Key information
Bachelor of Science / Master of Teaching (Secondary)
2021 course information
Campuses by intake
Campus availability varies per trimester. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Read more to learn where this course will be offered throughout the year.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
New course version commencing 2020
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
Additional course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
Teacher Education Graduation requirements
Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Participation requirements
Professional Experience Placements are a compulsory component of the course and a requirement for registration as a graduate teacher. Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: http://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Students are required to check the placement calendars published on the Professional Experience Office website each year. Placement takes priority over employment and placement periods are generally block placements of 5 full time days per week over 2-5 weeks.
Course delivery is blended and students are required to dedicate time to weekly engagement with located or cloud teaching and learning activities and resources. This is recommended at combined total 8-10 hours per week per unit including active learning/engagement either face to face or online, and independent study.
Some units will require students to attend schools or institutions for site-based learning and teaching experiences. Some units will require students to attend schools or institutions for site-based learning and teaching experiences. Some units can only be completed face to face at Burwood or as Cloud study. Students are advised to check the unit delivery options for each required unit.
Entry requirements
Entry information
General admission requirements for entry into undergraduate courses for international students at Deakin are summarised in the undergraduate course requirements.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Units 3 and 4–a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in English other than EAL.
Non Year 12 Form: Applicants must complete and submit a VTAC Personal History online.
All Applicants must complete an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes prior to entry into the Master of Teaching component of the course during their third year of study. Deakin University is using the CASPer test. CASPer is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching
IELTS / English language requirements
Please note that English language requirements exist for entry to this course and you will be required to meet the English language level requirement that is applicable in the year of your commencement of studies.
It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that she/he has the required IELTS score to register with any external accredited courses. (more details)
Admissions information
Learn more about this course and others that Deakin offers by visiting VTAC for more information. You can also discover how Deakin compares to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning by visiting the ComparED website.
Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enables Deakin to consider disadvantageous circumstances you may have experienced and their impact upon your studies. SEAS also allows us to identify if you're from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses. SEAS does not exempt you from meeting any of the course entry requirements.
You can also find out about different entry pathways into Deakin courses if you can't get in straight from high school.
Finally, Deakin is committed to admissions transparency. As part of that commitment, you can learn more about our first intake of 2020 students (PDF, 581.6KB) - their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.
Recognition of prior learning
If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit transfer. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit transfer.
Your credit transfer is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The tuition fees you pay are calculated depending on the course you choose.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of 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 eight credit points of a typical combination of units for that 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 international student fees.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Apply now
How to apply
Applications for study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
Fill out the application form and submit to a Deakin International office or take your application form to a Deakin representative for assistance
For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you’re still having problems, please contact Deakin International for assistance.
Why choose Deakin
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching (Secondary) are qualified to teach in secondary schools within Victoria, in the private, independent or public education sectors. Your specialisations and advanced knowledge will also open doors to roles in:
- community services
- government agencies
- not-for-profit organisations
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as an initial teacher education program against the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) program standards and the Australian professional standards for graduate teachers. Graduates of this course who are intending to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate may be required to provide further information. Applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory, carefully.
Course learning outcomes
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.
Please refer to the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of the single degree.