Master of Education : Course structure - The University of Melbourne

Graduate Coursework

Course code: MC-ED

Domestic student Change

Duration

2 years full time / 4 years part time

Mode (Location)

On campus (Parkville)

Intake

March, July
Key dates

Fees

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available
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Entry pathways

Special entry options and Access Melbourne are available
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How to apply

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Course structure

Overview

Over the course of the degree, you will develop a strong foundation in education theory while 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, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to:

Address educational challenges using theoretical understandings, evidence-based research and analysis, evaluation and communication skills
Understand First Nations knowledges and their contribution to education
Understand current educational theories, debates, policies and practices
Apply educational policies and practices in your teaching to promote respect for diversity, inclusion and social justice
Understand global education perspectives and issues and how education can help address sustainability challenges
Understand educational research principles and methods
Explore system-level issues and challenges both in and out of the classroom.

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.

Depending on your academic background and professional experience, you may be eligible for either 50 or 100 points of advanced standing when you enrol into the Master of Education 2025 intake. For flexibility around professional or family commitments, we also offer the Master of Education on a part-time or full-time basis.

Available from 2025 onwards, in your final semester, you can choose to complete a capstone subject, a research-based inquiry project that speaks directly to your interests and priorities in your own professional practice or specialisation. This includes the option of a capstone with an international travel component.

Refer to the table below for 2024 and 2025 study structures:

2024 study structure	2025 onwards study structure
Standard program: This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience 200 points of coursework Year 1: 4x compulsory subjects (50 points) and 4x specialisation subjects/electives (50 points). Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their specialisation subjects or electives Students in the full program may choose to complete up to two specialisations Year 2: 6x electives/specialisation subjects (75 points) and 1x Capstone subject (25 points) Alternative option for qualified students (75% minimum WAM requirement): 4x electives/specialisation subjects (50 points) and 2x research subjects (50 points). See below for more information on eligibility criteria for the research option.	Standard program: This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience 200 points of coursework Year 1: 4x compulsory subjects (50 points) and 4x foundations subjects (50 points) Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their specialisation subjects or electives Year 2: A combination of specialisation/elective subjects, followed by a capstone subject or research subjects in the final semester 6x specialisation/elective subjects (75 points) + a 25-point capstone subject Alternative option for qualified students (75% minimum WAM requirement): 4x electives/specialisation subjects (50 points) + 2x research subjects (50 points). See below for more information on eligibility criteria for the research pathway.
Research option: This option is designed for students intending to pursue graduate research, such as a PhD The two research 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.	Research option: This option is designed for students intending to pursue graduate research, such as a PhD The two research 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 standard program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 125 points of the course; Students in the 150-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 100 points of the course; Students in the 100-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 50 points of the course.
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.	Fast-track program: Students with a prior academic background or professional experience in education may be eligible for 50 to 100 points of advanced standing 50 points advanced standing: Students may complete the course in 18 months of full-time study, or three years of part time study These students must complete the 4x Foundations subjects and one of either the capstone (Option 1) or the research pathway (Option 2) for the final 100 points. 100 points advanced standing: Students may complete the course in one year of full-time study, or two years of part time study. These students must complete either the capstone (Option 1) or the research option (Option 2) for the final 100 points. 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 elective subjects from across a range of specialisation areas.

2024 study structure

2025 onwards study structure

Standard program:

This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience
200 points of coursework
Year 1: 4x compulsory subjects (50 points) and 4x specialisation subjects/electives (50 points).
- Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their specialisation subjects or electives
- Students in the full program may choose to complete up to two specialisations
Year 2: 6x electives/specialisation subjects (75 points) and 1x Capstone subject (25 points)
- Alternative option for qualified students (75% minimum WAM requirement): 4x electives/specialisation subjects (50 points) and 2x research subjects (50 points). See below for more information on eligibility criteria for the research option.

Standard program:

This is the standard offering for those without a teaching qualification or experience
200 points of coursework
Year 1: 4x compulsory subjects (50 points) and 4x foundations subjects (50 points)

Students must complete the 4 compulsory subjects first in semester 1, before their specialisation subjects or electives

Year 2: A combination of specialisation/elective subjects, followed by a capstone subject or research subjects in the final semester
- 6x specialisation/elective subjects (75 points) + a 25-point capstone subject
- Alternative option for qualified students (75% minimum WAM requirement): 4x electives/specialisation subjects (50 points) + 2x research subjects (50 points). See below for more information on eligibility criteria for the research pathway.

Research option:

This option is designed for students intending to pursue graduate research, such as a PhD
The two research 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.

Research option:

This option is designed for students intending to pursue graduate research, such as a PhD
The two research 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 standard program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 125 points of the course;
- Students in the 150-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 100 points of the course;
- Students in the 100-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 50 points of the course.

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.

Fast-track program:

Students with a prior academic background or professional experience in education may be eligible for 50 to 100 points of advanced standing
50 points advanced standing:
- Students may complete the course in 18 months of full-time study, or three years of part time study
- These students must complete the 4x Foundations subjects and one of either the capstone (Option 1) or the research pathway (Option 2) for the final 100 points.
100 points advanced standing:
- Students may complete the course in one year of full-time study, or two years of part time study.
- These students must complete either the capstone (Option 1) or the research option (Option 2) for the final 100 points.

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 elective subjects from across a range of specialisation areas.

Create the course your career needs with our Master of Education specialisation areas. Our ten specialisation options give you the ability to build a flexible course around your own interests, helping further your teaching practice or your work in the education sector. Whether you want to deeply explore one specialisation, or study elective subjects across multiple areas, you’ll be in control of building a bespoke course that will give you the knowledge to accelerate your career in education.

Please note: The faculty reserves the right to review specialisations available for delivery on offer in any given intake.

Assessment, Data and Evaluation

This specialisation enables you to harness the power of data to improve learning and education. Become a more discerning user of assessment and other sources of evidence in a wide range of educational contexts and settings.

Creativity and the Arts

This specialisation enables you to gain the knowledge, skills and experience to be a leader in the Arts and creative practice in and across education. You will cultivate critical thinking as well as analytical and creative problem-solving capabilities. You will learn in supportive studio environments where you will practice with your peers and leading experts in Creativity and Arts Education. You will develop your expertise in a range of contexts for arts-based educational research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge of practice. By engaging with issues, practices, policies, methods, and theories about learning in and through the arts in diverse settings, you will advance your professional practice.

Digital Futures and Innovative Practices

New specialisation option available from 2025 intake onwards.

This specialisation enables you to understand the theoretical, sociotechnical, pedagogical and ethical dimensions associated with the role of technology and innovation in education and across the lifespan. The specialisation is inspired by two intertwined strands of educational research: a strand interested in digital transformation that examines technology and its role in systemic educational change (the “big picture”); and a strand interested in innovative practice, that examines how technology in the built environment can be embedded in pedagogical design.

Education Policy and Governance

This specialisation critically engages with frameworks and approaches to education policy and governance. This includes paradigms and methods of understanding policy, processes and global mobilities of policy making, and complexities of policy enactment. Through discussion and exploring case studies of education governance across the lifespan, the specialisation will further understandings and enactment of policy that contributes to educational change.

Educational Leadership

This specialisation enables students to gain a deeper understanding of the processes, impact and importance of leadership in educational organisations.

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.

Equity, Sustainability 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.

This specialisation allows students to harness a passion for social change and build the knowledge and expertise required to act decisively regarding questions of equity, justice, sustainability and diversity in educational contexts. This specialisation assumes that equity, justice, diversity, and environmental sustainability are closely intertwined. The specialisation empowers students to examine policies and practices across a range of educational settings and address social and educational inequalities, environmental challenges, injustice, and social diversity. In this specialisation, students examine the barriers as well as the opportunities for achieving more sustainable, equitable and inclusive educational participation and experiences. Students will explore specific and intersecting experiences of inequality, including those related to gender, sexuality, race and racism, colonialism, capitalism, and environmental crises. Through critical engagement with theory and research, students will develop strategies to inform their own career pathway in education, from policy, to schools, early childhood settings, further and higher education and public educational institutions.

Literacies and English

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.

This specialisation develops students’ theoretical and practical knowledge of language, literacy and English pedagogies in order for them to position themselves as experts in educational discourses. The specialisation is structured around the traditional language modes of speaking and listening, reading and viewing, and writing and creating, but extends these to consider the implications for teaching English and literacy across the lifespan in global, pluricentric and digital contexts. Students will develop their research capabilities, including the analysis of data and evaluation of educational research. Through the exploration of contemporary challenges and opportunities inherent in English and literacy pedagogy, and engagement with emerging theoretical and practical approaches, the specialisation prepares students to propose contextualised evidence-informed solutions to educational challenges related to English and literacy education.

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.

The Science of Learning

New specialisation option available from 2025 intake onwards.

This specialisation takes an interdisciplinary, scientific approach to understanding learning. Particular focus will be on how understanding the psychological and neural mechanisms of learning can inform and improve pedagogical practice and learning outcomes. Specifically, students will deepen their knowledge about the cognitive, social-emotional, and developmental processes that underpin learning and consider the practical implications for instruction. In addition, students will gain a broad understanding of the scientific method and the application of that method to the design, delivery and evaluation of learning interventions.

Wellbeing in Education

Suited to educators in a range of settings, this specialisation enables students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to create nurturing, inclusive and wellbeing-focused learning (and working) environments related to individual, group/team, organisational and system levels. Students will critically appraise interdisciplinary contemporary theories, research findings, practices, interventions and policies that support enabling and inclusive learning environments. Students will also consolidate and expand their repertoire of interpersonal, group facilitation and leadership skills to support the development of flourishing individuals, communities and societies. In providing insights from traditions of critical and theoretical enquiry, students will engage with the ways in which structural conditions work to influence wellbeing and learning attainment, raising the big questions of equity, inclusion, and the relationship of education to society.

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.

For more detailed information on course structure and subjects, refer to the handbook.

University Handbook: Master of Education