FAQs – Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship
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The Master of Teaching (Secondary) and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship follow the same curriculum, scope and sequence. They do differ, however, in terms of the way in which professional experience is structured.
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is an initial teaching training course designed to prepare students (Teacher Candidates) to teach at a Secondary level (ages 12–18). While the course includes placements within schools from the first semester of study, these are concentrated placements at different schools, rather than an ongoing internship at one school. During these placements, Teacher Candidates are directly supervised in the classroom by a qualified teacher. Teacher Candidates can choose between the full-time study mode of two years, accelerated mode of 18-months and extended mode of three years.
In contrast, the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship is an initial teacher training course where students (Interns) undertake an internship at a single school for the duration of the course. Interns are employed with a full-time paraprofessional salary in a school accompanied by a maximum 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and a paid 0.2 FTE time release to complete their studies alongside their practical experience in two years. Interns are responsible for their own classes and teach without the direct supervision of a qualified teacher. Admission into the course is conditional on employment in a school as an Intern and Permission to Teach (Internship) (PTT) registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
While completion of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) enables Teacher Candidates to apply for provisional registration with the VIT, graduates from the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship can apply for full registration with the VIT upon completing the course.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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It’s important to keep in mind that this is an intensive program. Interns will be undertaking a full-time study load and teaching at a school in their own classroom at 0.8 FTE. It is worth considering what other commitments you have in your life and ensuring that you have the time and energy to dedicate to your school and studies. It is also important to think about your learning style and level of confidence. This course best suits people who are highly organised and enjoy learning by doing.
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Yes. Graduates can qualify for full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), subject to meeting the VIT requirements and registration deadlines.
Visit the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration webpage to find out more.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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The minimum entry requirements for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship are:
- A completed undergraduate degree from an approved institution
- Successful completion of the Teacher Capability Assessment Tool (TCAT). TCAT is an online tool that helps us discover how well suited you are to teach. TCAT results are assessed as part of your application
- Meeting English language requirements
- Previous study that satisfies the requirement for two learning areas from the modified list for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship. Note: The Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship has fewer learning areas available than the Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Obtaining a teaching Internship position with a partner school. This employment process will take place from late September to early November and the University and/or Department of Education will support eligible candidates through this process
- Permission to Teach (Internship) (PTT) granted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). The University will guide successful applicants through this process.
Note: Only applicants who are appointed as an Intern to a teaching vacancy in a participating school will be made an offer of admission into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship.
Applicants are ranked based on academic merit as part of the selection process. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider prior academic performance and the results of the TCAT.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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Yes, the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship is a popular program for career changers. There is no age limit for the program, and we welcome applications from a diverse range of people with different backgrounds and experience.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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No, the University and/or Department of Education (DE) will facilitate this process. The University partners with government and non-government schools who have teaching vacancies and are interested in employing an Intern.
The employment process will take place from early September to early November and the University and/or Department of Education will support eligible candidates through this process. You will be able to specify whether you prefer seeking employment in a government or non-government school.
The University and/or Department of Education will assist by introducing you to partner schools that have a teaching vacancy matching your geographical preference and eligible learning areas. You will have the opportunity to specify your geographical preference, including whether you would consider relocating for your Internship.
Schools will invite potential Interns for interview and, if successful, you will be made a job offer. You may have the opportunity to interview at more than one school and the decision to accept a particular employment offer is up to you. You must secure and accept an offer of employment as an Intern in a school to be eligible to commence the course.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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The list of available learning areas for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship reflects the strategic priorities of schools and includes those learning areas that are currently in the highest demand. This is reviewed each year and therefore some learning areas not previously available may be added in due course. For the 2025 cohort (commencing study in December 2024) the following learning areas are available for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- History
- Humanities
- Humanities Additional
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Science
- TESOL
- Visual Arts and Design
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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Visit our dedicated Learning Areas page.
You can also visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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In 2016, the Australian Government introduced a requirement that all students undertaking an initial teacher education program possess levels of personal literacy and numeracy broadly equivalent to the top 30 per cent of the population. Therefore, all students enrolling in an initial teacher education course must sit and pass the National Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE). The testing process is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is required to apply for teacher registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
The Faculty of Education requires all Master of Teaching Interns to complete the LANTITE within their first year of study.
Interns commencing their degree will be required to pass the test to progress to the final phase of their course. Interns will be prompted to register to take the test once they have enrolled in the Master of Teaching, and will have up to three opportunities to pass the test, which will be offered at certain times throughout the year.
The faculty provides a range of support to all students preparing to sit the LANTITE. Support includes specific literacy and numeracy support offered by the University of Melbourne’s Academic Skills Unit and Mathematics teaching team.
Practice tests and other supporting materials are also available to all students who are enrolled in a Master of Teaching.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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Applications for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship, available only to domestic students, open on 27 May. Applicants can apply for up to four programs in one application.
The next intake for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship commences in December 2024 (2025 cohort). Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and submit your application. Interns will commence study with an Intensive on 6 January 2025, and then start teaching in schools from the beginning of the academic school year in 2025.
The next intake for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) commences in February 2025. Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) study pages to find out more.
For domestic students considering the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship, we recommend applying for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program at the same time. Eligible applicants who are unsuccessful for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship can be assessed for admission to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) commencing in February 2025.
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Interns will be employed full time, which will include teaching on a reduced load of 0.8 FTE and a 0.2 FTE paid study allowance.
In a Department of Education (DE) school (i.e. a government school), the salary will be in line with paraprofessional scale 1–3 as outlined in the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA). This is a minimum requirement that must be met, noting that otherwise salary is an agreement between schools and their employees. For further information refer to the Employment Based Degrees page on the Department of Education website.
Non-government schools’ pay scales may differ and it is up to the candidate to discuss this with the school.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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The Faculty of Education is pleased to be able to offer Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for this course.
Australian citizens, humanitarian visa holders, and some New Zealand citizens (subject to meeting residency requirements), are also eligible to defer all or part of the fees through HECS-HELP. With this scheme, you do not need to repay the loan until your income reaches a minimum repayment threshold.
For more information on FEE-HELP, visit Study Assist.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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No, the time commitment for the course is full time. Interns will undertake full-time study and paid employment of 0.8 FTE.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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The Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship includes a comprehensive support program that continues for the duration of the course. Mentoring and support services are provided by both the University of Melbourne and the placement school, and increased face-to-face meetings are offered at the beginning of the course when intensive support is most needed.
Additional financial support may be available for interns placed in rural and regional schools.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
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From 2024 the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) will have the same course structure. For the first time, Teacher Candidates who have completed one year of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) on campus program will have the opportunity to express interest in a transfer to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship for their second (and final) year of study.
Successful transfer will only be available to domestic students who:
- Are taking the Standard mode for the Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Meet course progression requirements
- Are taking learning areas available under the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship
- Secure a teaching Internship position for the following year (the University will assist with this process (please read FAQ: What types of schools offers Internship teaching positions? Do I have any choice in the school?)
During the first year of study, all Master of Teaching (Secondary) Teacher Candidates will be provided with more information about this opportunity. This will include an information session and opportunity to submit an expression of interest.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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For Interns taking the 24-month Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship, orientation and in-school inductions are held in December 2024. From January 2025, intensive on-campus study commences. Interns then commence employment in a school from the beginning of Term 1 2025. Intensive 2 will be held online in the Winter school break of year 1 and Intensive 3 on campus in the January of year 2.
Interns will complete 200 points of coursework over the two years while teaching on a reduced teaching load (0.8 FTE), with a 0.2 FTE paid time release for University online classes and study on Fridays. All Interns must have Fridays available for University study.
Interns taking the 12-month Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship will already have completed a year of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) (100 points) on campus at the University and will commence employment in a school and study in January 2025 from the beginning of Term 1. These Interns are exempt from Intensives 1&2. 12-month Interns will complete their final 100 points of coursework over one year while teaching on a reduced teaching load (0.8 FTE), with a 0.2 FTE paid time release for University online classes and study on Fridays. All Interns must have Fridays available for University study.
Support is provided to Interns through a combination of visits to their schools by a designated Clinical Specialist, and online help from academic tutors.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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Eligible applicants who are unsuccessful for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship can be considered for the Master of Teaching (Secondary), which commences in February 2025. When completing the online application, applicants can apply for more than one program and we highly recommend students apply for both the Master of Teaching (Secondary) and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship at the same time.
It is possible to transfer from the Master of Teaching (Secondary) to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship after one year of study, subject to meeting relevant criteria.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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Our Internship program partners with the Department of Education (DE) and non-government schools including those in the independent and Catholic sectors. Schools are located in metropolitan Melbourne, and regional and rural Victoria. You can provide preferences for the location of schools you are prepared to consider and whether you would prefer to be considered for schools in the government or non-government sector. Note: applicants with broader geographic preferences have greater potential for securing an Internship teaching position at a school. Expressing preference for a specific sector does not guarantee that an applicant will be offered employment related to the course in that sector.
You will have the opportunity to let the University know if you have an existing relationship with a school and would like to take your Internship there. Provided the nominated school is likewise invested and has a relevant teaching vacancy available, the University and/or Department of Education will endeavour to facilitate this.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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Admission and selection for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship comprises several components. You will be kept informed of the status of your application as it progresses.
Step 1: Apply for the course
The first step is to submit your course application. Our admissions team will assess your application and determine whether you:
- Have a completed undergraduate degree from an approved institution and meet our internal academic requirements
- Have successfully completed the Teacher Capability Assessment Tool (TCAT). TCAT is an online tool that helps us discover how well suited you are to teach. TCAT results are assessed as part of your application
- Meet the English language requirements, including the University requirements and VIT's English language requirements for this course
- Can demonstrate previous tertiary study that satisfies the requirement for two learning areas from the modified list for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship. Note: The Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship has fewer learning areas available than the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Provided you meet the requirements above, you will be made a conditional offer for the course. Conditional offers will be made on a rolling basis. This means you can expect to hear from our admissions team within 4–6 weeks of submitting your application.
NOTE: you can only receive an unconditional (full) offer for this course on securing a teaching position at a partner school (see step 2 below).
Step 2: The employment process
Applicants who receive a conditional offer will progress to the employment process where the University and/or Department of Education will support applicants to secure an Internship teaching position:
- This employment process will take place from early September to early November
- The University partners with government and non-government schools for Internship teaching positions
- The University and/or Department of Education will assist by introducing you to partner schools that have a teaching vacancy matching your geographical preference and learning areas
- Schools will invite potential Interns for interview and, if successful, you will be made a job offer
- Only on successfully securing and accepting an Internship teaching position can you be admitted into the course
- The University and your school will assist you with onboarding tasks, including employment contracts, applying for Permission to Teach and enrolling in the course.
NOTE: if you are unsuccessful in securing a teaching Internship position you cannot be offered a place in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship, but can instead be offered a place in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) on-campus program.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship study pages to find out more and apply.
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The Master of Teaching is designed for graduates of any discipline who wish to become a teacher. We have five streams available, each focusing on a different age group:
- Early Childhood (birth–8 years)*
- Early Childhood and Primary (birth–12 years)**
- Primary (5–12 years)^
- Secondary (12–18 years)^
- Secondary Internship (12–18 years)^.
* Provides a qualification for registration to teach in early childhood settings
** Provides a qualification for registration to teach in both early childhood and school settings
^ Provides a qualification for registration to teach in school settings
The Master of Education is for professionals who would like to explore contemporary education issues and pursue their interests through one or two of eight specialisations and over 50 electives.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.