FAQs – Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship
FAQs – Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship
- What is the difference between the Master of Teaching (Secondary) and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship?
- Who is best suited to the Internship program?
- Will I be qualified to register as a teacher after the completion of this course?
- What are the entry requirements?
- I completed my degree over ten years ago. Am I still eligible for the program?
- Do students need to find their own school for placement?
- Why are there fewer learning areas than the Master of Teaching (Secondary)?
- I have questions on meeting the learning area requirements, where can I go for help?
- Do I need to complete a Literacy and Numeracy test?
- How and when do I apply?
- What salary can I expect to receive?
- What are the fees for this course?
- Is the course available part time?
- What support is offered during the course?
- What does the course structure look like?
- How many interns are accepted into each intake?
- What happens if I do not get placed in a school? Do I have other options to study teaching?
- What types of schools do interns get placed in? Do I have any choice in the school?
- Is support available if I need to relocate?
- When will I find out the outcome of my application?
- What is the difference between the Master of Teaching and the Master of Education?
What is the difference between the Master of Teaching (Secondary) and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship?
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is an initial teaching training course designed to prepare students 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. Students 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 starting salary in a school and 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 (PTT) registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
While completion of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) enables students 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.
Who is best suited to the Internship program?
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 either 0.6 or 0.8FTE. 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.
Will I be qualified to register as a teacher after the completion of this course?
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.
What are the entry requirements?
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. Students who completed tertiary degree(s) over three years prior to course commencement may be able to meet the English language requirements by providing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing sustained work experience in an English-speaking environment.
- 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).
- Successful completion of a selection interview and short teaching demonstration.
- Permission to teach (PTT) granted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). Note: Successful applicants will be notified when to apply for PTT. 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 all of the following:
- prior academic performance;
- the results of the TCAT;
- interview performance; and
- the teaching demonstration.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
I completed my degree over ten years ago. Am I still eligible for the program?
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.
Do students need to find their own school for placement?
No, the Department of Education and Training (DET) have responsibility for matching prospective candidates with job vacancies in schools.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
Why are there fewer learning areas than the Master of Teaching (Secondary)?
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 difficult to fill – either due to high demand, or small numbers of teacher candidates in these learning areas. For the November 2022 intake the following learning areas are available for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English
- Environmental Science
- History
- Humanities
- Humanities Additional
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Science
- TESOL
- Visual Arts and Design A
- Visual Arts and Design B
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
I have questions on meeting the learning area requirements, where can I go for help?
Visit our dedicated Learning Areas page.
You can also visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
Do I need to complete a Literacy and Numeracy test?
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 Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) requires all Master of Teaching students to complete the LANTITE within their first year of study.
Students commencing their degree will be required to pass the test to progress to the final phase of their course. Students will be prompted to register to take the test once they have enrolled in the Master of Teaching.
Students have up to three opportunities to pass the test, which will be offered at certain times throughout the year.
The MGSE provides a range of support to all Teacher Candidates 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 teacher candidates who are enrolled in a Master of Teaching.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
How and when do I apply?
Applications for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship and Master of Teaching (Secondary) are now open. Applicants can apply for up to four programs in one application.
The next intake for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship, which is available to domestic students only, is November 2022. Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and submit your application.
The next intake for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) is February 2023. visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) course page 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 then be assessed for admission to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) in February 2023.
What salary can I expect to receive?
Interns will be employed on a reduced teaching load of either 0.6 or 0.8 FTE, with 0.2 paid study allowance. In a Department of Education and Training (DET) 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).
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
What are the fees for this course?
The Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) is pleased to be able to offer Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) to Interns placed in eligible government schools including in regional and rural Victoria commencing in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship. For further information, refer to the Fees and Payments page.
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.
You can also visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
Is the course available part time?
No, the time commitment for the course is full time. Students will undertake full-time study and part-time paid employment between 0.6 - 0.8 FTE.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
What support is offered during the course?
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.
What does the course structure look like?
The course starts in November with an intensive study program and school induction. Interns will then commence employment in a school the following January from the beginning of Term 1.
Interns will complete 200 points of coursework over the two years while teaching on a reduced teaching load (0.6 - 0.8 FTE), enabling time for university studies.
Study is structured around four intensives with additional study conducted online throughout each year.
Support is provided to students through a combination of visits to Interns in their schools by a designated Clinical Teaching Specialist, and online help from academic tutors.
The University Handbook provides detailed course information. You can access the timetable by visiting the individual subject pages.
You can also visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
How many interns are accepted into each intake?
Intakes are based on school placement availability. Our previous cohorts have been between 25–60 students and up to 100 interns can be accepted for the November 2022 intake.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
What happens if I do not get placed in a school? Do I have other options to study teaching?
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 2023. 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.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
What types of schools do interns get placed in? Do I have any choice in the school?
Our Internship program partners with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and a variety of schools located in metropolitan Melbourne, and regional and rural Victoria. Applicants can provide preferences for the location of schools they are prepared to consider.
Note: Applicants with broader geographic preferences have greater potential for placement within a school.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
Is support available if I need to relocate?
Interns may be eligible for a relocation allowance from the Department of Education and Training if the host school is more than 60kms or one-hour of travel from your place of residence under the following categories:
- relocating from metropolitan Melbourne to metropolitan Melbourne - $1,000
- relocation from metropolitan Melbourne to regional or rural Victoria - $2,000
Further information will be provided once admitted to the program.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
When will I find out the outcome of my application?
Admissions and selection for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship takes time and there are a number of components to this process. You will be kept informed of the status of your application as it progresses. Applicants who are shortlisted for the interview and teaching demonstration will be notified from August to early September. .
Applicants who successfully pass the interview and teaching demonstration will progress to the school matching process, which will take place from late September to early November. 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.
Visit our Master of Teaching (Secondary) Internship course page to find out more and apply.
What is the difference between the Master of Teaching and the Master of Education?
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–5 years)
- Primary (5–12 years)
- Early Childhood and Primary (birth–12 years)
- Secondary (12–18 years) and
- Secondary Internship (12–18 years).
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.