Key facts

International students course information. This course is currently not available to domestic students.

Entry requirements

Entry is based on Australian Year 12 equivalence. English language requirements must also be met.

View full entry requirements
Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 6 years part-time
Number of Units (Subjects)
  • 16 units (96 credit points)
View course structure
Fees
  • International
View more fees information
Start Dates and Campus
Trimester 1 – February 2024Trimester 2 – June 2024Trimester 3 – October 2024
OnlineOfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Armidale CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

Download course brochure
UNE student assists school student in front of a laptop

If you are a Pacific Islander looking to become a teacher in your island home with your family and community, UNE’s Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) is your ideal course. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills to become a qualified early childhood, primary or secondary school teacher, with the flexibility to study online.

Bring your unique understanding of your community to the classroom, with the goal of helping Pacific Islander students to develop and learn. Learn from UNE's tight-knit specialist Pacific Island team. Build your confidence as a teacher, ensuring you make a meaningful contribution to your students. At UNE, we help make your Pacific Island teaching goals a reality with a qualification that is both in demand and rewarding.

Why study the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) with UNE?

At UNE, we've helped many Pacific Islanders develop the knowledge and skills to become a sought-after teacher, and this online course will help you to do the same. In as little as two years, you will gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be a qualified educator in early childhood, primary and secondary school settings in the Pacific Islands. You will gain a rewarding teaching career that offers value to your community.

You will be supported by UNE’s specialist Pacific Island teaching team that has the experience to help you build your confidence and teaching skills. And, most importantly, you will gain the confidence to teach a wide range of age groups and make a difference for generations to come.

UNE is an industry leader in the provision of online lifelong learning for aspiring and qualified teachers.

What makes our course different?

The Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) is specifically geared to aspiring teachers in the Pacific Islands. The course offers opportunities to:

  • Study flexibly — balance your study with other commitments, such as family and community life, with this fully online course that offers the flexibility to study in a timeframe that suits you.
  • Learn from UNE’s specialist teaching team that has decades of experience with helping Pacific Island teachers develop effective teaching skills.
  • Receive career planning advice to help you on your Pacific Island teaching journey.
  • Develop real-world skills to make a difference to current and future generations.
  • Complete your study in two years (full-time) or up to five years (part-time).
  • Pave the way towards further study in a Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus).
  • Build your classroom skills with 50 to 60 days of professional experience in school settings.

Professional experience, in most cases, can be arranged in Armidale, New South Wales, so you can learn and be supported by a member of UNE’s Pacific Island teaching team. However, if this doesn’t fit with your circumstances, you can take all your placements in a local Pacific Island school with the guidance of a dedicated teaching supervisor.

This course is a two-year pre-service teaching qualification and meets the requirements of the Pacific Island Education Act. It is not accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide. UNE is a proven expert online.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

Entry requirements

Select the option that best describes you.

This course is not currently available for this mode of study.

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

You can check your overseas qualifications in our Admission Country List and Qualifications table. If you can't find your qualifications in this list, simply submit your application and UNE's International Admissions team will assess them for you.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Additional Admission Requirements

If you would like to undertake the Secondary Mathematics specialisation, you must enrol in and complete the following unit on a non-award basis:

  • MTHS100 Introduction to Quantitative Skills

You must complete this unit within 12 months of starting your studies in this course.

If you would like to undertake the Secondary Science specialisation, you must enrol in and complete the following units on a non-award basis:

  • MTHS100 Introduction to Quantitative Skills
  • CHEM100 Introductory Chemistry

You must complete these units within 12 months of starting your studies in this course.

Fit for Practice/Informed Consent Information

You should only accept an offer for this course if you meet the following Fit for Practice requirements. You must:

  • abide by UNE policies, such as Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules;
  • abide by School of Education policies, such as the Professional Experience Policy for professional placements;
  • exercise sound judgment, based on cognitive, mental and physical health, and be able to respond appropriately to the demands of teaching situations;
  • show personal resilience and persistence to cope and maintain wellbeing under stressful situations;
  • uphold UNE’s integrity and show duty of care to students/children while completing professional experience;
  • show personal maturity to ensure that a professional relationship is established with students/children;
  • communicate with students/children with clarity and in a manner appropriate to their age/profile;
  • have and model the literacy and numeracy skills expected of teachers in interactions both inside and outside the classroom;
  • be able to create, evaluate and reflect on the physical and emotional safety of students/children in various situations and environments; and
  • be able to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues and broader school/early childhood communities.

If you have or develop a disability that could prevent you from meeting these requirements, please contact UNE’s Student Services team to see how we can help you succeed. If you find that you have difficulties meeting the requirements above during your studies, please contact the Office for Professional Learning for assistance.

Visa Information

On-Campus study
If you would like to study full-time in Australia at one of UNE's campuses, you will need to have a visa that allows you to study. For most international students this visa will need to be a Student Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has further information about visa eligibility and conditions.

If you are an international applicant who wants to study online (overseas or in Australia):

You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.

To meet the entry requirements for this course you must have completed, at minimum, an Australian Year 12 qualification or overseas equivalent.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under standard entry. Please see the Course Structure (Program of Study).

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

You can check your overseas qualifications in our Admission Country List and Qualifications table. If you can't find your qualifications in this list, simply submit your application and UNE's International Admissions team will assess them for you.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Additional Admission Requirements

If you would like to undertake the Secondary Mathematics specialisation, you must enrol in and complete the following unit on a non-award basis:

  • MTHS100 Introduction to Quantitative Skills

You must complete this unit within 12 months of starting your studies in this course.

If you would like to undertake the Secondary Science specialisation, you must enrol in and complete the following units on a non-award basis:

  • MTHS100 Introduction to Quantitative Skills
  • CHEM100 Introductory Chemistry

You must complete these units within 12 months of starting your studies in this course.

Fit for Practice/Informed Consent Information

You should only accept an offer for this course if you meet the following Fit for Practice requirements. You must:

  • abide by UNE policies, such as Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules;
  • abide by School of Education policies, such as the Professional Experience Policy for professional placements;
  • exercise sound judgment, based on cognitive, mental and physical health, and be able to respond appropriately to the demands of teaching situations;
  • show personal resilience and persistence to cope and maintain wellbeing under stressful situations;
  • uphold UNE’s integrity and show duty of care to students/children while completing professional experience;
  • show personal maturity to ensure that a professional relationship is established with students/children;
  • communicate with students/children with clarity and in a manner appropriate to their age/profile;
  • have and model the literacy and numeracy skills expected of teachers in interactions both inside and outside the classroom;
  • be able to create, evaluate and reflect on the physical and emotional safety of students/children in various situations and environments; and
  • be able to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues and broader school/early childhood communities.

If you have or develop a disability that could prevent you from meeting these requirements, please contact UNE’s Student Services team to see how we can help you succeed. If you find that you have difficulties meeting the requirements above during your studies, please contact the Office for Professional Learning for assistance.

Visa Information

Online study in your own country
If you would like to study online with UNE while you reside outside of Australia you do not need a Student Visa. If your course requires you to visit Australia to attend any mandatory study requirements, you would need to explore Visitor Visa options for a short-term stay.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • Any supporting documents related to your admission pathway. For example, if you apply based on your previous study, upload evidence of your study so we can assess eligibility.
  • Proof of identity and citizenship. This can be a certified/notarised copy of the photo page of your passport, or another form of official photo identification that lists your full personal details including name and date of birth; for example, a foreign government identity card.
  • Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved formal English test within the last two years, you must provide a copy of the test results with your application. Please see UNE’s English Language Requirements above for further information.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing

Course structure

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 96 credit points which includes 50 days of embedded Professional Experience for Primary and Secondary specialisations, and 65 days of embedded Professional Experience for the Early Childhood Education specialisation.

42 credit points

Complete the following units:

54 credit points

Complete ONE Specialisation:

54 credit points

Complete the following units:

54 credit points

Complete the following units:

54 credit points

Complete the following units:

42 credit points

Complete the following units:

12 credit points

And complete 12 credit points from the following units:

12 credit points

Complete 12 credit points from the following units:

54 credit points

Complete the following units:

48 credit points

Complete the following units:

6 credit points

Complete 6 credit points from the following units:

36 credit points

Complete the following units:

18 credit points

Complete 18 credit points from the following units:

30 credit points

Complete the following units:

6 credit points

And complete 6 credit points from the following units:

24 credit points

Complete 24 credit points with not more than 6 credit points at 100-level from the following units:

Only one unit from HIST330, HIST333, and HIST376 may be included.

See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:

Fee typeCost
International
$25,817*
Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time$351

*Annual course fees only cover the cost of tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as text books, accommodation and living expenses. If you are successful in gaining admission to study at UNE, the Offer of Admission will list the exact tuition fees you need to pay for your course. Fees quoted cover full-time tuition for two full-time trimesters only. For more information, please see fees and costs.

Scholarships

UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.

The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 20%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2024. View detailed Bursary information.

UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying research-based degrees.

Your career

Career outcomes

You will graduate with the knowledge, skills and experience to step into a rewarding Pacific Island teaching career. Your career options will include: 

  • early childhood teacher 
  • primary teacher 
  • secondary teacher 
  • school management 
  • human resources 
  • educational research.  
Professional recognition

This course is a two-year pre-service teaching qualification and meets the requirements of many Pacific Island Nations minimum two-year teaching qualification. It is not accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority. 

You will gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be effective two-year trained educators in early childhood, primary or secondary education in the Pacific Island context. You will be able to demonstrate and apply broad knowledge and skills relating to the seven elements prescribed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. 

Course outcomes

The Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) provides students with the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be effective two-year trained educators in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary Education in the Pacific Island Context, demonstrating and applying in this context broad knowledge and skills relating to the seven elements prescribed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
  1. know their students and how students learn;
  2. know their subject/content and how to teach that content to their students;
  3. plan for and implement effective teaching and learning;
  4. create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments;
  5. assess, provide feedback and report on student learning;
  6. continually improve by engaging in professional learning; and
  7. continually engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will have the broad theoretical and technical knowledge to effectively plan and deliver education in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary school settings. They will understand the cultural contexts and global perspectives of both their own teaching discipline and schooling in general and the diversity of the student population. They will be able to demonstrate intercultural competence specifically as it relates to educational issues in the Pacific context.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to communicate clearly and coherently with students, colleagues, parents and other community members.

Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to demonstrate initiative and judgement in devising solutions to a variety of problems of different degrees of complexity.

Information Literacy

Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of digital resources and tools and their safe, legal and ethical use, and be able to apply this knowledge in a school or workplace setting.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of social factors affecting educational outcomes, particularly those within the Pacific context, through their ethical conduct. They will demonstrate an understanding that their personal beliefs and actions impinge on others.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will understand the importance of life-long learning and will be equipped with the skills to pursue professional and personal development.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will be able to work independently and collaboratively with others to achieve educational and professional goals.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian University.

As an international student you can take advantage of flexible online study from overseas or while you are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa. You can’t study fully online on a Student Visa.

To study online from overseas you need to consider that you may need to travel to Australia to attend a UNE campus for some mandatory intensive schools.

Studying on Campus

Whether you are an undergraduate student coming to study in Australia for the first time, a PhD student coming to live here with your family, or you only need short-stay accommodation whilst in Armidale for Intensive Schools, we have the perfect accommodation option for you.

Find out more about studying on campus

Stay connected

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Why study with us?

UNE graduate poses on campus in springtime

UNE has a great academic environment, access to unlimited learning resources, exposure to leading academic staff in a university of international reputation.

Jesta Masuku, UNE graduate

How to apply

Applying to UNE is quick and easy. If you are an
you can apply at any time. Apply now and we'll get you started in the next possible intake.

Preparing to apply

You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.

The kind of documents you need will depend on:

  • Your preferred course/s
  • Your personal circumstances

Important Notice for Prospective Students

For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.