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Key facts

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

Entry requirements

Entry is based on completion of the UNE Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus). English language requirements must also be met.

View full entry requirements
Duration
  • 2 years full-time
  • Up to 8 years part-time
Number of Units (Subjects)
  • 32 units (192 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
OnlineOfferedOfferedNot Offered
Armidale CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

Download course brochure
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If you are a Pacific Islander looking to build on your teaching skills with a high-level qualification, UNE’s Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) is the degree for you.

Gain the knowledge and skills to teach early childhood, inclusive education, and primary and secondary education in your Pacific Island home. Study online in a timeframe that suits your other commitments. You will be learning from UNE's specialist teaching team that has decades of experience in Pacific Island education.

This course is the next step from our Associate Degree. Our Bachelor’s degree will further your career options and deepen your knowledge to make a difference in your classrooms and community with advanced skills.

Why study the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) with UNE?

Are you a Pacific Islander who has completed the UNE Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) and wanting to build your skills?

Study online for two years full time, to achieve the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) and become a four-year trained educator with expanded expertise in early childhood, inclusive education, and primary or secondary education in the Pacific Islands.

Along the way, you will be supported by UNE’s specialist Pacific Island teaching team who will build your skills as a highly qualified teacher who makes a difference for generations to come.

What makes our course different?

The Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) is specifically geared to training qualified teachers in the Pacific Islands. The course offers opportunities to:

  • Balance your study with family and community commitments —we offer this course fully online, giving you the flexibility to study in a timeframe that suits you.
  • Learn from a close-knit team of UNE’s specialist educators who have years of experience working in the Pacific Islands.
  • Develop your teaching skills, and get career planning advice, to help you on your Pacific Island teaching journey.
  • Build your classroom skills with 60 days of professional experience, in school classrooms, in your chosen specialisation.

Your final professional experience placement will provide the opportunity to consolidate your teaching skills through the completion of a ten-week teaching internship in your local context.

This course meets the requirements of the Pacific Island Nation Education Act. It is not accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority.

By choosing UNE, you are choosing a leader in online lifelong learning for aspiring and qualified teachers. Students consistently award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

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.

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.

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 the UNE Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) (AQF Level 6).

Please note: Your specialisation choices in the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) are determined by your choice of specialisation in the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus).

  • If you previously completed the Early Childhood Education specialisation, you must specialise in Early Childhood Education in this course.
  • If you previously completed the Primary Education specialisation, you may specialise in Primary Education or Inclusive Education in this course.
  • If you previously completed the Secondary Education English, Mathematics, Science, Geography/HSIE, or History/HSIE specialisations, you must continue to specialise in the same area.

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.

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.

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:

  • 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.

Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in further forms or other red tape. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.
If you are admitted into this course you will be granted 96 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on completion of the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus).

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course you can apply for up to a further 30 credit points of Advanced Standing if you 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.

Course structure

To qualify for the award candidates must pass units to the value of 192 credit points, which includes 96 credit points of block advanced standing, a minimum of 60 credit points at 300-level, not more than 24 credit points at 400-level, and 50 days of embedded professional experience (for Early Childhood Education) or 20 days of embedded professional experience plus 50 day internship for Primary Education, Inclusive Education and Secondary Education.

96 credit points

96 credit points block advanced standing granted for candidates who have completed the Associate Degree of Teaching (Pacific Focus).

12 credit points

Complete the following units:

84 credit points

Complete ONE Approved Specialisation:
(including 50 days embedded Professional Experience for Early Childhood Education or 20 days Professional Experience plus one 50-day Internship for Primary Education, Inclusive Education and Secondary Education).

84 credit points

Complete the following units:

84 credit points

Complete the following units:

84 credit points

Complete the following units:

66 credit points

Complete the following units:

12 credit points

Discipline Units for this Curriculum Area

Complete 12 credit points from the following units: (select only units not undertaken in the Associate Degree)

6 credit points

Elective Education Units

Complete 6 credit points from the following units:

60 credit points

Complete the following units:

18 credit points

Discipline Units for this Curriculum Area

Complete 18 credit points from the following units: (select only units not undertaken in the Associate Degree)

6 credit points

Elective Education Units

Complete 6 credit points from the following units:

60 credit points

Complete the following units:

18 credit points

Discipline Units for this Curriculum Area

Complete 18 credit points from the following units:(select only units not undertaken in the Associate Degree)

6 credit points

Elective Education Units

Complete 6 credit points from the following units:

66 credit points

Complete the following units:

12 credit points

Discipline Units for this Curriculum Area

Complete 12 credit points from the following units:

6 credit points

Elective Education Units

Complete 6 credit points from the following units:

54 credit points

Complete the following units:

6 credit points

And complete ONE of the following units not undertaken in the Associate Degree:

18 credit points

Complete 18 credit points from ONE of the following Teaching Areas:

18 credit points

Complete 18 credit points from the following units:

18 credit points

Complete 18 credit points from the following units:

18 credit points

Complete 18 credit points from the following units:

6 credit points

Complete the following prescribed unit:

12 credit points

And complete 12 credit points from the following units:

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 career as a Pacific Islands teacher with four career pathways. Your career options include: 

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

This course meets the requirements of Pacific Island Nation Education Act.

Please note that the course is not accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

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

Course outcomes

This Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) provides students with the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be effective four-year trained educators in Early Childhood, Primary, Inclusive or Secondary Education in the Pacific Island Context, demonstrating and applying, in this context, coherent, broad and deep 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 be able to critically engage with global perspectives of teaching and learning while gaining specific knowledge to effectively plan and teach in their relevant Pacific educational context.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to effectively convey ideas and information both orally and in writing to students, colleagues, parents, school administrators, and other community members. Communication skills are enhanced through presentations, assessment tasks and online interaction.

Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to apply logical, critical and creative thinking to solve a range of problems related to the field of education and their specific discipline. Problem solving is incorporated throughout the degree and an emphasis placed on the development of reflective practice. Students practise problem solving in group work and assessment tasks that require application of their learning to a variety of practical and professional contexts.

Information Literacy

Graduates will be able to identify, evaluate and effectively use digital resources and tools in the school setting and understand their safe, legal and ethical use. Independent and group research and practical experience in the course support this graduate attribute.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates will be able to recognise, reflect on and respond appropriately to social, cultural and ethical issues that may arise with children, families, schools, and the community. This is emphasised in course materials and practical experience sessions.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will understand the importance of lifelong learning in the pursuit of personal and professional development. Students are encouraged to share their learning with the community and engage. Students are encouraged to share their work and their learning in their home communities through presentations and information sessions.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will be able to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve individual and common goals within an educational setting. Assessment tasks include both individual and group work and online forums encourage collaboration amongst students.

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
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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.

Find out how online study works

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.

Join the campus at UNE Armidale
Live off-campus in Armidale
Explore options for UNE Sydney
Stay in our Intensive Schools accommodation

Find out more about studying on campus

Stay connected

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Why study with us?

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

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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
Apply now

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.

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The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.