Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer

You're viewing this site as a domestic an international student

You're a domestic student if you are:

  • a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

You're an international student if you are:

  • intending to study on a student visa,
  • not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • not an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a temporary resident (visa status) of Australia.
You're viewing this site as a domestic an international student
Change

 

Call us

We have the answers to your postgraduate questions.

 

 Send an enquiry

Email us, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Enquire now

 

Find an agent

Find a UQ agent near you.

 

How to apply How to apply

 

How to apply

It’s easy, but there are a few things to consider.

Learn how to apply

Ready to apply?

Start today. Save for later if you need to.

Start application

 

Call us

We have the answers to your postgraduate questions.

 

 Send an enquiry

Email us, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Enquire now

 

Find an agent

Find a UQ agent near you.

 

How to apply How to apply

 

How to apply

It’s easy, but there are a few things to consider.

Learn how to apply

Ready to apply?

Start today. Save for later if you need to.

Start application

Library with large bookshelves

Master of Educational Studies

Overview

Strengthen your leadership expertise and get a professional advantage in your chosen area of education.

UQ’s School of Education has been preparing teachers for the world’s classrooms, industry, media and community leadership for more than 70 years, with programs and academics that lead the field. This program prepares you for a variety of employment opportunities in educational environments.

Specialise in one of 7 fields of study: Behaviour Management; Curriculum; Guidance, Counselling and Careers; Leadership; Psychology Education; Science of Learning or Supporting Diverse Learners. Depending on your area of specialisation (and which of over 50 courses you select), you can choose to complete all aspects of a practicum that focuses on advanced research and teaching interests.

Some pathways offer specific qualifications, while others offer significant professional advantage to educators interested in career advancement or broadening their career options.

Location
External, St Lucia
Duration
1 Year full-time (or part-time equivalent)
1.5 Years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
2 Years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (24 Feb, 2025), Semester 2 (28 Jul, 2025)
Program Code
5596
AQF
Level 9
Location
External, St Lucia
Fees
A$43200
Duration
1 Year full-time (only available as full-time study)
1.5 Years full-time (only available as full-time study)
2 Years full-time (only available as full-time study)
Start Semester
Semester 1 (24 Feb, 2025), Semester 2 (28 Jul, 2025)
Semester dates for 2026 are yet to be confirmed
Program Code
5596
CRICOS Code
082608M
AQF
Level 9

Program highlights

Program highlights

  • Strengthen your leadership expertise in educational practice, policy and theory.
  • Obtain the knowledge and skills required for specialised fields of work.
  • Gain qualifications that enhance career advancement and options.
  • Improve your research skills by engaging in an extended research-based project.

40 in the world for education

QS World University Rankings 2024

1 in Queensland for education

QS World University Rankings 2024

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

  • Behaviour Support
  • Curriculum
  • Guidance, Counselling and Careers
  • Leadership

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Work placements
  • Overseas study
  • Research experience
  • Fieldwork
  • Seminars

Placements and work experience

Students studying Guidance, Counselling and Careers Field of Study may choose to complete a practicum course, that involves approximately 50 contact hours of practicum experience per course. Enrolment in a practicum course is restricted to students who are registered teachers with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT), and holders of a current Blue Card (Working with Children Check) or Exemption Card. Students can apply for a Blue Card or Exemption Card through the School of Education and should do so three months before their practicum is due to commence. Students may incur costs associated with the practicum (e.g. travel, parking, stationery). Enrolment in a practicum course may extend the length of the program. For further information please contact the School of Education.

What you'll study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

  • Global Indigenous Knowledge and Education
  • Language in Education Planning
  • Contemporary Theories of Development and Learning
  • Teachers as Leaders and Innovators

Career possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Behaviour management counsellor
  • Special needs teacher
  • Curriculum planner
  • School curriculum adviser
  • Career development practitioner
  • Guidance counsellor
  • School principal
  • Educational administrator
  • School counsellor
  • Multicultural teacher

Professional registration

When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.

  • Australian Counselling Association
  • Queensland Guidance And Counselling Association

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

It's possible to complete this degree in 2 years, 1.5 years or 1 year depending on your qualifications and experience.

You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.

2-year degree (32 units of study)

To be eligible to complete the degree in 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.

 You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

1.5-year degree (24 units of study)

If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.

To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in education, or
  • a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in education, or
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience (see below).

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

1-year degree (16 units of study)

If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.

To be eligible to complete the degree in 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:

  • a bachelor honours degree* (or equivalent) in education, or
  • a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in education, plus 2 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience (see below).

 You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

*You must have completed a substantial research project in your Honours degree equivalent to at least one semester of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).

Relevant work experience

Relevant work experience includes significant and substantive experience in:

  • education contexts such as schools, service delivery agencies, government agencies, or
  • alternative education settings working with children, adolescents or adults, with roles and responsibilities such as, teaching, program/curriculum development, assessment, educational leadership, administration, youth support, allied health, and sport sciences.


Evidence of relevant work experience should include a letter from your employer (and/or previous employers) stating the following:

  • That you work (or have worked) within the specified educational setting
  • The length of time that you were employed (i.e. 2 years)
  • The capacity at which you worked (full-time, part-time* or casual*)

*if part-time or casual, please list the average number of hours worked per week.


Related programs

English language requirements

IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ

TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.

PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.

BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.

CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.

OET is not accepted.

 

There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.

Learn how to meet the English language requirements

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Educational Studies are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Additional application information

Students who already hold an appropriate tertiary qualification and are interested in becoming qualified to teach in secondary and primary schools should apply for admission into the Master of Teaching (Primary) or Master of Teaching (Secondary) programs.For further information on these programs please consult the Professional Experience Handbook on the School of Education website or contact the School of Education on telephone (07) 3365 6550 or email: education@uq.edu.au

Additional application information

Students who already hold an appropriate tertiary qualification and are interested in becoming qualified to teach in secondary and primary schools should apply for admission into the Master of Teaching (Primary) or Master of Teaching (Secondary) programs.For further information on these programs please consult the Professional Experience Handbook on the School of Education website or contact the School of Education on telephone (07) 3365 6550 or email: education@uq.edu.au

Fields of study

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Gain the knowledge and skills needed to identify, describe and manage students' challenging behaviours in schools.

Develop your knowledge and skills in:

  • contemporary, evidence-based practices in behaviour support
  • assessment and understanding of the functions of challenging behaviours
  • developing and implementing strategies for behaviour interventions across a range of environments
  • monitoring and evaluating behaviour support strategies.

This field of study enhances the skills and knowledge of teachers and other professionals in supporting children and young people with challenging behaviours.

View

The Curriculum field of study will give you in-depth knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment issues that is responsive to the introduction of the Australian Curriculum.

It explores contemporary issues associated with curriculum in schooling and education. The field considers priority areas in the Australian curriculum and also offers students the opportunity to study in a core learning area.

View

This field provides the knowledge, understanding and skills that are essential for today's professional guidance counsellors and career development practitioners.

This specially designed program of study allows you to develop competencies as a professional guidance counsellor and/or career practitioner for employment in schools, TAFE colleges, agencies, or as a private practitioner. The program focuses on:

  • Developing counselling competencies.
  • Understanding career development and education across the lifespan.
  • Linking assessment practices to instructional interventions.
  • Understanding ethical behaviour and practices.
  • Developing comprehensive guidance programs.

View

In a 21st century knowledge society, leadership has emerged as a critical contributor to positive outcomes, overall success and sustainability to organisations and institutions in education and education-related fields.

In such an increasingly complex and uncertain future, transformative leadership competencies encompassing distributive and collaborative domains have become essential.

This field of study is designed for individuals committed to undertaking transformative leadership roles to improve their respective workplaces and make an impact through your professional practice informed by research. It provides leading-edge knowledge and understandings about leadership and management that inform your practice within educational institutions (including schools, colleges and TAFEs), government departments and other organisations.

The field focuses on the skills, knowledge and attitudes required by leaders in our discontinuously changing world, and challenges students to develop as critically reflective, flexible and ethically collaborative change leaders of learners and thinkers.

View

This program prepares current teachers to teach the subject titled "Psychology" in the senior phase of schooling.

You'll be provided with opportunities to develop the appropriate content and pedagogical content knowledge and teaching strategies for a professional learning pathway into senior secondary psychology teaching.

Students with backgrounds other than teaching will develop skills to prepare them for potential employment opportunities and/or subsequent studies aligned with the field of psychology education.

View

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the neurological, psychological, physical, cognitive, social and emotional processes involved in learning.

With a focus on school-aged learning, this field of study will strengthen your understanding of the principles of cognitive science across the learning lifespan.

This field is designed for teachers and educators at all stages of their career. You will develop capabilities to critically engage with both research and practice-based evidence to understand effective teaching and learning practices.

Graduates are equipped to consider, translate, apply and evaluate the impact of this science to develop meaningful learning experiences for their students inside the classroom and in other educational contexts.

View

This field of study takes a developmental perspective, situating young people with special needs and learning difficulties in context, to better understand their learning and behaviour.

It develops the skills, knowledge and values for you to teach students with a range of diverse abilities and needs, from those with developmental disabilities to those who may have difficulties in learning, as well as those at risk of school failure or disengagement.

The field focuses on understanding individual, contextual, and systematic factors that affect learning and behaviour for individuals with learning or special needs including issues associated with assessment, curriculum, pedagogy and whole-life learning.

View

Fields of study

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

Gain the knowledge and skills needed to identify, describe and manage students' challenging behaviours in schools.

Develop your knowledge and skills in:

  • contemporary, evidence-based practices in behaviour support
  • assessment and understanding of the functions of challenging behaviours
  • developing and implementing strategies for behaviour interventions across a range of environments
  • monitoring and evaluating behaviour support strategies.

This field of study enhances the skills and knowledge of teachers and other professionals in supporting children and young people with challenging behaviours.

View

The Curriculum field of study will give you in-depth knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment issues that is responsive to the introduction of the Australian Curriculum.

It explores contemporary issues associated with curriculum in schooling and education. The field considers priority areas in the Australian curriculum and also offers students the opportunity to study in a core learning area.

View

This field provides the knowledge, understanding and skills that are essential for today's professional guidance counsellors and career development practitioners.

This specially designed program of study allows you to develop competencies as a professional guidance counsellor and/or career practitioner for employment in schools, TAFE colleges, agencies, or as a private practitioner. The program focuses on:

  • Developing counselling competencies.
  • Understanding career development and education across the lifespan.
  • Linking assessment practices to instructional interventions.
  • Understanding ethical behaviour and practices.
  • Developing comprehensive guidance programs.

View

In a 21st century knowledge society, leadership has emerged as a critical contributor to positive outcomes, overall success and sustainability to organisations and institutions in education and education-related fields.

In such an increasingly complex and uncertain future, transformative leadership competencies encompassing distributive and collaborative domains have become essential.

This field of study is designed for individuals committed to undertaking transformative leadership roles to improve their respective workplaces and make an impact through your professional practice informed by research. It provides leading-edge knowledge and understandings about leadership and management that inform your practice within educational institutions (including schools, colleges and TAFEs), government departments and other organisations.

The field focuses on the skills, knowledge and attitudes required by leaders in our discontinuously changing world, and challenges students to develop as critically reflective, flexible and ethically collaborative change leaders of learners and thinkers.

View

This program prepares current teachers to teach the subject titled "Psychology" in the senior phase of schooling.

You'll be provided with opportunities to develop the appropriate content and pedagogical content knowledge and teaching strategies for a professional learning pathway into senior secondary psychology teaching.

Students with backgrounds other than teaching will develop skills to prepare them for potential employment opportunities and/or subsequent studies aligned with the field of psychology education.

View

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the neurological, psychological, physical, cognitive, social and emotional processes involved in learning.

With a focus on school-aged learning, this field of study will strengthen your understanding of the principles of cognitive science across the learning lifespan.

This field is designed for teachers and educators at all stages of their career. You will develop capabilities to critically engage with both research and practice-based evidence to understand effective teaching and learning practices.

Graduates are equipped to consider, translate, apply and evaluate the impact of this science to develop meaningful learning experiences for their students inside the classroom and in other educational contexts.

View

This field of study takes a developmental perspective, situating young people with special needs and learning difficulties in context, to better understand their learning and behaviour.

It develops the skills, knowledge and values for you to teach students with a range of diverse abilities and needs, from those with developmental disabilities to those who may have difficulties in learning, as well as those at risk of school failure or disengagement.

The field focuses on understanding individual, contextual, and systematic factors that affect learning and behaviour for individuals with learning or special needs including issues associated with assessment, curriculum, pedagogy and whole-life learning.

View

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative annual fee

Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase. 

$4,930

2024

Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.

$4,930

2025

 

Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

AUD $43,200

2024

Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.

AUD $43,200

2025

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Additional costs

  • Blue Card or Exemption Card if undertaking Guidance and Counselling Field of Study.
  • Students are responsible for the cost of transportation and accommodation to attend residential schools or practicals.

Government assistance

Financial aid

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

Learn more about financial aid

HECS-HELP

Domestic places in the Master of Educational Studies are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Centrelink support

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:

How to apply

Applying online

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.

The program code for the Master of Educational Studies is 5596.

This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.

When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.

Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study

Applying online

All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.

The program code for the Master of Educational Studies is 5596.

This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.

When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.

Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

  • To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

Explore other programs

Teaching (Primary)

Master of Teaching (Primary)

St Lucia
2 Years full-time2 Years full-time
(or part time equivalent)
Teaching (Secondary)

Master of Teaching (Secondary)

St Lucia
2 Years full-time2 Years full-time
(or part time equivalent)

Express yourself. And your interest.

They say choosing a degree is hard, which is why we've made it easy. Register your interest and we'll send you everything you need to know about applying to UQ.

Sign up for updates

Select your country and then enter your mobile phone number.

We will use your information to keep you informed about UQ programs, news, events and scholarships. By submitting this form, you consent to the terms of UQ's Marketing consent and privacy notice.