Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
at Macquarie University, New South Wales.
A four-year AITSL-accredited initial teacher education degree at Macquaries Wallumattagal (North Ryde) campus. Includes more than 80 days of professional experience across NSW secondary schools and a content specialism in two teaching subjects.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Macquarie University Bachelor of Education (Secondary). We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70.25 | UAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
Most recent published cutoff is 70.25 for the 2025 intake.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
Macquarie runs the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) as a four-year AITSL and NESA accredited degree, leading to NSW teacher registration for years 7 to 12. Students complete a major and (often) minor in their teaching subject area alongside the education core. Year one covers educational psychology, adolescent development, foundations of literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, indigenous education and an introductory placement (around 20 days). Year two carries discipline content (English, mathematics, science, HSIE, PDHPE, technology, languages or creative arts) plus pedagogy and curriculum, classroom management and a second placement (around 30 days). Year three layers advanced subject content, assessment and reporting, inclusive and differentiated practice, and a third placement (around 40 days). Year four runs the internship-style final placement (around 60 days), the LANTITE test, and capstone units in teaching practice and educational research.
Example first-year subjects
- Educational Psychology and Adolescent Development
- Foundations of Secondary Teaching
- Indigenous Education and Reconciliation
- Curriculum and Pedagogy 1
- Introduction to Professional Practice (Placement)
- Discipline content unit in chosen teaching method
How you will be assessed
- Supervised teaching placement reports and supervisor evaluation
- Lesson plans, unit-of-work and assessment-task submissions
- Reflective teaching journals
- Discipline-content essays and exams in your teaching subjects
- Group resource-development for the syllabus
- Pre-graduation LANTITE test
Placement and industry experience
NESA requires 80 supervised teaching days across the four-year secondary degree. Macquarie places students across NSW public, Catholic and independent schools in Macquarie Park tech and pharma corridor plus Sydney CBD firms. The final internship runs as a near-full teaching load. Before placement starts students complete the NSW Working with Children Check, NESA accreditation registration, child protection training and the LANTITE literacy and numeracy test. Many graduates take rural and remote placements through NSW Beyond the Line for permanent placement bonuses and CV value.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered high-school teachers across the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW and independent schools after NESA registration.
- First-year jobs typically include permanent teaching positions in Sydney metropolitan high schools, the NSW DoE graduate recruitment program and regional NSW and Northern Territory schools.
- Many alumni progress to head of department, head teacher, deputy principal and curriculum advisory roles.
Professional accreditation
- AITSL accredited initial teacher education
- NESA accredited for NSW teacher accreditation
Typical first jobs
- Secondary teacher in NSW Department of Education public schools
- Secondary teacher in NSW Catholic schools
- Secondary teacher in NSW independent schools
- Casual or temporary teacher building toward permanency
- Rural and remote teacher under NSW Beyond the Line program
- Subject coordinator and head of department within five to ten years
Graduate starting salary
$80,000 - $88,000 per year
Source: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/explore-teaching/pay-and-conditions. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates apply for provisional NSW teacher accreditation through NESA and start as secondary teachers in public, Catholic or independent schools. Career progression includes Head of Department, Head Teacher, Deputy Principal and Principal roles. Postgraduate options include Master of Educational Leadership, Master of Education (Special Education, TESOL or specific curriculum areas), and Doctorate of Education for senior leadership and research. Higher accreditation levels (Highly Accomplished, Lead Teacher) require NESA portfolio submission.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students passionate about a specific teaching subject and high-school learners
- Those willing to live and teach in rural NSW for placement or work
- People who can balance subject-area study with pedagogy theory
- Students happy to be observed and evaluated by supervising teachers
- Those committed to NESA accreditation requirements
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike formal lesson planning and reflective writing
- Those uncomfortable managing teenage classroom behaviour
- Anyone hoping to avoid the LANTITE pre-graduation test
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Education (Secondary) as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at Macquarie
Sources
- https://www.mq.edu.au/study/find-a-course/courses/bachelor-of-education-secondary
- https://www.uac.edu.au/
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Macquarie University handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/macquarie/bachelor-of-education-secondary.