Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
at Macquarie University, New South Wales.
A four-year NESA-accredited secondary teaching degree at Macquarie's North Ryde campus. It is listed as a new course, so no lowest selection rank has been reported yet. The published minimum selection rank for 2027 is 70. Teaching areas range from ancient history and biology to mathematics and physics.
Lowest selection rank
Macquarie has not published a lowest selection rank for this course for recent intakes. That usually means too few ATAR-based offers were made to report one, or that selection also uses a portfolio, audition, interview or other criteria. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
No formal Year 12 subject prerequisites; assumed knowledge may still apply.
What you will study
Teaching areas include ancient history, biology, business studies, chemistry, Chinese studies, earth and environmental studies, economics, English, enterprise computing, French studies, geography, Japanese studies, mathematics, modern history, physics and society and culture. For mathematics as a teaching area, the assumed knowledge is Mathematics Advanced (Band 4 or higher) or Extension 1 or 2 (Band E2 or higher).
Placement and industry experience
Students observe in schools in first year, complete professional experience placements in second and third years, and in fourth year can take paid employment as conditionally accredited teachers through work-integrated learning.
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
- NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
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: education.nsw.gov.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
The degree is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Graduates teach in NSW secondary schools in their chosen teaching areas.
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
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the Macquarie University website and on UAC before applying.