Master of Education (MC-ED)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Education
Year & campus2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code095802B
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

The Master of Education is designed for individuals wanting to develop specialised knowledge and skills in educational theories, policies and approaches. The degree addresses the learning needs of a wide range of individuals who are interested in and/or active in education in diverse settings from early childhood to post-compulsory. The course is embedded in the foundations of indigeneity, diversity and inclusion, sustainability and international perspectives.

Ten specialisations cover the key fields of assessment, data and evaluation; creativity and the arts; educational policy and governance; digital futures and innovative practices; educational leadership and policy; equity sustainability and social change; literacies and English; mathematics and science education; the science of learning; and wellbeing in education. Students may choose from these specialisations or sample subjects from across these fields, enabling a learning experience tailored to their specific interests. 

The degree culminates in a capstone enquiry or a supervised research project in which deep engagement with educational concepts and ideas is facilitated. The degree will meet the needs of current educators as well as those who are interested in and/or involved in youth work, policy making, health education, and/or educational administration within the wider educational community, including government and non-government organisations, as well as private providers.

Please note that this course is not an initial teacher education qualification and does not provide eligibility for registration to teach in Australian schools. For information on becoming a teacher, please visit the Become a Teacher page

Links to further information

Information for future students: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-education/

 

This course is available in My Course Planner

My Course Planner is an interactive web application that allows you to explore your study options and decide which subjects and major(s), minors and/or specialisations are right for you.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • A three-year undergraduate degree or equivalent, in any discipline area.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university's English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

 

Note:

a) Successful applicants with the following may be granted up to 50 credit points of advanced standing:

  • an accredited initial teacher education degree (or equivalent); or
  • an undergraduate degree in any discipline area, and at least 2-years relevant work experience*

b) Successful applicants with the following may be granted up to 100 credit points of advanced standing: 

  • An accredited initial teacher education degree (or equivalent), and at least 2-years relevant work experience*

*Relevant work experience may include:

School settings (Primary, Secondary, Vocational), Early Childhood settings, special education, TAFE, Higher Education, Learning Designers, workplace educators, community-based educators, Government Education Departments, education policy, education technology experience. Applicants are to submit a copy of CV / resume.

c) Credit is not normally granted for studies completed more than ten years prior to the course commencement. You may be eligible for advanced standing if your previous studies are more than ten years prior to the course commencement on the basis of substantial, relevant and documented professional work experience where recent prior learning can be demonstrated. Further information is contained in the University of Melbourne Credit, Advanced Standing and Accelerated Entry Policy.

d) Master of Education students who discontinue without completing the award may be eligible to apply for an exit award:

  • Graduate Certificate in Education: Students who have successfully completed 50 credit points of study of the 200-credit point program will be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Education as an exit award
  • Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: Students who have successfully completed the prescribed first 100 credit points of study of the 200-credit point Master degree will be eligible to receive the Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies as an exit award.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005) and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326).

For the purposes of considering requests for reasonable adjustments, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the overview, attributes, outcomes and skills of this entry. Further details about how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates should be able to:

KNOWLEDGE

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of First Nations' knowledges and their contribution to education
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of current educational theories, debates, policies and practices
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how educational policies and practices can promote respect for diversity, inclusion and social justice
  • Demonstrate understandings of global education perspectives and issues and how education can help address sustainability challenges
  • Demonstrate an advanced understanding of educational research principles and methods

SKILLS

  • Apply theoretical understandings and knowledge of current research, debates, policies and practices in education to reflect critically on professional practices and scholarship
  • Critically analyse educational research, theories, debates, policies and practices through evidence-based research
  • Mobilise knowledge in action, examining what constitutes good quality evidence in contextually relevant ways
  • Evaluate and communicate contemporary educational research ideas and findings to the wider educational community
  • Engage in culturally appropriate ways with diverse communities to address educational challenges

APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Devise strategies to address educational challenges through the use of theoretical understandings, evidence-based research and/or analysis, evaluation or communication skills
  • Enhance professional practices through the use of theoretical understandings, evidence-based research and/or analysis, evaluation or communication skills
  • Develop an education research-based project or produce a piece of education research scholarship within their area of specialisation or interest

Generic skills

Graduates of the Master of Education will develop the following set of generic skills:

  • Critical reasoning and thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Evidence based decision making
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Teamwork and professional collaboration
  • Self-reflection, career awareness and lifelong learning
  • Active and participatory citizenship

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Master of Education will have the necessary attributes to:

  • Evaluate contemporary educational issues and approaches from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including sociological, pedagogical, philosophical, psychological and economical (academic distinction)
  • Contribute to discussions and debates associated with the role of education in addressing contemporary local, national and global issues (global citizenship)
  • Promote social justice, wellbeing, citizenship, career awareness and employability through educational policy and practice (integrity and awareness)
  • Be creative, innovative, self directed and lifelong learners, able to link theory and practice and respond to the changing educational landscape (integrity and self awareness)

Course structure

The Master of Education requires the successful completion of 200 credit points.

Note: Students who commenced prior to 2025 are to complete their degree following the course structure as per their year of entry/admission, including pre-2025 specialisations - unless advised otherwise. Exceptions occur where subjects have been discontinued and replacement subjects are available.

Entry Point Programs

200 point program

Students complete the course in 2 years of full time, or 4 years of part time study. These students must complete the 50 credit points of compulsory subjects, 50 points of Foundations subjects and either the Final 100 Points ‘Option 1’ or ‘Option 2’. Students can only progress to enroll in the Foundations subjects (second 50 points) if they have passed all four compulsory first 50 point subjects.

150 point program

Students with advanced standing for the first 50 points of study may complete the course in 18 months of full time, or three years of part time study. These students must complete the 50 points of Foundations subjects and either the Final 100 Points ‘Option 1’ or ‘Option 2’.

100 point program

Students with advanced standing for the first 100 points of study may complete the course in one year of full time, or two years of part time study. These students must complete either the Final 100 Points ‘Option 1’ or ‘Option 2’.

Capstone option

In the final-semester Capstone subject, students undertake a research-based inquiry project directly related to their own professional practice and/or within their area of specialisation.

Research option

The Research subjects may be selected by students who achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the:

• First 125 points of their course (standard 200-point course); or

• First 100 points of their course (students with 50 points advanced standing); or

• First 50 points of their course (students with 100 points advanced standing).

The research subjects are designed for students intending to later pursue a graduate research degree, such as a PhD. They provide a grounding in educational research methodology and include the design and completion of a supervised research project in education.

Specialisations

Choice of specialisation may depend on subject prerequisites. Please check the Handbook entries of the relevant specialisation subjects for information.

Elective subjects

The Electives are drawn from the same overall set of subjects as the Specialisations, hence:

• Students completing a formal Specialisation must select their Electives from other discipline areas.

• Students not completing a formal Specialisation select their entire ’75-points or 50-points of Electives’ component from the Electives subject list.

• Subject selection may depend on prerequisites. Please check the subject Handbook entries for information.

Alternative Exit Point

An early exit point is available for students who commence the Masters, but later decide to not complete the whole course. These students may exit the Master of Education^, and apply to graduate with one of the following awards:

• A Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (GD-EDST), if they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master's course (i.e., successfully completed the prescribed first 100 credit points of study of the 200-credit point master degree); or

• A Graduate Certificate in Education (GC-EDGEN), if they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master degree course (i.e. successfully completed 50 credit points of study).

^Students must discontinue their enrolment in the MC-ED without completing the award, to be conferred the exit award.

Majors, minors & specialisations

All the following specialisations can be studied under one of three entry point programs:

  • Assessment, Data and Evaluation
  • Creativity and the Art
  • Digital Futures and Innovative Practices
  • Education Policy and Governance
  • Educational Leadership
  • Equity, Sustainability and Social Change
  • Literacies and English
  • Mathematics and Science Education
  • The Science of Learning
  • Wellbeing in Education

Name Credit Points
200pt Program 200
150pt Program 150
100pt Program 100

Further study

Graduate Research Degrees 
The Faculty of Education is widely recognised as a leader in Australian and international education research. 

Graduates interested in further study in one of Faculty of Education’s suite of graduate research degrees may have several options, depending on their prior qualifications, academic achievement, research experience and professional experience. 

Graduates who have completed the Capstone option in this course (MC-ED) may be eligible to apply to either: 

Graduates who have completed: 

may be eligible to apply to one of the following Faculty of Education research degrees: 

Entry to these courses is a competitive process and each course has additional entry requirements such as minimum academic entry scores which must be met. Please check the Handbook course entry for details of entry requirements. 

For more information about graduate research study in Education see the Faculty of Education Research Degrees page.

Last updated: 26 February 2025