Studying education online: your questions answered
Teachers play a vital role in a child's journey. It's a role requiring patience, understanding and a desire to help children grow and develop.
If you're committed to helping shape the future of Australia’s children, you might be considering studying education.
When you're passionate about education, your circumstances shouldn't limit you from pursuing your goals. JCU offers education degrees that can be studied on-campus or online, and for some, studying education online might be the best choice.
Our students report selecting online study for a variety of reasons, including:
- "Caring for my family means I need to mostly study in the evenings."
- "My job involves shift work and I'd like to keep working while I study."
- "I have limited mobility and studying from home works best for my lifestyle."
- "Studying on-campus would mean I need to move away from my hometown."
Studying education online provides you with the flexibility to fit study around other parts of your life, whatever they may be.
Below are answers to the most common questions students ask us about studying education online:
What education degrees can I study online?
At JCU, you can study two undergraduate degrees online, a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) and a Bachelor of Education (Primary).
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) focuses on early learners from birth to 8 years. The Bachelor of Education (Primary) provides training for those who would like to teach children from Prep to Year Six.
Another difference between the two is the specialisations:.There are no specialisations for students of Early Childhood education, however future primary school teachers have a choice of one of the following:
- English/Literacy
- Mathematics/Numeracy
- Science, or
- Health and Physical Education.
Whichever course you choose, when you study education online, you will work on different subjects from the get-go. However, both degrees offer similar subjects, such as and and some subjects are identical for both degrees.
This means that if you decide to switch degrees, for example from Early Childhood Education to Primary Education, you will be able to transfer credit for some subjects. This option gives you the flexibility to play to your strengths and graduate with the degree that best suits your needs.
How are online education subjects structured?
When you study education online, the course delivery differs slightly from on-campus degrees. At JCU, Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) and Bachelor of Education (Primary) students study one subject at a time, up to six times a year – depending on how much time you would like to invest. Each subject takes seven weeks to complete. These seven week spans are called 'Study Periods'.
This course delivery structure is designed to help online students focus on one subject at a time before moving on to the next. Many online students report that it is more satisfying to receive assessment results earlier, rather than waiting until the end of the semester. When you study education online, you can work on a subject, pass the assessment and then move on to the next subject after only two months.
If you complete six subjects per year, from day 1 until graduation, your Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or Bachelor of Education (Primary) may be completed in 5 years and four months. If you decide to study part-time, it will take you a bit longer to graduate.
Will my experience be different if I study education online?
When you study a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or Bachelor of Education (Primary) online with JCU, the learning experiences you receive are based on the same high standards as our on-campus teacher education.
The only difference is the way your learning is delivered, as this is specifically targeted to the needs of external students. Your classes are delivered through a virtual learning environment that contains all you need to know about the subjects you are studying.
When you decide to study education online, you won't be working alone. JCU has a Student Support Service team that can help if questions arise. Education students will also be assigned to a group with a dedicated tutor. You will have access to collaborative sessions with your tutor at different times throughout the study period.
Outside these times, you can contact your tutor via email, phone or via online discussion boards, depending on what is most comfortable to you. All assessments are online conducted and submitted online, so you'll benefit from the full virtual study experience.
Although workplace learning is not available online, both on-campus and online students complete the same number of placement hours. As part of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education), you will complete a total of 120 days of workplace learning in Australian schools or early learning centres over the course of your degree.
Within the Bachelor of Education (Primary), you’ll undertake 85 days of placement in Australian schools. In addition, you will participate in a five-day intensive Professional Orientation Program that will help you to hit the ground running once you have graduated.
What do I need to study online?
In order to be admitted to study education online, you will need to satisfy the same requirements as for in-class education teaching degrees. This generally involves an ATAR and subject prerequisites.
Students applying for a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) online generally require an ATAR of 65.00 or greater.
You must also meet the following subject prerequisites:
- English (Units 3/4,C)
- General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C)
- One General Science subject (Units 3/4,C) or equivalent.
Students applying for a Bachelor of Education (Primary) online generally require an ATAR of 65.00 or greater.
You must also meet the following subject prerequisites:
- English (Units 3/4,C)
- General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C)
- One General Science subject (Units 3/4,C) or equivalent.
"I felt the help was there if it was needed and that’s what I loved about my course and about JCU. Even when studying the course online, you will be supported. Making sure students have that level of comfort is a strength for JCU."
Bianca Rogers
Alumni
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
I don't meet the entry requirements. Can I still study education online?
Just as there are multiple ways to learn, there are also multiple pathways into studying education online. If you do not meet one or more of the entry requirements for your chosen course, you may wish to explore one of the following options:
JCU offers a preparatory university course called JCU Prep.
This fee-free* course can be used as a pathway into both the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) and Bachelor of Education (Primary). Depending on your needs, you can take subjects that equip you with the necessary prerequisite knowledge and study skills that prepare you for university study.
* Students are still required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee, which is approximately $50 per subject studied.
If you are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent and want to study education online, you may want to choose the Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP) pathway.
The RATEP program will teach you the skills you need in order to successfully complete a Bachelor of Education (Primary). RATEP students may also be admitted if their ATAR is below 65 (for more, see the RATEP page).
Where can I get a job after I study education online?
When you study education online with JCU, you'll be equipped to work in state, Catholic or independent schools. Early Childhood Education graduates can also pursue opportunities within preschools, kindergartens and childcare centres. Develop the skills to support students across rural, regional or metropolitan areas around Australia, as well as culturally diverse or neurodiverse students.
Both the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) and the Bachelor of Education (Primary) are nationally accredited with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). Graduates are eligible for teacher registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) which is a precondition for working as a teacher in Queensland.
Graduates seeking to work as a teacher in other Australian states can use their degree as the first step to registration in their chosen state.
You may also wish to explore opportunities to work in education across the world. Your eligibility to teach overseas will differ based on the requirements of each country.
Why study education online?
Whether you are thinking about studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or a Bachelor of Education (Primary), studying online may be an option for you if your location or your lifestyle make it difficult for you to study on-campus.
You will receive a high-quality education, and you will be able to participate in all the required placements as well. This, of course, also means that in order to get into uni, you will need to satisfy the same requirements as for on-campus learning, for instance by participating in a JCU Prep course.
Find out more and start studying today
Find out more on how to apply on the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) or the Bachelor of Education (Primary) course pages. For information specific to your circumstances, you can also contact our ÀÖ²©´«Ã½ team.
Apply now to study education online at JCU
You can submit your application for online study at any time. Take the next step in your career and begin your online study in the education degree of your choice.