Can international students study teaching courses in Australia?

Yes. International students can study teaching and education courses in Australia, including early childhood education, primary teaching, secondary teaching, special education, TESOL, Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching courses.

Can international students become teachers in Australia?

Yes. Many international students study teaching in Australia and later work as qualified teachers. Students usually need to complete an approved teaching qualification, finish practical placements, meet English language requirements and apply for teacher registration in their state or territory.

Is teaching a good career in Australia?

Teaching is a respected career in Australia with strong job opportunities in many areas. There is demand for teachers in early childhood education, secondary maths and science, special education and regional schools.

Can teaching courses help with permanent residency in Australia?

Some teaching occupations may be linked to skilled migration pathways in Australia, including Early Childhood Teacher, Secondary School Teacher and Special Needs Teacher. However, migration rules can change and permanent residency is never guaranteed.

What is the difference between a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Teaching?

A Bachelor of Education is usually for students starting their first university degree. A Master of Teaching is usually for students who already have a bachelor degree in another field and want to become qualified teachers.

How long are teaching courses in Australia?

Course length depends on the qualification. A Bachelor of Education is usually around 4 years, a Master of Teaching is usually around 2 years, diploma courses are often 1 to 2 years, and graduate diploma courses are usually around 1 year.

What English level do I need for teaching courses?

Teaching courses usually have higher English requirements than many other courses in Australia. Students may need IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL, with strong scores in speaking, writing, reading and listening.

Do teaching courses include work placements?

Yes. Most teaching courses in Australia include practical placements in schools or childcare centres. These placements help students gain real classroom experience and are an important part of teacher training.

Can I work while studying teaching in Australia?

Yes. International students on a Student Visa can usually work while studying, following current visa work conditions. Many teaching students work part-time in childcare, tutoring, education support or before and after school care.

How do I apply for a teaching course in Australia?

The process usually includes choosing the right course, checking entry and English requirements, submitting your documents, receiving an offer letter, accepting the offer, receiving your CoE and applying for your Student Visa.

Studying / Courses / Teaching

Teaching Courses in Australia for International Students

Study teaching in Australia and explore strong career outcomes, teacher shortages and potential skilled migration pathways for international students.

Written by Lesley Rogan
Reviewed by Akram Mardini (MARN 2519017)
Last updated: May 2026

AEnB2UrWD8e71LIBsEdQmyS8TzW1Th8mohrux03P

Am I eligible to study teaching?

Why Study Teaching in Australia?

Globally Recognised Qualifications

A high-demand & AI-safe career with great job prospects

Australia needs qualified teachers across early childhood, primary and secondary education, creating strong job opportunities for international students. Teaching is also a popular pathway for students looking at skilled migration and long-term opportunities in Australia, with occupations like Early Childhood Teacher and Secondary School Teacher found on skilled occupation lists.

Australian teaching qualifications are internationally respected and combine:

hands-on classroom placements
practical, real-world training
modern teaching skills and methods
understanding child development and learning

High Demand for Teachers

Australia has teacher shortages across many education sectors, especially in:

✔️ Early childhood education

✔️ STEM secondary teaching

✔️ Regional schools

✔️ Special education

There is an ongoing job demand for new graduate teachers.

Teaching Sectors in Australia

1

Early Childhood Education

Early childhood teachers work with children from birth to approximately 5-7 years old (depending on the qualification) in:

childcare centres
preschools
kindergartens

This is currently one of Australia’s strongest migration pathways for international students due to high national demand.

2

Primary School Teaching

Primary teachers work with children through their early school years, usually from Kindergarten to Year 6.

Primary teaching courses cover subjects including:

literacy & numeracy
classroom management
lesson planning

While there is strong demand for primary teachers, there may be fewer PR opportunities than through the other 2 teaching fields.

3

Secondary School Teaching

Secondary school teachers usually specialise in subjects like Maths, Science, English, IT or Languages. Australia continues to experience shortages of secondary teachers, especially in STEM subjects and regional schools, creating strong job opportunities for graduates. For international students, secondary teaching can also open up skilled migration and long-term career pathways in Australia.

Interested in Studying Teaching in Australia?
Our team can help you:

✔ choose the right teaching course
✔ understand skilled migration pathways
✔ apply for your student visa

Let's put a plan in place

Skilled Migration Opportunities

Teaching occupations are commonly included on skilled occupation lists and may provide pathways toward:

✔️Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visas

✔️ Subclass 190 State Nominated visas

✔️ Subclass 491 Regional visas

✔️ Sponsorship through the Subclass 482 visa

Many states are actively looking for qualified teachers due to ongoing staff shortages.

The migration information provided on this page is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered personal migration advice. This content has been reviewed by Akram Mardini (MARN 2519017).

Entry Requirements for International Students

Academic Requirements

Academic entry requirements will depending on the college or university, but generally include:

Completion of Year/Grade 12 for Certificate III, Diploma and Bachelor courses
Completion of a Bachelor degree (often in any field) for Postgraduate Diplomas or Masters programs
English language requirements, usually around the equivalent of IELTS 5.5–7.0, depending on the course and education provider

English Language Requirements

English language entry requirements will depend on the education provider and level of the course, but generally fall within the following range:

the equivalent of IELTS 5.5–7.0 depending on the course and provider
test results usually need to be less than 3 years old
students from certain English-speaking countries may be exempt from providing an English test score

Teaching courses in Australia often have higher English requirements than many other study.

Skills Assessment

Teaching graduates require a positive skills assessment for the purpose of skilled migration through:

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) - for some early childhood pathways

before applying for skilled migration visas.

Skills assessment for permanent residency

Career Outcomes for Australian Teachers

Graduates may work in:

childcare centres
kindergartens
primary schools
secondary schools
private colleges
regional schools

Possible roles include:

Early Childhood Teacher
Primary Teacher
Secondary Teacher
Education Coordinator
Learning Support Teacher

Our team can help you compare courses, understand visa options and plan your pathway.

485 Temporary Graduate Visa

Teaching graduates may be be eligible to apply for the 485 Temporary Graduate Visa (often called the TR Visa) - giving you time to get the work experience required to have the potential for skilled migration in your career. Requirements include graduating:

by the age of 35
after a minimum of 92 weeks of study on an eligible visa
with a related qualification

Vocational Education (Diploma) graduates may be eligible for the 1.5 year visa.

Bachelor and Masters graduates may be eligible for a 2+ year version.

There are many variables, so read about the 485 Graduate Visa here

Check your eligibility to become a teacher in Australia

Not sure which level of study is the right fit for you?

Speak with a course counsellor today
Get a personalised study pathway based on your education level & life/work experience
Start your application

Find Courses That Match Your Visa Goals

Why are there so many job opportunities for teaching graduates?

According to AUSTRALIAN POLICY ONLINE: "Australia has amongst the highest teacher shortages in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)".

According to AITSL’s Australian Teacher Workforce Data (2023), only 26% of teachers surveyed said they plan to stay in the profession until retirement. While that presents challenges for the education sector, it may create strong career opportunities for international student teaching graduates in Australia.

In May 2026, SEEK had 8,501 teaching jobs advertised. Surprisingly, jobs growth over the next 5 years sits at 9.4%, and much higher for Early Childhood.

According to the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan released by the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, the Priority Area 1 is a focus on improving teacher supply.

There are several issues affecting both supply of qualified teachers and growing demand for early childhood education.

Some reasons for so many job openings include:

high burn out
better salaries in other industries (teaching qualifications are a great asset for management roles!)
high staff tuenover - up to 30% of teachers eventually leave the industry
population growth
shortages in regional areas

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Teaching Courses in Australia

Some teaching occupations may be linked to skilled migration pathways in Australia. Occupations such as: Early Childhood Teacher Secondary School Teacher Special Needs Teacher have appeared on skilled occupation lists in recent years. However, migration rules can change at any time, and PR is never guaranteed. Students should choose a course because they genuinely want to work in the industry — not only for migration.

Teaching courses usually have higher English requirements compared to many other courses in Australia. Depending on your passport nationality, students may need to show a score less than 3 yeas old from: IELTS Academic PTE Academic TOEFL Most teaching courses require strong scores in speaking, writing, reading, and listening because teachers need excellent communication skills, and will be doing placements in an English-speaking classroom from an early point in the course.

Yes. International students on a Student Visa can usually work while studying, following current visa work rules. Many teaching students work part-time in: Childcare centres Tutoring Education support roles Before and after school care This can also help students build local experience while studying. Many teaching students also work as au pairs - which can be great for cost savings if you live in the home!

Your education agent will manage your enrolment porcess and visa preparation - free of charge., but these are the steps in a nutshell: Choose the right course Check entry and English requirements Submit your documents Receive your offer letter Accept the offer and receive your CoE Apply for your Student Visa Choosing the right course and institution is important, especially with current student visa requirements in Australia.

King Wei Leong (Isaac)
Malaysia

I am extremely happy with the services provided by them. I had Lesley and Monika as my agents and they were super professional, friendly, kind and helpful. They are very knowledgeable and supportive throughout the process and provided very quick response on every questions I had. I had a wonderful experience with them and would totally recommend them.

Julieta Alejandra Porta
Argentina

I’m incredibly grateful for the support I received with my student visa process. Everything was explained clearly, and I felt genuinely cared for throughout the entire journey. Thanks to the guidance and encouragement, I was able to submit a strong application and get a successful outcome. Highly recommend to anyone needing honest and professional help!

Bianca Stam
the Netherlands