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Study Secondary Teaching in Australia as an International Student – May Lead to PR

Study to become a secondary teacher in Australia - high demand career with potential PR and skilled migration pathways for international students.

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

Australia faces teacher shortages across many states and regional areas. Qualified Secondary School Teachers may have access to skilled migration and employer-sponsored visa options after graduation. If you want to live and work in Australia long-term, studying secondary education may be an option worth exploring.

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Why International Students Choose Secondary Teaching in Australia

Studying secondary teaching in Australia can offer:
 

  • Gain a recognised Australian qualification

  • Build career opportunities after graduation

  • Be eligible for post-study work visa opportunities

  • Explore possible skilled migration pathways

  • Work in both city and regional areas across Australia

Secondary School Teacher is currently on Australia’s skilled occupation lists. This means some graduates may later qualify for skilled migration or employer-sponsored visas and a skilled migration assessment.

What Can You Study?

Most international students choose one of these courses:

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These courses prepare you to teach high school students in Australia, and should make you eligible for teacher registration.

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You must choose a CRICOS-approved & accredited teaching course.

Am I Registered to Teach after Graduating?

Not always. After graduating, you usually still need to apply for teacher registration in the state or territory where you want to work. 

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Most graduates first receive provisional registration, which allows you to start working as a teacher in Australia.

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Later, after gaining teaching experience and meeting the required standards, you can apply for full registration.

Teacher Registration After Graduating

Qualifications for Secondary Teaching

The good news is that careers like teaching are still expected to have strong long-term demand in Australia. These are people-focused jobs that are much harder for AI to replace. Learn more about AI-safe courses for international students.

Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)

This course is studied at the Higher Education (University) level.
 

Possible Career Outcome: ​Secondary School Teacher – ANZSCO 241411

Average study time: 4 years

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Average tuition fees: 

  • Around $20,000–$40,000 per year depending on the college or university.

  • Tuition fees are paid in instalments each semester / term

 

Ask us about affordable university options for international students.

 

Skill migration pathway: currently strong

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These are some of the main areas you study in the course:

  • How to manage a classroom and teach students

  • Planning lessons and helping students learn

  • Understanding child and teenage development

  • Creating assessments and school work

  • Communication and leadership skills

  • Teaching subjects like English, Maths, Science or Humanities

  • Supporting students from different backgrounds and learning levels

  • Understanding the Australian school system and teaching standards

 

Most secondary teaching courses also include professional teaching placements in Australian schools. This gives students practical classroom experience while studying.

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Teaching placements are an important part of becoming eligible for teacher registration in Australia after graduation.

 

After completing the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), graduates may be able to apply for provisional teacher registration and start working in Australian secondary schools.

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Some graduates may also explore post-study work visas and possible skilled migration pathways, depending on their individual situation and current migration rules.​

Can Studying Secondary Teaching Lead to PR?

Important Disclaimer

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This information is general in nature and is not migration advice. Migration rules and visa requirements can change over time.  For advice based on your personal situation, we recommend speaking with a registered migration agent - ask us for a referral. ​​

Studying teaching does not guarantee PR, but some graduates may have the chance to apply for migration pathways after finishing their studies.

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This can depend on things like:

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  • age

  • English level

  • qualifications

  • work experience

  • skills assessment results

  • current migration rules

Some graduate may qualify for visas such as:

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  • Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189)

  • State Nominated visa (Subclass 190)

  • Skilled Work Regional visa (Subclass 491)

  • Employer Sponsored visas
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Migration rules can change, so it is important to get professional advice based on your situation.

Migration Skills Assessment for Teachers

Becoming a registered secondary teacher means you can work as a teacher in Australia like other local graduates. However, this is usually just the first step if you also want to explore skilled migration pathways.

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To begin teaching in Australian high school classroom after graduating, you register with the 

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If you want to move towards PR as a teacher, you will usually need a skills assessment through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

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This normally requires:
 

  • an approved teaching qualification

  • supervised teaching placements

  • English test results

  • documents showing your studies meet Australian standards
     

Important: English requirements for teachers are often higher than many other jobs in Australia.

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