Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 7 four year pre-service teaching qualification of a recognised Australian University or tertiary institution (or overseas equivalent as assessed by Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR)); or
(b) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree and an AQF Level 7 or Level 8 or Level 9 one or two year pre-service teaching qualification of a recognised Australian University (or overseas equivalent as assessed by Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR)); or
(c) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate in eLearning or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Comparative Education) or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Gifted and Talented: Teaching for High Potential) or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Literature and New Literacies) or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or the Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education or the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Australian Education or the Graduate Certificate in International Schooling, Education and Development or the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership or the Graduate Certificate in Special Education or the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages award of the University of New England*; or
(d) hold the AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate in Education Studies of the University of New England; or
(e) hold an AQF Level 7 non-initial teacher education Bachelor degree and an AQF Level 8 degree of Bachelor Honours or Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of a University in a non-relevant discipline**; or
(f) hold a minimum AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree or overseas equivalent as assessed by AEI-NOOSR, and satisfy the School by the provision of evidence (by providing a Statement of Service on company letterhead documenting a minimum two years' full time equivalent relevant teaching experience) of adequate preparation for candidature**; and
(g) comply with the University's English Language Requirements for Admission Rule.

*Candidates admitted under Rule (c) who hold the Graduate Certificate in eLearning or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (TESOL) or the Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages may specialise in the same or different area or not specialise. Candidates admitted under Rule (c) who hold the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Comparative Education) or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Gifted and Talented: Teaching for High Potential) or the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (Literature and New Literacies) or the Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education or the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Australian Education or the Graduate Certificate in International Schooling, Education and Development or the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership or the Graduate Certificate in Special Education must choose a different specialisation or not specialise.
**Candidates admitted without a pre-service teaching qualification shall not be permitted to undertake the following specialisations: Indigenous Australian Education; Literature and New Literacies; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL-EAL/D).

Additional Requirements

The Special Education specialisation requires, and TESOL-EAL/D specialisation may require, contact with children in an educational setting (professional experience). Students will not be permitted to attempt this unless they have first completed online Anaphylaxis training, an online Child Protection Awareness module, and have obtained a valid NSW Working with Children Check clearance (for those students wishing to complete their placement in NSW) or equivalent (for those students wishing to complete their placement outside NSW). Students are referred to the Office for Professional Learning - Professional Experience Placement webpage for further information.

Advanced Standing

Candidates admitted under Rule (a), (e) and (f) are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted a maximum of 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted based on: units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based; or demonstrated relevant professional experience.

Candidates admitted under Rule (c) or (d) shall be granted a maximum of 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature. Up to a further 24 credit points may be granted based on: units that were not part of the degree on which admission was based; or demonstrated relevant professional experience.

No advanced standing shall be granted for special topic or dissertation units.

Period of Candidature

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), (e) and (f), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) one and a half years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.

For candidates admitted under Rule (b), (c) or (d), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) one year as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to four years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award, and except with the permission of the School, a candidate shall:
(a) pass units to the value 72 credit points including a minimum of 36 credit points at 500-level as specified in Schedule A or Schedule B;
(b) if admitted under Rule (a) or (e) or (f) pass units to the value of 18 credit points at 400 level as specified in Schedule A or Schedule B within the first six months of candidature as a full-time candidate or first year of candidature as a part-time candidate.

Program of Study - Schedule A

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), Rule (e) or Rule (f)

Schedule A - To view complete Program of Study click here

For candidates admitted under Rule (b) or Rule (c) or Rule (d)

Schedule A - To view complete Program of Study click here

Program of Study - Schedule B

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), Rule (e) or Rule (f)

Schedule B - To view complete Program of Study click here

For candidates admitted under Rule (b) or Rule (c) or Rule (d)

Schedule B - To view complete Program of Study click here

Approved Specialisations

Comparative Education
eLearning
Gifted and Talented Education
Indigenous Australian Education
Literature and New Literacies
Special Education
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL-EAL/D)

Award of Degree

(a) A candidate who meets the course requirements and does not specialise shall be awarded the Master of Education.
(b) A candidate who meets the course requirements and does specialise shall be awarded the Master of Education in one of the following: Comparative Education; eLearning; Gifted and Talented Education; Indigenous Australian Education;Literature and New Literacies; Special Education; and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL-EAL/D).

Exit Pathways

(a) Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted under Rule (a), (e) or (f) may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies on completion of 24 credit points from Schedule A including at least 18 credit points at 400-level and not more than 6 credit points at 500-level. Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies must apply for readmission and will be subject to the current course requirements of the Master of Education. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

(b) Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted under Rule (a), (e) or (f) may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in eLearning on completion of 24 credit points including EDIT426 and a minimum of 12 credit points from EDIT coded units and not more than 6 credit points at 500-level from units listed in the Graduate Certificate eLearning. Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies must apply for readmission and will be subject to the current course requirements of the Master of Education. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

(c) Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted under Rule (a), (e) or (f) may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Education Studies (TESOL) on completion of 24 credit points from Schedule B - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL-EAL/D). Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies must apply for readmission and will be subject to the current course requirements of the Master of Education. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

Dissertation

1. A candidate who satisfies the entry requirements for EDUC599B shall submit a conventional dissertation or dissertation by journal article format (minimum one article plus an applied research portfolio, or two publishable journal articles) embodying an original investigation of a topic within their chosen specialisation.
2. Depending on the topic under investigation, the approval of the relevant Ethics Committee must be sought if required.
3. The School, on advice of the course coordinator, shall appoint a supervisor, who shall be a member of the teaching or research staff of the University or an associate of the University and on the UNE register of supervisors. The supervisor shall advise and supervise the candidate during the period of candidature.
4. Except with the permission of the School, on the recommendation of the supervisor, the dissertation shall not exceed 22,500 words, excluding appendices for EDUC599B.
5. Candidates shall be required to enrol in and complete the dissertation in one or more consecutive teaching periods.

Submission of Dissertation

1. Electronic submission of the dissertation is highly recommended. Alternatively two soft bound and one unbound copy of the dissertation together with a certificate from the supervisor certifying that the dissertation is in a form suitable for examination can be submitted to the School following liaison with the course coordinator.
2. At least one month prior to the date of submission candidates shall inform the School of Education of their intention to submit a dissertation.
3. The Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School shall, on the recommendation of the course coordinator, appoint two examiners. Normally, at least one examiner shall be external to the University.
4. Each examiner shall be informed of the name of the other examiner. The examiners may consult. They shall inform the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School if, before submitting their reports, they have consulted.

Examination of Dissertation

1. (a) Normally within one month of receipt of the dissertation the examiners shall decide whether to recommend that the dissertation be given the grade of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction, or that it be revised for re-examination.
(b) In cases where a candidate has been required to revise the dissertation for re-examination, the dissertation shall be given the grade of Pass or Fail.
(c) The examiners may consult with the supervisor prior to preparing their reports.
(d) The examiners shall submit to the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School their report(s) on the dissertation, along with their recommendation(s) on the grade.

2. (a) In the event of a disagreement between the examiners, they may be asked to consult and report to the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School.
(b) If the examiners are unable to reach an agreement, the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School shall refer their reports to a sub-committee appointed by the Chair for a recommendation.

3. (a) After considering the examiner's recommendation(s) and report(s), any comments from the supervisor and any recommendations from the appointed sub-committee, the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School may:
(i) recommend that the dissertation be awarded the grade of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction;
(ii) allow the candidate to revise the dissertation for re-examination;
(iii) appoint an additional examiner or examiners.
(b) The candidate, the supervisor and examiners shall be informed of the decision and the candidate shall be provided with a copy of the examiners report(s).

4. After the Teaching and Learning Committee of the relevant School has awarded the grade of Pass or higher, the course coordinator shall be contacted for advice on archival processes for the completed dissertation.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.