Enter the classroom sooner
Accelerated 3.5 year (full-time) and 4 year (part-time) study optionsExtensive hands-on experience
Develop your skills through 85 days of placements, with rural and remote opportunitiesEducating future generations for over 50 years
The trusted leader in educating educatorsFast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Online: January, March, July, September, November
- Townsville: January, May
- Cairns: January, May
Fees
$4,911+
+
estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load. Please note this estimate is variable and subject to fluctuation depending on choice of elective subjects.
see fees and scholarships for more
Currently displaying fees for 2026, which are subject to change in following years.
Duration
3.5 to 4 years full time (On campus, trimester study periods)
4 to 5 years part time (Online block study periods)
*Course duration varies according to intake, subject load and credit awarded.
Trimester 2 commencement is 4 years plus 2 months (On campus, trimester study period)
Entry Requirements
ATAR 65
English (Units 3/4,C), General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C); or equivalent.
QTAC Codes
- 313099, 313219
- 313211
- 323211
Course detail
Learn to establish positive and engaging learning environments for primary school students. Benefit from a wide range of placement opportunities across your degree in regional, rural and remote areas. Develop skills to improve Indigenous education outcomes and leverage a world-class education into a career that will change lives, including your own.
Focus on the curriculum for children from Prep to Year Six. You’ll learn methods for engaging students through creative activities and strategies, establishing routines and patterns, and maintaining positive, respectful learning environments. Develop skills for leading a classroom, including inclusive teaching methods that ensure the success of each of your students.
Experience relevant workplace learning in primary school settings. Gain professional experience from your first year of study in state, Catholic, and independent schools. Over the course of your Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree, you’ll undertake 85 days of placement. In your final year, you will complete a mandatory five-day intensive Professional Orientation Program, ensuring that you’re ready to take on your career in education with confidence.
Gain credit with the following qualifications:
Certificate IV in School Based Education Support (CHC40221) – 6 credit points = 2 subjects
Diploma of School Age Education and Care (CHC50221, CH50213) – 9 credit points = 3 subjects
Apply for credit at https://www.jcu.edu.au/students/enrolment/study-credit.
Study online
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) Online is built for students with busy lives. You will study one subject at a time, up to six times a year. Each subject goes for six weeks, allowing you to focus on a single area of study each time. It also spreads your study load across the year, and you still get 10 weeks of breaks.
By completing six subjects per year, you can complete a Bachelor of Education (Primary) in 5 years. There are also options to accelerate completion in 4 years.
Study via the RATEP pathway
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is also part of the Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP) pathway to teacher education. RATEP's aim is to increase the number of registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in Queensland by offering courses in communities where students live, through a partnership between JCU, TAFE Queensland and the Queensland Department of Education. RATEP centres are based in numerous school communities, where teacher coordinators will support you in your study.
All students enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education course must achieve the required standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy Tests for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE).
Additional information
About JCU's Bachelor of Education - Primary
Are you ready to shape Australia’s future, and your own, by working with eager young minds in primary schools? Primary education courses at JCU can help you achieve your dreams, equipping you to work anywhere from urban city centres to remote and rural locations.
Comprehensive Education
You want to keep your options open, and a primary education degree from JCU will prepare you for anything. By the time you graduate, you will be qualified to teach in state schools, Catholic schools or the private sector from prep to year six.
You will gain much more than just theoretical knowledge in your primary school teacher training at JCU. Experience has no substitute, and you can be sure of extensive real-world experience with your primary school teaching degree.
With your Bachelor of Education Primary experience, you will work in professional, hands-on contexts in a range of schools and learning environments. Lecturers committed to student success will be constantly on hand to guide you as you learn to critically evaluate and apply the latest research.
A Primary School Teaching Degree with Personalised Education
You have specialties you love, and at JCU your Bachelor of Education, Queensland program offers you the chance to choose from five specialisations to suit your strengths and passions.
You will guide students to a higher appreciation of language and literature with an English or literacy specialisation. With a specialisation in mathematics, you will be there to see the moment when students finally comprehend that complex principle.
You can indulge your own love for STEM by specialise in science. Imagine sparking that same kind of passion in your students! Choose the health and physical education specialisation to leverage your interest in health and fitness and pass your interests on to another generation.
Primary Teaching Courses That Lead To Employment Opportunity
As a graduate of a Bachelor of Teaching Primary, you will be ready to teach any of a number of subject areas. You will be perfectly positioned to work as a primary teacher anywhere in Australia or even overseas.
Your primary education courses at JCU will particularly equip you to work with Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal students. Many options will be open to you, and your degree will make you highly valuable.
With the experience you gain in International Service Learning placements through JCU’s program, you will have valuable cross-cultural experience, too. Your skills will be in demand at home and abroad.
A Primary School Teaching Degree with World-Class Education
You will be poised to succeed at JCU with our passion for student success. Professionals will help you develop a healthy study routine and become confident in your abilities. You can take advantage of our popular Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). These sessions enable students from the same primary education course to revise difficult material, consider different perspectives and discuss ideas together to gain a deeper understanding.
You will also have any help you need in learning to set schedules, take notes, revise for exams and prepare research. With helpful feedback on your academic writing and constant access to a learning advisor, you will develop all the strategies you need to succeed.
By the time you finish your studies and graduate with your primary education degree, you will feel confident in your own judgement. With a developed sense of professional responsibility and experience in taking initiative, you will be ready to pass on your world-class education to your own students and set them up for a lifetime of success.
Successful Together
Your success is important to you, but it is also important to us and to your future students. When you leave with your education degree, you will know how to integrate your technical and curriculum knowledge into effective educational content.
You will know how to bring theory and practice together in the real world. Your students will thrive as you build a positive, engaging and respectful learning environment where they can develop and grow. You will lead the way in the schools you work in, with the skills to manage and incorporate regulations, policies, equality and sustainability.
The Future Is Yours When You Start Your Primary School Teacher Training
Start your Bachelor of Education Primary at JCU and take the first step on a journey of lifelong learning. With the skills to teach anywhere and the confidence to use what you know, you will be positioned for a truly fulfilling career.
Hide additional information
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary).
JCU Education (Primary) graduates are equipped to become teachers who can meet the diverse needs of primary school children from Prep to Year Six.
Graduates pursue careers in state, Catholic, and independent schools across Australia and overseas, particularly the United Kingdom.
You will be well positioned to find employment as a primary school teacher in metropolitan areas and throughout rural and regional Australia. As a graduate, you will be particularly qualified to meet the education and care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Entry score threshold
These are the lowest adjusted scores we made an offer to in Semester 1, 2025 (JCU Townsville, Cairns and RATEP) or Block 1, 2025 (online). Entry scores are based on the most recent Semester 1 intake and are updated in June each year. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee admission.
ATAR/Selection Rank: 65.00
Entry score range
This table shows the range of entry scores for recent secondary students offered a place in the Bachelor of Education (Primary) for Semester 1, 2025. The table includes offers deferred to Semester 1, 2025 and Block 1, 2025, which may have been assessed using the entry score threshold of an earlier year.
JCU Townsville
Without adjustments | With adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | 91.85 | 93.85 |
Median | 71.80 | 75.45 |
Lowest | 63.20 | 67.20 |
JCU Cairns
Without adjustments | With adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | 88.35 | 90.35 |
Median | 74.00 | 76.70 |
Lowest | 64.70 | 66.70 |
External
Without adjustments | With adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | 89.05 | 91.05 |
Median | 68.15 | 70.15 |
Lowest | 64.55 | 66.55 |
RATEP
Without adjustments | With Adjustments* | |
|---|---|---|
Highest | <5 | <5 |
Median | <5 | <5 |
Lowest | <5 | <5 |
Notes:
<5 – indicates less than 5 ATAR-based offers made.
* Refer to Adjustment Factors
Find out more about who you might study with by viewing this course’s student profile.
Adjustment factors
James Cook University applies bonus ranks under the Regional Preference Scheme and QTAC’s Educational Access Scheme (EAS). Learn more about JCU’s adjustment factors.
- The Indicative First-Year Fee represents the approximate cost of studying full-time for one academic year (24 credit points) in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
- This figure should be used as a guide only.
- Actual fees will depend on:
- The specific subjects you choose to study.
- Your individual study load.
- For detailed information, please check your student contribution amount (per subject) on our Commonwealth Support Fees and Payment options page.
- Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change by the Department of Education and JCU.
Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships
Full-time domestic students in this course are eligible to apply for the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship. These consist of yearly payments of $10,000, for the expected full-time duration of your degree. For undergraduate students, this is four years, or a total of $40,000, and postgraduate students receive $20,000 over two years. If you choose to complete your final professional placement in a government school located in a remote area, you may also be eligible for an additional $2000 payment.
Successful applicants are required to make either a four-year (undergraduate) or two-year (postgraduate) commitment to teaching in a government school. You must fulfil this commitment within 10 years.
Fees
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,911.00
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Learn more about fees and financial support
JCU Prep provides a pathway into this course. Enrolling in this flexible program will enable you to meet entry requirements including subject pre-requisites and ATARs. Introductory academic subjects are also available to prepare you for tertiary study.
*Excludes entry into the Bachelor of Advanced Science, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours).
Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.
Important application update
Applications to study the Bachelor of Education (Primary) for 2025 and beyond no longer require the completion of a Teacher Personal Statement (NARTE).
Applicants for 2025 and beyond should also note that General Science is no longer a prerequisite for this course.
Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP) applications
Eligible students who live in locations where there is a RATEP study centre can apply through QTAC, using code 313099.
English language requirements
Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:
- An overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with no sub-score less than 7.0 for Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 6.0 for Reading and Writing.
If you do not meet the English language requirements you can apply to study a University-approved English language program.
ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.
Ready to start your teaching journey?
Take the next step toward a rewarding career where your passion shapes the future. With real classrooms, real communities, and real impact at JCU.
Real stories
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Student
Shae-Kia Carroll
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
At the end of my degree, I hope to teach in a rural community to provide unique learning experiences for my students. I feel prepared heading into the workforce, as I have been lucky enough to undertake professional experience in many different communities.
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Alumni
Steven Cromb
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
The lecturers are more than happy to take their time out and explain things if you need help. All of the professors have been dedicated to doing the job and getting everyone through and making sure everyone understands the content.
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Alumni
Tamara Acheson
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
I chose JCU because I heard that it had a really good reputation. The lecturers at JCU are always willing help you. This course prepared me for the workforce with so many opportunities to undertake professional placements in a variety of schools. If you love teaching children then education is the course for you.
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Lecturer
Dr. Leanne Cameron
Senior Lecturer, Education
With the new online course, we can use technology to share knowledge with students who might find face-to-face education doesn’t fit into their lives. I did much of my ow university education via distance education and I wish we had the tools to make it as engaging and exciting as we can now through this course.
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Employer
Jan Cooper
Principal, Annandale State School, Townsville QASSP President
Principals greatly value the close liaison between JCU Education and schools. This liaison ensures that pre-service teachers receive authentic and effective professional experience placements in schools. JCU Education graduates are well-prepared academically and practically for their demanding careers as educators.