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Master of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Master of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)) (MEDCorMEDF) - MEd

The CRICOS code can only be used when applying for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) specialisation within this program.

 Online*
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration: 1.5 years full-time (dependent on availability of courses), up to 6 years part-time 
Program articulation:

From: Graduate Certificate of Education. and/or ; Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Graduate Diploma of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP))

Notes

Specialisations are divided into either Commonwealth Supported Place or Full Fee Paying.
Online mode of study is supported through the USQ ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk.
This program does not qualify students for teacher registration with relevant teaching authorities. To qualify for teacher registration in Queensland, please refer to Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary) or the Master of Learning and Teaching (Primary) from Semester 2, 2015.
On successful completion of the Master of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Master of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)) , students may be eligible for entry into the Doctor of Education or the Doctor of Philosophy , provided necessary entry requirements are met.

Footnotes
*Not all courses are available in every mode in every semester or year. Students are advised to check the course and mode offer listings for each semester/year.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Program aims

The aim of the Master of Education is to provide professionals in education, training and development with Master level coursework that will engage with educational issues that are relevant and meaningful to them and help to sustain their communities and fulfil their lives. The program aims to:

  • facilitate the development and consolidation of knowledge and skills in teaching and learning in community, professional and workplace learning settings that are informed by contemporary learning theory and futures-oriented approaches

  • support the application of knowledge and skills through learner-centred design, flexible delivery and individualised and authentic assessment.


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Program objectives

Students who successfully complete the Master of Education will have acquired advanced knowledge and understanding of key issues and trends within contemporary education and/or of a specialised area of education. Graduates will be able to demonstrate:

  • advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice

  • the ability to analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities

  • the ability to analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems

  • the ability to transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others

  • the ability to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner

  • the ability to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or professionally focused project.


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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree, or equivalent (AQF Level 7), in an education related discipline, from a recognised institution.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.


For applicants who have a Bachelor degree or equivalent (AQF level 7) in a non-related discipline from a recognised institution, USQ’s Graduate Certificate of Education provides a pathway into the Master of Education. Upon completion and achievement of a minimum GPA of 4.0, they will be eligible for entry into the Master of Education.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a student's higher education andstudents pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Master of Education is a 12-unit program. These guidelines shape the program structure:

  • With the exception of the general pathway, six or seven units (depending on specialisation) must be taken from the recommended enrolment pattern of the selected specialisation.

  • Three research courses must be taken (which equates to four units of work). Students can choose from either the Applied Research or the Advanced Research Pathway.

    • Students who successfully complete the Master of Education and are not eligible for entry into the Doctor of Philosophy should check their eligibility for entry into the Doctor of Education .

    • Students who complete the Applied Research Pathway are not eligible to apply for entry to the PhD.

    • Students who complete the Advanced Research Pathway as part of their program may be eligible to apply for entry to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), subject to achieving a minimum GPA of 5.75 in the four research units and meeting other PhD entry requirements.



There are a number of specialisations available in the Master of Education. Some specialisations are available as Commonwealth Supported Places while others are available as Full-Fee Paying – see list below. For each of the specialisations students are required to complete the enrolment pattern as outlined in the specialisation requirements.

Specialisations in the Master of Education (MEDC) (Commonwealth Supported Place):

  • Early Childhood

  • Guidance and Counselling

  • Special Education

  • Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)


Specialisations in the Master of Education (MEDF) (Full Fee Paying):

  • Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning

  • Applied Linguistics

  • Career Development

  • Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership

  • Leading and Managing Educational Organisations

  • Multicultural Education

  • Online and Distributed Learning


Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines. Please note this is a full-fee paying pathway.

Research Pathways
It is a requirement of the program that all students complete four units (three courses) in either of the Research Pathways listed below. If you anticipate future Doctoral level study, you are advised to follow the Advanced Research Pathway.

Please note: To be eligible to enrol in the Advanced Research specialisation, students must successfully complete the first 4 units of the Master of Education with a minimum GPA of 5.0 (B Average). Students who do not meet this requirement cannot enrol in and . Where possible, students should complete before enrolling in .

Students undertaking the Advanced Research specialisation must achieve a GPA of 5.75 for the 4 units of study to be eligible to apply for entry to the DPHD Doctor of Philosophy

Advanced Research*  On-campus  Online  Requirement  Comment 
  1,2  1,2     
  1,2  1,2     
  1,2  1,2,3  The pre-requisite/co-requisite studies for in the Advanced Research pathway are and .   This is a 2 unit course 
Applied Research^         
  1,2     
  2,3  2,3     
    1,2,3  The pre-requisite/co-requisite studies for in the Applied Research pathway are ( and ) or ( and ).   This is a 2 unit course 

Footnotes
*Students who complete the Advanced Research as part of their program will be eligible to apply for entry to the PhD program subject to achieving a minimum GPA of 5.75 in the four research units and meeting other PhD entry requirements.
^The Applied Research Pathway does not qualify students for direct entry to the PhD program.

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Required time limits

Subject to the availability of the required courses, full-time enrolment normally requires 1.5 years of study. Part-time enrolment may be extended to 6 years of study.

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Core courses

All specialisations as well as the general pathway have required courses or sequences of courses. Students are advised to note carefully the enrolment requirements for the specialisation and to ensure that they plan their enrolment to allow for completion of the specialisation requirements.

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Specialisation

There are a number of specialisations available in the Master of Education. Some specialisations are available as Commonwealth Supported Places while others are available as Full-Fee Paying – see list below.

For each of the specialisations students are required to complete the enrolment pattern as outlined in the specialisation requirements.

Specialisations in the Master of Education (MEDC) (Commonwealth Supported Place):

  • Early Childhood

  • Guidance and Counselling

  • Special Education

  • Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)


Specialisations in the Master of Education (MEDF) (Full Fee Paying) :

  • Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning

  • Applied Linguistics

  • Career Development

  • Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership

  • Leading and Managing Educational Organisations

  • Multicultural Education

  • Online and Distributed Learning


Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines. Please note this is a full-fee paying pathway.

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Electives/Approved courses

Education postgraduate courses*   Discipline Focus  Projected semester offers  
  Research Methods  1,2,3 
  Research Methods  1,2,3 
  TESOL  1,2 
  Early Childhood 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning 
  Special Education,   1,3 
  Special Education 
  Guidance and Counselling  1,3 
  Guidance and Counselling, Special Education 
*  Online and Distributed Learning 
   
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership  1,3 
^  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Early Childhood, TESOL; Applied Linguistics  1,2 
  Early Childhood 
  Early Childhood 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Leading and Managing Education Organisations  1,3 
  Guidance and Counselling, Special Education, Career Development 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Leading and Managing Education Organisations 
EDU8320 Rights and Responsibilities of School Leaders  Leading and Managing Education Organisations  1 (commencing 2018) 
  Special Education 
  Special Education 
  Career Development, Guidance and Counselling, Special Education  2,3 
  Guidance and Counselling, Career Development 
  Career Development, Guidance and Counselling 
  Guidance and Counselling 
  Special Education 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations, Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Career Development, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
   
  Multicultural Education 
  Special Education 
  Multicultural Education 
  Multicultural Education 
  Guidance and Counselling  2,3 
  Special Education 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Multicultural Education 
  Special Education 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership, Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Special Education 
  Multicultural Education 
  Early Education, Special Education 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Career Development 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning 
  Multicultural Education 
EDU8705 Personal Pedagogy in Context   
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
   
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics; TESOL 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  TESOL  1,2,3 
  Applied Linguistics  2,3 
  TESOL; Applied Linguistics 
  TESOL; Applied Linguistics 
PRL8007 Community Participation‡   

Footnotes
*Subject to approval of the Program Coordinator and provided necessary pre-requisites are met.
^Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
‡This course is offered in even-numbered years only.

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IT requirements

Students must have reliable and ready access to email and the Internet. See minimum computing standards for more information.

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Articulation

The Master of Education articulates from the Graduate Certificate of Education. and/orGraduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Graduate Diploma of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)) . On completion of the Master of Education, students may be eligible for entry into the Doctor of Education or the Doctor of Philosophy, provided necessary entry requirements are met.

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Exit points

Students who successfully complete a minimum of four units of the Master of Education program will be eligible to exit with a Graduate Certificate of Education.
Students who successfully complete eight units of study may exit with a Graduate Diploma of Education with either a named or unnamed specialisation depending on courses completed.
Students wishing to exit with one of these awards are advised to contact the Faculty of Business Education Law and Arts.

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Credit

Credit may be granted on the basis of completed equivalent postgraduate study from a recognised institution. In order for credit to be granted, the claim must meet the following specific requirements:

  • the course was passed within five years prior to the application (courses up to ten years old may be considered if evidence is provided that the applicant has been employed in that field)

  • the course passed is sufficiently equivalent in objectives, content and weightings to a course prescribed in the Master of Education, or alternatively, the course is suitable as an discipline courses

  • the maximum credit granted is no greater than six units for the Master of Education

  • credit approved in the Master of Education will not automatically apply to other programs offered by the USQ


Claims for credit should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a course. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy. Please contact the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts for further information.

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Enrolment

Students will enrol in the Master of Education on either a full-time or a part-time basis.
Note: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to all courses. Should enrolments not meet the minimum number required students may need to choose alternative courses. Students will be advised of the change prior to semester start.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Early Childhood - Commonwealth Supported (MEDC)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

The Early Childhood specialisation is designed to meet the needs of early childhood professionals and other multi-disciplinary practitioners involved in work with young children and their families. It is expected that these students will normally hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent post-compulsory qualifications) in a discipline other than Early Childhood Education and are keen to enhance their skills, knowledge and ability in relation to the Early Childhood sector. This qualification will also meet the needs of experienced educators who are seeking to further develop their knowledge and skills to gain a specialisation in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Students will complete 60 days of professional experience in an Early Childhood Education and Care setting. Up to 25 days may be completed in the work setting if the student is currently employed. The remaining days must be completed in a different setting with a different age group.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     2
     1Required 15 days Professional Experience.
     1
     2
     3
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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Guidance and Counselling - Commonwealth Supported (MEDC)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Students seeking employment as a Guidance Officer in Queensland will usually require a four-year degree as a pre-requisite to entering this program. You should check the requirements with your prospective employer prior to enrolling.
This specialisation prepares teachers for work as a guidance officer, guidance counsellor or school counsellor. Students can prepare themselves for a career in developmental guidance work (Primary), Counselling and Career Work (Secondary) or a combination of both (P-12) through the selection of courses in the enrolment pattern below.
The specialisation generally meets the registration criteria for the .
Students from outside Queensland who are intending to use this specialisation for professional accreditation should consult the relevant registration bodies.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     2Pre-requisite:
     1,3
     2
     1
     2,3
     1

Complete one of the following approved courses:

     2,3
     2

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


Notes

Some courses require access to workplaces.

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Special Education - Commonwealth Supported (MEDC)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1,3
     2,3

Complete six of the following approved courses:

     2
      1
     2
     1
     3
     2
     2Pre-requisite:
     1
     1
     3
     3

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree.


Notes

Some courses require access to workplaces.

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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Commonwealth Supported (MEDC)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     11,2
     1,21,2
     1,22
     1,2
     21,3

Complete three of the following approved courses:*

     2
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     1,2
     2
     3

Students must complete three additional courses in the Advanced Research Pathway OR Applied Research Pathway

Complete the following three courses in the Advanced Research Pathway

     1,21,2
     1,21,2Co-requisite: or student must be enrolled in the DPHD
     1,2The two pre-requisite/co-requisite studies for vary according to the research pathway followed* and include - and or and or and . *check handbook for alternative research pathways.

OR

Complete the following three courses in the Applied Research Pathway

     21,2
     2,32,3
     1,2,3Pre-requisite: ( and ) or ( and )

Footnotes
*Subject to the approval of the Specialisation Coordinator, one of these courses can be replaced by a course outside the list.

Notes

Some courses require access to workplaces.

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Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     31,3Students require first-hand knowledge of, and access to, a teaching situation in school, post-compulsory, community education or training context.
     3
     2Participants MUST have access to a mentee.
     1

Complete two of the following approved courses:

2
1
2
1

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree.


Notes

Some courses require access to workplaces.

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Applied Linguistics - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1,2
     1,2
     1,21,2
     2
     22,3

Complete three of the following approved courses:*

1,22
1,2
21,3
2

Students must complete three additional courses in the Advanced Research Pathway OR Applied Research Pathway

Complete the following three courses in the Advanced Research Pathway

1,2
1,2Co-requisite: or student must be enrolled in the DPHD
1,21,2,3The two pre-requisite/co-requisite studies for vary according to the research pathway followed* and include - and or and or and . *check handbook for alternative research pathways.

OR

Complete the following three courses in the Applied Research Pathway

21,2
2,32,3
1,2,3Pre-requisite: ( and ) or ( and )

Footnotes
*Subject to the approval of the Specialisation Coordinator, one of these courses can be replaced by a course outside the list.

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Career Development - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

The Career Development specialisation meets the professional learning needs of professionals working in teaching, counselling, training, employment, community development, or information management roles who support the career planning and development of students, clients, and organisations. The Career Development specialisation addresses core and selected specialist competencies from the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners, and it has been officially endorsed by the as a qualification for the status of professional career development practitioner under the Professional Standards.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     2
     1
     2
     1
     2,3

Complete two postgraduate courses.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     3
     1
     31,3Students require first-hand knowledge of, and access to, a teaching situation in school, post-compulsory, community education or training context.
     2
     2Participants MUST have access to a mentee.
     2

Complete either two of the following approved courses OR two other USQ Postgraduate courses:

     1
     3
     3

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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Leading and Managing Educational Organisations - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     2Pre-requisite:
     1
     1,3
     2
     EDU8320 Rights and Responsibilities of School Leaders1commencing 2018

Select one of the following:

     2Australian students only.
     2 Participants MUST have access to a mentee.

Complete one of the following approved courses or two other USQ postgraduate courses:

     2
     3
     2Participants MUST have access to a mentee.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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Multicultural Education - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     1
     2
     3
     1
     2

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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Online and Distributed Learning - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     3
     2
     1
     2
     1
     1

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree


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General Pathway - Full Fee Paying (MEDF)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

For students choosing this pathway, no named specialisation will appear on their Testamur.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Complete four Education postgraduate courses not previously completed.

Complete four postgraduate courses.

Complete all three courses in either Applied Research or Advanced Research. Find more details within the section of this degree.