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Education Program Frequently Asked QuestionsWhich careers will this course lead to? Education courses tend to lead to teaching careers in the area of speciualisation within the course. Often, during times of a skills shortage, teachers may be employed in areas they are not specifically qualified to teach. For example, someone with a Bachelor of Sciecne and a Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) may make an excellent Secondary Science Teacher. Educational qualifications are also highly regarded for teaching in the TAFE and university sector, although additional qualifications may be required. Which programs am I eligible for after completing this course? Postgraduate programs in Education are available to graduates of either the Bachelor of Education or the Graduate Diploma of Education. Postgraduate qualifications range from Graduate Certificates to Masters and PhD programs. Graduates are also eligible for other programs, such as postgraduate programs in Buisness, Occupational Health and Safety or Environmental Science. How much money can I expect to make in my field of study when I graduate? Four year trained beginning teachers are paid a salary of approximately $40,000 in their first year. For more information visit http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/ . Is there a skills shortage in this field of study? Skills shortages in education vary from region to region in Australia . In 2007 Western Australia experienced an acute teacher's shortage. How much time will I have to commit as a full time student or as a part time student? A good rule of thumb is to allocate about 8 to 10 hours per week (including class time) for each unit of study. The in calss component is about three hours a week. All Education Programs (excluding Masters of Education) have a placement component required of all students in addition to the academic load described above. When are the classes scheduled for this course? The classes for the Bachelors of Education are scheduled mainly during the day from Monday to Friday. Timetables will change every six months. The Graduate Diploma of Education classes are generally Thursday and Friday. The Masters of Education classes have generally been held on a Tuesday afternoon from 4pm to 6pm. Can I study off campus (externally, by correspondence or online)? Programs which qualify you to teach are not delivered off campus. However, professional education for teachers (postgraduate programs) may be delivered off campus. What kinds of facilities are available to me at ECU South West? The South West Campus (Bunbury) has a modern library, internet wireless area coverage, printing facilities, bookshop/cashier, student accommodation, student common room, campus café, and other amenities. There are three computer labs with broadband internet and 24 hour access a day. Two of the labs run windows-environment PCs. Another (Linux) lab runs Unix. There is an additional lab for the exclusive use of third year Computer Technology students. And a Digital Media Lab runs software associated with digital photography, graphic design, film, animation, and web design. What are the advantages of studying at ECU South West? ECU South West offers a small classes and a relaxing environment for learning and socialise. The advantages include but are not limited to:
Can I use credits from another university course or TAFE toward my degree? It is unlikely you will receive credit in an Education course for units completed outside of that course unless they have been completed in a similar course at a similar level elsewhere. What kind of resources and support does ECU provide to students? ECU provides academic skills workshops, free internet access from home, 24 hour access to the on campus computer labs, student email and web access, Blackboard (Online learning system), access to on-line databases for researching, IT support, counselling, and more. You will also have access to facilities at all ECU campuses, South West Campus (Bunbury), Churchlands, Mount Lawley and Joondalup. How much are the fees and other expenses (textbooks, photocopying, lecture guides, materials) for this course? You should budget around A$150 per unit for textbooks, photocopying, lecture guides, materials. FEES - DOMESTIC STUDENTS You can determine the fee for a whole course or a single unit on the ECU Fees Web Site. Bachelors of Education and the Graduate Diploma of Education are eligible for the HECS-HELP scheme. The Masters of Education is eligible for the FEE-HELP scheme. Find out more about both schemes at http://goingtouni.gov.au. Please note that if you are not an Australian Citizen you may not be elgibile for the scheme. FEES - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS International student fees can be found on the ECU Fees Web Site Will I have exams in this course? Yes, some unit assessments are made on an examination basis while other units may be assessed through assignments. Will I have practica, work experience or internship requirements in this course? Yes. This program requires students to complete teaching practice in primary, middle and secondary school environments. There is also a requirement for a regional practice which is at least two weeks in length. Throughout the course students will be spending a half day per week on teaching practice in a local school. The weekly practice will only be required during the university semester, which is approximately 30 weeks per year. What is a Speciasation? A Speciasation is a key academic field which is taught in schools through the Curriculum Framework. In this context, a Speciasation is the area in which the student is going to specialise and therefore, become a teacher in that area. For example, you can specialise in English, Mathematics, Science, Society and the Environment and Health, or Physical Education in the Bachelor of Education (Primary to Middle Years) program. How and when do I choose Speciasation? You will commence selecting units for your Speciasation in your second year of study. You can change your mind about your Speciasation by letting the university know in writing that you wish to do so. You should seek advice from the Course Coordinator before doing this. You can see details of all Speciasations and units accessing this link http://southwest.ecu.edu.au/education/bachelor.html Who will help me select the right units for my program? Your Course Coordinator or the Student Support Officer can help you selecting the units for your program. Visit http://southwest.ecu.edu.au/students/units for some information on units selection. What if I want to take a break from studying? You can defer your studies for up to 12 months. If you take longer then 12 months, your status as a current student will lapse and you will be required to re-apply to gain admission into the program, which is usually not a problem at all. Generally speaking, students are required to complete their course within 10 years. I wish to come to Australia to study from overseas, how can I apply for this program? International Students can find detailed information on how to apply on the following webpage http://www.ecu.edu.au/iso/content/applications/index.php . If you need assistance please contact International Students Office iso@ecu.edu.au I have qualifications from overseas, are they recognised in Australia ? If they are equivalent to a similar qualification in Australia they are likely to be recognised. However, we recommend that you have your qualifications evaluated by our International Students' Office. Will my course be recognised internationally? ECU degrees are recognised internationally. Does this course have professional accreditation, and if so is it recognised outside Australia ? This degree qualification had been endorsed by the Western Australian Department of Education. Generally speaking, Australian educational qualifications are recognised in the UK . Additional study may be required if intending to teach in other countries. What's a mature age student and when does your age matter at university? To be considered a Mature Age Student you must be 20 years or over before 1 March for entry into first semester or 1 August if commencing second semester of the year in which you intend to study. Age is only an issue when meeting entry requirements for Australian students. If you are over 20, you can take the STAT test or mature age TEE to meet entry. How can I find out more about scholarships, FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP? You can find information regarding scholarship accessing the link http://www.ecu.edu.au/student/fees/Scholarships/ . If you want to learn more about FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP log on to http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/ . Can I claim tax deductions for fees I will pay? If your course is related to your current business you might be entitle to claim tax deductions. We suggest you to contact your Tax Advisor or the Australian Tax Office ( www.ato.gov.au ) for more information. When can I apply for this course? Please contact us for the next intake. How can I meet entry requirements for this course? You can meet the entry requirements by:
International Students entry requirements can be found on http://www.ecu.edu.au/iso/content/applications/entryrequirements.php What was the minimum TER for this course? The minimum TER for admission in 2007 was 65. What kind of social and recreational activities can I look forward to as an ECU South West Campus (Bunbury) student? ECU South West Campus (Bunbury) in conjunction with the Student Guild provides a range of social and recreational activities during the year such as BBQs, a student ball, a surfing competition and art events. Where can I learn more about this course and who should I contact? You can find detailed information about this course on http://southwest.ecu.edu.au/education/ . ECU South West admissions team are available to help you in your application through the email southwest@ecu.edu.au or by phone (61 8) 9780 7777.
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