The Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary and Secondary) is designed for people who are passionate about becoming primary or secondary school teachers and committed to making a difference in education.

You may be a good fit for the program if you:

• Meet the academic entry requirements for the Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary) and Master of Teaching Nexus (Secondary)
• Have a strong interest in working with young people and supporting their learning
• Are looking for practical, employment-based pathways into teaching
• Want to gain classroom experience while completing your studies
• Are committed to teaching in a Nexus partner school through our program, which includes regional and rural areas.

Indigenous people and those from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

If you’d like to find out more, we encourage you to speak with our team about your individual circumstances and goals.

You’ll generally need a weighted average mark (WAM) or grade point average (GPA) of >65%. For more details, see the Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary) and Master of Teaching Nexus (Secondary).

The Nexus program is only open to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Applications for the Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary and Secondary) programs typically open in July each year.

We encourage you to apply early as places are limited and assessed on a rolling basis.

Please note that meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.

For the latest application dates and intake information, visit the Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary) and Master of Teaching Nexus (Secondary) course pages.

Once you submit your application, the La Trobe Admissions team and Nexus team will assess your eligibility.

As part of your application, you'll need to submit a 500-word social justice statement outlining your background, experience, passion for social justice, and motivation for becoming a teacher.

If you're eligible, you'll receive a Conditional Offer and move to the next stage: school matching. During this stage, the Nexus team works with partner schools to identify suitable candidates for available positions.

School matching may include:

• a phone conversation with a Nexus team member
• introduction of your application to Nexus partner schools
• an interview with a Nexus partner school (for some applicants).

School matching can take 3-6 weeks. As Nexus is a competitive, employment-based program, receiving a Conditional Offer does not guarantee a school placement.

There are no up-front fees if you are an Australian citizen. Nexus places are typically reduced fee places via Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) and you can use HECS-HELP to defer your payments.

If you're not offered a place in the Nexus program, you'll still be considered for an alternative offer into the standard Master of Teaching courses, provided you meet the entry requirements.

The Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary or Secondary) are full-time employment-based teaching degrees that are typically completed over 18 months. Full-time study is a mandatory requirement of the program. In some circumstances, students may be able to extend their studies to two years, subject to approval.

The program combines face-to-face and online learning with paid employment in a Nexus partner school, enabling students to gain practical classroom experience while completing their studies.

All Nexus students undertake paid employment while completing their studies.

In the first year of the program, students are employed in a school-based support role, working one day per week in Term 2 and two days per week in Terms 3 and 4.

In the second year, students are employed in a paraprofessional or conditional accreditation teaching role. These positions are full-time and include a 0.8FTE teaching load, with 0.2FTE of the role dedicated to study and professional development.

This progressive employment model allows students to build their confidence and classroom experience while completing their Master of Teaching Nexus (Primary and Secondary) degree.

You'll complete your teaching placements in schools within the Nexus network, giving you valuable hands-on experience throughout the program.

• Victoria: All placements typically take place in your allocated Nexus school*, unless the school is not able to provide placement supervision in your secondary subject area/s. All efforts are made to ensure that Nexus pre-service teachers are based in Nexus schools that align with subject area specialisation/s
• New South Wales: Your first and final placements take place in your Nexus school.* Your second placement is completed in an alternative educational setting.

As part of the program, you'll complete 60 days of supervised teaching placement, beginning in Semester 1 of your first year:

• Year 1, Semester 1: 15-day novice placement
• Year 1, Semester 2: 20-day consolidating placement
• Year 2: 25-day graduate placement

Placement arrangements in New South Wales may vary.

Most of the coursework can be completed online, giving you the flexibility to balance study, employment and life.

Face-to-face requirements include placements and Nexus intensives, which take place on campus in Melbourne or Sydney. Attending these intensives is a mandatory part of the Nexus program, so all students are expected to travel to the designated campus each year.

To support participation, Nexus reimburses eligible regional students for approved travel and accommodation costs associated with attending the intensives.

In addition to the paid employment, Nexus students receive a Nexus equity scholarship in the form of financial support, minimum of $12,500 as at 28 July 2026.

Each Nexus student will receive their equity scholarship payment in their first year (paid in fortnightly payments) while working in schools. Payment will commence in Year 1 during Term 2 school year, when the ES/SLSO employment commences.

Please note: scholarships provided under the Nexus program are subject to taxation. La Trobe University applies PAYG withholding where required and payments are contingent on participation in, and continuation of, the Nexus program and associated school placements. Payments will cease if a candidate discontinues the program for any reason.

As individual tax circumstances vary, recipients should obtain independent tax advice regarding their personal situation.

Scholarship eligibility and amount is subject to change. Please contact us for details.

Students may work part-time during their first year of study, only with an awareness that course demand and Nexus employment-based components should be prioritised.

As Nexus is an employment-based program, students cannot defer their place or study part-time. The program is designed to be completed alongside paid employment in a Nexus partner school.

Nexus graduates have strong employment outcomes, often building their careers in Nexus partner schools and making a lasting impact in their communities.

Employment rates for Nexus graduates are consistently high. 94% of our 2020-2022 Nexus graduates were employed as teachers within one year of completing the program.

Of the 2023 and 2024 Nexus participants, 100% of alumni respondents remain actively employed as teachers.

In addition to the usual feedback and complaints procedure, both successful and unsuccessful students can voice their concerns about Nexus directly with the Department of Education.

Department of Education
GPO Box 9880
Canberra, ACT, 2601

Nexus may be right for you if you're an Educational Support (ES) staff member or Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO) working in a Victorian Government secondary or specialist school and are ready to take the next step towards becoming a teacher.

You will study full time while continuing your paid employment in your Nexus school.

The Nexus Undergraduate is a four-year, full-time pathway into teaching, beginning with the one-year Diploma of Teacher Education (Nexus) and progressing to the Bachelor of Education (Nexus).

Full-time study involves four subjects per 12-week semester, with two semesters each year. All coursework is completed online, and education tutorials are scheduled after school hours, allowing you to continue working during the school day.

Year 1 is foundational, focused on building your academic confidence alongside your practical school experience. You will study full time while completing the Diploma of Teacher Education (Nexus) and continue your employment as an Education Support Officer at your school.

Year 2 sees your transition into the Bachelor of Education (Nexus). You will continue to study full time, remain employed in your Nexus school, and complete your first formal supervised teaching placements.

Year 3 focuses on further developing your teaching knowledge and practice through full-time study and professional experience placements. You will continue your Bachelor of Education (Nexus) studies while remaining employed in your Nexus school.

Year 4 is your final year in the program. You will continue your Bachelor of Education (Nexus) studies while teaching in your school under Permission to Teach (PTT) arrangements and completing your final academic requirements. This integrated approach enables you to consolidate your teaching practice while preparing for graduation and teacher registration.

Permission to Teach (PTT) is a requirement of the program in Year 4. In Year 3, some students employed in Special Education Schools may have the opportunity to undertake PTT, subject to Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) approval, school capacity, and the availability of a suitable teaching role.

Most of your placements will be completed in your current employing school. The exception is a 20-day placement in Year 3, which will be undertaken at a different school to broaden your teaching experience.

For example:

• If you work in a secondary school, you will complete this placement in a specialist school.
• If you work in a specialist school, you will complete this placement in a secondary school.

There are no up-front fees if you are an Australian citizen. Nexus places are typically reduced fee places via Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) and you can use HECS-HELP to defer your payments.

In addition to your paid employment which includes a paid study day, Nexus students receive an equity scholarship of $30,000 from the Department of Education (plus $30,000 for Indigenous students)* to provide extra financial support during your studies.

The scholarship is paid fortnightly over the first three years of the program, starting from Term 2.
Scholarship payments are dependent on your continued participation in the Nexus program and school employment in a Nexus eligible school. Payments may be subject to taxation, and tax may be withheld where required. As individual circumstances vary, we recommend seeking independent tax advice if needed.

*As of 28 July 2026. Scholarship eligibility and amount is subject to change. Please contact us for details.

Applications typically open in July each year.

We encourage you to apply early as places are limited and assessed on a rolling basis.

For the latest application dates and intake information, visit the Diploma of Teacher Education (Nexus) course page.

Applicants must:

• Be employed in a Victorian Government Secondary of Special Education school.
• Have a minimum of two years full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience as an Education Support Officer or Koorie Education Support Officer.
• Have Principal's endorsement from a Victorian government secondary or specialist school where you will be employed during your study in the Nexus Undergraduate program. This includes a commitment to provide the applicant with 0.2FTE/week study leave throughout the program.
• Complete and submit a Personal Social Justice commitment statement and the Nexus Undergraduate Additional Information Template.

Please note, meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection, and there may be limited places available.

Your application will be assessed by La Trobe’s Admissions team in consultation with the Victorian Department of Education. Successful applicants will receive an offer from the Admissions team.

The Nexus program is only open to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Each subject includes a two-hour tutorial per week and requires an additional 4–6 hours of independent study. Taking four subjects per semester means the study load during university terms can be quite high.

To support students enrolled in the Nexus Undergraduate program, the Department of Education's employment agreement includes 0.2FTE per week throughout the duration of the course.

Students who successfully complete the Diploma of Teacher Education (Nexus), achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60 or above and complete a situation judgement test (either the AFTA or CASPer) may progress to Year 2 of the Bachelor of Education (Nexus), which takes a further three years to complete.

You will complete the coursework online, but placements and intensives must be done in person.

Nexus Intensives are compulsory professional learning sessions delivered throughout the program. They cover topics that support the broader aims and social justice focus of Nexus, including areas such as equity, inclusion and trauma-informed teaching.

Alongside your coursework, employment and mentoring, the intensives help build the knowledge and skills needed to become an effective teacher.

As a Nexus student, you will be matched with a dedicated University Mentor from Term 2 of your first year. Your mentor will provide guidance, professional support and opportunities for reflection as you progress through the program.

Mentoring is a collaborative partnership that develops throughout your studies. Through regular conversations and feedback, your mentor will help you build confidence, reflect on your practice and support your growth as a future teacher.

As Nexus is an employment-based program, currently students cannot defer their place or study part-time.

In addition to the usual feedback and complaints procedure, both successful and unsuccessful students can voice their concerns about Nexus program directly with the Victorian Department of Education's Teach Today, Teach Tomorrow team.

Teach Today, Teach Tomorrow
Victorian Department of Education
Email: teach.today.teach.tomorrow@education.vic.gov.au