• Charles Sturt University has begun its first session of a new targeted primary education degree
• The Bachelor of Education (Primary) has welcomed 242 commencing students in 2025
• The new degree can be studied completely online, allowing access from anywhere in Australia

Almost 250 students have commenced their studies as the first-ever intake of a specialised, single sector Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Charles Sturt University.

The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is tailored to meet the needs of teacher education students via online-only and hybrid learning options and a dedicated placement team to ensure practical components of the courses can be completed close to home.

In its first year of being offered, 242 students have commenced their studies, including 65 enrolled on the Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga campuses.

Course Director for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) in the Charles Sturt School of Education, Dr Tace Vigliante, said the new degree provides students with a qualification to teach across the primary years K-6 with the opportunity to choose a primary curriculum area such as Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Creative Arts, English, Human Society and its Environment or STEM to specialise in.

Students can also focus on areas that complement and enhance their primary teaching abilities such as psychology, early childhood education or literacy and Information and Communication Technology in education in their elective studies.

“Students have the opportunity to be in education settings from the first year of study in the Bachelor of Education (Primary),” Dr Vigliante said.

“Creating engaging and responsive learning environments that build on children’s curiosity about the world around them is truly an honour, and we provide our students with the theoretical and practical expertise to achieve this,” Dr Vigliante said.

The new degree is available through a combination of online and on-campus learning, as well as a completely online option.

Final-year Bachelor of Education (K-12) student Ms Sarah Stephens (Pictured, left) has completed portions of her study online, and said the flexibility was a significant benefit.

“Studying online with Charles Sturt has provided me with the flexibility to work in schools as a Learning Support Officer and, more recently, as a teacher,” Ms Stephens said.

“This mode of study has allowed me to integrate the knowledge and skills gained through my course directly into my teaching practice, while also drawing on real classroom experience to deepen my academic learning.”

She said the balance between theory and practice has been invaluable in building her confidence, capability and passion for education.

“Being in the classroom early in my studies has offered meaningful school-based learning opportunities, including directing performances, building professional networks and developing university assessments with relevance to my teaching context,” she said.

The new degree also addresses ongoing struggles around cost of living and relocation stresses, with a dedicated team to assist in finding school placements across public, Catholic and independent schools within 60 minutes of a student’s home, anywhere in Australia.

For more information on the single sector education degrees, visit the website.