Universities across Australia reporting rising enrolments in teaching qualifications

Teaching as a profession took a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, but is re-emerging as a popular career choice in a trend that is tackling workforce challenges in our schools.

Student teacher enrolments are bouncing back nationally after the pressures of working through the Covid-19 pandemic prompted many to desert the classroom.

Universities around Australia are reporting rising interest in undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in early childhood, primary and secondary teaching.

In some cases enrolments have tripled compared to recent years.

It comes as News Corp launches the third year of its Australia’s Best Teachers advocacy series to celebrate the positive impact educators have in the classrooms and the communities they serve, and tackle workforce challenges in our schools.

Follow our Australia’s Best Teachers advocacy series, in partnership with Officeworks, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, Education Perfect and Big Ass Fans, at this link.

The enrolments trend is being fuelled in part, say university leaders, by government incentives or scholarships and programs giving student teachers more hands-on experience in schools.

Many institutions have also launched new courses since the pandemic began, signalling confidence in ongoing demand.

Concerns remain about high workloads and managing difficult student behaviour, but aspiring teachers like Griffith University’s Ashleigh Lawrence say the role remains enticing.

Griffith University Education students Duy Bao Le, Ashleigh Lawrence and Nate Stathis. Picture: Nigel Hallett

With all the negativity in the world, people want to make a difference,” the 20-year-old said.

“With the unpredictability of future careers, due to technological advancements and the cost-of-living crisis, people want to go into careers that will not be superseded by technology, that provide stability and that are enjoyable.”

This week News Corp is celebrating the nation’s top educators through our third annual Australia’s Best Teachers series.

Figures provided by universities in every mainland state, and the nation’s capital, show more school leavers and career changers are choosing education qualifications.

Only one institution, among more than 20, recorded declining enrolments in recent years.

One of the largest increases was at Melbourne’s RMIT University where commencements in education programs (across early childhood, primary and secondary teaching) soared by 135 per cent between semester one in 2020 and the start of this year.

At UNSW Sydney enrolments in teaching degrees have surged 61 per cent since 2019.

A spokeswoman said the introduction of new undergraduate courses had contributed to the trend.

University of Sydney vice-chancellor and president Mark Scott said enrolments there had jumped by 30 per cent since last year.

Professor Scott led the Teacher Education Expert Panel, which delivered recommendations to the federal government in 2023 to reform initial teacher training.

He said the changes had contributed to stronger interest in teacher education which was “particularly encouraging given the dip we experiences post Covid”.

In Adelaide, Flinders University has 684 teaching enrolments so far this year, compared to 673 in 2019. The most popular course is a Bachelor degree in primary education.

Senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Romy Lawson said: “While it may take some time to see the full benefits in the teaching pipeline, the appeal of a career in education has returned, setting more students on a course to make a difference in young people’s lives”.

Commencements in University of Canberra education courses have risen 40 per cent between semester one 2020 and the start of this year.

Faculty of education executive dean Professor Barney Dalgarno said the university was offering more online courses and this year launched the new School-based Teacher Education Program targeted at mid-career professionals making the shift to teaching.

Australian Catholic University school of education national head Donna King said there had been a 12 per cent increase in enrolments in teaching courses at its campuses across the country since 2019.

At Sydney’s Blacktown campus enrolments have tripled from 2021, when teaching courses were first introduced.

Professor King said the uni recently launched the All Points to Teaching program which offers scholarships to under-represented groups including First Nations and mature-age students, people with disability and those who live in rural or remote areas.

“There is no doubt the teacher shortage has been a major challenge for schools, students, and families nationwide for quite some time, but I’m optimistic that we are seeing positive signs for the future,” she said.

The University of Queensland recorded a 12 per cent increase in commencements this year, compared with 2024.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said this “reflects growing interest in essential fields, like education, that are critical to meet Australia’s future workforce needs and make meaningful contributions to our society”.

Western Sydney University has almost 2500 students enrolled in education programs this year, up almost 23 per cent on 2019.

It follows the introduction of primary and secondary teaching undergraduate degrees in 2021 and 2024.

At the University of the Sunshine Coast semester one enrolments have grown 17 per cent since 2019.

A spokesman said this had been bolstered by Queensland government payments to support final-year students doing school placements and streamlining of entry requirements.

“We have also noticed a trend towards part-time learning,” he said.

At Swinburne University of Technology, in Melbourne, enrolments in the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) are increasing by 50 per cent a year.

Off the back of the growing interest, it will launch a new Masters of Educational Leadership in July, and bring back an on-campus Masters of Teaching (Secondary) program next year.

Griffith University, in Brisbane, has seen an overall 24 per cent increase in commencing initial teacher enrolments at the start of 2025, compared to the same time last year.

Enrolments in postgraduate Master programs are also up by 10 per cent, for both primary and secondary specialisations.

First-year student Nate, who chose to pursue primary school teaching, said interest in a career in education was high as “it has such a wide breadth of subjects within the profession”.

The 17-year-old did express concerns about the “high number of work hours” for teachers but was keen to see how students can improve through his teaching.

Bao, 18, said the perception of teaching was that it is “a passionate profession and requires a lot from an individual”.

“My course not only allows me to comprehend broader aspects of becoming a teacher but also helps me reflect on my past understanding and beliefs about education,” the first-year student said.

“Teachers and education as a whole are an integral part of society and Australia’s future,” he said.

Originally published as Universities across Australia reporting rising enrolments in teaching qualifications