Overview (2027)
Key Information
Duration
Minimum 2 years, up to a maximum of 5 years.
Location
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
The Associate Degree in Education Support is a two-year course designed for those who want to make a real difference in education. Whether you are working as a Teacher Assistant, Integration Aide, School Support Officer, or supporting home-schooling, this course will help you build the skills and knowledge you need to thrive.
Education Support is a distinctive and essential profession, focused on ensuring access and equity for learners who may experience challenges such as learning difficulties, lack of confidence, or disengagement from traditional education systems.
Throughout the course, you’ll build a strong foundation in learning support, guided by core theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice. With a focus on social justice, inclusivity, and social and emotional learning, you’ll be equipped to foster positive relationships with learners and support them to achieve both academically and personally.
Watch our course information webinar
Thinking of studying this course and want to learn more? This webinar explores course structures, career opportunities, and the student experience to support your study journey.
- 1 Exhibit broad theoretical and technical knowledge related to education support work in schools and communities
- 2 Identify, demonstrate and assess skills of ethical practice, communication, critical reflection and collaboration needed in diverse, complex and unpredictable learning contexts
- 3 Apply knowledge and skills pertinent to education support by planning for and supporting the delivery of a differentiated curriculum for individual learners, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy
Through work Integrated learning (WIL) opportunities, you will be mentored to become a confident, creative, and resilient professional, ready to make a meaningful impact in diverse educational environments. During your placements, you'll gain hands-on experience by actively observing, participating, and engaging in education support roles. These experiences are designed to familiarise you with a variety of learners and diverse learning environments, preparing you to support the needs of students in real-world settings.
As part of your studies, you will complete at least 20 days of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements in education settings. Across your first two years, you’ll undertake 10 days each year, giving you the chance to actively observe, participate, and engage in education support roles.
These experiences will help you build confidence working with diverse learners and deepen your understanding of different learning environments, preparing you for a rewarding career in education support.
Career outcomes
You’ll be highly sought after for careers in education and beyond, including roles such as:
- Integration Aide, Teacher Assistant, or School Support Officer in classroom settings
- Opportunities in the industry training sector
- Communication-based roles and public relations
- Other sectors that value strong problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills
Course structure
The Associate Degree in Education Support requires the completion of 200 credit points comprising:
- 175 credit points of Core Units
- 25 credit points of Elective units
It is strongly recommended that you complete EDU106 Academic Literacies in your first semester of study. This unit introduces you to the expectations of university study and assists you to develop the skills you need to engage successfully with higher education.
If you are starting in 2023 you can find your course planner here. Your course planner gives you a visual representation of your course and will help you plan which units to enrol in and when.
For course planners from previous years, refer to the handbook entry for that year.
This unit introduces you to the study of teaching as a profession and provides opportunities for you to critically examine the nature of teachers’ work. Through reflecting on your past educational experiences and dispositions (that is, your attitudes and beliefs)…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 1 |  |  |  | |
| Launceston | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 1 |  | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Do you know how you learn best? Do you know what skills you will need to be successful in your university studies? Academic literacies are the skills that you need to engage successfully with higher education, and this is a…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit explores the application of cognitive science to teaching and learning in contemporary school settings. It examines how research on memory, attention, and cognitive load informs effective classroom practice. Learners engage with strategies such as retrieval practice, spaced repetition,…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit introduces you to pedagogies appropriate for supporting the learning of literacy in classrooms. Opportunities are provided for you to develop your personal literacy skills and identify where these skills can be applied in the context of education support.…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit introduces concepts and theories that deepen and broaden your understanding of the professional activity undertaken by education support workers in the classroom. It discusses the practical skills required in work contexts and provides opportunities to critically examine the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit introduces you to pedagogies appropriate for supporting the learning of mathematics in classrooms. The unit will provide opportunities for you to develop your personal numeracy skills and to identify where these skills can be applied in the context…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit will assist you to develop your understanding of working with children in the classroom in a support capacity. It will provide opportunities to engage in practical activities through work-integrated learning, online collaboration, and discussion. The unit has a…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
In this unit you will learn about Music and the Visual Arts as key areas of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Australian Curriculum: The Arts. You will become familiar with the research that supports the practice of…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EPR130 Arts Education: Music & Visual Arts
The unit will explore the theoretical and practical issues concerned with establishing and maintaining positive learning environments that allow all students to participate fully in educational opportunities. The unit will explore preventive strategies to establish a positive classroom climate in…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit will appeal to any students wishing to explore the impact of trauma in our lives, and especially how this affects our learning. The unit will introduce and highlight key concepts of early adversity, that you may be familiar…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EES203 A Trauma-Informed Approach to Resilience and Wellbeing
In this second English unit, there is a particular focus on contemporary approaches to the teaching of reading, including close attention to the teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, word knowledge, and vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension of a wide range…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EPR210 Developing Understandings of English
The unit will explore the nature of inclusive education in the 21st century with an emphasis on diversity and exceptionality. Based on a philosophical foundation that values every student and acknowledges the right of every student to the most appropriate…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EPR303 Inclusive Practices in Education Settings
This unit provides a range of strategies to cater for students with diverse needs in learning mathematics. The learning needs may include: difficulties directly related to the learning of mathematics, such as dyscalculia; difficulties that are not directly related to…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit extends your understanding of the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, social and environmental dimensions of health and wellness. The content focuses on critical aspects of social and emotional learning (SEL) to ensure you can successfully implement a program of…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit explores the relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous, histories perspectives and cultures. It encourages you to develop an ethical position grounded in critical reflection which will enable you to identify and challenge racial and social…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cradle Coast | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
This unit is designed for educators with an interest in special and/or inclusive education. The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MYCEETYA, 2008) and the Disability Standards for Education (2005) make it clear that students with disability should…
Credit Points: 12.5
View all details for EES201 Educating Students with Multiple Disabilities
This unit focuses on the theories behind student disengagement and takes a solution focused approach towards re-engagement practices. By the end of this unit, you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors that lead to student disengagement,…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Young children develop their abilities to communicate, make meaning, represent ideas, and problem-solve in many ways. Literacy development begins at birth, while mathematical thinking flourishes as they begin to explore their world. In this unit, you will explore the continuity…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EPR301 Literacy and Numeracy 5 to 8 years
Did the First Australians invent bread? Was Captain Cook eaten in Hawaii? Did Atlantis really exist? Were the Vikings traders or raiders? Did the Anzacs land at the wrong place? Was Ned Kelly a hero or a villain? Who killed…
Credit Points: 12.5
Our world is in constant flux, changing in ways and at speeds never seen before. As education systems, in response, try to shift a 20th century preoccupation with what is taught to an emphasis on how to learn, how might…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Semester 1 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for EPR306 Transforming Learning Contexts through the 4Cs
In this unit, you are invited to engage with Indigenous realities through an Indigenous lens. Using the key concept of Lifeworld, you will journey into Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, with a particular focus on the perspectives and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Launceston | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
View all details for HOS113 Introducing Indigenous Lifeworlds
In this unit, you are invited to expand and deepen your understanding of Indigenous realities through critical engagement with Indigenous voices and scholarship. You will use the key concepts of sovereignty, truth telling, resurgence, and relationality to identify and understand…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | | | | |
| Online | Semester 2 | | | | |
- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Entry requirements
Domestic Applicants
We recommend students enrolling in this course undertake at least one day of paid or volunteer work in a classroom setting. If you are providing home schooling we recommend that you are registered with the Home Education Advisory Council to provide home schooling.
Schools Recommendation Program
Australian year 12 students can apply for this course via our Schools Recommendation Program (SRP). Rather than an ATAR, your application is based on a recommendation by your school teachers. This can factor in your year 11 results, an assessment of your capabilities, and other considerations.
Through the SRP, you can receive and accept an offer prior to completing year 12. You will still need to finish your year 12 studies – including any exams – to commence your studies.
If you don’t receive an offer for this course through the Schools Recommendation Program, you will be re-assessed for a higher preference offer once your ATAR is released.
Domestic applicants who have recently completed secondary education
Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers made based on the number of places available. The lowest ATAR to receive an offer may change from year to year based on the number of applications we receive.
Applicants who have recently completed senior secondary studies but have not received an ATAR may still be eligible for admission. We will consider your study plan and subject results on a case-by-case basis when we assess your application.
Domestic Applicants with Higher education study
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Completed University Preparation Program or equivalent or;
-
Successful completion of 1 (12.5 credit point) undergraduate unit of study
Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study
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= Certificate III or equivalent in any discipline
Domestic applicants with work and life experience
-
Statement of personal competencies (includes work and life experience)
Special Consideration
If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.
Students may receive credit for up to 200 points for completed equivalent units from the 42B Associate Degree Education Support course into the 43B BEd (Primary), and/or 43J BEd (HPE) courses. Note no credit is available for the Units:
EES160 - Foundations of Literacy Support {12.5 credit points)
EES161 - The Role of Education Support {12.5 credit points)
EES162 - Foundations of Numeracy Support (12.5 credit points)
EES163 - Education Support in Practice {12.5 credit points)
If you have completed the Undergraduate Certificate in Education Support or Diploma of University Studies (Education), you can articulate into the Associate degree in Education Support with full credit.
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are available for this course. For eligible domestic students, this means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.
Commonwealth Supported Place indicative annual fee: $4,736
How is this calculated?
This is an estimate. The calculation is based on the average full-time enrolment for this course in 2026. All figures are indicative only for 2027. Actual tuition fees will depend on specific unit enrolment, and are subject to annual increases each year. You can find the complete fee details for each unit of study on the individual unit pages. The units for this course are found in the course structure section of this page.
These figures do not include other costs such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). For further information, please visit Scholarships, fees and costs.
HECS-HELP loans
You may be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.
Further information on student loans and a CSP eligibility checker can be found at Australian Government Study Assist.
Domestic scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
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