How we decide what
you can teach
Your bachelor’s or post-graduate degree determines what subjects you may be eligible to teach at a secondary school. In the program, these subjects are referred to as learning areas.
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For example:
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If you studied Arts, you may be able to teach Humanities or English.
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If you studied Engineering, you may be able to teach Science or Technologies.
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If you studied Law, you may be able to teach Humanities.
Once you submit your application, Teach For Australia will:
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Review your transcripts
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Match your specific units of study to learning areas
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Inform you what subjects you are eligible to teach.
Unfortunately, there are some degrees that are often not accepted for the program because they do not meet the subject requirements to be matched to a learning area. Find out which degrees we don't accept.
When to apply
Applications are now open. Apply.
Round one: 16 Feb – 30 March
Round two: 20 April – 1 June
Round three: 22 June – 3 August
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and learning areas close progressively as we accept enough candidates to meet school demand. Candidates who apply in rounds one and two are more likely to be placed in their preferred region, and have enough time to resolve any eligibility issues.
Keep in mind:
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Candidates who completed their undergraduate degree prior to 2015 must apply before the close of round two.
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Candidates who completed their degree outside of Australia, USA, UK, New Zealand or Canada must also apply before the close of round two.
Learning areas and placement
Learning areas help us understand what you may be eligible to teach and placement is about where your expertise can make the biggest difference. Placement determines where you may teach, and demand varies by learning area and year. Some learning areas are consistently in high demand, while others depend more on timing and location. Not every learning area is available in every region or every year.
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Candidates who are open to relocating typically have more placement options, and applying earlier gives us more flexibility to match candidates to available roles.  
What you need to be eligible to apply
Eligibility to teach a school subject (learning area) is based on:
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What you studied
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At what level (major, minor, sequence of units)
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Whether those units meet teacher registration requirements set by regulators
We look at each specific unit, including how many units of each subject you have studied, to determine eligibility for learning areas. Candidates must be able to enrol in at least one or two learning areas to be eligible for the LDP. In some cases, we will let you know if we have recommendations that could extend your potential to meet learning area criteria. 
Have questions? Contact us so we can talk through your options: apply@teachforaustralia.org.au