The University of Sydney is hiring a Lecturer (Education Focused) in Secondary Science Education for a 12-month, full-time fixed-term contract in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work. The University of Sydney lecturer in secondary science education job pays AUD 132,533 to 157,381 a year (Academic Level B) plus 17% superannuation, and applications close on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11:59pm Sydney time. That leaves less than two weeks from today.
Read the eligibility line before anything else. You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the whole contract, and the advert states plainly that visa sponsorship is not available. If you already live in Australia with full work rights and have a PhD (or are close to finishing one) in science education, this is a well-paid one-year teaching-focused post training future secondary science teachers. Below are the duties, the selection criteria, how to apply and how to write a cover letter that fits an education-focused role.
Lecturer in Secondary Science Education at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Job title | Lecturer (Education Focused) Secondary Science Education |
| Employer | The University of Sydney, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |
| Location | Camperdown campus, Sydney |
| Level | Academic Level B |
| Salary | AUD 132,533 to 157,381 per year, plus 17% superannuation |
| Contract | Full time, 12 months fixed term |
| Reports to | Professor Kelly Freebody |
| Workload | Up to 70% teaching, up to 20% research, 10% governance, service and engagement |
| Work rights | Unrestricted Australian work rights required; no visa sponsorship |
| Checks | Background checks and a Working with Children Check |
| Published | 26 October 2026 |
| Deadline | Sunday 8 November 2026, 11:59pm Sydney time |
| Recruitment contact | Helen Efstathiou, +61 2 8627 7137, helen.efstathiou@sydney.edu.au |
What the job involves
“Education focused” at Sydney means teaching is the main part of your workload. The advert sets it at up to 70% for teaching and teaching-related work, up to 20% for research and 10% for governance, service and engagement. Your students are mostly future teachers, so the content is science pedagogy rather than science itself.
The main duties listed are:
- Teaching, coordinating and designing units in secondary science education and general pedagogy, across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
- Contributing to the Science Curriculum units in initial teacher education programmes, including core units.
- Working in a teaching team with other staff.
- Handling administrative and leadership tasks for the discipline.
- Keeping a research profile through publications and grant applications, either in your discipline, in the scholarship of teaching and learning, or both.
- Taking part in community outreach and in School and Faculty governance.
The advert does not give a start date. A 12-month contract advertised in late October with a November close usually points to a start in time for the 2027 academic year, but confirm this with the recruitment contact.
Selection criteria
The advert lists what the school is looking for without splitting it into essential and desirable. The position description linked from the listing may contain more detail.
| Criterion | What to show |
|---|---|
| PhD (or near completion) in science education or a related field | Thesis title, award date or expected submission date |
| Recognised expertise in science education and related teaching practice | Units taught, curriculum work, school or professional experience |
| Excellent teaching and educational design in a tertiary setting | Unit coordination, student feedback, redesigned units |
| Capability in scholarship of teaching and learning, with peer-reviewed outputs | SoTL papers, conference papers, teaching grants |
| Digital and blended learning design in a Learning Management System | Canvas, Moodle or similar; online modules you built |
| Willingness to undertake Advance HE Associate Fellowship or equivalent | A sentence saying you will, or that you already hold a fellowship |
| A developing network of academic, industry and professional partners | Links with schools, teacher bodies, science education networks |
The advert does not mention teacher registration or classroom experience in schools. Many applicants for teacher-education roles have both, and they make your teaching examples more convincing, but they are not listed as requirements.
Salary and superannuation
Unlike many senior adverts, this one publishes the pay. Academic Level B at Sydney pays AUD 132,533 to 157,381 a year. On top of that the university adds 17% superannuation, which is the employer’s retirement contribution. On the bottom of the range, 17% adds about AUD 22,530 a year, so the total cost of the package is roughly AUD 155,000 at the lowest step. Where you start in the range depends on your experience and is negotiated at offer.
Australian income tax is deducted from salary, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figure. For a 12-month role, also budget for the cost of renting in Sydney, which is the biggest living cost in the city.
Visa sponsorship and work rights
The advert is explicit: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of the employment, and visa sponsorship is not available. In practice that means Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens and others whose visas allow unrestricted work for the full year. If you are overseas or on a visa with work limits, this post is not open to you. Look at the comparison table below for roles that may be.
How to apply for the University of Sydney lecturer in secondary science education job
- Check your work rights: confirm you have unrestricted rights for the full 12 months.
- Read the position description: it is linked from the THE Unijobs listing.
- Prepare a CV: include teaching history, units coordinated, publications and any teacher registration.
- Write a cover letter: address the selection criteria in the “About you” section.
- Add supporting documents: for example teaching evaluations or a short teaching portfolio, if you have them.
- Apply online: use the “Apply” button on the listing. Current University of Sydney staff and contingent workers apply in Workday under USYD Find Jobs.
- Submit before Sunday 8 November 2026, 11:59pm Sydney time: that is 12:59pm GMT on 8 November.
Questions about the process go to Helen Efstathiou, Recruitment Consultant, on +61 2 8627 7137 or helen.efstathiou@sydney.edu.au.
Deadline warning
The deadline is Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11:59pm Sydney time. Recruitment staff are rarely available on a Sunday, so submit by Friday 6 November if you want time to fix any problem with the online form.
How to write the cover letter
The advert does not set a page limit or ask for a separate statement against each criterion. A cover letter of two to three pages that walks through the criteria in order works well for education-focused posts.
- Paragraph 1: the post, your current role and your PhD status.
- Teaching: the science education units you have taught or coordinated, student numbers, and one change you made and what it achieved.
- Educational design: a blended or online unit you built in an LMS, and how students used it.
- Scholarship of teaching and learning: your peer-reviewed outputs and what they found.
- Research plans for the 20% research time: one realistic project for the year.
- Partnerships: schools, teacher associations or professional bodies you work with.
- Close: your work rights status and when you can start.
A sample opening, for illustration only: “I am applying for the Lecturer (Education Focused) in Secondary Science Education. I am completing a PhD on inquiry-based chemistry teaching, have coordinated a science methods unit for pre-service teachers, and hold unrestricted Australian work rights.”
What the selection process looks like
Sydney’s process for academic roles usually runs in this order: shortlisting by a selection panel, an interview (often with a short teaching presentation for education-focused posts), reference checks, and then the offer. Because the role involves child-related work, the Working with Children Check is part of pre-employment. The university also asks every preferred candidate to declare any investigation or finding relating to sexual harm or gender-based violence.
Common mistakes
- Applying without unrestricted work rights. The advert rules this out, and the application will not progress.
- Writing a research-led letter. This is an education-focused post; lead with teaching.
- Talking about science content instead of how to teach it to future teachers.
- Ignoring the LMS criterion. Name the platform and describe something you built.
- Leaving the application to Sunday night.
Who should apply and who shouldn’t
Apply if you have a PhD in science education (or will submit soon), have taught pre-service teachers or similar tertiary students, and already have full Australian work rights. A secondary science teacher who has moved into teacher education and has some SoTL publications is a good fit.
Don’t apply if you need a visa, or if you want a long-term research post; this is a one-year, teaching-heavy contract. Scientists without education research or teacher training experience will also find the criteria hard to meet.
Similar lecturer jobs open now
| Role | Institution | Salary | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecturer, Medical Sciences/Immunology/Bacteriology | University of Sydney | AUD 132,533 + 17% super | 9 November 2026 |
| Lecturer, Medical Sciences/Cancer | University of Sydney | AUD 132,533 pro rata + 17% super | 9 November 2026 |
| Lecturer in Finance | Auckland University of Technology | NZD 88,000 to 94,000 | 11 November 2026 |
| Lecturer in Bioveterinary Sciences | University of Surrey, UK | GBP 38,448 to 46,970 | 22 November 2026 |
About the University of Sydney
The University of Sydney was founded in 1850 and is a member of the Group of Eight. It ranks 28th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (released June 2026) and 51st in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 (released 30 September 2026), second in Australia. The university describes itself in the advert as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.
The Camperdown campus is a short trip from central Sydney. Rent is the main cost of living in the city, and for a one-year contract it is worth checking short-lease options early. If you are advising students who want to study abroad rather than work, see our guide to scholarships in New Zealand without IELTS for a nearby option.
FAQs about the University of Sydney science education lecturer job
What is the salary for the Lecturer in Secondary Science Education at Sydney?
AUD 132,533 to 157,381 a year at Academic Level B, plus 17% superannuation.
Does the University of Sydney sponsor visas for this lecturer post?
No. The advert says visa sponsorship is not available, and you need unrestricted Australian work rights for the full contract.
Can I apply if I haven’t finished my PhD?
Yes, if you are near completion. The advert asks for a PhD or near completion in science education or a related field.
When is the deadline for the University of Sydney lecturer in secondary science education job?
Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11:59pm Sydney time, which is 12:59pm GMT the same day.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026 against the Times Higher Education Unijobs listing 416918 (published 26 October 2026), the University of Sydney’s news release on the THE World University Rankings 2027, and Time Out Australia’s report of the QS World University Rankings 2027. The position description is linked from the listing. The start date is not published. We will update this page if the deadline changes.
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