Teacher Education | Primary / Junior program
You’ve dreamed about stepping in front of the classroom. Take your first step in a rewarding career. Apply to our Teacher Education – Primary/Junior program.
If you enjoy working with young children, our primary/junior program is for you. You’ll develop the skills and confidence to step into the classroom and teach all subjects from kindergarten to Grade 6.
Choose from 6 specialties
Spend half your time teaching
Develop your 'soft' skills
Learn from mentors

What I like about my BEd program is it is structured for success. This program gave me the tools to prepare for the demand in classrooms today. Learning from educators, principals, guest speakers and students made my program worthwhile.
- Belinda Berberi
Primary/Junior program details
Admissions
Minimum Academic Requirements for Primary-Junior, Junior-Intermediate, and Intermediate-Senior Programs, September 2024 Entry:
- For admission in September 2024, you must be on track to complete your undergraduate degree at an accredited university by Aug. 31, 2024. The degree must be conferred no later than the Fall of 2024.
- You must have successfully completed the equivalent of 10 full (or equivalent) university credits at the time of your application. Transfer credits from community colleges and CEGEP courses can’t be considered. Preference is given to those who have a four-year degree with the equivalent of 20 full credits.
- You must have a minimum average of 70% in your best 10 full or equivalent undergraduate credits.
- If you are completing a bridging program (two years at an accredited college and two years at an accredited university), you will need a minimum of 70% in your best 5.0 full or equivalent degree-level credits and must be on track to graduate with a university-level degree. (Condition only applies to programs at Fanshawe College).
- If you’re applying to the Junior-Intermediate or Intermediate-Senior programs, you must also have a minimum average of 70% in those credits, which support your teaching subjects.
- Courses taken after August right before the application cycle cannot be included in the calculation of overall and teaching subject averages. These courses will be counted in support of program requirements only. List these and other courses, which will be completed to meet final degree requirements in your OUAC/TEAS application under "Current Courses".
- In addition to meeting the general admission requirements, you must also meet your program stream requirements:
- Primary Junior
Applicants who have completed at least one-half undergraduate or graduate credit in four or more of the following areas receive preference in the admissions process: English, Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Social Science/Humanities (Canadian History/Geography preferred). Click here for a list of some acceptable courses (PDF). - Primary-Junior Stream (French) – special requirement
Applicants must possess oral and written fluency in French and a thorough knowledge of grammar. Normally, five full French credits with a 70% average (or the equivalent), at least two of which should be language credits, are required. One or more full credit(s) equivalents in French literature is desirable for those hoping to teach in French-immersion settings. Fluent French speakers who don’t have university-level French courses may apply for special consideration by emailing eduwo@uwo.ca. We reserve the right to test candidates to ensure they meet the required standard. A fee is required for testing.
Applicants who have completed at least one-half undergraduate or graduate credit in four or more of the following areas receive preference in the admissions process: English, Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Social Science/Humanities (Canadian History/Geography preferred). Click here for a list of some acceptable courses (PDF).
- Primary Junior
- English Language Proficiency: If applicable, English language proficiency tests must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before an offer of admission can be made.
Equity admission application
We’re strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity in all that we do. For a designated number of places in the B.Ed. program, preference will be given to members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, and those disadvantaged and discriminated because of their race, religion, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, ability and/or other factors identified by the applicant. Those wishing consideration under the equity admissions process must submit the Equity Admission Application (PDF) by the application deadline to the Teacher Education Office by email to eduwo@uwo.ca.
Appeals
Applicants who don’t meet the minimum entry requirements will not be admitted. If you believe an error has been made in the evaluation of your application, you may submit an appeal using the form available here (PDF). Appeals for 2022 admission are due by March 1, 2022.
Offers
Offers of admission will be made online via the Student Center on Feb. 15. Access to the Student Center requires the activation of your Western identity. Account activation instructions are available here (PDF).
Guaranteed admission
Western offers several opportunities which guarantee admission to the Faculty of Education, capacity for each pathway is limited. For more information, please contact your faculty’s guaranteed pathway coordinator.
1. Western Main Campus
- The Faculty of Music's Bachelor of Music with Honours in Music Education program guarantees entry to Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with a Music-Instrumental or Music-Vocal teaching subject.
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences' mathematics, actuarial science, financial modeling, data science and statistics programs guarantee entry to Intermediate/Senior with a Mathematics teaching subject.
- Western University-Main Campus French program guarantees entry to Primary/Junior French as a Second Language or Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with a French as a Second Language teaching subject.
2. Kings' University College:
- Catholic Studies for Teachers program guarantees entry to Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with Religious Education as a teaching subject.
- Social Justice and Peace Studies program guarantees entry to Intermediate/Senior with Social Science-General as a teaching subject.
- French program guarantees entry to Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with French as a Second Language teaching subject.
- The childhood and Youth Studies program guarantees entry to Primary/Junior stream only.
3. Brescia University College:
- French program guarantees entry to Primary/Junior French as a Second Language or Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with a French as a Second Language teaching subject.
- Family Studies program guarantees entry to Intermediate/Senior with Family Studies as a teaching subject.
4. Huron University College:
- Huron University College’s French program guarantees entry to Primary/Junior French as a Second Language or Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior with a French as a Second Language teaching subject.
*CASPer Assessment is a mandatory requirement for all applicants including guaranteed pathway applicants.
Tuition
The University decides tuition fees and they’re updated annually each July. For the most up-to-date tuition information, please visit the Office of the Registrar's Fee Schedule page. Here, you'll find PDFs that outline program fees as they relate to you (such as international vs. domestic student). Please note that all fees are annual amounts and must be paid in both year 1 and year 2 of the program.
Funding
Funding
OSAP
Learn more about the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
Scholarships and bursaries
Personalize your P/J program
At Western, you’ll be able to personalize your BEd program by choosing a Specialty Area. The following Specialty Areas are available for those admitted to the Primary/Junior program.
Primary/Junior Specialty areas
Primary/Junior Program Options
Primary/Junior
Our Primary/Junior program prepares you with the skills and confidence to teach Kindergarten to Grade 6.
You don’t select a teaching subject because, as a primary/junior teacher, you will be teaching every subject in your classroom.
Primary/Junior French
Our Primary/Junior French program prepares you with the skills and confidence to teach core and immersion French from Kindergarten to Grade 6. You must select the following program that matches your passion:
- Primary/Junior French