Graduate Diploma in Teaching

Teachers are influential community members, making a difference to young people and their learning, knowledge and skill acquisition. They play a major role in helping their students develop their independence and success in their lives.

As a graduate of this programme, you will be among the best-prepared teaching graduates and highly regarded by education employers, within New Zealand and overseas. With separate courses for Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary teaching, the Graduate Diploma in Teaching combines Professional Education papers with placements in schools or ECE Centres.

Spend 80 days in total in two different schools or early childhood centres putting your new skills to practice.

The Alternative Entry Pathway offers the opportunity for people with a background in Trades/Technology, or with high levels of fluency in Te Reo Maori or Pacific language(s), to become a tacher/Kaiako in Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary education.

We can recognise your experience in the Trades or your high levels of Te Reo Maori or Pacific language fluency and your interest in teaching. This expertise may enable you to apply for alternative entry into the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (GradDipTchg).

Applicants interested in alternative entry pathways are required to complete this application form this will assist our team to determine whether you meet the requirements for alternative entry into teacher education. If you meet the criteria to apply for an alternative pathway into teaching, you will be contacted about the next steps before submitting an application for the GradDipTchg.

Criteria for Entry into Alternative Pathways

You will need to demonstrate that you meet the following criteria for entry;

Technology:

• A relevant Trades qualification at Level 5, 6 or 7 on the NZQF or an equivalent qualification;
• A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in the last eight years in a trade (eg. chef, patternmaker, builder, mechanic, cabinetmaker, illustrator) relevant to teaching technology education subjects.

Te Reo Maori:

• A minimum of three years recent work (paid or voluntary) experience where the use of a high level of Te Reo Maori has been a significant aspect of the mahi; and
• Achieved Whakamatauria To Reo Maori Level 4 (National Maori Language Proficiency Examinations); or
• Completed all primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling in Te Reo Maori; or
• Completed five years of secondary schooling in the medium of Te Reo Maori, or
• Other evidence of a high standard of Te Reo Maori competency will be considered on an individual basis.

Pacific Language(s):

• A minimum of three years recent work (paid or voluntary) experience where the use of a high level of either Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Maori or another Pacific language has been a significant aspect of the work; and
• Achieved Level 4 certificate in either Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Maori language; or
• Completed all primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling in the medium of Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Maori language, or
• Other evidence of a high standard of Tongan, Samoa, Cook Island Maori language will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants approved into an alternative pathway will be required to enrol in and successfully complete one undergraduate paper prior to full enrolment in the Graduate Diploma in Teaching.

For more information on these pathways, and available undergraduate papers, please get in touch with us at: