Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching

• Entry requirements: Satisfied the requirements of a bachelors degree with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers.
• Location: Hamilton, Tauranga, Online (subject to numbers)
• Start date: January (H Trimester), July (B Trimester)

Prepare yourself for a teaching career in NZ in primary, intermediate and middle schools or kura, working with children from five to 13 years old. You'll gain a solid foundation in all aspects of the New Zealand curriculum, classroom management, the teaching and learning process and educational policies and practices.

• Entry requirements: Satisfied the requirements of a bachelors degree with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers.
• Location: Hamilton, Tauranga, Online (subject to numbers)
• Start date: January (H Trimester), July (B Trimester)

Prepare yourself for a teaching career in NZ secondary schools working with young people aged 13-18 years old. You'll learn how to teach your curriculum areas and develop skills in teaching and learning. This programme consists of nine papers (150 points) at 500 level. These include Professional Experience papers.

Your previous tertiary study

Candidates for the secondary endorsement must have sufficient depth and breadth of relevant subject or curriculum knowledge at Levels 5-7. When you apply for the programme you will need to submit your degree transcript(s). The programme leader/coordinator will discuss and advise the appropriate programme once you reach the interview stage.

Learning/Subject Areas

Learning Areas:

1. English
2. The Arts
3. Health and Physical Education
4. Learning and Languages
5. Mathematics and Statistics
6. Science
7. Social Sciences
8. Technology

Subject Areas:

1. English
2. The Arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts)
3. Health and Physical Education
4. Learning Languages
5. Mathematics and Statistics
6. Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
7. Social Sciences (Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History)
8. Technology (includes areas of computational thinking, designing and developing digital outcomes, designing and developing processed outcomes, designing and developing material outcomes, and design and visual communications – all taught together)

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

We can recognise your experience in the Trades or your high levels of Te Reo Māori 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, please complete this online eligibility form. We will contact you 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 Māori:

• A minimum of three years recent work (paid or voluntary) experience where the use of a high level of Te Reo Māori has been a significant aspect of the mahi; and
• Achieved Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori Level 4 (National Māori Language Proficiency Examinations); or
• Completed all primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling in Te Reo Māori; or
• Completed five years of secondary schooling in the medium of Te Reo Māori, or
• Other evidence of a high standard of Te Reo Māori 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 Māori or another Pacific language has been a significant aspect of the work; and
• Achieved Level 4 certificate in either Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Māori language; or
• Completed all primary schooling and at least three years secondary schooling in the medium of Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island Māori language, or
• Other evidence of a high standard of Tongan, Samoa, Cook Island Māori 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: teach@waikato.ac.nz

Interested in continuing your postgraduate study in education?

The Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching is an entry qualification into the Master of Teaching and Learning. The Master of Teaching and Learning adds one 30-point research paper to the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, and is a Level 9 qualification, putting you at a higher salary step.

The Teaching Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a requirement that student teachers enrolling in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme for primary teaching would have to demonstrate competence in mathematics, using either of the following measures:

1. Holding a minimum of 14 credits at Achieved, Merit or Excellence in the NCEA subjects 'Mathematics and Statistics' and/or 'Pāngarau' at NCEA Level 2 or above (or a recognised equivalent), or
2. Passing a mathematics assessment as specified by the Teaching Council

We are continuing to recruit students to begin study in 2025 based on the existing ITE entry requirements. The Teaching Council has advised us that they are comfortable for enrolment to continue as no decision has yet been made.
 
However, student teachers commencing study in 2025 should be aware that, if the Teaching Council were to approve the current proposal after consultation, should they not meet measure (1) above, they would be required to pass the mathematics assessment specified by the Teaching Council with at least the specified minimum score before they were able to graduate from the programme. (This reflects that the Teaching Council’s consultation proposes, as a transitional arrangement for 2025 and 2026, that measure (b) can be able to be met prior to graduation, rather than prior to entry to the programme.)
 
Note: this message reflects advice received from the Teaching Council.