Bachelor of Teaching
Inspire, transform, and foster imagination as a teacher with a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Waikato. Our programme graduates are skilled and reflective teachers, who are in high demand both in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
This is a teaching qualification and will lead to becoming a registered teacher.
Why study the Bachelor of 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.
You can study the Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood or Primary either full-time or part-time.
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Teaching degree, you will be among the best-prepared teaching graduates and highly regarded by education employers, within NZ and overseas. You'll have the understanding, skills and academic requirements to be an early childhood, primary or secondary teacher. You'll be eligible to apply for a provisional practising certificate, and after two years of full-time teaching be granted a full practising certificate with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
One of the Top Schools for Education
We consistently place in the top 300 for education in the international QS subject rankings, which assesses more than 800 universities across the world.
Our staff are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of teachers and improving classroom practice and conducting research inquiry of their own in their specialist areas.
We have:
- 50+ years of teacher education
- a wide variety of programmes
- a small student to staff ratio
- school experience from the first day of your degree, right through until your final year
- Strong partnerships with schools and work in schools designed to meet both the needs of the schools and curriculum requirements
- high-quality staff and teaching
- flexibility to find a study pathway that suits your lifestyle - whether that's on campus in Hamilton or Tauranga or online (our online study option involves being on campus in Hamilton for two one-week blocks per year)
- access to the latest research via Institutes attached to the School of Education
- international partnerships and exchange programmes with the National Institute of Education, Singapore and VIA University College, Denmark
Degree information
Select a tile for more information. 
There are five ways you can gain admission to the University of Waikato.
- NCEA University Entrance
- Admission at entrance level
- Discretionary entrance
- University Entrance prior to 2015
- Special admission.
For full details visit Entry Requirements.
Please apply early as all applicants are subject to an interview and selection process, which includes a literacy and numeracy test, as well as a police clearance check. Selection of applicants is based on academic background, communication skills, personal qualities, background experiences and referee support. As well as being selected as a suitable person to be a teacher, you will need to meet the admission requirements for the University.
Students enrolling into one of our English-medium ITE programmes, specialising in Primary, will need to demonstrate competency in mathematics by completing the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool (LNAAT) test. This testing will be phased in over the next two years and we have outlined below how this will be done:
2025 enrolments - Students will need to pass the LNAAT test prior to graduating.
2026 enrolments - Students in the Bachelor of Teaching in Primary will need to pass the LNAAT test before the end of their first year of study. Students in the postgraduate ITE programmes will need to pass the LNAAT test prior to entry into the programme.
2027 enrolments (and onwards) - Students will need to pass the LNAAT test prior to entry into their ITE programme.
If you have any queries, or would like further support, regarding this assessment please reach out to us - teach@waikato.ac.nz.
Estimated fees
$7,183 per year
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costsScholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 30 October 2024.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
- Corporate Trainer
- Curriculum Developer
- Educational Consultant
- Education Policy Analyst
- Learning Consultant
- Primary, Intermediate or Secondary School Teacher
- Recruitment Adviser
- Social Worker
- School Counsellor
- Policy Advisor
Study the Bachelor of Teaching in Tauranga
The Primary stream is available in Tauranga. Speak to one of our administrators for more information.
Graduate study options
Our other teaching qualifications include the Graduate Diploma in Teaching, Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Master of Teaching and Learning.
*To become a secondary teacher, first study an undergraduate degree and take papers in the subjects you wish to teach. Then complete a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching or Master of Teaching and Learning.
Practical experience
From year 1 of your Bachelor of Teaching degree you will be exposed to the classroom environment.
Qualifications for teacher upgrades
BTchg (Upgrade) (Early Childhood & Primary)
Upgrading a teaching diploma or equivalent qualification to a degree can enhance current teaching and learning practices and has salary benefits. This qualification is for qualified and registered early childhood and primary school teachers wanting to upgrade their current teaching qualification to a Bachelor of Teaching degree.
What qualifications can be upgraded?
- New Zealand three-year teachers' college diplomas awarded between 1968 and 1985
- New Zealand three-year diplomas of teaching awarded from 1986
- New Zealand Trained Teachers Certificates awarded before 1971
- NZFKU and Early Childhood Diplomas awarded by New Zealand teachers' colleges before 1992
- Other qualifications recognised by the New Zealand Teachers Council as equivalent to a three-year diploma of teaching
Receiving Credit
Qualified teachers normally receive credit totalling 240 points for their initial teaching qualification, leaving 120 points to complete the degree (this is usually made up of 30 points at 200 level and 90 points at 300 level). Additional credit may be given depending on any tertiary study that has been successfully completed since a teacher’s initial teacher education.
What our Bachelor of Teaching students are saying
I like that the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) degree gives me one day a week in school from week one in my first year [...] it keeps me motivated and I can implement the things I am learning at university into the classroom.Jasmine CampbellBachelor of Teaching
