Bachelor of Education ([Specialty] Teaching)
Prepare yourself for a career in early childhood or primary/intermediate education, and learn from staff who are passionate about teaching.
Teachers play an essential role in motivating, inspiring and educating the people who will go on to shape the future of our society. This teacher education degree includes 25 weeks of teaching placements, so you can get first-hand experience in the workplace and graduate with confidence in your skills.
You can apply for TeachNZ scholarships to support your studies.
Talk to us about your study options
Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to discuss your study options.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
*You can't use Discretionary Entrance to gain admission to this programme.
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
Teaching Council requirements
You also need to successfully complete the compliance checks below before you can start your studies:
- Literacy and numeracy assessments
- Interview
- Meet the “good character and fitness” criteria stipulated in the Teaching Council Registration and Certification policy
- Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme Entry Form
- Police Vetting (New Zealand and overseas if applicable)
- Satisfactory references
- Meet the Teaching Council of Aotearoa English language competency requirement (Teaching Council of Aotearoa website)
- Meet the safety check requirements as set out in section 31 of the Children’s Act 2014
After you have applied to study at AUT, we will send you a link with more information about these Teaching Council compliance requirements that need to be successfully completed.
This process can take approximately 6 weeks as some of the compliance checks take time.
Preferred New Zealand school subjects
Language rich subjects, art and design subjects, languages, mathematics subjects, Dance, Digital Technologies, Drama, Health Education, Physical Education.
Specialties in the Bachelor of Education ([Specialty] Teaching)
Each semester students complete a teaching placement, as well as the courses below.
Year 1
In your first year you choose to study teaching for either:
- Early childhood education or
- Primary and intermediate schools
All students complete
- EDUC550 People, Whānau and Communities of Aotearoa
- EDUC551 Development of the Child in Aotearoa
- EDUC554 Past and Present Perspectives of Aotearoa
- EDUC513 Te Reo Māori and Tikanga I*
- EDUC514 Te Reo Māori and Tikanga II*
*Te Reo Māori and Tikanga courses include classes at Ngā Wai o Horotiu marae at the City Campus.
Early Childhood Teaching students complete
- ECET504 ECE Practicum I - Professional Relationships
- ECET505 ECE Practicum II – Teacher Identity
- EDCR521 Te Whāriki
- EDCR522 Mana Atua | Wellbeing
- EDCR523 Mana Whenua | Belonging
Primary Teaching students complete
- EDPT502 Primary Practicum I - Professional Relationships
- EDPT503 Primary Practicum II – Teacher Identity
- EDCR501 Integrating Curriculum: English, Mathematics and Statistics
- EDCR502 The Arts in an Innovative Learning Environment
- EDCR503 Physical Education, Health, and Wellbeing
Year 2 and 3
For courses in Year 2 and 3 refer to the page for the Bachelor of Education specialty you're interested in.
Students wishing to have their qualification endorsed with the Pacific specialty will need to complete the following two practicum courses at a Pacific early learning service or primary/intermediate school:
Early Childhood Teaching practicum courses
- ECET704 ECE Practicum V – Learning-Focused Culture
- ECET706 ECE Practicum VI - Professional Learning
Primary Teaching practicum courses
- EDPT704 Primary Practicum V – Learning Focused Culture
- EDPT705 Primary Practicum VI - Professional Learning
Pacific speciality
If you want to specialise in working with Pacific students, you also need to complete the following courses:
- EDUC624 Tapasā: Working with Pacific Learners
- EDCR719 Pacific Gagana and Aganu'u
- EDCR736 Pacific Talanoa
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Education are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Other undergraduate study options
This is a great option if you're interested in education but aren't sure you want to become a teacher.
Secondary teaching programme
To become a secondary school teacher you need to complete a bachelor's degree, followed by the Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching.
South Campus *
($6,780 -8,472 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
($32,600 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.