Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Gain advanced knowledge and critical analysis skills in the field of education with the one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Through your studies you develop research skills, and explore different theoretical perspectives to apply across a wide range of contemporary issues and professional contexts in education. The programme caters for professionals from all education sectors and can prepare you for further study in the Master of Education.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
- Must have completed a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent
- A CV and Letter of Intent
To enrol in one of the specialisations in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education you must have at least 2 years of relevant professional experience or approval of the programme leader.
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with 7.0 in Writing and all other bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent
You can also complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Education without a specialisation.
To successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Education you need a total of 120 points (four courses).
You can either choose one of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education specialisations, or complete the programme without a specialisation and select the courses that interest you most.
Specialisations in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Or choose four courses from
- EDLD802 Leading in Diverse Cultures and Communities¹ (30 points)
- EDLD803 Reflecting on Professional Practice as an Educational Leader¹ (30 points)
- EDLD804 Organisational Culture and Educational Leadership¹ (30 points)
- EDLD805 Education Policy and Leadership for the Public Good¹ (30 points)
- EDLD901 Conceptualisations of Educational Leadership (30 points)
- EDUC806 The Inquiring Practitioner (30 points)
- EDUC808 Concepts and Constructs in Education (30 points)
- EDUC809 Global Impacts on Education Practice in Contemporary Society (30 points)
- EDUC814 Individual Directed Study (30 points)
- EDUC815 Special Topic in Education I (30 points)
- EDUC816 Special Topic in Education II (30 points)
- EDUC824 Education Futures (30 points)
- EDUC827 Perspectives on Māori and Pacific Education Experiences (30 points)
- EDUC828 Education for Sustainability, Participation and Transformation (30 points)
- EDUC829 Research-Based Inquiry for Practitioners (30 points)
- EDUC830 Contemporary Issues in Education (30 points)
- EDUC836 Learning Environments for the 21st Century (30 points)
- EDUC837 Digital Pedagogies and the Techno-Literate Teacher (30 points)
- EDUC842 Building Mentoring Expertise (30 points)
- EDUC844 Steiner Education: Teaching and Learning through Imagination in a Digital World (30 points)
- EDUC845 Essential Aspects of Steiner Education (30 points)
- EDUC852 Scholarly Writing and Publishing: Drawing on Practice (30 points)
- EDUC856 Concepts of Educational Research² ³ (30 points)
- EDUC859 Pacific Education – Issues and Perspectives (30 points)
- EDUC863 Who am I as a Higher Education Teacher?¹ (30 points)
- EDUC864 Focusing a Critical Lens on Curriculum in Higher Education¹ (30 points)
- EDUC865 Higher Education Assessment and Evaluation¹ (30 points)
- EDUC866 The University: Past, Present and Future (30 points)
- EDUC867 Kaupapa Māori Approaches (30 points)
- EDUC868 Innovations in Early Childhood Education (30 points)
- EDUC869 Leadership and Collegial Practice in Higher Education¹ (30 points)
- EDUC906 Educational Research in Context³ (30 points)
1. Relevant professional experience is necessary to take this course. Programme leader approval required.
2. Students enrolled in specialty courses may substitute another course from the table for this course.
3. If you're planning to go on to the Master of Education you must complete the courses EDUC856 and EDUC906.
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
- Adult and tertiary education
- Compulsory education
- Early childhood education
- Non-formal education
This qualification does not provide eligibility for provisional teacher registration.
North Campus
South Campus
($9,461 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
($34,900 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.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.