Study the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning to become an early childhood, or primary or intermediate teacher. This one-year professional qualification is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree.
The programme is a mix of university study that covers curriculum and education theory, and teaching practicums in an early childhood setting or a primary/intermediate classroom.
You can apply for provisional registration with the New Zealand Teaching Council and teach in New Zealand when you complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning.
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Admission to an initial teacher education programme like the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning can take approximately 6 to 9 weeks to complete from the time of your application.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning is an intensive programme. It runs over 34 weeks, 4 weeks longer than the normal academic year because the programme is worth 150 points compared with the usual 120 points studied in an academic year of 30 weeks.
In each of the two semesters, you study:
Courses have an embedded focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi to prepare you for teaching in bicultural settings. You learn te reo Māori language as part of the programme.
There’s a strong focus on diversity, inclusion and social justice, reflecting the multicultural nature of Auckland. The teaching-as-inquiry cycle forms the basis of a practice-based research inquiry conducted during the second practicum.
The primary-specific curriculum courses cover the eight learning areas in the New Zealand curriculum as well as content related to responsive teaching, teaching for social justice and being a critically reflective educator.
The early childhood teaching curriculum courses have a focus on play-based learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, with strong links to our curriculum Te Whāriki with its five strands of wellbeing, belonging, contribution, communication and exploration.
You complete an 8-week teaching practicum in each semester, after studying the curriculum and general education courses for that semester.
Teaching will be in two different settings so you can experience working with a variety of age groups, communities, learning contexts and teaching philosophies.
You must be willing to travel up to an hour on public transport to access your practicum placements in Auckland.
Primary students may be able to have an out-of-Auckland practicum if their first practicum experience has been successful. This is organised by AUT’s School of Education.
The outcomes for graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Graduates can apply for provisional registration with the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and teach in a primary/intermediate classroom or in an early childhood centre.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.