Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning
Study the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning to become a primary or early childhood teacher. This programme is aimed at students who already have a bachelor’s degree.
You study the curriculum and education theory to be a successful primary or intermediate teacher, or early childhood teacher. The programme includes practicum experience and focuses on future-oriented education.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
- A bachelor’s degree with a B grade average or higher in level 7 courses, preferably including education courses
International student entry requirements
Other requirements
- Personal declaration form (which includes permission for a police clearance)
- Three confidential referee reports (one of your referees will be contacted by telephone and the others will be required to complete a written reference)
- Face to face interview
- Candidates will demonstrate high levels of comprehension, fluency and accuracy in literacy and numeracy tests and ICT skills. During the interview process, candidates will be required to demonstrate group skills through a simulation exercise.
- You also need to meet the Teaching Council requirements for conduct
- A safety check will be completed to ensure you meet all the requirements as set out in section 31 of the Children's Act 2014
English language requirements
All applicants must ensure they meet the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requirements for English language competency prior to admission to the programme.
(If you do not meet the criteria set, please contact the School of Education as there may be other options available).
No admission until English language criteria evidenced as achieved.
Download application documents
- Police clearance authorisation form
- User guide to fill out the police clearance authorisation form
- Teaching Council's Good Character and Fit to be a Teacher requirements
Admission to an Initial Teacher Education programme can take approximately 6 weeks to complete due to delays in police clearance procedures and the return of referee reports, therefore we would strongly recommend you consider this timeframe when applying.
Useful websites
This is an intensive programme that involves university classes and placements in school contexts.
The programme covers
- Teacher identity and resilience
- Learning and teaching theories for the 21st century
- Adaptive expertise for working with diverse learners
- Learning te Reo Māori
- Teaching for social justice
- The teaching as inquiry cycle
- A research project
Courses you study
- EDCR801 Ako: Teaching and Learning
- EDCR804 Being a Responsive Teacher
- EDCR805 Design for Learning
- EDCR806 Integrated Curriculum
- EDPT802 Becoming an Adaptive Teacher
- EDPT803 Being an Adaptive Teacher
- EDUC871 Teaching for Social Justice
- EDUC901 Professional learning through Inquiry
The course EDCR801 Ako: Teaching and Learning requires one overnight stay on a marae. If you are unable to complete this component, you won't be able to pass this course and subsequently won't meet the requirements for the qualification.
Teaching practicum
For 17 weeks, student teachers will be on a sustained period of practicum in a partnership school (8 weeks in Semester 1 and 9 weeks in Semester 2) working with a professional learning mentor in the classroom.
Partner schools include
Courses you study
- ECET802 Becoming an Adaptive Teacher (ECE)
- ECET803 Being an Adaptive Teacher (ECE)
- ECET804 Pedagogical Leadership and the Principles of Te Whāriki
- ECET805 Strands of Te Whāriki: Weaving People, Places and Things
- EDUC871 Teaching for Social Justice
- EDCR804 Being a Responsive Teacher
- EDCR801 Ako: Teaching and Learning
- EDUC901 Teaching as Inquiry
- EDUC902 Critical Reflection on Practice
Teaching practicum
For 16 weeks, student teachers will be on a sustained period of practicum in a partnership school (8 weeks in Semester 1 and 8 weeks in Semester 2) working with a professional learning mentor in the classroom.
Skills you will develop
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.
North Campus
3 Jul 2023
July 2023 intake is only available for Early Childhood Teaching.
($11,503 tuition fees + $1168 student services levy)
($33,400 tuition fees + $1343 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.