Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning

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.

Download programme guides

Minimum entry requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree with a B grade average or higher in level 7 courses
    • A degree with an education focus is not required, although undergraduate study in education courses will be an advantage. Relevant work experience in teaching is not a requirement, but some experience with 0–5-year-olds (early childhood education) or 5-12 year olds (primary/intermediate) will be important to provide evidence of suitability to work in this sector.
  • Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme entry form
  • Face-to-face or zoom interview to explore your suitability for early childhood education or primary teaching
  • Must meet the “good character and fitness” criteria stipulated in the Teaching Council: Registration and Certification policy
  • Police vetting (New Zealand and overseas if required)
  • Satisfactory references
  • Meet the Teaching Council of Aotearoa English language competency requirement (Teaching Council of Aotearoa website)
  • Successfully complete the numeracy and literacy assessments
  • Meet the safety check requirements as set out in Children's Act 2014

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.

Steps in the application process

  • Admission form and required documents completed and submitted to AUT’s admissions office, which checks documents and releases the application to the School of Education
  • Bachelor’s degree assessed for B average grade
  • English language requirements checked
  • Referee reports received and checked
  • Literacy and numeracy tests completed and passed
  • Interview scheduled and conducted

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.

What you study in the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning

In each of the two semesters, you study:

  • Early childhood education or primary-specific curriculum courses – taught in separate university lectures for early childhood education and primary students
  • More general education courses – taught in combined lectures for all Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning students
  • This is followed by an 8-week practicum in an early childhood setting or a primary/intermediate classroom

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.

Skills you will develop

The outcomes for graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.

Graduate Profile

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.

Quick facts
Programme code:
AK1073
Level:
8
Points:
150
Duration:
1 year full-time
Campus:
City Campus *
North Campus
* City Campus classes are only offered for primary teaching.
Starts:
8 Jul 2024
10 Feb 2025
7 Jul 2025
July intake: early childhood teaching only
Orientation (strongly recommended) for the July 2024 intake starts on 3 July 2024.

Key semester dates
Fees
Domestic
$13,258 (for 150 points)
($11,825 tuition fees + $1433 student services levy)
International
$34,808 (for 150 points)
($33,375 tuition fees + $1433 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.

Scholarships

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.