School Onsite Teacher Education Programme (SOTP)

We’re an approved provider of the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP), which provides funding for places in school-based initial teacher education programmes. It gives student teachers the opportunity to gain practical teaching experience in a host school, while studying towards their teaching qualification. Successful applicants for this programme will be eligible for a $20,660 bursary.

School Onsite (SOTP) is available to domestic student applicants who are New Zealand Permanent Residents or Citizens.

AUT is working with a range of host schools in Te Tai Tokerau, Auckland, Waikato and Rotorua.

SOTP students can access the full range of student support services AUT provides.

SOTP Programme information

Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching

All applicants must apply online and meet the Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching entry requirements.

Each SOTP student is matched with a specific secondary school. The student teacher is assigned a mentor teacher at the host school and will be onsite for three days a week during the year. The specific three days can be negotiated between the student teacher and the school.

There are two intensive five-week teaching practicums of five days a week. One intensive practicum is at the host school; the other intensive practicum is at a different school.

This programme can only be taken full-time. Each student starts their programme when the secondary school commences for the year. The programme ends once the qualification is complete in November.

The courses are the same as the on-campus Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching however the delivery will be adapted to suit online and in-school delivery.

Lectures are held in the late afternoon, two-three times a week for 90 minutes. There are additional online curriculum workshops, specific to the various learning areas.  Lectures will be designed in a way to equip student teachers to apply knowledge and skills in their host school.

You can choose to apply for both on-campus and SOTP options if you wish. Then if you are not successful with being matched for the SOTP option, you can choose to accept the on-campus programme (there is no bursary available for the programme delivered on-campus).

Bursary

Each participating student teacher receives a bursary totalling $20,660.

All students enrolled in the SOTP option are eligible for the bursary. School staff can train to become a teacher through SOTP however they cannot be employed to work on the days that form part of the SOTP placement.

SOTP students must cover their tertiary fees, and they can choose to use the bursary for this. The bursary will be paid by AUT at regular intervals to SOTP students, over the course of the academic year.

Students may also be eligible for StudyLink loan and/or allowance.