Master of Teaching and Learning / Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning – Early Childhood welcome information

My AUT is an online portal for accessing student information and services at AUT. You can view your timetable and enrolment and get access to Arion, Canvas, etc. Please note that the timetable is subject to change. It is recommended that you check regularly.

You can find a lot of useful information for new students here. Each course you are enrolled in will be available on Canvas one week before teaching begins.

We recommend you download the AUT App, which contains everything you need to make the most of your time studying at AUT, including your personal timetable, AUT Wallet, quick access to your grades, interactive campus maps and other important or interesting information. To log in to the AUT App you will need your AUT network login. This is sent to you prior to the commencement of your studies.

More information to help get you started is available here:

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27-29 January

The AUT School of Education induction programme for new students is where you will meet your lecturers and fellow students, learn about your programme structure and requirements, and get tips for a successful start. Attending the induction is crucial, as it lays the foundation for your success in the programme. It equips you with essential information, helps build a support network, and sets the tone for your professional development as a future educator.

More information, including times, rooms etc, will be added closer to date.

AUT Orientation: AUT university-wide

AUT also runs university-wide Orientation events; however, as your programme commences earlier than others, you will be attending classes on those days and will likely not be able to participate.

Some of the content and resources here: AUT’s Orientation programme may be useful to help new students such as yourself feel welcomed, informed, and connected as you begin your journey at Auckland University of Technology.

AUT’s Orientation Week isn’t just about academic prep, it is packed with fun and social events to help you settle in and make new friends. Organised by AUT, O-Week features live performances, games, cultural activities, and free food across all campuses. Past events have included live music, dance parties, and food trucks, creating a vibrant atmosphere for new students.

You’ll complete eight compulsory courses covering curriculum, educational theory and professional practice.

Courses have a strong focus on diversity and social justice, reflecting the multicultural nature of Auckland and the importance of inclusive teaching practice. You also have the opportunity to learn te reo me ngā tikanga Māori with marae wānanga and courses with an embedded focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The early childhood curriculum courses have a focus on play-based learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, with strong links to our curriculum, Te Whāriki, and its four Principles | Kaupapa whakahaere, and five Strands | Taumata whakahirahira. You will also learn about responsive teaching, teaching for social justice, and being a critically reflective teacher.

The Master of Teaching and Learning has a research focus to help you critically reflect on your professional practice as a teacher, and an additional 30-point research course is included in this programme.

You have been enrolled in the following courses:

• EDCR801 Ako: Learning and Teaching in Aotearoa
• EDCR804 Being a Responsive Teacher
• EDUC901 Professional Learning through Inquiry
• ECET804 Pedagogical Leadership and the Principles of Te Whāriki
• ECET805 Strands of Te Whāriki: Weaving People, Places and Things
• EDUC871 Teaching for Social Justice
• ECET802 Becoming an Adaptive Teacher (ECE)
• ECET803 Being an Adaptive Teacher (ECE)
• EDUC902 Critical Reflection on Professional Practice*

^{* Master of Teaching and Learning programme only}

Practicum placements

In each semester you will complete a practicum course (ECET802 and ECET803), a minimum of 80 days in total over the two courses.

AUT’s School of Education will select and organise your practicum placements, which are a great opportunity to make connections between theory and practice. These professional practice experiences will be in two different settings, enabling you to work with a variety of age groups, communities, learning contexts and teaching philosophies.

During your placements, you’ll be guided by experienced teachers and have a designated associate teacher to support your learning and teaching. In each practicum you’ll be visited by an AUT mentor lecturer who will provide feedback and evaluation against the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Standards for the Teaching Profession.

You must be prepared to travel up to an hour each way to access your practicum placements in Auckland.

Skills you will develop

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

Graduate Profile

• 22 January – EDUC101 course final day to complete (International students only)
• 19-23 January – Intensive English language course (International students only)
• 27-29 January - Induction programme for School of Education MTchgLn/PgDipTchgLn – Early Childhood programme
• 30 January - Rangitoto Trip (International students only)
• 2 February - Semester 1 classes begin
• 3-17 April – MTchgLn/PgDipTchgLn Early Childhood semester break (no classes/practicum)
• 19 June – Semester one end

Please read and note the practicum placement dates on the MTchgLn/PgDipTchgLn Early Childhood Academic Calendar (semester breaks are different from other AUT degrees)

View the 2026 MTchgLn/PgDipTchgLn Early Childhood Academic Calendar

Most readings are available on Canvas or on High Demand in the Library. Set texts will be provided for you on the Induction Programme days. We mainly utilise Ministry of Education and Teaching Council of New Zealand documents.

Highly Recommended Texts

Brownlee, P., & Crisp, K. (2017). The Sacred Urge to Play: Unfolding your child’s intelligence, imagination, creativity and joy for life. Good Egg Books.

Gunn, A. C. & Nuttall, J. (Eds.). (2019). Weaving Te Whāriki: Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum in theory and practice. (3rd ed.). NZCER Press.

Other texts of interest

Carr, M., & Lee, W. (2012). Learning stories: Constructing identities in early education. Sage.

Fleet, A., Patterson, C., & Robertson, J. (Eds.). (2017). Pedagogical documentation in early years practice: Seeing through multiple perspectives. Sage.

Hill, M., & Thrupp, M., (2019). The professional practice of teaching (6th ed.). Cengage.

Macfarlane, A., Macfarlane, S., Tierney, S., Kuntz, J. R., Rarere-Briggs, B., Currie, M., Gibson, M., & Macfarlane, R. (2019). The Hikairo schema: culturally responsive teaching and learning in early childhood settings. NZCER.

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children: choices for theory and practice (3rd. ed.). Pearson.

Probine, S., Perry, J., & McAlevey, F. (Eds.). (2025). Children’s inquiry in early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand. NZCER Press.

Conceptual Framework of Initial Teacher Education Programmes

You are enrolled in this free online pre-departure course. It provides an excellent foundation for your study and an orientation to coming to New Zealand, as the four course sessions cover NZ as a place, the Treaty of Waitangi, being an international student and setting goals for your time here. It has the added benefit of introducing you to Canvas, our online platform for lecture materials and resources. You will be using this throughout your time within us at AUT. Access information for this course will come from one of the student administrators in the School of Education via email.

You will be sent your AUT network login details by one of our student administrators. These details will be used to sign in to the Canvas online system and access the learning materials during your time at AUT. Engaging in EDUC101 has the added benefit of giving you some insight into these online structures and systems you will be interacting with while learning with us over the next semester.

In EDUC101, please introduce yourself in the Discussion Forum, as it gives all the international students coming to study various programmes in the School of Education an idea of who else is part of our international community. You will receive feedback on each of the tasks submitted, and those who complete the whole course will be awarded a Certificate of Completion during the orientation week. To qualify for one of these, please be sure that you have completed the course by 22 January so that the certificates can be printed.

19-23 January

An intensive English language course has been designed to support international students who would benefit from practising their English language skills prior to the start of the semester. Students will be contacted directly about this with more information.

30 January

AUT School of Education would like to invite you and all international students in your programme to join us for a trip to explore Rangitoto Island. There is a 30-minute ferry ride to the island and then a walk to the summit.

Rangitoto is the youngest volcano in New Zealand, situated in the Hauraki Gulf close to Auckland city. It emerged from the sea 600 years ago and is an Auckland icon with a rich history. The popular walking track to the summit will take you through pōhutukawa forest and lava fields, and ultimately this gives way to panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf from the top of this volcanic island. This is one of Auckland's best short walks (7km total or 2 hours’ return) and requires a moderate level of fitness. On the way up or down you might choose to take the side trip to explore the lava caves and tunnels.

Further information: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/rangitoto-island

What to expect:

Track surface: Rough and uneven ground – the track crosses lava fields.
Hazards: Weather conditions can change quickly (bring a rain jacket and warm clothing).
Amenities: There are no rubbish bins on the island – you will need to take your rubbish back with you. There are toilets located by the wharf.

Be prepared! Ensure you take:

• Food and drinking water – none available on the island
• Good sturdy footwear (a good pair of running shoes would be appropriate)

This is an opportunity for you to meet your fellow international students and begin to explore your new home!  We will send you an online form for you to register closer to the date.

Based on the feedback from previous international students, we offer the following to help you on your arrival. This is in addition to any other information you may receive from AUT International Student Support:

• Some students may have booked AUT accommodation at Te Āhuru - Mayoral Drive, UniLodge Student Accommodation in the city or at the Akoranga Student Village on the North Campus. Buy any necessities at shops such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, Farmers Department Store, or the Warehouse Shop.
• Alternatively, you may choose to look for your own accommodation. Trade Me Property is a useful website to find rental properties. Please note, many landlords do not like renting to clients until they have arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand. You may wish to book an AirBnB or something similar for when you first arrive.
• To buy provisions and food, you will find a range of outlets in the city ranging from supermarkets (New World; Woolworths) to small convenience stores/corner dairies, as well as plenty of eating places (throughout the city).
• Getting from the airport to your accommodation – the airport is 25 minutes from AUT city campus and around 40 minutes to the North Shore. You may wish to take a bus/taxi or if there are several of you in a group, book a shuttle or an Uber.
• Transport in Auckland. Find out more about public transport at https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry#!/journey-planner and look out for student concession rates (you will need your student ID card). Student rates are significantly cheaper than full fare, so it is well worth organising this. Download the AT Mobile app here to keep you connected to the public transport system.
• Student ID cards will be available from the Student Hub. There is one located on the North Campus and City Campus. Collect this as a priority since you may use it for any student discounts (such as on the AT Hop card for the bus). Any questions you have on arrival and during your first days at AUT, pop into the Student Hub (phone 0800 288 864 or email studenthub@aut.ac.nz).
• Sim card – this is probably one of the first things you will organise. There are many shops in the shopping malls or central city which sell SIM cards. One, Spark, 2Degrees and Skinny are popular providers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Bank account – you will need proof of address to open a bank account. Ensure that you have evidence of your address (rent agreement, AUT accommodation correspondence etc.), also evidence of being an international student (visa, passport) as well as your student card. The major banks in Aotearoa New Zealand include ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwi Bank and Westpac, there are also other smaller banks. Most banks will have branches in the city centre.
• Safety in the city – Auckland city is like any large city, and you need to be aware of your personal safety – we recommend that you do not walk about the city on your own at night and preferably move around in groups. Be mindful of visiting city parks on your own and keep away from these areas at night. When studying on campus, you wish to contact AUT Security for support, eg walk you to your car late at night or need on-campus support, their number is 0800 288 7233 (0800 AUT SAFE). See  AUT Safety and Security for further important information. Be street smart in Auckland city!
• AUT Support Services - AUT has a range of services to support students that include medical, counselling, financial, academic, disabilities etc. You will learn more about these during orientation week.

This is a very exciting time as you prepare to come to Aotearoa New Zealand. Look out for the correspondence from the University and please get in touch if you have any questions or problems.

Martha McFaul is your International Coordinator in AUT's School of Education. If you have questions about your programme, please contact her at martha.mcfaul@aut.ac.nz.

If you have questions about the administration of your application, please contact our Student Administrators at soe.postgrad@aut.ac.nz

Additional information can also be found be here:

• International student support
• Starting Your Life In Auckland - International Students - AUT
• Information For New Students - Student Life - AUT