Make a positive difference in children’s lives—get the skills and knowledge you need to become a confident and competent primary school teacher.
This one-year, full-time programme will give you a grounding in the principles and theories of teaching and learning, human development, primary school curriculum studies and teaching experience.
To qualify for entry in this programme, you’ll need an undergraduate degree and be accepted by the Wellington Faculty of Education as suitable for the teaching profession.
If you wish to teach at a Catholic School you can find information about this at The Catholic Institute.
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
Duration
3 trimesters
3 trimesters of full-time study
Complete
155 points
8 courses
Location
On-campus (Kelburn, Wellington) and online
Schedule
Daytime lectures or online
Type
Coursework and teaching experience
Key dates
- 2021, Trimester 1: Apply by 16 Jan 2021 to start studying 1 Feb 2021
Estimated domestic fees for 2020
NZ$8,195 for the full programme
Entry
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, police check, references and selection meeting.
Teacher experience – TE
You’ll do two, seven week blocks of compulsory teaching in the classroom—gaining valuable experience, applying what you’ve learned and building relationships with teachers and learners.
Successful completion of TE is a mandatory requirement of some courses.
The Teaching Experience Office will find placements for you, so you shouldn’t approach any schools to set up a TE placement on your own.
If you’re planning to do this programme online from the Hawkes Bay, Gisborne area, Waikato, or Otago, there are a limited number of placements available in local schools. Placements may need to be arranged outside the immediate area or region.Teacher Experience
Study and workload
As well as completing the compulsory blocks of teaching experience in schools, you can choose to study this qualification on campus or online. The requirements and content are the same for both modes of delivery and you can expect around 40-50 hours of course work and study per week.
On campus study includes timetabled lectures, tutorials and exams in Wellington.
If you’re looking for a more flexible study and have good self-management skills, you can attend your classes online.
If you’re planning to do this programme online from the Hawkes Bay, note there are a limited number of placements available in local schools and placements may need to be arranged outside the immediate area of Hastings, Havelock North and Napier.
After you graduate
This Graduate Diploma will allow you to apply for provisional teacher registration from the Education Council as well as apply for a teaching position in schools through New Zealand.
Scholarships
You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area and background.
TeachNZ offers a range of scholarships for teachers in training. Go to TeachNZ or phone 0800 832 246 for more information. Apply early as there are limited numbers of scholarships available.Search scholarships
Support for students
Victoria University of Wellington is a welcoming place, there are all sorts of resources and support available to help you make the best of your time at university.Student services
Returning to study
Many students return to university for postgraduate study after several years away. If it’s been a while since you’ve studied, our liaison officers can help you get back into university life.Returning to study
Qualification requirements
For this programme you’ll need to:
- Complete 155 points
- Include eight courses:
- The Learner in Context (TCHG 301)
- The Teacher in Context (TCHG 302)
- Matauranga Maori in Education (TCHG 303)
- Teaching Models and Strategies (TCHG 304)
- English Literacy and EAL (TCHG 320)
- Mathematics and Statistics Education (TCHG 321)
- Science, Social Science and Technology (TCHG 322)
- The Arts, Health and PE and Learning Languages (TCHG 323)
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)
Get the skills and knowledge you need to be a confident and effective secondary school teacher.
Study with the School of Education in this one-year, full-time, programme that will give you a grounding in the principles and theories of teaching and learning, human development and curriculum studies in secondary school subjects.
If you have an undergraduate degree that includes two secondary teaching subjects, one to 200-level and one to 300-level, the GDipTchg(Secondary) is designed for you.
If you have only one teaching subject in your undergraduate degree, you may still be able to do the GDipTchg(Secondary) as long as your teaching subject is approved by the Dean as a high demand subject.
If you wish to teach at a Catholic School you can find information about this at The Catholic Institute.
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)
Duration
3 trimesters
3 trimesters of full-time study
Complete
155 points
8 courses
Location
On-campus (Kelburn, Wellington) and online
Schedule
Daytime lectures or online
Type
Coursework and teaching experience
Key dates
- 2021, Trimester 1: Apply by 16 Jan 2021 to start studying 1 Feb 2021
Estimated domestic fees for 2020
NZ$8,195 for the full programme
Entry
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in two teaching subjects, police check, references and selection meeting.
Empowering young people
Teacher experience—TE
You’ll do two, seven week blocks of compulsory teaching in the classroom—gaining valuable experience, applying what you’ve learned and building relationships with teachers and learners.
Successful completion of TE is a mandatory requirement of some courses.
The Teaching Experience Office will find placements for you, so you shouldn’t approach any schools to set up a TE placement on your own.
If you’re planning to do this programme online from the Hawkes Bay, Gisborne area, Waikato, or Otago, there are a limited number of placements available in local schools. Placements may need to be arranged outside the immediate area or region.Teacher Experience
Study and workload
As well as completing the compulsory blocks of teaching experience in schools, you can choose to study this qualification on campus or online. The requirements and content are the same for both modes of delivery and you can expect around 40-50 hours of course work and study per week.
On campus study includes timetabled lectures, tutorials and exams in Wellington.
If you’re looking for a more flexible study and have good self-management skills, you can attend your classes online.
Curriculum Studies subjects
If you’re planning your study pathway through to teaching, check that your undergraduate degree choices are aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum school subject areas. Go to the New Zealand Curriculum website for more information.
Choose two of the Curriculum Studies areas relevant to your qualifications and experience
- English
- Learning Languages
- Health – taught online only in 2017
- Music
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Physical Education
- Performing Arts including: Dance and Drama
- Social Sciences including: Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History and Social Studies
- Science including: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Visual Arts
- Technology
After you graduate
New Zealand is facing a shortage of secondary teachers so employment prospects are good for those who can teach Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Te Reo Māori, or Technology.
This Graduate Diploma will allow you to apply for provisional teacher registration from the Education Council as well as apply for a teaching position in schools through New Zealand.
Scholarships
You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area and background.
TeachNZ offers a range of scholarships for teachers in training. Go to TeachNZ or phone 0800 832 246 for more information. Apply early as there are limited numbers of scholarships available.Search scholarships
Support for students
Victoria University of Wellington is a welcoming place, there are all sorts of resources and support available to help you make the best of your time at university.Student services
Returning to study
Many students return to university for postgraduate study after several years away. If it’s been a while since you’ve studied, our liaison officers can help you get back into university life.Returning to study
Qualification requirements
For this programme you’ll need to:
- Complete 155 points
- Include eight courses at 300 level: