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Share your excitement and enthusiasm
As a Secondary teacher you teach one or more subjects that you are passionate about, you inspire your students, encouraging them and giving them the skills and enthusiasm they need to make a positive difference in the world.
Is Secondary teaching for me?
Secondary teacher education students:
- Are interested in working with young adults (Years 7–13; ages 11–18)
- Are passionate about the subjects they teach
- Are organised and well prepared
- Promote their students' social, emotional, intellectual and physical development
- Enjoy cultivating a love of learning in others
If that sounds like you, read on to find out more about taking these programmes at UC.
Which pathway is for me and what will I learn at UC?
You'll learn about the theory, practice and management of teaching, including the place and role of education, the characteristics of learners and the teaching-learning process.
You’ll spend significant time working in classrooms where you can practice and refine your planning, teaching and management skills. By the end of your studies at UC you will have learnt and developed all the professional teaching knowledge and skills required to be a teacher in New Zealand intermediate, middle, area and secondary schools.
UC offers the following three internationally recognised qualifications for students who wish to train as a secondary school teacher:
Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (endorsed in Secondary)
If you already have a Level 7 Bachelor degree or equivalent with study to 300 level from a NZ secondary school curriculum list, you can apply to enrol in this one year qualification. Secondary students complete the programme fulltime on campus.
- Alternative entry pathway: UC offers an alternative entry pathway into the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (endorsed in Secondary) for those with knowledge and experience in te reo Māori, or technology, but do not hold a level 7 Bachelor or equivalent qualification. See below for more details.
Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (endorsed in Secondary)
If you already have a Level 7 Bachelor degree of equivalent, with a B average or better at 300 level study, and study to 300 level from a NZ secondary school curriculum list, you can apply to enrol in this one year qualification. Secondary students complete the programme fulltime on campus.
Master of Teaching and Learning (endorsed in Secondary)
If you already have a Level 7 Bachelor degree or equivalent, with a B average or better, or a Master’s degree with a B- average or better, and study to 300 level from a NZ secondary school curriculum list, you can apply to enrol in this one year qualification. This programme includes an additional 30 point course that is completed at the end of the year over summer.
Successful completion of either of these pathways lead to eligibility to apply for Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand registration. However, there are differences in the duration, focus and qualification awarded. Below is a quick overview of these differences.
| GRADDIPTCHG | PGDIPTCHLN | MTCHGLN | |
| Level of qualification | Graduate (NZQA level 7) | Postgraduate (NZQA level 8) | Postgraduate (NZQA Level 9) |
| Points | 150 | 150 | 180 |
| Course dates | On Campus 29 Jan – 10 Nov 2024 | On Campus 29 Jan – 10 Nov 2024 | On Campus 29 Jan – 19 Jan 2025 |
| Student Loan Eligibility* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Student Allowance Eligibility* | Yes | No | No |
*Source - https://www.studylink.govt.nz/
** Source - https://education.govt.nz/
All Initial Teacher Education programmes have one intake each, starting in January or February.
Applications for teacher education programmes are open anytime and will close on 1 December each year for domestic applicants (31 October each year for international applicants). While we process applications as they are received, many of our programmes have a limited capacity for places and applications may close earlier if this capacity has been reached.
Our teacher education programmes have specialised application processes. Please read the Guide to applying section and complete the steps, before applying through myUC.
For our secondary programmes you must have a Bachelor’s degree which includes study to 300 level in a New Zealand school curriculum subject (your major) as well as an additional teaching subject. For example, with a degree in Biology including courses in Maths to 200 level, you can Major in Science with Biology and take Maths for your additional teaching subject.
- Find out what subjects you can specialise in.
Selection for entry is not automatic and is based on:
- Academic ability
- Involvement, interest and experience in dealing with children
- Commitment to Te Reo and Tikanga Māori
- Communication skills – you need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly, confidently and coherently, and to listen and respond to others appropriately
- A police check and an interview
IELTS requirements for Initial Teacher Education programmes
All students for whom English is an additional language must provide evident of their English language ability.
English language requirements for our teaching qualifications are set by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and are higher than the standard University requirements. Find out more (add link to teaching council site) - Language competency requirements :: Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
UC offers an alternative entry pathway for applicants seeking to be teachers of Technology and Te Reo Māori who do not hold a level 7 qualification which is typically required for a graduate diploma course of study.
This pathway is for individuals who have a minimum of 5 years of recent employment within a trade or with high levels of te reo Māori language use; work qualifications and professional development; experience relating to leadership and/or management skills; and evidence of work in a coaching, mentoring, or teaching role. This information should be provided in a CV alongside the regular University of Canterbury application form and referee reports.
Candidates who wish to apply for this entry pathway will also need to provide some additional information through a mapping of work experience against the curriculum area they seek to teach. If selected a candidate will be invited to an on-site interview process.
This alternative entry pathway at the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Secondary endorsement) is available via campus-based or distance study. The Distance option is available at the Graduate Diploma pathway only and can be completed full time in one year or part time over 2 years. Note, only the distance option has a part-time pathway.
Distance pathway for the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning for Secondary endorsement in Technology and Te Reo Māori
Selected students in the Graduate Diploma for Teaching and Learning in secondary education with suitable experience in Technology and/or Te Reo Māori can apply to study via distance. The existing campus-based options in these teaching areas also remain in place.
The Distance option is available at the Graduate Diploma pathway only and can be completed full time in one year or part time over 2 years. (Campus-based options are still available for the PGDipTchgLn and MTchgLn). Note, only the distance option has a part-time pathway.
For further information refer to the Guide to applying for teacher education (Alternative entry pathway) and please contact:
Ceri de Boo ceri.deboo@canterbury.ac.nz (Technology Education Lecturer) or
Te Hurinui Clarke tehurinui.clarke@canterbury.ac.nz (Māori Education Senior Lecturer)
Rachel Maitland rachel.maitland@canterbury.ac.nz (Programme Coordinator)
Graduates of this programme will be eligible for provisional registration as a teacher. This enables you to apply for teaching positions in New Zealand and many countries overseas. Please contact the relevant authorities for international requirements.
Teaching gives you entry into careers beyond the classroom; it is an excellent background for a wide range of jobs including careers in the public sector, business and industry training. Other jobs include special education teacher, private tutor, education advisor, education publisher, secondary school Dean, Deputy Principal and Principal. Some of these jobs may require further study at postgraduate level.
- For more information visit the UC Careers Hub.
