Menu

Wananga landing Wananga landing
Topic

Application requirements - teacher education

23 November 2023

Getting into our UC teacher education programmes is based on academic ability, police background checks, and more. Check the application requirements for teacher education at UC and get in touch if you have questions.

APPLY NOW

Selection for entry into our UC teacher education programmes is based on:

  • Academic ability (based on transcripts and school qualifications).
  • Involvement and interest in working with children and young people in ethically responsible ways.
  • Commitment to facilitating and supporting children's learning.
  • Ability to communicate your ideas clearly, confidently, and coherently, and to listen attentively and respond to others appropriately.
  • Evidence of a commitment to collaborative engagement.
  • Referee and school reports.
  • Meeting literacy and numeracy requirements.
  • Commitment to Te Reo Māori and Tikanga (Māori language and protocols).
  • Police background checks.

Please read the sections below to find out how to provide all the correct information for your application.

  • PDF is preferred, but we’ll also accept doc, docx, jpg, and png.
  • Scan documents in colour.
  • Resolution of at least 300dpi.
  • File size less than 10MB.
  • Multipage documents must be combined into one file.
  • For security reasons we cannot accept documents in a compressed format (.zip, .rar) or those sent as download links to an online storage site.
  • If the documents were originally issued in a language other than English, an official English translation must be provided along with the original language documents.

Your application requires a CV, resumé, or written statement that includes the following:

  • A list of current and previous employment (for at least the last 5 years, if applicable).
  • A list of paid or volunteer experiences or training relevant to teaching (for example: work with children and young adults, leadership roles, or community group involvement), for at least the last 5 years.
  • Qualifications and achievements that you hold (for example: degrees, first aid certificate, coaching qualification, school achievements).

  • Include scanned transcripts of any previous tertiary study. This may be a final or interim transcript showing completed and current courses from your tertiary education provider. A final transcript will be required before an unconditional offer can be made.
  • All transcripts must include your name, the qualification you are completing, and the name of the tertiary institution where you are enrolled.

Your application must include two referee reports, which are confidential and come directly to us.

  • Include the names and email addresses of two people who have agreed to be your referees where indicated in the application to enrol.
  • They will receive an email requesting they complete a report online, so an accurate email is essential.
  • Referees must not be family members, friends, or flatmates and they cannot be the same person completing your confidential school report (if you need one).

If you are still in secondary school, you will need to include a school report.

  • Include the name and email address of the person who will provide this report (ie, Principal, Careers Advisor, or Dean).
  • They will receive an email requesting they complete a report online, so an accurate email is essential.

To gain entry into an Initial Teacher Education programme you must meet the language competency requirements of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. All offers are conditional on meeting the English Language Competency requirements. A full offer will not be provided until this requirement has been met.

The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requires all applicants for Initial Teacher Education to be assessed on their Literacy and Numeracy competency prior to entry to the programme.

If you are successful in advancing to the interview stage of the application process, you will be emailed information on how to undertake these assessments. The email will contain links to:

  • complete the online assessments
  • book your interview time
  • interview information

You must complete these assessments before booking your interview time. Your marks will be available at your interview.

Assessment Structure

  • You will have 45 minutes to complete each assessment.
  • All questions require either a multiple choice or short closed answer.
  • The questions are designed at the University Entrance level but include questions that incoming students would be familiar with at both level 1 and level 2 NCEA. 
  • The Literacy Assessment contains two sections: a comprehension section (with short reading passages and questions) and a grammar section (which assesses your knowledge of nouns, adjectives, verbs and prepositions.
  • The Numeracy Assessment covers number, measurement, geometry, simple algebra, statistics, probability, problem solving, and logic.

You are expected to achieve a 60% pass in each of the assessments to be considered for programme entry. Should you not achieve this pass mark, you may be given an opportunity to re-sit the assessment(s). If this is required, we will provide you with information following your interview.

Contact our student advisors

Pātai? Questions? Get in touch.

Privacy Preferences

By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.