Master of Teaching and Learning

Applicants for the MTchgLn programme need a degree in a disciplinary field appropriate to teaching and learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, with either:

• a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree with honours with a B Grade Point Average or better
• a master's degree
• approval of successful prior academic performance that demonstrates an ability for postgraduate-level study.

You will also need to have English language ability and demonstrate literacy and numeracy competence that meets the requirements set out by Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand, and meet the requirements stipulated in the Children’s Act 2014.

For the Secondary endorsement, you will need a body of knowledge from their previous studies in a subject relevant to the Aotearoa New Zealand secondary school curriculum eg, English, physics, geography, etc.

If you completed your entry qualification overseas, and intend to become a registered teacher in Aotearoa, Matatū Aotearoa will require an assessment of your qualification by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Teaching and Learning.

For information on gaining admission to UC teacher education programmes, please see the Guide to Applying.

Selection process

The MTchgLn has one intake each January. Selection for entry is based on:

• academic ability, involvement and interest in working with children and youth, community involvement, communication skills, and other personal qualities as outlined in the Guide to Applying
• a police check, referees' reports, and an interview
• a short literacy and numeracy test.

How to apply

As places are limited, we strongly recommend that you apply for programme entry as early as possible.

Applications are open any time, and close on 31 October for international applicants and 1 December for domestic applicants before the start of the programme in late January, or when places are filled (whichever comes first).

For more details on entry requirements and the teacher education application process see the Guide to Applying.

Learning on placement

You will have professional practice experiences in two different schools.

The first semester placement will be completed in a local primary or secondary school context, and consist of one week of school observation early in the semester, followed by a seven week practice intensive.

In the second semester, you will complete a seven-week practice intensive at a different school. You also have an opportunity to experience one week in another school context.

Part I

You will complete 150 points from the following course lists depending on your chosen endorsement. These courses are from the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning schedule.

Compulsory courses (both Primary and Secondary Education endorsements)

• TEPI413 Professional Learning and Inquiry 1
• TEPI415 Understanding Every Learner: Intercultural and Inclusive Education
• TEPI416 Tō tātou reo, ā tātou tikanga
• TEPI614 Professional Learning and Inquiry 2
• TEPP413 Teaching Professional Practice 1
• TEPP414 Teaching Professional Practice 2

Primary Education endorsement

• TECP423 Literacy and Mathematics for Primary School Teaching
• TECP424 Curriculum 2: Teaching and Learning in, through and about Health and Physical Education and the Arts
• TECP425 Curriculum 3: Exploring Science and Technology through Collaborative Design
• TECP426 Curriculum 4: Learning Languages and Social Sciences in Diverse School and Community Settings

Secondary Education endorsement

• TECS433 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1: Teaching subject for junior secondary
• TECS434 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 2: Teaching subject for senior secondary
• TECS435 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 3: Contemporary Developments in Secondary Education

Secondary Education — specialist teaching subjects

For our secondary teacher qualifications, you will need to choose a teaching subject and have an academic background in this subject. Your teaching subject is chosen from those taught at junior and senior secondary levels.

You will focus on your specialist teaching subject (which you will preferably have studied to 300-level). It is also a good idea to pick up an additional teaching subject, for which you have a background of study to 100 or 200-level (depending on the subject).

We offer the following specialist teaching subjects:

• Biology with Science
• Classical Studies with Social Studies
• Chemistry with Science
• Commerce with Business Studies
• English
• Geography with Social Studies
• Health with HPE
• History with Social Studies
• International Languages
• Mathematics
• Music
• Outdoor and Environmental Education with HPE
• Performing Arts
• Physical Education with HPE
• Physics with Science
• Te Reo Māori
• Technology
• Visual Arts

Secondary Education — additional subjects

For our secondary teacher qualifications, you will also need to choose an additional teaching subject, for which you have a background of study to 100 or 200-level (depending on the subject).

Additional teaching subjects are usually junior subjects (years 7—10), these include:

• Business Studies
• English
• HPE (Health and PE)
• International Languages
• Mathematics
• Music
• Performing Arts
• Science
• Social Studies
• Te Reo Māori
• Technology
• Visual Arts

Additional senior social sciences subject are only available where junior Social Studies is already part of your specialist teaching subject:

• Geography Yrs 11—13
• History Yrs 11—13
• Classical Studies Yrs 11—13

Additional senior Health, OE, and PE subjects are only available where junior HPE is already part of your specialist teaching subject:

• Health Yrs 11—13
• Outdoor and Environmental Education Yrs 11—13
• Physical Education Yrs 11—13

Additional senior sciences subjects are only available where junior Science is already part of your specialist teaching subject:

• Biology Yrs 11—13
• Chemistry Yrs 11—13
• Physics Yrs 11—13

To specialise in any of the above teaching subjects, you will need to take one of:

• TECS436 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 4: Additional teaching subject for junior secondary
• TECS437 Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 5: Additional teaching subject for senior secondary

If you do not have the background for one of these additional teaching subjects, you can take a course from the Primary Education endorsement schedule above, or an approved course elsewhere at UC.

Part II

All MTchgLn students complete the following:

• TEPI615 Research for Teaching

Useful information:

• Read what other UC postgraduate students have gone on to achieve in their studies and careers in our student and graduate profiles.
• Te Rōpū Rapuara | UC Careers can help you to achieve the career you want, connect with employers, or find a job.
• For research into career destinations by qualification, visit Te Pōkai Tara | Universities New Zealand website.
• Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
• Come along to an upcoming information event for prospective postgraduate students.