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As an Early Childhood teacher you will have the chance to engage with tamariki when they are most open to learning.
You'll have fun playing, laughing and learning with and from听tamariki, knowing that no two days are ever the same.
As an early childhood teacher, you might inspire children's imaginations through building blocks and play dough one day, and the next day support the development of social skills and cooperation with group activities like gardening, playing musical instruments or preparing a meal.
With support from听wh膩nau you will be able to make a difference at this key stage of development. Through guided play you can help听tamariki听gain the skills they need for听holistic听development. It鈥檚 a very challenging and satisfying career where you can make a real difference to the lives of our听tamariki.
Early Childhood Teacher Education students:
Some students go straight into teacher education after secondary school because they love working with young children while other students start their studies after having their own children and realising the importance of early childhood education on young children鈥檚 development.
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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 also learn about Te Wh膩riki, the Early Childhood curriculum, to prepare you for the profession of teaching.听
You will spend numerous weeks placed in a centre where you can developing your teaching and putting your learning into practice. By the end of your time at UC you will be ready to begin your career as an Early Childhood teacher.听
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There are three qualification pathways for Early Childhood Teaching at UC:
Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood)
The听Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood)听prepares you for a teaching career in different early childhood settings. This pathway听is available on campus in 艑tautahi Christchurch by听or听distance study.听The degree takes three years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to six years.
If you would like to听study by distance听you will need to attend on-site intensives (OSI)听 in 艑tautahi Christchurch, one of which is a two-week OSI at the beginning of the programme.
Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (M膩tauranga M膩ori)
The听Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning听M膩tauranga M膩ori听endorsement prepares you for a teaching career in different early childhood settings.听The degree takes three years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to six years.听This pathway听prioritises te reo M膩ori me 艒na tikanga, and is founded on m膩tauranga M膩ori (M膩ori knowledge), M膩ori philosophies, and values.
The听M膩tauranga M膩ori听Initial Teacher Education pathway will equip you to work in whare k艒hungahunga (early childhood) and/or kura tuatahi (primary) settings working at level 2 (51鈥80% te reo M膩ori immersion) or higher. A graduate of the M膩tauranga M膩ori programme has the ability to work in bilingual English medium educational settings, where knowledge of te reo M膩ori me 艒na tikanga, bicultural practice, and culturally empowering pedagogies are valued as a means to support child development.
For more information, k艒rero with a听Student Advisor.
Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood)
If you already have a Level 7 NZ bachelor's degree or equivalent, you can apply to enrol in the one-year听Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning Early Childhood. This programme can be studied full-time or part-time by distance (Flexible Learning Options). It includes 15 weeks of professional practice placements in early childhood centres.听Distance students study their programme off campus, and attend on-campus intensives.
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Successful completion of any of these pathways lead to eligibility to apply for听Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand听registration. However, there are differences in the duration, focus and qualification awarded. Specifically, the听Ako:听BTchLn听is a three-year undergraduate programme, while the听GradDipTchLn听is a听one-year programmes for those with a bachelor's degree.听Below is a quick overview of the differences between the programmes.
| AKO:BTCHLN | GRADDIPTCHLN | |
| Level of qualification | Undergraduate | Graduate |
| Qualification Duration | 3 years full-time | 1 year full-time |
| 2024 Course dates | 12 Feb - 8 Nov 2024 (distance students) 15 Feb - 8 Nov 2024 (campus students) | 29 Jan 鈥 8 Nov 2024 |
| Student Loan Eligibility* | Yes | Yes |
| Student Allowance听Eligibility* | Yes | Yes |
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The Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning is open to any student with University Entrance. English and Mathematics are recommended.
If you are 20 years of age or over, recent tertiary study is desirable. For example, you may want to consider the听Certificate in University Preparation (CUP)听before applying.
Selection for entry is not automatic and is based on:
English Language Competency听requirements for Initial Teacher Education programmes
To gain entry into an Initial Teacher Education programme you must meet certain standards of English or te reo M膩ori language competency as required by the Teaching Council of New Zealand.
Information on the current English Language Competency requirements can be found at听
Note: we will accept and progress your application even if you haven鈥檛 yet met the English Language Competency requirements at the time you submit your application.听 If your application is successful any offer will be conditional on meeting English Language Competency requirements. A full offer will not be provided until this requirement has been met.
All Initial Teacher Education programmes have one intake each, starting in January or February.听
Applications for teacher education programmes 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.听Please read the听Guide to applying听section and complete the steps, before applying through听myUC.听
Before applying, it鈥檚 important to consider the commitment you are making to a professional education programme. To be successful, you will need to devote a significant amount of time each week to study and preparation, as well as demonstrate a commitment to professionalism in all areas.听
Graduates of our Early Childhood Teacher Education programmes will be eligible for provisional registration. This enables you to apply for early childhood teaching positions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Please contact the relevant authorities for international requirements.
Teachers have many opportunities to progress to senior positions with experience and additional study such as our听Postgraduate programmes. They can also use their teaching skills in other areas of work with young people (e.g. teaching trainee teachers, or working in curriculum development, research or education policy).
For more information visit the听UC Careers Hub.
