Faculty of Education

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

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Overview

This full-time one-year qualification for graduates is appropriate for applicants with an undergraduate degree or primary teaching qualification.

The aim of this diploma is to equip beginning teachers to work effectively within the diversity of early childhood education services that involve young children and their families and whānau.

The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE) programme of study values the unique nature of society in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Successful completion of this qualification enables you, as an early childhood teacher, to teach in a wide range of early childhood education services in Aotearoa/New Zealand and to be eligible for provisional teacher registration with the New Zealand Teachers Council.

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Admission and Entrance

For entry into any teacher education qualification, you will need to be assessed and accepted by the Faculty of Education as suitable for the teaching profession. This involves meeting set criteria, having supportive referees, making declarations about any criminal convictions or health and disability issues, being proficient in the English language and successfully taking part in an assessment exercise. Applicants will be selected on the basis of academic merit.

Go to admission and entrance for more information about entry to teacher education qualifications.

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Study Options

This qualification involves attending classes on campus or online and completing blocks of teaching experience in early childhood centres. The requirements and content are the same for both modes of delivery. One course, EPSY 301 is delivered online for all students.

The campus option:

  • includes timetabled lectures, tutorials, studio time and examinations at Karori.

The online option:

  • is a flexible and convenient alternative for those with very good self-management skills

  • includes a compulsory residency at Victoria's Karori Campus. Students are responsible for the costs of travel and accommodation for the residency

  • has examinations which take place in main centres around New Zealand. Students are responsible for all the costs of attending exams.

The expected workload involves 40-50 hours of course work and study per week. Teaching experience blocks require full-time attendance for all students.

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Qualification Structure

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE), a student must successfully complete 155 points made up of all eight courses in the list below.


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Timetable

The timetable for the courses will be provided to students via the student information page on our website.

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Teaching Experience

There are two seven-week blocks of full-time teaching experience (using the New Zealand curriculum) in New Zealand schools.

Teaching experiences are planned in such a way that students are able to see how theory and practice interlink in the development of quality teachers.

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Graduation and Teacher Registration

Students graduate in December or May following satisfactory completion of the qualification.

As a graduate of this programme you can:

  • apply for a teaching position in schools through New Zealand
  • apply for provisional teacher registration from the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC)
  • be recommended by your employing school for full NZTC registration after two years (and up to five years) of satisfactory teaching.

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Key Dates

Key dates for the Graduate Diploma of Teaching qualifications include enrolment deadlines and TE periods.

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How To Find Out More

You can order more information on this subject using our Request for Study Material form.

Victoria's Student Recruitment, Admission and Orientation Office offers advice on courses and help with planning your degree.

The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) is administered by the Faculty of Education.

Student Administration Office
Faculty of Education
Level 2, Waghorn Block Karori Campus
Phone: 04-463 9500
Email: address
Enrol online at: www.victoria.ac.nz/enrol

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List of Courses

For course information go to the Course Catalogue and search under the following subjects:

• For EPOL courses, select the subject Education Policy & Implementation

• For EPSY courses, select the subject Educational Psychology & Pedagogy

• For KURA courses, select the subject Education Māori Pasifika & Indigenous

EPOL 301 The Teacher in Context
EPOL 311 Early Childhood Teaching and Pedagogy
EPOL 312 The Multi-literate Child
EPOL 313 Assessment for Learning in the ECE Context
EPOL 314 Science, Maths and Technology
EPSY 301 The Learner in Context
EPSY 312 Early Development and Relationships
KURA 301 Mātauranga Māori in Education

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