Why Study / Key Benefits

The programme is designed specifically for provisionally certified and practising kaiako (teachers) who want to strengthen their ability to incorporate te ao Maori into teaching.

Key academic and professional benefits include:

• Develop greater confidence in te reo Maori and Maori cultural knowledge.
• Strengthen understanding of tikanga Maori and matauranga Maori.
• Learn how Maori knowledge, culture and history can be embedded into teaching.
• Develop culturally responsive Maori pedagogies.
• Explore Aotearoa New Zealand history and Maori worldviews.
• Strengthen cultural awareness and the ability to create a more whanau-oriented classroom environment.
• Study in a programme designed around the needs of working teachers, including flexible learning activities such as noho marae, wananga and night classes.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification consists of 120 points of compulsory study.

Published compulsory courses include:

• EDMI311 – Whakapiki te Reo
• EDMI312 – Matauraka Maori
• EDMI313 – Te Marau a-iwi
• EDMI315 – Kaupapa Maori Pedagogies
• EDMI316 – Whakapiki i te Reo 2
• EDMI317 – Rangahau Maori
• EDMI324 – Te Reo o te Whenua Tahi
• EDMI325 – Te Reo o te Whenua Rua

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are no majors, minors or formal endorsements for this qualification.

The main discipline focus is:

• Maori language / te reo Maori
• Maori culture and tikanga
• Matauranga Maori
• Maori education
• Maori pedagogies
• Teacher professional development
• Maori research and culturally responsive teaching

Programme Highlights

The strongest distinguishing features are:

• Focus on te reo Maori and Maori education.
• Designed specifically for practising/provisionally certified teachers.
• Integrates Maori knowledge, culture, history and worldviews into teaching.
• Includes kaupapa Maori pedagogies.
• Includes Maori research.
• Flexible options designed around working kaiako.
• Includes noho marae and wananga experiences.
• Provides a pathway toward further postgraduate study in Maori education and related disciplines.

Career Outcomes

The qualification is primarily professional development for teachers rather than an initial teacher-training qualification.

Potential outcomes include strengthening existing careers as:

• Early childhood teachers
• Primary teachers
• Secondary teachers
• Maori-medium or bilingual educators
• Teachers incorporating Maori perspectives into English-medium education
• Maori education leaders
• Education mentors and advocates
• Education/community roles involving indigenous cultural engagement

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important 2026 update is:

Enrolments are currently closed.

UC's programme page explicitly states that the qualification is not currently open to new enrolments. The UC international graduate-diploma fee page also marks the qualification as "Not open to new enrolments."

There is also a special application/selection process involving:

• Interview/hui with the Programme Coordinator
• Te reo Maori language competency assessment
• Assessment of the applicant's current language level
• Confirmation of teacher qualification/practising status

International Student Visa Requirements

For a future international applicant who is eventually admitted to an eligible UC programme, the relevant New Zealand visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the visa:

• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can be granted for up to 4 years.
• Has an advertised processing timeframe of 80% within 8 weeks.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of tuition funding or an appropriate scholarship.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to meet health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Normally requires evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to leave New Zealand.