Why Study / Key Benefits

• Bachelor of Teaching and Learning is a professional initial teacher education qualification designed to prepare students for teaching careers in early childhood and primary settings.
• Students can choose from three endorsements: Early Childhood, Primary, and M?tauranga M?ori.
• The programme incorporates Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao M?ori, helping students develop bicultural knowledge and competence for teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Students undertake professional practice placements throughout the degree in schools, kura and early childhood centres.
• Teaching is taught through a combination of educational theory, curriculum studies, professional practice and practical experience.
• UC states that the degree was developed in partnership with iwi and educators to prepare creative and innovative future teachers.
• Students develop transferable skills including management, collaboration, resilience and problem-solving.
• The programme can be studied on campus or by distance, with specific requirements for distance students.
• Primary students living in the Nelson area can study through a blended online and face-to-face model at the Whakat? Nelson Campus. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The 360-point degree consists of:

• 75 points professional practice
• 285 points of endorsement-related coursework.

Courses integrate online resources such as discussion forums, recorded lectures and video tutorials. Students undertake professional practice placements for up to 10 weeks per year.

Examples of compulsory/teacher-education courses include:

Year 1:

• AKOT100 – Navigating Study at Tertiary Level – Being a Successful Learner
• AKOT101 – Ng? T?ngata o Aotearoa: Te Mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• AKOT110 – Te Reo M?ori Tahi: M? te Kaiako
• AKOP150 – Teacher as Learner
• AKOP151 – He Taonga te Tangata | The Person is a Treasure
• AKOP152 – Exploring the Curriculum
• AKOP153 – Designing the Curriculum
• AKOP154 – Curriculum for Practice: Literacy and Mathematics
• AKOA161 – Mana Ako: Practice Exploration 1.

Year 2 examples include:

• AKOT210 – Te Reo M?ori Rua: M? te Kaiako
• AKOP250 – Teacher as a Practitioner
• AKOP251 – Weaving the Curriculum: Learning Languages and Social Sciences
• AKOP252 – Developing Learning in Literacy and Mathematics.

Later-stage courses cover areas such as:

• Curriculum design
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technology
• Arts
• Health and physical education
• Social sciences
• Language learning
• Professional identity
• Inclusive education
• Assessment
• Teaching practice
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Te ao Maori
• Professional ethics.

Disciplines / Specialisations

There are three endorsements:

1. Early Childhood

Prepares students for teaching in early childhood settings such as whare k?hungahunga. Coursework covers early childhood curriculum, pedagogy, child development, professional practice and relationships with children, wh?nau and communities.

2. Primary

Prepares students for teaching in primary, intermediate, middle and area-school settings.

Primary students study areas including:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technology
• Arts
• Health and physical education
• Social sciences
• Languages
• Te Reo M?ori
• Curriculum design
• Teaching practice.

3. Matauranga Maori

This pathway is founded on matauranga Maori, Maori philosophies and values and places particular emphasis on te reo Maori me ona tikanga.

Programme Highlights

• 360-point professional bachelor's degree.
• Three years full-time.
• One February intake each year.
• Three endorsements: Early Childhood, Primary and Matauranga Maori.
• 75 points of professional practice.
• Professional placements throughout the programme.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Maori integrated into the curriculum.
• On-campus and distance options.
• Blended delivery available through the Whakatu Nelson Campus for eligible Primary students living in the Nelson area.
• Preparation for application for provisional teacher registration with Matatu Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand.
• Developed in partnership with iwi and educators.
• Strong practical component through schools, kura and early childhood centres.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can progress into teaching and education-related roles.

UC specifically reports graduates moving into teaching and management positions in:

• Early childhood centres
• Kura
• Primary schools
• Intermediate schools
• Middle schools
• M?ori-medium settings
• Area schools.

Potential career pathways also include:

• Early childhood teacher
• Primary teacher
• Education policy
• Community and youth work
• Advocacy
• Education-related support and leadership roles.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current update for applicants to the Primary endorsement is the new mathematics/numeracy entry requirement.

The Teaching Council requires applicants to Primary English-medium ITE qualifications to demonstrate mathematics competence. UC states that the relevant assessment is LNAAT and applicants are expected to score above 690.

Other important requirements include:

• Police check.
• Referee reports.
• Interview.
• Literacy and numeracy testing.
• Communication assessment.
• Demonstrated interest in working with children.
• Community involvement.
• English-language competency.
• Teaching Council language competency.
• Additional mathematics competency for Primary.
• Te reo Maori assessment/hui for the Matauranga Maori endorsement.

International Student Visa Requirements

For a normal full-time international student paying UC tuition, the relevant visa is generally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand requires applicants to have:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of tuition funding or a scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Good health and character where applicable.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Evidence that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.

Current tertiary-study living-fund requirement:

• NZD $20,000 for each year of study if the study lasts one year or more.
• NZD $1,667 per month if the study period is shorter than one year.