Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary) is an initial teacher education qualification for graduates who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to become secondary-school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• It combines academic teacher-education coursework with substantial supervised professional practice in secondary-school settings.
• Massey describes blended learning as a hallmark of the qualification, with coursework grounded in demonstration, application and problem-solving around teaching practice.
• Students spend a minimum of 80 days in professional education settings, working with associate teachers and mentors and progressively taking on teaching responsibilities.
• The programme develops knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, classroom practice, professional responsibilities and the New Zealand secondary-school context.
• Students learn about teaching through a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangata whenuatanga, alongside consideration of learners' heritage, language, identity and culture.
• Successful graduates are eligible to apply for provisional teacher certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
• The programme is particularly suitable for graduates who want to convert their existing subject expertise into a secondary teaching career.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme contains 30 credits of core Learning and Teaching study and 120 credits within the Secondary endorsement.

Core courses:

• 263400 Learning and Teaching 1 – 15 credits
• 263401 Learning and Teaching 2 – 15 credits

Secondary endorsement:

• 260410 Professional Practice 1 (Secondary) – 30 credits
• 260411 Professional Practice 2 (Secondary) – 30 credits
• 260415 Curriculum and Pedagogy B (Secondary) – 30 credits
• One of the following 30-credit Curriculum and Pedagogy A courses:
  • 260412 Curriculum and Pedagogy A (Secondary Maths, Science, Technology)
  • 260413 Curriculum and Pedagogy A (Secondary English, Languages, Social Sciences)
  • 260414 Curriculum and Pedagogy A (Secondary Arts, Physical Education & Health).

Key subject areas include:

• Learning and teaching theory
• Secondary curriculum
• Curriculum planning
• Pedagogy
• Assessment
• Classroom practice
• Professional teaching practice
• Reflective practice
• Subject-specific teaching
• Teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Tangata whenuatanga
• Learner diversity
• Relationships with students, families and whanau
• Professional responsibilities.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The requested specialisation is:

• Secondary teaching

Within the Secondary endorsement, students develop a major teaching subject and a second teaching subject.

Current Curriculum and Pedagogy A groupings are:

• Maths, Science and Technology
• English, Languages and Social Sciences
• Arts, Physical Education and Health. 

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 7 graduate diploma.
• 150 credits.
• One extended academic year full-time.
• One intake per year.
• Specifically designed for graduates entering secondary teaching.
• Selected-entry admission process.
• Blended learning model.
• Manawat campus and distance/online options.
• Distance students must remain in New Zealand for the duration of the programme.
• Compulsory five-day February contact wananga at Manawata.
• Up to five additional compulsory online contact-workshop days.
• Minimum 80 days of supervised professional experience.
• Practicum placements are normally arranged in the student's local area where possible, but students may need to travel up to one hour and, for some secondary subject specialisms, may need to complete placements outside their local region.
• The qualification is designed around the New Zealand curriculum and Teaching Council requirements.
• Successful graduates can apply for provisional teacher certification.

Career Outcomes

On completion, graduates are eligible to apply for certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand as provisionally certificated teachers.

As a provisionally certificated teacher, graduates can teach in secondary schools throughout New Zealand, subject to the Teaching Council's registration/certification process and requirements.

Typical career direction:

• Secondary school teacher
• Subject teacher
• Beginning/provisionally certificated teacher
• Teaching roles in New Zealand secondary schools

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

For the 2027 intake, the most important current dates and requirements are:

• International application deadline: 2 October 2026.
• Study starts: 25 January 2027.
• Only one intake each year.
• International students must be physically in New Zealand and ready to begin by the start date for visa purposes.

Important practical requirements:

• This is selected entry; applicants are assessed rather than automatically admitted.
• A 360-credit bachelor's degree or equivalent is required.
• Relevant subject knowledge is essential for the Secondary endorsement.
• IELTS Academic 7.0 in every component may be required where English/Te Reo Maori is not the applicant's first language.
• Police vetting and overseas police reports are required where applicable.
• Two referees are required.
• A 500-word supporting statement is required.
• Interview/selection activities are part of the admission process.
• No credit transfer is permitted towards this qualification.