New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC)
New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) is a private tertiary education provider in New Zealand that specialises in Early Childhood Education (ECE), teacher education, and Health and Wellbeing. It has more than 40 years of experience and offers qualifications designed to prepare students for professional roles in education and care.
NZTC combines academic study with practical experience, flexible technology-supported learning and workplace-based learning. It offers selected qualifications to students in New Zealand and, where approved, to learners studying offshore.
Types of courses and study levels
NZTC’s official history page reports 14 programmes in total: 10 in Early Childhood Education, three in Health and Wellbeing, and one in Secondary Teaching. This is the college’s published programme count, not a count of every possible specialisation or study mode.
A. Early Childhood Education (ECE) — 10 programmes
NZTC’s ECE qualifications range from Level 5 to Level 9 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). They offer pathways from diplomas through undergraduate and postgraduate study.
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) — A foundation-level diploma focused on child development, early-years pedagogy and professional practice.
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6) — Develops deeper understanding of curriculum, teaching approaches, families, communities and leadership.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) (Level 7) — A degree for early childhood-related roles. The online/blended version without the required field-practice component does not itself lead to New Zealand teacher registration.
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) (Level 7) — A teacher-education degree with practical experience, designed to prepare students to apply for teacher registration.
Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) (Level 7) — A teaching pathway for graduates who already hold a degree and want to qualify in early childhood teaching.
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leadership and Management) — Postgraduate development for education professionals interested in leadership and management.
Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) — Postgraduate study focused on advanced understanding of early childhood education.
Master of Early Childhood Education — Advanced study in early childhood education, research and professional practice.
Master of Education (Early Childhood Education) — Postgraduate study for further development in educational theory, practice and leadership.
Master of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education) — A teaching-focused master’s programme that includes practical experience and can provide a pathway to apply for teacher registration, subject to meeting the Teaching Council’s requirements.
B. Health and Wellbeing — 3 programmes
These qualifications are designed for students who want to develop skills for support and healthcare-assistance roles. They are vocational certificates rather than university degrees.
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2) — 12 weeks; introductory knowledge and practical skills for support work.
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing — Healthcare Assistance Strand (Level 3) — 22 weeks; develops foundational skills for working as a healthcare assistant.
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Care and Support) (Level 4) — One year; focuses on advanced, person-centred care and support for clients with more complex needs.
C. Secondary Teaching — 1 programme
- Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) (Level 8) — A one-year, 120-credit qualification for eligible graduates preparing to teach in New Zealand secondary schools. The programme combines online academic learning with school-based professional experience.
Programme availability note: Not every qualification is necessarily open to international students studying in New Zealand. Some programmes can be completed offshore only, while others require practical placements and face-to-face or school/centre-based participation. Check the international page and the specific programme page before recommending a course.
Number of programmes offered
NZTC reports 14 programmes across three subject areas:
Early Childhood Education: 10 programmes.
Health and Wellbeing: 3 programmes.
Secondary Teaching: 1 programme.
Highlights of NZTC
Specialist early childhood education
NZTC has more than four decades of experience in ECE and offers pathways from diplomas through bachelor’s and postgraduate qualifications.
Practical experience and teacher-registration pathways
Selected ECE qualifications include field practice in early childhood centres, preparing eligible graduates to apply for teacher registration.
Flexible learning
NZTC Online supports access to course materials, assessment submission and interaction with lecturers. Selected programmes are available through online, blended, centre-based or school-based learning.
Health and Wellbeing training
Three certificate programmes offer introductory through advanced care and support study, including practical learning.
International recognition for selected qualifications
Certain NZTC qualifications have recognition or approval from relevant education and early childhood authorities overseas. Recognition is specific to the qualification and country.
Latest updates — 2026 and 2027
The following developments are relevant for students planning to enrol in late 2026 or during 2027.
New Secondary Teaching programme: NZTC launched the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) in 2026, expanding its offering beyond early childhood education and health and wellbeing. The programme is one year full-time, Level 8 and 120 credits, with school-based learning.
New CEO: NZTC announced Suzanne Pearson as its Chief Executive Officer in its latest news listings.
2026 graduation: NZTC reported that its 2026 graduation ceremony celebrated 369 graduates.
International scholarship: The NZ$10,000 scholarship for a limited number of international students studying the Master of Teaching and Learning (ECE) is advertised on NZTC’s programme page. Confirm current availability, selection criteria and deadlines before applying.
2027 tuition fees published: NZTC’s ECE fee page lists 2027 international fees for several programmes, including NZ$52,000 for the Master of Teaching and Learning (ECE), NZ$28,000 for the Level 5 ECE diploma and NZ$57,540 for the Master of Education (ECE). Resource and enrolment charges apply separately. These figures are programme-specific and should be checked against the final offer.
Fees Free policy change: NZTC’s financial-assistance page states that the government’s Fees Free scheme will end on 31 December 2026. This is a government funding change, not the withdrawal of an NZTC scholarship; international applicants should not assume eligibility for domestic government support
Scholarship
General NZTC international scholarship — up to 25% of tuition fees
NZTC’s 2026 international fee information published by its parent education group, UP Education, advertises a general scholarship of up to 25% of tuition fees for all programmes. This is an important additional funding option to enquire about, alongside the NZ$10,000 Master of Teaching and Learning scholarship promoted on NZTC’s own website.
Scholarship value: Up to 25% of tuition fees. The actual amount is not guaranteed and may depend on the applicant’s assessment.
Programmes covered: The published 2026 fee document says “all programmes,” but applicants should confirm which specific qualifications and intakes remain eligible.
Selection criteria: The published document states that scholarship decisions may be based on performance during an interview or assessment of the applicant’s personal statement. It does not publish a universal academic grade requirement or a fixed nationality list.
Application process: Contact NZTC or the relevant UP Education regional manager to confirm the current process. Ask whether a separate scholarship application is required or whether applicants are assessed as part of admission.
Deadline: No universal closing date is specified in the document reviewed. The offer is described in 2026 information, so availability for late-2026 and 2027 intakes must be confirmed directly.
Important: “Up to 25%” means the maximum advertised reduction, not an automatic 25% award for every student. The source is a published 2026 fee document, not a guarantee that the offer is still available for every intake
Scholarship of up to NZ$10,000 for selected programmes
The same UP Education 2026 international fee document advertises scholarships of up to NZ$10,000 toward tuition fees for selected programmes. The amount awarded depends on the student's assessment, and not every successful applicant will receive the maximum.
Potential eligible programmes: The 2026 information identifies selected programmes, including the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and Master of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education). The current programme-specific page independently confirms a NZ$10,000 scholarship for a limited number of international students enrolling in the Master of Teaching and Learning (ECE).
Selection considerations: The published 2026 information identifies interview performance or assessment of the applicant's personal statement as factors in determining the award.
What is not fully published: The exact academic-score threshold, nationality restrictions, scholarship application deadline, number of awards, and whether the scholarship is applied to the first year or across the whole programme are not specified consistently across the public sources reviewed.
Maori and Pasifika scholarships — restricted eligibility
NZTC also advertises scholarships for students of M?ori or Pasifika descent. Eligible students may save up to 70% of first-year study fees and, if successful, pay NZ$1,999 toward the first year of one of these programmes:
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education).
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6).
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5).
TeachNZ scholarships and government grants
NZTC's financial-assistance information also refers students to other teacher-education funding options, including TeachNZ scholarships and Ministry of Education grants. These are separate schemes with their own administrators and eligibility rules. They should not be represented as NZTC international scholarships.
Eligibility and application requirements: what international students should prepare
NZTC does not publish one universal scholarship application checklist that covers every award. Based on the published scholarship information, international applicants should prepare for the following requirements, subject to confirmation by admissions.
Likely selection considerations
Admission to an eligible NZTC programme.
A personal statement explaining motivation, study plans and suitability for the chosen qualification.
An interview or other assessment, where required.
Academic records and evidence that the applicant meets the programme's entry requirements.
Evidence of eligibility for any restricted scholarship, if applicable.
Any additional documentation requested by NZTC or UP Education.
Final recommendation for education counsellors
As of 24 October 2026, the public information supports three scholarship categories worth enquiring about:
A general scholarship of up to 25% of tuition fees, advertised in UP Education's 2026 international fee information.
A scholarship of up to NZ$10,000 for selected programmes, with a programme-specific NZ$10,000 offer confirmed on NZTC's Master of Teaching and Learning (ECE) page for a limited number of international students.
M?ori and Pasifika scholarships, which have specific eligibility requirements and should not be treated as general international awards.
