Teaching is a positive and varied career for people who are energetic, creative, enjoy working with people and who are committed to making a positive difference for children and young people.

The Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (GradDipTchgLn) gives you the opportunity to gain knowledge of teaching, learners and curriculum, engage in professional practice in schools, and become part of the teaching profession in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will be able to hone skills such as communication, critical thinking, planning and design for learning, and develop bicultural competence so that you go on to become an attentive and adaptable educator who meets the needs and aspirations of all learners.

The Graduate Diploma is endorsed in either Primary or Secondary Education. Students will meet Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand teaching standards and will be eligible to apply for registration and certification with the Teaching Council as a school teacher.

UC is ranked in the top 250 universities in the world for Education and Training (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2021).

Successful graduates meet the requirements to apply for teacher registration and certification with Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand and become primary and secondary school teachers. Internationally recognised, the GradDipTchgLn can also open up teaching opportunities abroad.

UC Primary Teacher Education graduates have gained teaching, leadership, and management positions in primary, intermediate, middle, and area schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. Graduates enjoy varied and rewarding careers as primary teachers, teaching across all eight curriculum learning areas. Many have opportunities to take on extracurricular activities, such as coaching sports teams; being involved in school productions and events; and sharing their areas of interest during electives or lunchtime/after school clubs.

UC Secondary Teacher Education graduates have gained teaching and leadership positions in secondary, senior, middle, and area schools across Aotearoa New Zealand. They enjoy rewarding careers as secondary school teachers, teaching in subject-based and integrated curriculum contexts, and many take on extracurricular responsibilities within schools eg, managing sports teams, organising cultural exchanges or drama productions, mediation services, etc. You may become curriculum or department leaders, leaders in pastoral care and wellbeing of learners, and even enter school management.

Transferable skills from the programme also apply to roles outside of teaching eg, educational publishing, policy, advocacy, consultancy, community development and leadership, social work, and the police.