Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary Education)

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree.
Students who have completed The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand’s Bachelor of Teaching (Primary Education) are not eligible for enrolment in this programme.

Teaching Council of Aotearoa NZ consultation on maths competence

The Teaching Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a requirement that student teachers enrolling in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme for primary teaching would have to demonstrate competence in maths, using either of the following measures: 

a. Holding a minimum of 14 credits at Achieved, Merit or Excellence in the NCEA subjects ‘Mathematics and Statistics’ and /or ‘Pāngarau’ at NCEA Level 2 or above (or a recognised equivalent), or

b. Passing a maths assessment as specified by the Teaching Council.

Open Polytechnic is continuing to recruit students to begin study in 2025 based on the existing ITE entry requirements. The Teaching Council has advised us that they are comfortable for enrolment to continue as no decision has yet been made.

However, student teachers commencing study in 2025 should be aware that, if the Teaching Council were to approve the current proposal after consultation, should they not meet measure (a) above, they would be required to pass the maths assessment specified by the Teaching Council before they were able to graduate from the programme. (This reflects the Teaching Council’s consultation proposal that, as a transitional arrangement for 2025 and 2026, measure (b) can be met prior to graduation, rather than prior to entry to the programme.)
  
 Note: this message reflects advice received from the Teaching Council.
 

Workforce restrictions for children's workforce

If you have a criminal conviction and want to study towards a qualification that will lead to a job in the state funded sector (including teaching or providing youth services) working directly with children, you need to check whether your conviction could prevent you from working in some roles in your chosen field.
This is due to the Children's Act 2014. This prevents state sector agencies and government-funded service providers from hiring people with convictions for specified offences to work with children in some roles.

Read the list of specified offences

This information has been supplied by the Children's Action Plan Directorate and the Tertiary Education Commission.

Cross Crediting

Please note, cross credits are not available for this programme

English Language Requirements

All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language competency prior to acceptance to the programme. Evidence of this will be provided by:

• New Zealand University Entrance;
• Or the current New Zealand Teaching Council Initial Teacher Education requirements.

Note that exemptions may apply to the above as per current Teaching Council Initial Teacher Education Requirements.

International students and domestic students living overseas

This programme is not open to:

• International students living overseas or in New Zealand
• Domestic students living overseas 

Computer and internet requirements

This programme is delivered online. To complete this programme you will need access to a laptop or desktop computer, reliable broadband internet connection and a data plan able to support online learning such as streaming of videos (including YouTube), downloading content, and writing and submitting online assessments. If you are unsure if your current computer or internet access allows you to complete your online learning with us, please contact us before applying to enrol.

Learn more about our online learning and study tools.