Entry criteria
Postgraduate Qualifications
Academic Entry
Applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the Master of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education) must hold the minimum of a Level 7 degree, with a B+ average or higher.
Special Consideration – Special consideration will be given to applicants who show evidence of successful prior academic performance and work experience that demonstrates an ability for postgraduate-level study.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must:
Provide at least one professional reference.
Provide a statement of intent
Demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of personal and professional qualities, based on the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession (2017), through a personal visual interview.
Take the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool and attain Step 5 for literacy and Step 5 in numeracy.
Be assessed for their te reo Māori competency based on the levels in Te Aho Arataki Marau.
Have attained a New Zealand Police vetting report.
Declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
International students must submit an overseas police certificate(s) for each overseas country they have lived in for more than one year within the last 10 years if they were 18 years old or over during the time they lived there.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
Applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s English language proficiency requirements. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
International applicants must also meet English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Applicants for the Master of Education (Early Childhood Education) must have a Bachelor degree at Level 7 (360 credits), a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s degree, or equivalent, with an average grade deemed acceptable to Registrar or designate.
Special admission may be granted should a combination of grades and experience in early childhood education.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Applicants for the Master of Early Childhood Education must have a Bachelor degree at Level 7 (360 credits), a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s degree, or equivalent, with an average grade deemed acceptable to Registrar or designate.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) must have a Bachelor degree at Level 7 (360 credits), a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s degree, or equivalent.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Applicants for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leadership and Management) must have a Bachelor degree at Level 7 (360 credits), a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s degree, or equivalent.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Undergraduate qualifications
Academic Entry
Applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) must have a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching (Primary) Level 7, a Bachelor degree at Level 7 (360 credits), a Bachelor degree with honours at Level 8 (480 credits) or a Master’s degree at Level 9 (240 credits) qualification. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted.
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must:
Provide at least one written professional reference.
Demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of personal and professional qualities, based on the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession (2017), through a personal visual interview.
Take the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool and attain Step 5 for literacy and Step 5 in numeracy.
Be assessed for their te reo Māori competency at Level 1 in the Te Aho Arataki Marau.
Have attained a New Zealand Police vetting report.
Declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
International students must submit an overseas police certificate(s) for each overseas country they have lived in for more than one year within the last 10 years, if they were 18 years old or over during the time they lived there.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
Applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s English language proficiency requirements. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
International applicants must also meet English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) who are under the age of 20 must have University Entrance or the following:
International Baccalaureate with Completion of Diploma (minimum of 24 points)
Academic equivalent entry
Ad eundem statum admission
Applicants for the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) over the age of 20 may receive special admission. Special admission is applied for, and granted, at the discretion of the College.
All applicants must:
Provide at least one written professional reference.
Demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of personal and professional qualities, based on the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession (2017), through a personal visual interview.
Take the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool and attain Step 5 for literacy and Step 5 in numeracy.
Be assessed for their te reo Māori competency at Level 1 in the Te Aho Arataki Marau.
Have attained a New Zealand Police vetting report.
Declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
International students must submit an overseas police certificate(s) for each overseas country they have lived in for more than one year within the last 10 years, if they were 18 years old or over during the time they lived there.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
Applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s English language proficiency requirements. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
International applicants must also meet English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry
Domestic applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) who are under the age of 20 must have University Entrance or one of the following:
International Baccalaureate with Completion of Diploma (minimum of 24 points)
Academic equivalent entry
Ad eundem statum admission
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) over the age of 20 may receive special admission. Special admission is applied for, and granted, at the discretion of the College.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry - all applicants
Domestic applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6) must have one of the following:
Completed the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5); or
A qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5)
Where an applicant’s qualification has been undertaken outside of New Zealand, NZTC has discretion to determine equivalency to the New Zealand qualification. Equivalency is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Blended learning mode
Applicants must:
Provide at least one written professional reference.
Demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of personal and professional qualities, based on the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession (2017), through a personal visual interview.
Be assessed for their te reo Māori competency at Level 1 in the Te Aho Arataki Marau.
Have attained a New Zealand Police vetting report.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.
Academic Entry - all applicants
Domestic applicants need to be a minimum of 16 years old prior to starting the programme. International applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age prior to starting the programme.
Applicants for the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) who are under the age of 20, must have one of the following:
a) A minimum of 48 NCEA credits at level 2 or higher, with the literacy credits required for University Entrance as per Universities New Zealand
b) International high school equivalency.
Applicants for the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) over the age of 20 may receive special admission. Special admission is applied for, and granted, at the discretion of the College.
All applicants must declare any physical or learning disability, or diverse needs that may impact on their performance as a student.
Blended learning mode
Applicants must:
Provide at least one written professional reference.
Demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of personal and professional qualities, based on the Code of Professional Responsibility and Standards for the Teaching Profession (2017), through a personal visual interview.
Be assessed for their te reo Māori competency at Level 1 in the Te Aho Arataki Marau.
Have attained a New Zealand Police vetting report.
Note: Detailed academic entry criteria is determined by our admissions team.
English Language Entry
International applicants must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to Rule 22 of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2025. Details of these requirements can be found HERE.
If at any point in the selection process New Zealand Tertiary College holds concerns about an applicant’s English language competency, the College will require the applicant to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements.