You can apply to study the one-year New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5). This qualification pathways into the Level 6 Diploma or the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Upon completion of the Level 5 and/or Level 6 qualification you can apply to have your credits recognised and transferred to the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE).

If you’re not yet ready for a full three-year degree, you can start your study with the one-year Level 5 Diploma. Once you have completed the program, you can either progress through to the Level 6 Diploma, or apply to transfer your credits to the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education). The Level 5 Diploma and Level 6 Diploma are the equivalent of the first and second stages of the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE).

All of our undergraduate qualifications apart from the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) and Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) can be studied without practical teaching requirements. Students have the opportunity to complete Field Practice components at a later date if they wish to pursue New Zealand teacher registration.

If you hold a Level 7 bachelor’s degree and want to become a registered teacher, you must complete the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) as graduates are eligible to apply for New Zealand teacher registration upon completion. The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (ECE) has no practical teaching requirements and therefore doesn’t result in eligibility to become a registered ECE teacher.