New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6)
Apply NowThis program equips students with an in-depth pedagogical knowledge of the major early childhood curriculum areas: language, literacy, the creative arts, mathematics, science and technology; family and community; and foundations for leadership in an early childhood context.
This course examines curriculum experiences that promote language, literacy and the arts for infants, toddlers and young children and provides ideas for their practical implementation. You will make important connections between early childhood and primary school curricula, which will support you in facilitating opportunities for experimentation for infants, toddlers and young children in a range of curriculum areas.
This course considers the developmental needs of infants and toddlers, as well as different philosophies and pedagogical perspectives related to infant and toddler care and education. It encourages you to reflect on your own values, cultural understandings and beliefs about working with infants and toddlers, as well as reveals new thinking about infant and toddler care and education and what impacts on teachers’ responsibilities within early childhood settings. Curriculum provision for infants and toddlers is analysed and ways of implementing it in practice are considered.
In this course, you examine how children develop concepts through engaging in meaningful learning experiences, while acquiring content knowledge of mathematics, science and technology through your engagement with current practices and research, as well as through making connections between early childhood and primary school curricula. Planning and assessment practices and teaching strategies that foster mathematics, science and technology in early childhood education are examined in-depth.
The key focus of this course is families/whānau, their role and responsibilities in society and the contribution they make to their communities, with a particular focus on the early childhood education context. A range of social issues and realities faced by families in contemporary society are explored and practices that assist early childhood teachers to respectfully support children, parents and families/whānau are considered.
In this course, you explore leadership in early childhood education from the perspective of leadership practices that the teacher can develop to exert greater influence and enhance the learning outcomes of children in this setting. Leadership is discussed with the context of shared leadership perspectives and includes consideration of both distributed and pedagogical leadership approaches. Another feature of this course is the focus on teacher wellbeing. It is considered in the context of teacher’s feelings of security, affinity and sense of achievement, and is positioned within the leadership approaches.
Engaging in bicultural development in the teaching practice can be a dilemma many early childhood centres face when it comes to practice. This course serves as a theoretical and practical guide for you to not only recognise the importance of understanding and accepting the Tiriti-based values of two traditions within the bicultural society of Aotearoa/New Zealand, but also to be able to actively practice te reo and tikanga Māori in early childhood contexts. Through the in depth exploration of tikanga and te ao Māori, this course highlights the responsibility of early childhood teachers to support Māori identity, language and culture and actively promote Māori values and language for children of all ethnicities through everyday teaching and learning.
This course empowers you to practically apply the theoretical and conceptual knowledge gained from your academic courses. You develop a range of teaching strategies and practices, which provide an opportunity to explore and reflect on your own values and beliefs as you move closer towards becoming a graduating teacher. This course challenges you to make positive changes to your practice. You have the opportunity to work alongside skilled teachers who share their knowledge and experience with you. You are exposed to a range of skills, ideas, methods and resources, in order to foster your development as a teacher.
This course explores a range of factors that contribute to the holistic health and wellbeing of infants, toddlers and young children in the early childhood education context. Specific consideration is given to teaching practices, educational policies and community initiatives that support and contribute to children’s health and wellbeing and how teachers ensure that wellbeing is planned for and prioritised within their early childhood education services.
The intent of this course is to deepen your understanding of the role of the teacher in noticing, recognising and responding to children’s interests and learning. By engaging with this course, you have the opportunity to further reflect on and consolidate your theoretical knowledge and apply it to practice, particularly drawing on pedagogical content knowledge to support planning and assessment for infants, toddlers and young children.
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.
Students enrolled in the Blended Learning mode are required to undertake work experience (paid or voluntary) in a licensed early childhood centre for a minimum of 16 hours per week throughout the program
Engage in online discussions
International students will also be required to:
Attend tutorials for a minimum of four hours per week throughout the program
Students wishing to complete the Field Practice course are required to complete 40 days of full-time Field Practice during the program.
Centre-based learning
Applicable to all study programs operating under the requirements of The Teaching Council, this mode blends the flexibility of online learning with workplace learning and practical experience in an ECE centre or school. All students access the learning management system (NZTC Online) for course materials, research and support materials, and assessment submission and return, while learning in their workplace.
Online
Online is a flexible mode of learning without face-to-face attendance requirements. All study is conducted through our learning management system - NZTC Online. Courses are completed and assessed online, and you are part of an online learning community where you can interact with other students and lecturers through online discussion forums to assist your learning.
2025 | |
August 2025 intakes: | Monday, 4 August 2025 Monday, 11 August 2025 Monday, 18 August 2025 Monday, 25 August 2025 |
September 2025 intakes: | Monday, 1 September 2025 Monday, 8 September 2025 Monday, 15 September 2025 Monday, 22 September 2025 Monday, 29 September 2025 |
October 2025 intakes: | Monday, 6 October 2025 Monday, 13 October 2025 Monday, 20 October 2025 Tuesday, 28 October 2025 |
November 2025 intakes: | Monday, 3 November 2025 Monday, 10 November 2025 |
2025 Fees NZD
Domestic students - $6,848
International students - $26,000
The following fees are also required:
Student Fee Insurance $50
Covers the insurance to protect student fees. The fee is based upon one stage of study.Student ID card $30
One off payment at beginning of study. Students must submit a photo for a student card to be produced. Replacement cards for lost or stolen cards are $30.Police Vetting Fee $25
One off payment at beginning of study.NZQA Reporting Fee $10
Covers the cost of reporting qualification to NZQA.
If you are applying for Credit Recognition and Transfer (CRT):
CRT Assessment Fee $95
The fee is non-refundable even if no CRT credit is awarded.
International students may also be required to pay the following fees:
Homestay Placement $350
This fee is non-refundable even if no homestay is taken by the student.Medical and Travel Insurance $861 (approx)/annum
Insurance purchased from NZTC meets the conditions for insurance stipulated in the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. All insurance submitted to NZTC will be evaluated to ensure it meets the conditions. If the insurance does not, no Confirmation of Enrolment will be issued. Please check HERE.
New Zealand Tertiary College qualifications have been designed to link easily into each other, providing you with a flexible range of pathway options into higher level study.
Upon completion of the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6) you may be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Education (ECE) or Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Graduation from the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) results in eligibility to apply for New Zealand teacher registration. Entry criteria and field practice requirements apply.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Download our ECE Study Prospectus
Apply to enrol with NZTC
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If you're an international student, you can apply online with our online application form. Click here to apply as an international student.