Education Courses

There are a number of education courses taught across New Zealand, through every institution, from the University of Auckland to the University of Otago, Massey University to the Auckland University of Technology. Those courses may include:

• Courses in Early Childhood Education And Learning
• Courses in Adult And Tertiary Teaching
• Courses in Adult Literacy And Numeracy
• Courses in Primary And Secondary Education

The education in New Zealand is high quality and world-class, so expectations for teachers are high. Luckily, teachers are well rewarded with a wage that’s well above the required income to cover living costs and leisure in New Zealand. Teaching also allows for an incredibly flexible workload, with full time, part-time and substitute teaching all offering teachers of any age group the opportunity to live in a way that best suits them.

Whether you have time to study full-time education or want to complete many of the possible online education courses available, there are many ways to reach the many education jobs in New Zealand. Flexible study options are available throughout the country, including online teaching courses and blended.

Certificate courses

For those without prior qualifications, or if you want to quickly become qualified and start your career as soon as possible, a certificate could be the right choice for you. These courses often are completed in only a few months, with a Certificate Level 4 only taking 12 months of full-time study. These can often be completed through online education courses and can be obtained through education distance learning.

Qualifications such as Certificate Level 4 in Education Support offers a pathway into an entry-level role supporting the learning of students. There are many education jobs that can be obtained through only basic Certificate level study. They can also be the first step into further study, and many teaching courses begin this way, leading to practical placements and additional theoretical study later.

Diploma Courses

The next step for any education professional wishing to further advance in their career is to obtain a Diploma level course. A standard Diploma of Teaching is a widely accepted option if you are interested in becoming a fully qualified teacher.

These teaching diplomas are often categorised into specific courses such as early childhood education courses, high school education courses, of special education courses. Usually taking between 18 to 24 months of full time study, many can be fast-tracked if you have previously studied a Certificate level course.

A common choice is the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, offering further insight on the skills and knowledge required to be a successful and effective teacher in pre-primary schooling institutions.

Bachelor Degree

The most common course for a prospective teacher to take is a Bachelor level course. These differ from courses such as primary school teaching, teaching English courses, as well as early childhood education courses.

They offer an in-depth theoretical insight into the methods and techniques used to foster the most effective learning environment, as well as usually offer a practical teaching placement. This allows you to get a grasp of how to teach in a real-life situation, with the safety net of a supervising fully qualified and experienced teacher.

These courses take between 3-4 years of full-time study and are often the minimal required for full time teaching positions in many schools. If you are looking for primary school teaching jobs or high school teaching jobs, as well as any sort of competitive career in any of the other opportunities in the education sector, a Bachelor course is the right one for you. There are often online education courses available for students who live in remote areas, or lead busy lives.

Postgraduate Courses

If you wish to gain even more extensive knowledge about the education sector or teaching methods, a postgraduate degree such as the Master of Education is the right choice. This offers the chance to gain highly specialised insights into the industry, as well as undertake research projects to discover new areas of improvement and discoveries.

These require a Bachelor level degree as a pre-requisite and are reserved for only the most dedicated and driven individuals wishing to truly understand the educational processes. Many universities looking for a Tertiary Lecturer demand a Masters qualification, alongside many years of practical teaching experience.

Depending on the teaching that you’re interested in learning about, courses are delivered through a variety of institutes of technology, universities and independent training organisations. Something like a Master’s degree is taught through university education institutions that also teach bachelors degrees and other higher education. Meanwhile, courses such as a postgraduate diploma can be taught through both university and tertiary training establishments.
Domestic students have courses at every major city and town in New Zealand to choose a course from, including Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North, and more, so it’s easy to study in person. Online courses are also becoming popular throughout New Zealand, for both domestic and international students, although international students should enquire about a specific course and whether they require a student visa or other visa to be able to study.

Study options are varied depending on the education provider. A large organisation such as the University of Waikato there’s likely to be part-time and full-time study options, as well as different delivery methods. Student support is available both through education providers and the New Zealand government.

For further information about studying through an island nation, student loans, TOEFL requirements, PTEs, the NZQAs certification system, tuition fees and more, enquire about a specific course listed above!

Multiple options exist for anyone interested in an education career. With many levels of education compulsory in New Zealand, and further education paths like university, careers such as primary school teaching, high school teaching or university lecturing jobs are commonplace.

The most common practice is to become a teacher through a teaching degree, though there are many education jobs that don’t happen in a classroom.

Some of the types of teaching jobs you can do in New Zealand include:

• Department of Education Administrator
• School Principal
• Career Advisor
• Counsellor
• Child Care Worker
• Youth Worker
• Child Welfare Officer
• Learning Consultant
• Lecturer

While the most common option for education course graduates is teaching, there still exists many opportunities that allow you to fully explore whatever avenue excites you most about the study of studying!

New Zealand has a strong education industry. With international education contributing $4.5 billion to the economy and being the fifth biggest export industry, there are plenty of opportunities. Here are some stats about teaching jobs in New Zealand:

• There are more than 33,000 teaching jobs
• There is strong growth for careers such as a New Zealand teacher of English to speakers of other languages (ESOL)
• The average salary for teachers is between $30,000 – $75,000
• Tertiary Lecturer earn between $90,000 – $115,000 per year
• Head Early Childhood Teacher can earn up to almost $80,000 per year once fully qualified and experienced
• Primary school teaching is one of the most common careers, and someone in this career typically earns at most $72,000- $80,000

If you are determined to be a teacher, you must be an excellent motivator, as well as good at dealing with children of all ages. You must be knowledgeable about the subjects of instruction, as well as have the ability to explain it to others on many levels of difficulty.

Speaking, listening, instructing and critical thinking skills are paramount, as is patience. The ability to work with children or adults from all kinds of backgrounds and levels of knowledge is crucial and is required on a daily basis.