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Study the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (GradDipTchg)

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Programme details

Regulations for the Degree of Graduate Diploma of Teaching

  1. Admission to the Programme

    1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities), on the advice of the Dean, College of Education, who must be satisfied that the applicant satisfies the minimium requirements for admission to an initial teacher education programme as prescribed by relevant legislation and by the applicable professional and regulatory bodies.
    2. Priority will be given to candidates who can demonstrate they have an existing relationship with a school that is willing to host them for professional experience.
    3. Every applicant must have:
      1. a bachelor’s degree requiring papers worth at least 360 points (at Level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework), or
      2. alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice- Chancellor (Humanities).
      Notes:
      • At the time of selection, a disposition to teach coupled with a proven academic record and appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy will be sought.  Applicants’ suitability for the programme will be assessed by an interview and screening tests to be undertaken by applicants.
      • Applicants for the Secondary Education endorsement must have successfully completed study within their entry qualification at NZQF levels 5-7 or higher, that is relevant to one or more secondary school teaching subjects, as specified by the College of Education, or alternative approved by the Dean, College of Education.
  2. Structure of the Programme

    Every programme of study must satisfy the requirements for one of the endorsements in the schedule of requirements for the graduate diploma.

  3. Duration of the Programme

    1. The duration of the programme shall normally be one year of full-time study or its equivalent in part-time study.
    2. The programme of study must normally be completed within two years of admission by a full-time candidate, or within three years by a part-time candidate.
  4. Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

    Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions set out in the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
  5. Exclusion from the programme

    A candidate may be excluded from further study towards the degree by the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education, (clauses (a), and (b), or the Dean, College of Education (clause (c)), if the candidate:
    1. fails to make satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the Academic Progress Policy)
    2. fails to pass a professional experience paper for a second time
      1. Primary Education – EDGD 322 or EDGD 323
      2. Secondary Education – EDGD 332 or EDGD 333
    3. fails a component of the professional experience programme due to unprofessional or unethical behaviour, under which circumstances the student may be excluded from the professional component of the qualification.
  6. Withdrawal from and Readmission to the Programme

    1. A candidate who withdraws from the programme at any time and wishes to be readmitted to the programme at a later date shall be required to apply to the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education, for readmission.
    2. The period of temporary withdrawal from the programme shall not normally exceed one year following the year of withdrawal.
    3. Applications for readmission should normally be received by the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education, no later than the specified closing date for the programme.
  7. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

More information

Tel 0800 TO TEACH (0800 868 3224)
Website otago.ac.nz/education


This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.

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