Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)

Summary

Become a teacher and make a difference. Build on your degree with a professional qualification in secondary school teaching.

Get the skills and knowledge you need to create positive, inclusive learning environments and become a confident and effective educator. Through the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary), you’ll become an agent of change for young people’s education and wellbeing.

Important note

This programme may not be suitable for you as an international student, as you need to join the selection interview in person in Wellington—there are no online interviews.

As an alternative, you might consider the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary). That programme has an online option for the selection interview. If you have any questions, contact the International Office.

Learn in the classroom

The Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) is a 10-month, full-time programme with 35 weeks based in the classroom. This valuable experience will develop your skills and enable you to see how theory and practice are interlinked in your development as a teacher. Most of your classroom experience will be in your host school. For 22 weeks you’ll spend the equivalent of two days a week alongside a mentor teacher in a classroom context. Teaching is fully online, although on-campus attendance is compulsory for the Ngā Mihi and Wānanga periods.

In addition, you will have 13 weeks of full-time practice experience, including four weeks in a different school. Your full-time practice experience in your host school includes eight weeks in the second half of the year to widen and deepen your teaching experience.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Globally ranked

This programme is ranked in the top 250 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Learn the New Zealand curriculum

The Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) is focused on The New Zealand Curriculum. You will learn the principles and theories of teaching and learning to support learners of all backgrounds and abilities.

Successful graduates will be able to teach in secondary, middle, and intermediate schools throughout New Zealand. You’ll also be eligible for provisional teacher certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington also offers the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary). The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) is a 10-month programme with 16 weeks based in the classroom. You can study the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) full time over 10 months or part time over two years.

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington also offers the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary). The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) is a 10-month programme with 16 weeks based in the classroom. You can study the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) full-time over 10 months.

The study experience

You can expect to spend 40 to 50 hours studying each week. Courses are taught over three trimesters, between February and November.

The programme is primarily based online. Classes are online, while your Professional Practive placements and the Ngā Mihi and Wānanga periods require in-person attendance. All students will be supported by a professional learning community and an academic mentor.

2027 dates

• Trimester 1: Monday 8 February–Friday 25 June 2027
• Trimester 2: Monday 12 July–Thursday 2 December 2027.

This includes compulsory campus attendance at:

• Ngā Mihi: Tuesday 9 February–Thursday 11 February 2027
• Wānanga: Monday 29 November–Thursday 2 December 2027.

Secondary school teaching subjects

To enrol in the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) you will need to have one subject aligned to the secondary school curriculum in your undergraduate degree as a major subject studied to 300 or postgraduate level. You may be able to do the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) with two curriculum-aligned subjects. The other may be a major or a minor studied to at least 200-level.

The following curriculum areas and subjects are ...