Te Tohu Paetahi Akoranga: Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Entry criteria

Domestic Entry Requirements

To be eligible to enter this programme, you must be 17 years of age at the start of the programme, and provide evidence that you meet Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Entry to the Programme requirements.

Academic Entry Requirements

1. If you are under 20 years of age:

1. University Entrance or a recognised equivalent such as International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International,

OR 2. Be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of UCOL that you have the skills and ability to study at a tertiary level. This may include successful completion of New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care Level 4.

1. If you are over 20 years of age and without University Entrance (or equivalent), be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of UCOL that you have the ability to study at a tertiary level. This may include successful completion of the New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care Level 4.

Competency in English Language, te reo Māori, literacy and numeracy (English medium programmes)

English Language

UCOL will use the Tertiary Education Commission on-line Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool to assess candidate’s literacy and numeracy competency prior to confirmation of enrolment. A score of Step 4 for Literacy and Step 5 for Numeracy plus a scale score of 571 for writing, 608 for reading and 596 for two of the numeracy standards will be considered to having met the literacy and numeracy credits.

Literacy and Numeracy Competency

All applicants must demonstrate English language competency through one of the following:

• Achieved Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori level 2 (National Māori Langauge Proficience Examinations);
• Undertook all primary schooling and at least 3 years of secondary schooling in te reo Māori;
• Undertook five years of secondary schooling in te reo Māori.

Māori Language

Applicants who will be submitting assessments in te reo Māori but do not hold University Entrance in te reo Māori are recommended to demonstrate Maori language competency through the achievement of Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori Level 2 (National Māori Language Proficiency Examinations).

For applicants who have studied full immersion in te Reo Māori may use the following evidence of language competency:

• New Zealand University Entrance Literacy Credits at either NCEA Level 2 or 3, or
• New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 5 (Academic) as well as Unit Standards 22750, 22751 and 22749, or
• IELTS score of 7.0 or higher in all bands (achieved in the past two years) or equivalent including TOEFL (refer to the English language competency table on the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand website).

Literacy and Numeracy Competency

Prior to entry, all applicants must pass a literacy and numeracy competency assessment. The pass level in literacy and numeracy must be no lower than the equivalent to UE in literacy and numeracy.

• Achieved Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori level 2 (National Māori Langauge Proficience Examinations);
• Undertook all primary schooling and at least 3 years of secondary schooling in te reo Māori;
• Undertook five years of secondary schooling in te reo Māori.

Non-Academic Requirements

Learners must authorise UCOL to obtain a background check from the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Agency. If a conviction and/or a matter of concern is identified, the decision for accepting the applicant’s enrolment into the programme is at the discretion of the Academic Portfolio Manager.

UCOL will undertake a safety check of students to ensure UCOL meets the legislative requirements of the Vulnerable Children's Act, 2014. UCOL will do this on behalf of early childhood education institutions and providers of private childcare placements hosting UCOL learners. The safety check involves confirming the student’s work history, verifying their suitability to work with children with a trusted referee, and the completion of New Zealand Police vetting.

International Entry Requirements

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international learner applicants.

English language proficiency

If you are an international learner, you will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that you meet New Zealand University Entrance equivalency. In addition to meeting the academic entry requirements listed above, if your first language is not English, or you come from a country where the general medium of instruction is not English, you will be required to provide documentary evidence of proficiency in English (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).

The minimum requirements are:

An IELTS score of at least 7.0 (Academic) in all bands (or equivalent including TOEFL, NZ C...