Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)

Summary

Enhance your career prospects with the specialised study of teaching at secondary level.

Make a positive difference in the lives of adolescents and young people in New Zealand. Get the skills and knowledge you need to be a confident and effective secondary school teacher.

Teacher education at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Learn the New Zealand curriculum

The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) focuses on The New Zealand Curriculum with 16 weeks based in the classroom. You can complete the program in 10 months studying full time.

If you are a domestic student, you can study either on campus or online.

You will learn the principles and theories of teaching and learning to support learners of all backgrounds and abilities and to be an agent of change for young people’s education and wellbeing.

Successful graduates will be able to teach in secondary schools throughout New Zealand, and elsewhere, and be eligible for provisional teacher certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Learn the New Zealand curriculum

The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) focuses on The New Zealand Curriculum with 16 weeks based in the classroom. You can complete the programme in 10 months by commencing the program in Trimester 1 and studying full time.

If you are a domestic student, you can study either on campus or online.

You will learn the principles and theories of teaching and learning to support learners of all backgrounds and abilities and to be an agent of change for young people’s education and wellbeing.

Successful graduates will be able to teach in secondary schools throughout New Zealand, and elsewhere, and be eligible for provisional teacher certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Secondary school teaching subjects

To enrol in the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) you will need to have included at least one subject aligned to the secondary school curriculum in your undergraduate degree. This subject will need to be a major subject studied to 300-level. You may have another subject studied to at least 200-level.

The following curriculum areas and subjects are offered in our secondary teaching qualifications (subject availability can vary):

• English
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture and Horticulture)
• Social Sciences (History, Geography, Psychology, Classical Studies, Media Studies)
• Commerce (Accounting, Business Studies, Economics)
• Visual Arts
• Music Studies
• Drama
• Technology (Design and Visual Communication, Digital, Textiles, Materials)
• Physical Education & Health
• Food and Nutrition
• Languages (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Gagana Sāmoa, Spanish, Te Reo Māori).

To find out more about the teaching subjects offered by the School of Education, contact the Student Success team.

Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary)

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington also offers the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary). This is a 10-month, full-time programme with 22 weeks based in the classroom.

After you graduate

New Zealand is facing a shortage of secondary teachers, so employment prospects are good for all subjects. In particular, there is high demand for teachers in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Te Reo Māori, and Technology.

With the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), you can apply for provisional teacher registration from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll also be able to apply for teaching positions in New Zealand and overseas.

If your previous academic qualification is from another country, you may need to have it assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority after you complete the GDipTchg(Secondary). This review might be needed to help decide your salary.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te reo Māori

New Zealand teachers live the values of Te Tiriti of Waitangi and use te reo Māori in their teaching practice. During your studies you will strengthen your knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi partnership and practice using te reo Māori in everyday and classroom situations.

Practical teaching experience

You will gain valuable experience on three teaching placements. These placements will develop your skills and enable you to see how theory and practice interlink in your development as a teacher.

Teaching placements are limited for some subjects. You should expect travel to placements of up to an hour each way. Your teaching subjects will also impact our ability to secure your teaching placements.

The study experience

You can expect to spend 40 to 50 hours studying each week.

Courses are taught between February and December.

You can study on campus or online. A blended approach is taken for campus-based study where...