ECE Diploma to Degree Upgrade Pathway

This part-time programme is designed to upgrade your ECE Diploma to a level 7 Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Being part-time, you will be able to keep working while you study.

Graduates gain a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) with a deeper understanding of:

• Curriculum design, assessment and inquiry
• Inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation in ECE settings
• Infants and toddlers
• Mātauranga Māori
• Leadership in Early Childhood Education

• Part-time
• 100% online

This pathway consists of three 12-week courses, and one 16-week course. You can choose to study part-time over a one or two-year period.

The 16-week course; Mātauranga Māori Teaching and Learning includes a noho marae experience. Students who have previously completed their Diploma in ECE with us are exempt from this course.

You will be supported during your studies by our passionate and committed lecturers and pouako, with further in-person support available for you at any one of our 11 Regional Education Centres.

Assessment

This programme is assessed by internal assessment. Assessments are varied and include online conversation participation, essays, reports, PowerPoint presentations, multimedia presentations and other assessment types.

To be eligible for programme admission, you must:

• Hold a recognised Level 7 New Zealand ECE teaching diploma qualification.

What is a verified copy?
A verified copy is a photocopy of your original document signed as being a true and accurate copy by a Justice of the Peace (JP), solicitor, church minister, kaumātua, police officer, school principal, Member of Parliament or Te Rito Maioha teaching staff member. You can find a list of Justices of the Peace in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book or at Royal Federation of NZ Justices’ Associations

Documents required to submit an application

1. Primary ID
You must supply a verified copy of one of the documents below:

• New Zealand Birth Certificate issued on or after 1 January 1998 carrying a unique identification number
• New Zealand Passport
• Overseas passport (must include relevant visa/residency permit)
• New Zealand Emergency travel document
• New Zealand refugee travel document
• New Zealand certificate of identity (issued under the Passports Act 1992 to non-NZ citizens who cannot obtain a passport from their country of origin)
• New Zealand certificate of identity (issued under the Immigration Act 1987 to people who have refugee status)
• New Zealand citizenship certificate

2. Secondary ID
You must supply a verified copy of one of the documents below:

• New Zealand Driver’s licence
• 18+ Card
• Community services card
• NZ student photo identification card – from another tertiary institution
• NZ employee photo identification card
• NZ electoral roll record
• Inland revenue number
• NZ utility bill, issued not more than six months earlier.

3. Evidence of Qualification

This programme consists of 4 courses:

Fees cover all tuition costs, student guides, readings and Noho Marae.

All fees shown are domestic fees studying in 2025*:

*Fees may be subject to late payment fees after the due date

• Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership (ECE)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Infant and Toddler Learning and Development
• Master of Education (ECE)