Postgraduate Certificate in Education PGCertEd

This certificate is designed to be taken part-time by busy teachers and cross-sector professionals with an education focus to their work. Complete just two courses to gain your first postgraduate qualification. A broad range of courses is available: from digital learning, mentoring, and early childhood, through to educational change, literacy, sport, health and wellbeing, second language learning and supporting Māori learners.

Flexible delivery options and learning modes are also available to meet the increasingly diverse needs of our communities. Students with a GPA of 5 or higher who wish to go into further study can credit the postgraduate certificate courses towards a Master of Education, provided the certificate has not been awarded.

Study the Inclusive Education specialisation

One in four people in Aotearoa have a disability. This diversity is now represented in local early childhood settings and schools and teachers are expected to have the conceptual, culturally responsive and applied knowledge base needed to teach in inclusive environments. 

In this specialisation, you’ll develop advanced knowledge and capabilities in inclusive practices to support diverse learners in educational settings. You’ll also extend your research skills through an inquiry-based approach and gain the skills and knowledge needed to take leading roles in effective planning, coordination and management of projects and in professional learning.

Find out more about the Inclusive Education specialisation.

Study the Early Childhood specialisation

Early childhood is a growth area – and one where highly qualified people are souight to progress a range of early childhood services, be they early childhood centres or related services for tamariki and their whanau. The complexities of these services require people with knowledge of and capability in complex and diverse contexts.

In this specialisation, you’ll develop advanced knowledge and capability in a range of fields, including psychology, leadership, child development, pedagogy, and contemporary global understandings of childhood. You’ll also progress your inquiry and research skills with the opportunity to complete a thesis if you choose this pathway.

Find out more about the Early Childhood specialisation.

Study the Literacy Education specialisation

Literacy is a life skill, a way of accessing, evaluating and generating knowledge. It's essential for participating in society and thinking critically. We use literacies to tell our stories, to learn and to convey who we are in the world. Literacy is key to valued educational outcomes.

The world is increasingly diverse, with multiple languages, modes, texts and worldviews. Multiple literacies are needed to access, develop and communicate knowledge, and to critically evaluate media and information online. Teachers at all year levels and in all learning areas or subjects are teachers of literacies.

In this specialisation, you will develop advanced critical skills, including the knowledge and capabilities to build on and develop the diversity of literacies and learners. You will build skills for working with children and young people and for literacy leadership.

This specialisation is relevant for all teachers who want to be critical consumers of research, designers for accelerated learning and formative evaluators of effective practices and resources.