Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Learning

The Postgraduate Diploma of Education and Learning (PGDipEdLn) is designed to meet the professional development needs of teachers in the early childhood, primary, and secondary sectors, and to help teachers further develop their critical knowledge and understanding of issues related to teaching and learning in Aotearoa New Zealand, including their own teaching practices. The programme is notable for its flexible nature, utilising digital technologies to ensure students can be available at times and places that suit them.

The PGDipEdLn (120 points) is normally completed in one year of full-time study (and must be completed within two years of admission) or the equivalent in part-time study (to be completed within six years of admission) enabling teachers to continue teaching while they study. The PGDipEdLn is available by distance learning.

Endorsement options:

• Curriculum
• Digital Technologies
• Early Childhood Education
• Leadership
• Studies in Teacher Education

Students may not gain the same endorsement for both the PGCertEdLn and PGDipEdLn.

Postgraduate entrance requirements

Entrance requirements for postgraduate study vary by programme with most requiring a minimum bachelor-level qualification in the same field, and some having additional requirements such as relevant work experience and/or professional registration in New Zealand.

A postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma can usually be taken at any time after the completion of your bachelor's degree.

If you hold an honours degree or postgraduate diploma you may be able to eligible for master’s study by thesis only. In some cases if you hold a bachelor’s degree you may apply for a coursework master’s degree or for master’s study by coursework and thesis.

To study a PhD you usually require the completion of a master’s degree, or a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in the same area of study, or a related discipline, as your intended area of research.

Check the postgraduate students pages for specific information on the entrance requirements of the programme you are interested in.

IELTS (Academic module) (including IELTS Online) : Overall score of 6.5, no individual band below 6.0

TOEFL iBT : Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21 The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is 9483 (Please note we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores)

Pearson Test of English ( PTE ) Academic : Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50

Duolingo English Test : Overall score of 120 (with no Individual Subscore below 95)