About New Zealand Diploma In Early Childhood Education in Universal College of Learning (UCOL)

Overview

Learn the skills to work in a range of early childhood contexts, working professionally and collaboratively to provide education and care of infants, toddlers, and young children with UCOL's New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

The Diploma has been developed in partnership with Iwi to ensure inclusion of local culturally competent practices that include history, stories and knowledge that can be shared confidently with tamariki in and early childhood setting.

This locally driven curriculum will ensure the whakapapa of the area is entwined in the early childhood teaching practices and meets the growing need for educators to be able to incorporate Te Reo and Tikanga in the day to day delivery of Te Whariki. This diploma has been designed to ensure that there is a balanced delivery of practical and theory based learning.

The New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care is offered as a blended delivery programme with one day a week on campus. 

Career & Study Outcomes

Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education will be proficient educators who, in a range of early childhood contexts, can competently care for infants, toddlers and young children. Employment options may include:

• Centre-based care
• Hospital-based care (play specialist assistant)
• Home-based care
• Nanny
• Parent-led care
• Culturally-based contexts

Graduates may provide supervision and/or guidance of volunteers or other staff, depending on the workplace setting. 

This qualification does not lead to teacher registration, but graduates may choose to undertake further study towards:

• New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 6) (Not offered by UCOL)

Certain graduates may be able to undetake further study towards Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education).

To find out more about possible job prospects and salaries, see Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Occupation Outlook for Teachers.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS    :    Score of 5.5 with no band lower than 5
• TOEFL  :    Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
• PTE       :    Score of 50 with no band less than 42

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.