Postgraduate study in Early Childhood Education

Influence the broader landscape of a child’s early years by completing postgraduate study in Early Childhood Education.

What can you study in Early Childhood Education (ECE)?

Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Our intensive one-year Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) equips students who already have an undergraduate degree with the knowledge and skills to support young children in their learning in a classroom environment. It emphasises practical experience in early childhood settings to learn from experienced teachers, practise skills and develop your understanding of early childhood education settings.

Master of Education (Early Childhood specialisation)

We live in a world of rapid change induced by recent global and local events and the unstoppable rise of digital technology and social media. Traditional, mainstream, one-size-fits-all approaches are no longer sufficient to work with children and their families with increasingly complex social and cultural backgrounds.

Our Master of Education (Early Childhood Specialisation) programme offers a range of courses that are designed and delivered by internationally recognised researchers and academics with advanced, multidisciplinary, and up-to-date knowledge of early childhood.

Throughout the programme students are supported in developing innovative and research-informed expertise to engage effectively with children, families and communities. Māori and Pacific concepts, values, and knowledges are integrated into course content, reflecting our unique place in the South Pacific.

This masters programme provides a clear and coherent pathway for students to progress from postgraduate certification to a master’s degree. Graduates with these qualifications will be equipped with multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise, critical thinking skills, and the ability to advocate for diverse communities and stakeholders, and they will be sought after by different professional sectors as well as world-ranking universities looking for promising doctoral candidates.

Scholarships and awards

Each year we award scholarships and prizes to thousands of students.

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for, search available scholarships or begin an application by visiting Postgraduate scholarships and awards.

TeachNZ awards scholarships for ECE students in general, and also for ECE students who are fluent speakers in te reo Māori or a Pacific language.

Help and advice

For general student enquiries, please contact your Student Hubs.

To contact an undergraduate adviser or the subject convenor, email studentinfo@auckland.ac.nz.