Distance learning - Education

Our Early Childhood qualifications can be studied via distance. 

Your commitment

Fulltime students will need to be able to commit to:

• About 40 hours a week of independent study.
• Attendance at two On-site Intensives (OSI) each year, in-person, on campus in Christchurch
  • First week of Semester One
  • First week of Semester Two
• Professional Practice in an early childhood centre or setting 
  • Year 1: five individual days placed in an early childhood centre in May/June; plus a 3-week block placement in July/August
  • Year 2: two 4-week block placements in May/June and October/November
  • Year 3: two 6-week placements in March/May (allow for Easter break) and August/September
  • Students are required to attend these placements fulltime.
• Part-time students will attend an OSI for each year of study. See our course groups page for more information. Please note if you choose a part-time pathway you will be required to attend  placements fulltime.

• See our Early Childhood page to find out more
• Course Groups, Orientation and Timetables

Our Primary teacher education programmes can be studied by distance. 

Your commitment

Fulltime students will need to be able to commit to:

• About 40 hours a week of independent study (part-time students about 20 hours a week, depending on courses taken).
• Attendance at two On-site Intensives (OSI) each year, in-person, on campus in Christchurch
  • First week of Semester One
  • First week of Semester Two
• Professional Practice in a primary school 
  • Year 1: five individual days placed in a primary school in May/June; plus a 3-week block placement in July/August
  • Year 2: two 4-week block placements in May/June and October/November
  • Year 3: two 6-week placements in March/May (allow for Easter break) and August/September
  • Students are required to attend these placements fulltime.
  • There are areas in New Zealand where placements are extremely difficult to arrange, particulary where there are other tertiary providers (eg, Otago, Waikato, Victoria). If a placement is unable to be arranged in your area, you will be required to complete your placement in Christchurch. 
  • Part-time students will attend an OSI for each year of study. See our course groups page for more information. Please note if you choose a part-time pathway you will be required to attend  placements fulltime.

 Further information 

• See our Primary Education webpage to find out more
• Course Groups, Orientation and Timetables

Our Mātauranga Māori programme can be studied by distance.

Your commitment

Fulltime students will need to be able to commit to:

• About 40 hours a week of independent study.
• Attendance at two On-site Intensives (OSI) each year, in-person, on campus in Christchurch
  • First week of Semester One
  • First week of Semester Two

• He ako ā-rorohiko, ā-kanohi kitea hoki te momo ako, nā reira, ka taea te ako mai tawhiti. Heoi anō me matua tae ā-tinana mō ētahi wāhanga o ia tau, he noho marae ki te hau kāinga o Kāi Tahu ia tau.
  
  This is a mixed method style of delivery with content being available online, therefore there is the ability to learn from anywhere. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) delivery will also be included in the programme through scheduled block wānanga each year and one noho marae each year.

• Ko ngā wheako mahi ngaio, arā ngā kōhi 'Mana Ako', kei rō whare kōhungahunga me ngā kura tuatahi Māori he wāhanga matua kia mārama pū ki ngā āhuatanga o te taiao ako me ngā mahi o te kaiako.
  
  Professional Practice Exploration experiences may occur in whare kōhungahunga (early childhood centres), bilingual primary, and kura kaupapa Māori settings throughout your degree.

Further information 

See our Mātauranga Māori webpage to find out more

A number of postgraduate and professional development qualifications are also offered by distance. For more information see Postgraduate and Professional Development Programmes.