Application requirements - teacher education

The Teaching Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a requirement that student teachers enrolling in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme for primary teaching would have to demonstrate competence in mathematics, using either of the following measures:

1. Holding a minimum of 14 credits at Achieved, Merit or Excellence in the NCEA subjects ‘Mathematics and Statistics’ and /or ‘Pāngarau’ at NCEA Level 2 or above (or a recognised equivalent), or

1. Passing a mathematics assessment as specified by the Teaching Council.

University of Canterbury is continuing to recruit students to begin study in 2025 based on the existing ITE entry requirements. The Teaching Council has advised us that they are comfortable for enrolment to continue as no decision has yet been made.
 
However, student teachers commencing study in 2025 should be aware that, if the Teaching Council were to approve the current proposal after consultation, should they not meet measure (a) above, they would be required to pass the mathematics assessment specified by the Teaching Council with at least the specified minimum score before they were able to graduate from the programme. (This reflects that the Teaching Council’s consultation proposes, as a transitional arrangement for 2025 and 2026, that measure (b) can be able to be met prior to graduation, rather than prior to entry to the programme.)
 
Note: this message reflects advice received from the Teaching Council.

If you have any questions please kōrero with our Student Advice Team. 

• PDF is preferred, but we’ll also accept doc, docx, jpg, and png.
• Scan documents in colour.
• Resolution of at least 300dpi.
• File size less than 10MB.
• Multipage documents must be combined into one file.
• For security reasons we cannot accept documents in a compressed format (.zip, .rar) or those sent as download links to an online storage site.
• If the documents were originally issued in a language other than English, an official English translation must be provided along with the original language documents.

Your application requires a CV, resumé, or written statement that includes the following:

• A list of current and previous employment (for at least the last 5 years, if applicable).
• A list of paid or volunteer experiences or training relevant to teaching (for example: work with children and young adults, leadership roles, or community group involvement), for at least the last 5 years.
• Qualifications and achievements that you hold (for example: degrees, first aid certificate, coaching qualification, school achievements).

• Include scanned transcripts of any previous tertiary study. This may be a final or interim transcript showing completed and current courses from your tertiary education provider. A final transcript will be required before an unconditional offer can be made.
• All transcripts must include your name, the qualification you are completing, and the name of the tertiary institution where you are enrolled.

Your application must include two referee reports, which are confidential and come directly to us.

• Include the names and email addresses of two people who have agreed to be your referees where indicated in the application to enrol.
• They will receive an email requesting they complete a report online, so an accurate email is essential.
• Referees must not be family members, friends, or flatmates and they cannot be the same person completing your confidential school report (if you need one).

If you are still in secondary school, you will need to include a school report.

• Include the name and email address of the person who will provide this report (ie, Principal, Careers Advisor, or Dean).
• They will receive an email requesting they complete a report online, so an accurate email is essential.

To gain entry into an Initial Teacher Education programme you must meet the language competency requirements of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. All offers are conditional on meeting the English Language Competency requirements. A full offer will not be provided until this requirement has been met.

The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requires all applicants for Initial Teacher Education to be assessed on their Literacy and Numeracy competency prior to entry to the programme.

If you are successful in advancing to the interview stage of the application process, you will be emailed information on how to undertake these assessments. The email will contain links to:

• complete the online assessments
• book your interview time
• interview information

You must complete these assessments before booking your interview time.

Assessment Structure

• You will have 45 minutes to complete each assessment.
• All questions require either a multiple choice or short closed answer.
• The questions are designed at the University Entrance level but include questions that incoming students would be familiar with at both level 1 and level 2 NCEA. 
• The Literacy Assessment contains two sections: a comprehension section (with short reading passages and questions) and a grammar section (which assesses your knowledge of nouns, adjectives, verbs and prepositions.
• The Numeracy Assessment covers number, measurement, geometry, simple algebra, statistics, probability, problem solving, and logic.

You are expected to achieve a 60% pass in each of the assessments to be considered for programme entry. Should you not achieve this pass mark, you may be given an opportunity to re-sit the assessment(s). If this is required, we will provide you with information following your interview.