Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Applicants must have:

• New Zealand Diploma of Teaching (Primary) level 7, a Bachelor degree at level 7 (360 credits), a Bachelor degree with honours at level 8 (480 credits) or a Master’s degree at level 9 (240 credits) qualification OR
  An equivalent overseas qualification as assessed by an international qualifications assessment.

All applicants must meet the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 and its subsequent amendments, including:

• Providing verified identification.
• Providing evidence of previous education and work history in the selection process.
• Providing at least one written reference.
• Succeeding in a personal visual interview.
• Attaining a New Zealand Police vetting report.

  • Entry for any applicant with any prior convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Cavalli College.

Cavalli College undertakes a risk assessment in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014 including the above information in order to select the applicants for the program.

Domestic applicants for whom English is an additional language and te reo Māori is not the first language:

• Evidence of completion of at least three years of secondary education at schools where the learner was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to the Teaching Council’s Language competency for teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand; or
• Other proof as deemed acceptable by Cavalli College.

International applicants:

• Must provide evidence of meeting English language requirements according to the Teaching Council’s Language competency for teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• All applicants to the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) must demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy as equivalent to or exceeding the minimum literacy and numeracy expectations associated with University Entrance prior to entry, as required by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Applicants who do not meet the required step level on their initial attempt may be offered targeted support and re-assessment opportunities prior to admission, subject to timeframes and overall eligibility.

• Credit for prior formal study will not be awarded towards this qualification.

Where education meets heart, purpose, and possibility. Cavalli College is a proudly New Zealand-founded tertiary education provider. Our name comes from the Cavalli Islands in Northland, a place that symbolises strength, connection, the discovery of treasures, and renewal. It reflects exactly what we want to offer to our learners.

We deliver NZQA approved programmes in Health and Wellbeing, Peer Support, Mental Health and Addiction, Early Childhood Teaching, and Foundation Skills, all designed to meet the real needs of our learners and the communities they serve.

We're incredibly proud to have been awarded a Category One rating by NZQA, the highest rating a provider can achieve, recognising our quality, outcomes, and learner support. Whether you're returning to study, changing careers or maybe just starting out, we're here to help you. Our team is here to support, to uplift and to celebrate each learner's journey.

What makes Cavalli College different?

It's our heart, our team genuinely cares about our learners, about the difference they want to make, and about the journey it takes to get there. Our programmes are shaped by strong relationships with the health, wellbeing, and education sectors, ensuring that what we teach is relevant, practical, and empowering.

So if you're ready to grow, thrive, and make a real difference, it's Cavalli College. This is where learning meets purpose, and your next step begins!