The New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) enables students to excel in a rewarding career educating and caring for infants and young children. Over the programme, students gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in a range of early childhood contexts, such as centre-based, hospital-based, home-based, nanny, parent-led, or culturally-based contexts including Pasifika or Māori. University Entrance is not required to enter this Diploma.
Throughout the year, we include over 200 hours of placement in an early childhood centre for students to learn hands-on and create connections for possible future employment.
Throughout this diploma, students will cover research, assessment and reflection skills, child development, learning and teaching, professional practice, culture and community, and teaching in Aotearoa.
Classes are fun and interactive, with up to 200 hours of placement in an early childhood centre that gives students the opportunity to work alongside children and qualified early childhood teachers to integrate their learning in relation to everyday teaching experiences.
This diploma acts as the first year of the Bachelor of Teaching Degree. As this degree is mostly online-based, students can work in an early childhood centre while they complete their studies. They will also be able to write their assignments based on real application in an early childhood centre.
Click HERE to download the Application Booklet. This will give you a clear understanding of all of the required documents and the process to follow to enable you to enrol.
Click HERE for course related cost.
*Note: Students must meet the entry requirements and English levels of these institutions in order to be accepted on this pathway.
Available Campuses: Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch
Fees listed are indicative only and may vary with course selection. Exact fees can be confirmed when you
enquire or apply.
* International learners are required to pay additional costs to attend one of our courses or
programmes. These additional costs include medical and travel insurance cover.
Research, Assessment and Reflection
Child Development
Learning and Teaching
Professional Practice
Culture and Community
Teaching in Aotearoa
New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5)
Provisional Entry:
International Students:
We would also like to have a 2-3 minute video with you talking about yourself, your family, your hobbies and why you want to come to New Zealand. Send as an attachment with your documents.
Our Early Childhood Education programmes require you to bring your own device (BYOD) for study at Vision College.
Below are the minimum specifications required for this course, anything less than this will not open the programmes required.
Windows 10 Operating System (from January 2020 any Windows version less than 10 will not be able to connect to the ATC Vision College wireless network)
Intel Celeron
4GB of memory
320GB+ Hard Drive or 128GB+ Solid State Drive
Across our programmes we use Microsoft Windows based applications.
Yes, for this programme you will receive course related cost. You can apply to Studylink for support with this.
Yes, ECE classes (Level 5) are on-campus Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 – 14:30. Thursday’s and Friday’s are seen as self-directed.
Yes, the level 5 ECE course has two placements with a total of 7 weeks spend in a Early Childhood centre.