Sandra Pringle

After three decades in the classroom, Christchurch-based educator Sandra Pringle is finally taking on the postgraduate study she once believed was out of reach.

Sandra began her teaching career in the mid-1990s, earning respected international qualifications like the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA. These allowed her to teach English in New Zealand, but without a formal undergraduate degree, she often found herself excluded from further study. “I spent years looking for the right pathway. I was turned away from other universities and felt like I constantly had to justify my place,” Sandra says. “It’s been a long, emotional journey.”

Everything changed when a colleague encouraged her to reach out to the University of Waikato. “From the first conversation, I felt seen. They understood the level I was working at and valued my experience. For the first time, I felt like I belonged.”

Sandra is now studying fully online from Christchurch, working toward her Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages while teaching full-time with refugee and migrant learners. She says the experience has been both challenging and transformative. “The support has been incredible. Even as an online student, I’ve never felt alone. I’m learning so much and gaining confidence with every paper.”

For Sandra, study is not purely about gaining a new qualification. It is about keeping her teaching fresh, staying connected to research, and making a real difference in the lives of her students. “My journey hasn’t been a straight line, but it’s made me who I am. If you are passionate about learning and growing, there is a place for you here at the University of Waikato.”