What qualification do I need to become an adult education teacher?

A Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning is Waikato's direct route, designed for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to move into teaching and working alongside adult learners.

Can I study Adult Learning as part of an undergraduate degree?

Yes, as a minor. Adult Learning can be added as a minor to almost any bachelor's degree, giving you a foundation in adult teaching and learning theory before you specialise further.

What does the Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning actually cover?

You'll study adult learning theory, lifelong learning, and the social and policy context of education in Aotearoa New Zealand, including comparisons between Māori and Western educational philosophies.

Do I need a specific undergraduate background to enrol in the Graduate Diploma?

No specific subject is required, though you'll need an existing bachelor's degree to be eligible.

Where do Adult Learning graduates typically work?

Polytechnics, wānanga, universities, private training establishments, and adult and community education agencies all employ people with this background.

Adult education teacher career

Kaiako mātauranga pakeke

Adult education teachers teach literacy and numeracy to adults and young people who have left secondary school without qualifications.

$58,257 – $96,761 per year

Literacy and numeracy tutor, foundation skills tutor, adult literacy tutor, adult community educator, literacy, numeracy and digital skills tutor

Where our data comes from

What would you do as an Adult education teacher?

Adult education teachers

usually work full or part time, including evenings and weekends
usually work in classrooms
need to be responsible, organised and communicate well

Tasks

teach foundational subjects to adult students
encourage and help adult students to succeed
set learning objectives
track student progress
change teaching methods to fit student needs
apply multiple teaching methods
set and mark classwork and homework
plan educational activities
set up classroom materials and equipment

How can you become an Adult education teacher?

You usually need a qualification to become an adult education teacher and experience may be useful.

You may need

a New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Level 5) or similar
experience in similar work

If you're in school

You usually need NCEA Level 2 to do the study or training for this job.

Add Adult Learning as a minor to your bachelor's degree to build your skills in teaching and supporting adult learners. Like all our undergraduate degrees, yours will include work-integrated learning.

If you already have a bachelor's degree, our Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning lets you specialise in teaching and working alongside adults.

GradDip

Graduate Diploma

1 year Hamilton

Where these qualifications can take you

Adult education teachers work alongside adults in tertiary institutions, adult and community education agencies, polytechnics, private training establishments, wānanga, and universities. Waikato's Adult Learning subject builds the skills and understanding needed for this kind of teaching and learning work.

Adult education teacher FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

Find a scholarship

QS rankings

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.

QS Ranking - Education

Waikato is ranked among the top 250 universities worldwide for Education in the QS World University Rankings.

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Adult education teacher career