Study teaching for residence?
 

Hi,
I'm a 27 year old male from the UK, I have a 3year bachelor degree with honours in history (2:2) from a UK uni.

I am currently working in the UK in a customer service role but thinking of living in New Zealand and am saving money to study. If I studied for a Graduate diploma of education in New Zealand,(one year course) would I then be able to stay in New Zealand teaching for permanent residency?

Has anyone done this or have any ideas how to go about it?
I taught English as a foreign language in Korea for 6 months, so I have a little teaching experience already.

Thanks in advance
:)

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

Unless you are planning on paying International Fees which are extortionate (check out any nz uni website) it could be hard.

You would have to get into NZ legitimately (i.e. with PR) before you can apply to study and pay domestic fees. You also need to have lived in NZ for 2 years before you can get a student loan.

You would probably be better doing a PGCE in the UK, paying UK domestic fees and then once worked as a teacher, coming over that way with enough points to get in.

If this isn't correct, I'm sure someone else will be along soon......

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

Here's a link to Victoria University's website (Faculty of Education has an excellent reputation) - compare domestic and international fees http://www.victoria.ac.nz/home/study...catalogue.aspx

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

Thanks for the responses and the link: much appreciated.

I am currently working two jobs so that in a year I can afford to pay international student fees yes.. If I do my PGCE here in the UK, it won't start until sept 2011, then I would need 2 years teaching experience before I can apply. so it would mean staying in the UK until 2013 at the earliest..

So it would be possible then to pay the tuition fees in New Zealand and then find a job with the qualification and stay there?

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

I don't think so as you'll be studying here on a student visa which gives you no right to work, only study, so no-one could employ you.

Check out:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...sasandpermits/

It could be worth scrolling through all the small print on the immigration website. Unfortunately NZ is not an easy country to get into without prior qualifications/experience.

We came with PR so didn't go through the visa/work process so someone may be able to guide you better than I can.

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

Not sure if you'd be eligible for this, but it would only give you 12 months stay

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/i8223.htm

WD2 Graduate job search work visa/permit

People who: have successfully completed in New Zealand a qualification that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category (see SM14); and
apply for a work visa/permit no later than 3 months after the end date of their student permit for that qualification; and
have met requirements set out in U11.1(f) if their studies have been supported by NZAID
may be granted a work visa and/or permit for a maximum of 12 months

Re: Study teaching for residence?
 

I am also a history teacher, with 8 years experience in the UK. It's possibly not what you want to hear but I have done quite a bit of searching around for history jobs in NZ and there isn't a great deal around. It's also worth considering that the very history you will be learning to teach in the UK will not be the history on the curriculum in NZ.
If you are definite about wanting to go to NZ to teach, I would have thought you would be better off training as an English teacher, if this is something you could feel passionate about. There is more of a shortage of English teachers in NZ and you'd have a far better chance of finding work.
It might also be worth adding, that you pretty much have to want to teach in order to get through your PGCE and NQT years - if it's purely to get into another country, you might find it tough.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you.