Apply now to study online in September

13 July 2026

Here's everything you need to start the first course in the UC Online Postgraduate Certificate in AI and Digital Education. You'll study part-time from September 2026.

HOW TO APPLY

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AI and digital education expert Kathryn MacCallum shares AI and education insights in front of learners

Congratulations on taking the next step towards online education study! If you're interested in studying in 2027, please sign up for enrolment updates.

Don't worry — you're online, not alone. Our Enrolment Support Team is here to support your application, and once you begin studying our Learner Support Team is here to help you succeed.

To support learners starting study in September, we’re offering an early entry pathway through a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) in Education.

What does early entry via a Certificate of Proficiency mean?

To be able to start learning in September 2026, you need to apply for your first course under a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) in Education.
Once you've successfully completed this course, you'll be able to apply for the Postgraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Education, and apply to credit your COP course towards the PGCertAIDE.

Don’t worry — our UC Online and Education enrolment support teams are here to guide you through the process when the time comes.

How will my study journey work?

28 September - 29 November 2026: you'll take EADE441 (studying around 20 hours per week).
22 February - 27 June 2027: you'll take EADE443 (studying around 10 hours per week).
19 July - 14 November 2027: you'll take EDME443 (studying around 20 hours per week).

Learning with Tuihono UC | UC Online

When you apply for a programme with Tuihono UC | UC Online you're applying to learn online with Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. As an online learner, you'll be part of the UC student community, with access to the same support and digital services, plus dedicated online support.

Is there an application fee?

No, there's no application fee — even if your previous experience was overseas. So get that application in!

Will I get in?

The relevant academic team can only confirm this after you apply — so check the programme requirements first.

Do I need to pay my fees ASAP?

You have two weeks once learning has started to finalise payment or withdraw with a full refund.

What you need to prepare

Before you start your application, you'll need:

Verified evidence of your identity, such as a certified copy of your birth certificate, or a certified copy of the photo page in your passport. There are additional requirements depending on your visa status, or if you have legally changed your name. For more information view full verification requirements.
For international learners: proof of your English language proficiency.
Proof of any academic qualifications you have. This requires a transcript or your UC student ID number if you studied your undergraduate degree with us. If you graduated with a bachelor's degree from another university, you will need to request a digital copy of your transcript through them.
Proof of your professional work history, such as a CV or resume.
Two short paragraphs explaining what interests you about studying the Postgraduate Certificate in AI and Digital Education, and what you'd like to achieve with it.
It's also helpful to have your National Student Number on hand - if you have one. You can locate your number through the NZQA website.

During your application, you will be prompted to select a qualification and course to enrol into.

Qualification: please select COP EDUCATION (PG) - Certificate of Proficiency in Education.
Course: please select EADE441-26X4.

Why do I need to choose 'COP EDUCATION (PG)'? To be able to start learning in September 2026, you need to apply for your first course under a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) in Education. Once you've successfully completed this course, you'll be able to apply for the Postgraduate Certificate in AI and Digital Education, and apply to credit your COP course towards the PGCertAIDE. At this stage, you can also select your final 2027 course(s) to complete your Postgraduate Certificate in AI and Digital Education!

Don’t worry — our UC Online and Education enrolment support teams are here to guide you through the process if you need support.

Please note: a minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.

Using StudyLink to finance your learning?

If you plan to use a StudyLink student loan to finance your study, we recommend applying with them as soon as possible. StudyLink can take up to a month to process your application, so submitting early gives you the best chance of having everything ready for the start of your learning.

Explore other ways to fund your study.

Need help?

If you get stuck along the way, check out our enrolment PDF for a visual guide, or contact our team.

Download enrolment guide

Begin your application now

Please complete this form so we can support you during your application.

What happens next? You'll be prompted to log in or create an account in our enrolment portal. Once logged in, you can complete the application form and upload your required documents. We recommend allowing an hour to complete your application — but don't worry, you can save and come back if you need.

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