Apply now to study online

09 June 2026

Here’s everything you need to start the first course in the UC Online Postgraduate Certificate in Structured Literacy. You'll study part-time from July 2026 via a Certificate of Proficiency.

HOW TO APPLY

Check what you need

Apply now

Teacher reading to children in a classroom, using structured literacy techniques learnt from her online literacy degree

Congratulations on taking the next step towards online education study! If you're interested in studying in September or 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 July, 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 July 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 Structured Literacy, and apply to credit your COP course towards the PGCertStrucLit.*
At this stage, you can also apply to credit any previous BSLA study, or select your 2027 course to complete your Postgraduate Certificate in Structured Literacy!

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

*The Postgraduate Certificate in Structured Literacy is subject to Universities New Zealand approval, expected in September.

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 Structured Literacy, 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 EDME610-26X3 - Structured Literacy Systems: Design, Evaluation and Leadership.

Why do I need to choose 'COP EDUCATION (PG)'? To be able to start learning in July 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 Structured Literacy*, and apply to credit your COP course towards the PGCertStrucLit. At this stage, you can also apply to credit any previous BSLA study, or select your 2027 course to complete your Postgraduate Certificate in Structured Literacy!

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

*The Postgraduate Certificate in Structured Literacy is subject to Universities New Zealand approval, expected in September.

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.

By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Accept all

Decline all

Cookies policy