Although COVID-19 continues to cause disruption, UP Education is here to make learning easy and enjoyable through our innovative online foundation studies programme platform.
This is a highly effective way for existing and new UP Education students to continue or begin preparation for an English-speaking university in New Zealand.
We look forward to providing you with the English language and academic skills to help you achieve guaranteed entry into our NZ partner universities. It will be a challenging, strengthening and fun process and you will gain the skills for success at your chosen university and beyond.
Our online resource is easy for you to set up and easy to use, and it provides you with the perfect learning environment for study at home. We use “flipped” learning, a proven learning model with extensive use of pre-recorded video lesson delivery, to provide the basis of our teaching.
UP Education have been integrating this learning method into our programme delivery for many years, thus the quality of our delivery is not compromised simply because we are not on campus.
The only real difference is you will be connecting from home rather than at an UP International College campus.
Don’t worry – you can continue to study your programme to the exact same timeframes, graduating to one of our university partners in New Zealand as planned, pending issue of your visa.
Enrol in an exciting Foundation Studies programme here. Intake dates are April, July and October.
You’re in good hands. UP Education is a leading provider of pathway programmes, and our qualified, highly experienced teachers have been delivering online classes to our students since January 2020 to our February intake students through our world leading learning management system (Blackboard) and state of the art video streaming tool (Zoom)
Enrol with UP Education online now, for the support and encouragement to prepare for your future study in New Zealand
Live Zoom classes and interaction with teachers – learn with your class of fellow students.
Fully guided as if you were in a classroom rather than left to your own devices.
Continue progression to university as planned
Revised timetables and fun initiatives help you adapt to self-directed learning.
Additional resources to enable home experiments such as workshops for science papers.
Guidance and set expectations that ensure you stay on track.
Delivered through proven purpose-designed platforms like Blackboard, Education Perfect and Nearpod.
Perfect for reviewing and developing skills and understanding – used by UP Education for over five years.
With extensive experience in helping international students prepare for university study.
Here at UP Education, the wellbeing of our students is of the utmost importance. We use WeChat for a range of purposes, including pastoral care. We’ll use it to stay in touch with you at all times, and you can contact our teachers and caring support staff whenever you need to. Support is offered by Chinese- and English-speaking staff.
You can also use WeChat to get in touch with other students, to support each other and make friends with other people from all over the world.
All WeChat is conducted in English, so no students are excluded, and all students get the opportunity to practise their English.
We aim to provide parents with updates on attendance and term reports as soon as possible.
We use a number of online applications to deliver our University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies, our AUT University Certificate in Foundation Studies and our Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies Programme and ensure you have the most effective and intuitive learning experience.
You’re not alone. Enjoy real-time interaction with your teacher as we take you through your learning process.
You can discuss tasks, ask questions and solve problems – all live, using the four types of mode delivery:
Teacher meets live with small groups of students using Zoom for 15-20 mins each, guiding them on the tasks for the week ahead
Students work through assigned flipped-learning tasks via Blackboard, completing set pre-learning to prepare for full class video-class
Teacher meets live with all students using Zoom, working together through flipped-learning tasks in a Q&A style presentation
Students work on broader learning tasks, e.g. reviewing recorded video, making notes, reading text, undertaking assignments
UP Education’s online delivery has been based on flipped learning where you will receive and complete assigned ‘pre-learning’ video lessons and tasks before class via Blackboard, then work through them with your teacher during class to deepen the knowledge gained during your streamed lesson time with your teacher.
We have been successfully using this learning method for over 5 years.
As part of this, we use a range of powerful digital technologies to bring you an engaging and rich learning experience, preparing you for university and your future in New Zealand.
Nearpod is an interactive, lesson building platform that teachers use to make students’ learning come to life. Teachers create lessons with slides, quizzes, weblinks, collaboration spaces for students to draw and write their ideas. These lessons can either be self-paced, which is ideal for students studying at home in their own time, or live, which is suitable for Zoom meetings where the class progresses together.
After students have completed each lesson, the teacher is given detailed analytics about both class and individual performance.
Find out how these other interactive tools will also help you develop and enjoy your learning online:
provides short (5-10 minutes) game-based quizzes and learning games as part of our lessons.
is an interactive tool tha allows for students and teachers to use their phones to participate in quick questions and polls within lessons as a short (5-10 minutes) activity.
allows students to make short videos and share them with each other as part of the classroom. This can take place in a live lesson, or over a week or so as part of self–directed learning.
Mark began teaching in 1981, having graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Teaching from Auckland Teacher’s College.
Mark’s early teaching years were at Kelston Boys’ High School. Whilst teaching in Niue for two years as Head of Science, Mark developed a greater interest in language and working with students whose first language was something other than English. After a further four years back at Kelston, Mark moved overseas once again and spent six years working at a girls’ school in Brunei which provided further insight into English second language learning. This inspired Mark to commence his Masters degree in Science education, looking at how digital media could assist an ESL student with their understanding of science.
On return to New Zealand in 2000, Mark commenced teaching at ACG New Zealand International College. Over the next 19 years, Mark moved into the roles of Assistant Principal, Deputy Principal, Principal then Executive Principal. He currently oversees a number of campuses and programmes for international students learning English and others preparing to ultimately attend a New Zealand university on completion of their studies at UP International College
Scheduled Zoom-based classes in the morning are held between 1pm and 5pm New Zealand Standard Time, Monday to Friday (real time mornings in CST). Actual period times with the teacher will vary depending on your timetable for the subjects you are studying. You’ll be notified about your schedule when you begin your programme. Outside of scheduled classes you’ll self-study using our range of asynchronous (not real time) tools – Blackboard, Education Perfect, OneNote, Teams etc.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||
| Asynchronous Learning | Subject 1 | Subject 4 | Subject 3 | |||
| Subject 3 | Subject 2 | |||||
| Subject 2 | Subject 1 | Subject 4 | ||||
| Live video sessions | 12:30 -1:40 | Subject 1 | Subject 2 | Subject 3 | ||
| 1:40 – 2:50 | Subject 4 | Subject 3 | Subject 1 | |||
| 2:50 – 4:00 | Subject 2 | Subject 4 | ||||
| 4:00 – 5:10 | Subject 3 | Subject 1 | Subject 4 | Subject 2 | ||
| 5:10 – 5:30 | Tutor class | |||||
Auckland University of Technology Certificate in Foundation Studies programmes, and may include:
Accounting, Algebra, Calculus, Cell Biology, Design and Art History, English 1, English 2A, English 2B, Government and Society, Microeconomics, NZ Culture and Society, Quantitative Methods, Statistics, Electricity
Victoria University of Wellington Certificate in Foundation Studies programmes, including:
English for Tertiary Study (I and II), Introductory Mathematics , New Zealand Culture and Society , Calculus, Design and Society (I and II), Environmental Science, Health Studies, Introduction to Accounting, Macroeconomics, Management Studies, Marketing, Media Studies (I and II), Microeconomics, Physics (I and II), Psychology, Quantitative Methods, Statistics, Tourism (I and II)
Gain the knowledge, skills and confidence for university success
The course will start at the same time as it does for all other students – this is 2 February 2021 for AUT and UoA and 27 January 2021 for VUW.
But please note that it is compulsory to attend orientation as well. Orientation for AUT and University of Auckland will be held on 25 January and for Victoria University of Wellington on 22 January.
As soon as we are confident that the borders will re-open, we will work towards welcoming students to New Zealand. There is likely to be some delay with visas due to the backlog and so exact timing will be confirmed when we know more. We will provide online learning for as long as required while students wait for visas to be processed. We will also run orientation every week to ensure that students all receive the same welcome to New Zealand once they are able to join their classes as planned in New Zealand.
Our teaching staff use a range of additional online interactive tools to ensure students interact, practice and engage with their online learning and each other:
We have the unique advantage of being a very technologically advanced institution already, where we use inter-active methods, are an Apple Distinguished School and use a flipped learning approach, so all of our teaching staff are well versed in using technology in the classroom every day.
The Flipped approach we have been using for over 5 years supports this as we are very comfortable preparing learning content for students to access before a ‘class’, the difference now is that the ‘class’ is online, not face to face.
We run professional development workshops for our teachers continuously, to bring their existing knowledge together with some new platforms to provide you with the best possible online learning experience.
Teachers will maintain a learning forum in their Blackboard course, which allows students to ask public questions that
all students can see. Students can also email their teacher privately.
There is no reason for you to fall behind, as you will be studying at the same pace as your classmates in New Zealand. However, we will run additional tutorial classes, provide extra exam preparation and revision and we will have welfare staff available who will be dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition for you once you arrive in New Zealand. Students can also ask questions via the chat on Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
No, unfortunately if you are already in the country, the immigration regulations restrict you from being able to start your online study without a valid visa.
Almost all subjects will be available online. Pease check our website for the full list of online course availability.
Online University of Auckland courses may include:
Accounting, Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Design, EAP 1, EAP 2, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics
Online AUT courses may include:
Accounting, Algebra, Calculus, Cell Biology, Design and Art History, English 1, English 2A, English 2B, Government and Society, Microeconomics, NZ Culture and Society, Quantitative Methods, Statistics, Electricity
Online VUW courses may include:
English for Tertiary Study (I and II), Introductory Mathematics, New Zealand Culture and Society, Calculus, Design and Society (I and II), Environmental Science, Health Studies, Introduction to Accounting, Macroeco-nomics, Management Studies, Marketing, Media Studies (I and II), Microeconomics, Psychology, Quantitative Methods, Statistics.
Yes, classes are compulsory, as you will be commencing your course online, and will be expected to attend in that same way as you would be if you were physically in class in New Zealand. We will also monitor your interaction with the online resources we make available, so we have evidence of full participation as this is important for your future success. Classes are compulsory not just for attendance, but also for authentication. We need to know that it is you, producing your own work.
We understand that from time to time students may be unwell and unable to attend class. Up Education policy re-quires 90% attendance, and a doctor’s note for any absences for more than 2 days. You must email or text your teacher if you are not attending a class. They will inform the Attendance Officer.
You will receive a timetable after Orientation day, posted on BlackBoard. All times are in New Zealand timezone. Please talk to your teacher about what lessons are self study and what online lessons must be attended. Most online lessons will be during the afternoon (New Zealand time).
If your teacher is using Microsoft Teams, you will receive a recording of the morning (NZT) lessons.
Yes, please pay the tuition fee, resource fee, registration fee and exam fees as indicated on your offer letter.
No, please just ensure that you have signed and returned the Confirmation of Enrolment form, ensuring that you pay particular attention to the ‘Special Refund Terms for students who enrolled in our Online Foundation Programme’
We understand that this is new and that you may not have studied online before, but we would recommend that you try the online learning option and see how it goes, this will allow you to stay on track with your study plans.
Yes, if you decide to withdraw within the aforementioned 2-week period, you will receive a refund of tuition fees paid minus a NZ$1,000 administrative fee.
If there is anything that you would like to discuss, please contact our student support team.
During orientation, we will introduce you to your individual support contacts who will include:
For anything other inquiries, we are confident that we will be able to answer all of your questions during.
our orientation programme, but please reach out to your representative or Regional Manager if you’d like to speak to someone.
The sooner you start learning with UP Education’s online delivery the sooner you’ll complete your degree
General enquiries
studentsupport@up.education
During orientation, we will introduce you to your individual support contacts who will include the Tutors, Subject Teachers and Deans of your course.
Talk to your local Education pathway counsellor, email our regional manager or apply online here.
345 Queen St
Auckland, New Zealand
Postal address
PO Box 78-359
Grey Lynn, Auckland 1245
Level 3, West wing
Wellington Railway Station
2 Bunny St
Wellington 6011, New Zealand