Study and sabbatical leave
If you’re interested in completing a qualification, gaining another qualification to teach a different subject, or taking time off to research a topic of interest, you may qualify for study leave or sabbatical leave.
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- Study and sabbatical opportunities
- Primary principals and teachers
- Secondary and area school principals
- Secondary and area school teachers
- More information
Study and sabbatical opportunities
Visit the TeachNZ website for more information about how and when to apply for study and sabbatical opportunities.
Study awards, sabbaticals and study support grants – Teach NZ(external link)
Primary principals and teachers
Study awards
There are 75 full-time study awards granted each year across New Zealand for primary school teachers and principals.
Your employment agreement allows you to have paid leave if you qualify for one of the study awards. Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 7.10 – Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement
Clause 4.8 – Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
You can also be given unpaid leave to prepare for and sit exams and for travelling time.
Sabbatical leave
Sabbatical leave allows you to take up to 10 weeks’ paid leave to carry out research that will benefit your school or the education sector.
A certain number of sabbaticals are awarded each year across New Zealand, including:
- 100 for primary principals, and
- 50 for primary teachers.
Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 7.12 – Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement
Clause 4.10 – Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Secondary and area school principals
Study awards
Your school board may allow you to take special leave, either with or without pay, for study or other professional development.
Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 5.7.7 – Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement
Clause 5.1.5 – Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement
Sabbatical leave
Sabbatical leave allows you to take up to 10 weeks’ paid leave to carry out research that will benefit your school or the education sector.
A certain number of sabbaticals are awarded each year across New Zealand for secondary and area school principals.
Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 5.12 – Secondary Principals’ Collective Agreement
Clause 5.6 – Area School Principals’ Collective Agreement
Secondary and area school teachers
Study awards
Study leave allows you to have paid time off work while you’re studying. You can also be given unpaid leave to prepare for and sit exams and for travelling time.
A certain number of full-time study awards are granted each year across New Zealand, including:
- 75 for secondary teachers
- 5 for area school teachers, and another 2 for studies in te reo Māori or Māori immersion learning.
Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 6.6.6 – Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Clause 5.6.6 – Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Secondary school teachers can study part time with a study support grant that allows you 4 hours a week of paid time off for study. Your school is given extra funding to cover another teacher for this time.
Sabbatical leave
Sabbatical leave allows you to take 10 weeks’ paid leave to carry out research that will benefit your school or the education sector.
A certain number of sabbaticals are awarded each year across New Zealand, including:
- 40 for secondary teachers, and
- 12 for area school teachers.
Leave entitlements are set out in the collective agreements as follows:
Clause 6.6.7 – Secondary Teachers’ Collective Agreement
Clause 5.6.10 – Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement
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