Introduction
The Masters in Primary Education – Professional Master of Education in Primary Education is perfect for you if you want to work with children aged 4-12.
Working with younger children is for those passionate people, who understand that teaching can be challenging but also extremely rewarding. Teachers in Primary Education are not only part of the intellectual development of young children, but also play a key role in moral and social development.
As George Lucas once said “Education is the single most important job of the human race”
Our Teaching course, Masters in Primary Education, was established to encourage a broader range of people to become teachers, and we provide a more flexible route to becoming a fully qualified teacher that includes accessible local on-site practical workshops.
Due to the structure of the programme, we can only accept graduate students who reside in Ireland during the course.
Programme Structure
Online content: On-demand online lectures, online tutorials and self-study
Gaeltacht: Irish: 4 weeks in the Gaeltacht(2 x 2 weeks courses)
School experience: 24 weeks undertaken in 3 schools - 2 blocks of 7 weeks and 1 block of 10 weeks. This includes periods of observation, engagement in wider school activities, research, teaching, reflection and evaluation.
Onsite delivery: Onsite conferences: the entire intake meets together in a central venue.
Regional onsites: tutor groups meet in a regional venue.
Assessment: Assessment of the programme is conducted through a combination of written exam and oral exams (Gaeilge), and continuous assessment, including the assessment of school placement. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in educational research through the completion of a research thesis.
Requirements
For students who sat the Leaving Certificate
An honours degree, National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 8. Note that the grade and subject of the degree are not relevant for the purpose of meeting the minimum entry requirements.
A Masters degree or PhD that is of NFQ Level 9 or higher is accepted in lieu of the honours degree.
Please note that an NFQ Level 8 higher diploma on its own does not fulfil this requirement.
The Department of Education and Skills Minimum Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:
Important update: Please be advised that the Department of Education and Skills announced on 12 / 06/ 2019 their intention to further defer the introduction of the new higher Minimum Entry Requirements for students entering the PME programme until September 2021.
For Students Who Sat GCSE and GCE A Level Exams
Current DES requirements
A honours degree, NFQ Level 8. Note that the grade and subject of the degree are not relevant for the purpose of meeting the minimum entry requirements.
A Masters degree or PhD that is of NFQ Level 9 or higher is accepted in lieu of the honours degree.
Please note that an NFQ Level 8 higher diploma on its own does not fulfill this requirement.
Minimum grade C in GCE A level Irish
Minimum grade C in GCSE English
Minimum grade C in GCSE English Literature
Minimum grade D in GCSE Additional Mathematics Or
Minimum grade C at GCSE level in Mathematics
Alternatives to Irish Language Requirement
Current DES requirements
The following will also satisfy the minimum Irish language requirement:
Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish) from University College Cork
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, level B2 from NUI Galway
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach from University College Dublin
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge from NUI Maynooth
Diploma in Irish from the University of Ulster
A pass in a First Arts exam in Irish, NFQ Level 8
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Leibhéal B2 (Meánleibhéal 2)
Minimum grade C in the NUI matriculation exam (pre-1992)
The following will also satisfy the minimum requirements in Irish, English and Mathematics:
A pass in a University First Arts exam in the appropriate subject, NFQ Level 8
Please note that the above are the only accepted entry requirements as set by the Department of Education and Skills (DES). As these are DES imposed requirements, unfortunately the College will not be in a position to accept any alternative qualifications.
