Education - Primary Teaching

Overview

During this two-year course, you’ll discover how to empower, motivate and engage children. You’ll also explore the latest approaches to helping them develop critical skills, including how to understand, analyse and apply what they learn. The course is designed to help students give every child the best education and to challenge traditional, often limiting, teaching approaches.



Get ready for a diverse learning experience

Modules are delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and outdoor classes, while assessments include written assignments, interactive oral exams, quizzes and portfolios. You’ll also undertake 24 weeks of placement in primary school classrooms in both mainstream and special education teaching settings.



Supportive Placements



You’ll also undertake 24 weeks of placement in primary school classrooms in both mainstream and special education teaching settings. The first placement will be a staggered, supported placement where you will begin going out to the school two days a week, while attending lectures to allow you to discuss your evolving school experience with your lecturers. You will begin by observing and completing reflective tasks and gradually start planning and teaching lessons. This will culminate in a block of two-weeks of teaching.



Flexible programme



In first year, there will be some on-line learning (most Mondays) and a half day on Fridays in Semester One.



In semester two of first year, you will spend two days a week on a home-based placement and spend the second half of the week on campus for the first half of the semester. The second half of semester two is devoted to home-based placements.



In second year, the first half of the semester is spent on campus (Monday-Thursday). Then, you will undertake two home-based placement blocks for the rest of the academic year.



Gaeltacht



You will have two Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht during the two-year programme. They will take place in May of first year and Easter of second year. Information about the Gaeltacht »



Once you graduate, you can pursue a career as a primary school teacher or move into areas like educational administration, consulting, content writing, research or educational policy. Alternatively, you may choose to work in educational support services like the Professional Development Service for Teachers or the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

The masters in primary education programme starts in September each year. However, at the end of August, there will be an optional DCU-funded Dianchúrsa sa Ghaeilge (for those keen to improve their Irish) followed by an optional school observation experience in DCU’s Changemaker Schools Network (for those eager to observe high quality practice in action prior to beginning lectures).



Then, lectures begin in early September. There will be some hybrid components of modules which will allow some learning to take place on-line but most of the taught modules will take place on campus. There will be 24 weeks of home-based placement across the two years. There will be two Gaeltacht courses during the programme (May in PMEP1 and Easter in PMEP2). This is a two-year full-time course.



The programme includes foundation studies, which integrate history of education, philosophy of education, sociology of education, educational psychology and early childhood education. In addition, you will take modules in content knowledge and integrated methodologies for all subjects of the primary school curriculum (Gaeilge, Literacy, Geography, History, Science, Mathematics, SPHE, PE, Drama, Visual Arts and Music).



You will also engage in a module that explores assessment, special and inclusive education and approaches to teaching and learning and a module that explores religious education, multi-belief and ethical curricula in diverse school contexts. In second year, you will conduct self-study research in an area of special interest.



You will have the opportunity to study for a certificate in Catholic Religious Education in preparation for teaching in schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church as an optional pathway that correlates with the PME in primary education timetable.

Note: The Department of Education Entry Requirements for a Professional Masters of Education (2025) is available in Irish here and in English here



Please note that we will update this page with the 2026 requirements when they are published by the DES.



Before making your application to DCU DC970:



Candidates wishing to apply for the Professional Masters of Education (Primary Teaching) MUST take Teastas Eorpach Gaeilge (TEG) Level B1 Oral Irish examination. A minimum of 65% must be attained on this examination to be eligible to apply for the PME (Primary) programme.



The TEG B1 Oral Irish examination dates for the Professional Masters of Education (Primary Teaching) 2025-26 are: 23rd and 24th January, 2026. Application forms will be available in mid-November 2025. Please see www.teg.ie for more information.



A successful result in the TEG B1 Oral Irish examination will be valid for two years before the examination needs to be retaken



Applications for the TEG B1 Oral Irish examination are made directly through TEG.



Please note that spaces are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. If a centre or date isn't appearing on the form, that means it is full. In this case, please apply for a different centre/date. Candidates may not sit more than one exam on the same day.



Results are typically released mid-March.



Further details on the application process should be viewed at the Next Steps section

20

2 years Full-time.

ProfDip Data Analytics (F057) Part Time

EU/NONEU fee per credit - € 182.8


***Fees are subject to change


Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

DCU Graduate teachers enjoy high employment success rates - 99% of DCU Institute of Education graduates are in employment or further education some six months after graduation.



While most of our graduates will work as teachers in primary schools, others will pursue further studies in education and related fields, such as guidance, pastoral care, school leadership and management.



Others graduates will work in Further Education, Higher Education, government departments and other education and training settings.

Adult Education

Education

Government Departments

Post Primary Education