Education - Modular

Course Outline
The M.Ed masters degree is a modularised programme and can be attained through a credit accumulation process, the focus is on the continuing professional development of teachers and educators at all levels of education. Students can design their own special programme from the available modules to suit their own professional specialisation, research areas and personal interests. However, students should note that a minimum and maximum quota of students will be applied to each module. In 2021, selection of students was based on teaching qualification, academic record, professional experience and the online supplementary Candidates Statement submitted.

MEDOD - MEd Modular (120 credit route): Applicants meeting the initial entry requirements should apply for the 120 credit route.
MEDM - MEd Modular (60 credit route):Applicants meeting the initial entry requirements and who have an approved postgraduate diploma in the general education area or equivalent (with an honours grade) should apply for the 60 credit route. Equivalencies are subject to the School and College approval.
A total of 120 credits, or 60 credits in the case of a holder of one of the approved diplomas, must be completed. Students are limited to studying a maximum of 30 credits in any one semester (and a maximum of 60 credits in any one year). Teaching periods are September-December and January-March/April).

The M.Ed degree offers a variety of taught modules that explore contemporary issues for education, e.g. early childhood education, leadership, inclusion and special educational needs, modern foreign languages, curriculum and assessment, digital education, physical and health education.

Modules are informed and driven by research and are assessed by project work that links your professional settings to contemporary educational research. This leads to a dissertation based on your professional educational research interests.

Why Choose This Course
The M.Ed degree course is grounded in current educational issues.

The range and choice of modules available make the course relevant to all members of the teaching community.

The course is organised and timetabled to suit the schedule of working teachers.

Its' modular and flexible structure allows credits to be accumulated over a two to five year period depending on individual students' choices and circumstances.

Connecting educational research is linked to professional practice experiences throughout the course.

Modules will be finalised in January 2022. Students can design their own special programme from the available modules to suit their own professional specialisation, research areas and personal interests, including:

Leadership
Children's Literature and Pedagogy
Wellbeing
Assessment
Second/Foreign Language Teaching
SEN
Early Childhood Studies
Digital Learning
EAL
Mentoring

All students are required to complete the ED6035 dissertation module (30 credits). Students are advised that the dissertation module is normally taken only on completion of the required number of other taught modules.

Dissertation students are required to attend and participate in a series of compulsory research seminars and independently prepare a research proposal on their chosen research area. Students must then write a dissertation of 15,000 words under the supervision of an allocated Staff member.

Requirements
To apply for entry to the M.Ed degree modular programme you must hold:

a primary degree and the Professional Master of Education (formerly the Postgraduate/Higher Diploma in Education) with a second class honours in one (or its' equivalent)

or have a second class honours BEd degree, (or its' equivalent)

or have a second class honours BSc (Education in Physical Sciences), (or its' equivalent)

or have a second class honours Grade 1 (2H1) BA (Hons) Degree in Early Years & Childhood Studies (or its' equivalent)

Professional teaching experience, equivalent to five full years (excluding initial teacher education), will be considered as an honours equivalent.

Furthermore applicants must also possess a minimum of one year's post teacher education professional teaching experience, or certified equivalent (e.g. research in schools, voluntary work with schools, working with school teams).

In addition to the above requirements, applicants who have achieved at least a second class honours grade in one of the following postgraduate diplomas (or equivalent – equivalencies are subject to School and College approval) will be eligible to apply for the 60 credit route: (CKE67)

Approved Postgraduate Diplomas:
Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Administration
Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership
Postgraduate Diploma in the Teaching of Religious Education
Postgraduate Diploma in the Teaching of Science in the Primary School
Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education Needs/Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Support/Compensatory and Remedial Education
Postgraduate Diploma in Curriculum Studies (CSPE)
Postgraduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling
Postgraduate Diploma in Italian/Spanish for Post-Primary Teachers
Postgraduate Diploma in English and the Teaching of English
An tArd Teastas i dTeagasc agus i Litriocht na Gaeilge

English Language Requirement
IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent. Further information on English Language Requirements can be found at http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

Non-UCC applicants must also submit photocopy evidence of any qualification(s) (academic results and certificates/parchments) that were not completed in University College Cork and evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable) either by uploading via the PAC "Application Status" or by post to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with your online Postgraduate Application Number)

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How to Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
Any supplementary items requested for your course.
Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates via link below.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Important Note(All Applicants)
Early applications are advised. Applications for this programme are assessed as they come in, therefore the programme quota may be achieved before the closing date. Applicants that meet the programme entry criteria, but who submit after the programme has been filled, will be placed on a waiting list for spaces that may open due to withdrawals or cancellations.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Programme codes are MEDOD (120 credit route) or MEDM (60 credit route). For full details of the application procedure click How to apply.

Selection will be based on teaching qualification, academic record, professional experience, and the online additional/supplementary questions completed during the online application process.

Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.

All assessment of M.Ed degree modules is by project work (normally 5,000 words), leading to the completion of a 15,000 word dissertation based on your professional research interests. There are no end-of-year written examinations. All M.Ed degree modules feature readings, reflections, presentations and other in-class assignments.

60 or 120

1 to 5 years part-time.

The programme can be studied in a flexible timescale within a 5 year period.

Start Date: 7th September 2020
Closing Date: Tuesday 5th May 2020

Skills and Careers Information
The MEd offers:
Continuing professional development for educators at all levels. A broad knowledge of educational studies and an introduction to key research in this area. Critical reflection on educational theory and classroom practice.

Skills needed to conduct a research study and write a dissertation.

M.Ed degree graduates have gone on to other posts in the education sector, e.g. school Principals, the inspectorate, college lectureships, research positions and the professional development service for teachers.

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