Education - Modular

The MEd 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.

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.

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

Modules currently include:

ED6039 Inclusion of Pupils with SEN: Opportunities, Challenges, Dilemmas (15 credits)
ED6055 Children's Literature and Pedagogy (15 credits)
ED6063 Modes of Assessment in Contemporary Curriculum (15 credits)
ED6064 Decision Making in Educational Leadership (15 credits)
ED6065 Wellbeing for Health (15 credits)
ED6069 Early Childhood Pedagogy: Perspectives and Contemporary Issues (15 credits)
ED6078 EAL, Inclusion and the Plurilingual Classroom (15 credits)
ED6079 Trauma-informed Practice in Education: An Introduction (15 credits)

All students are required to complete the ED6035 dissertation module (30 credits). Students are advised that the dissertation module is 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.

See the University Calendar page (MEd).

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The programme can be studied in a flexible timescale within a 5-year period.

(This is a part-time Modular Programme and is open to Irish/EU Students only).

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Course Practicalities
Lectures are timetabled to facilitate working teachers. Each 15-credit module is timetabled for two hours (e.g. 5-7 pm or 7-9 pm) on one night per week. Lectures are currently timetabled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the two 12-week semesters (September-December and January-March/April). You can register for a maximum of 30 credits in any one teaching period. Should you have any specific queries regarding lectures of the various modules the staff of the School of Education please contact us.

All assessment of MEd 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 MEd degree modules feature readings, reflections, presentations, and other in-class assignments.

Why Choose This Course
The MEd 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.

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 I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) 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:

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 Innovation through Design Thinking
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 Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure 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.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

The EU fee for this course is €1,125 per 15-credit module .

Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.

EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.

International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.

Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment email our Fees Office at fees@ucc.ie.

The fee for this course is based upon a fee per 15-credit module.

Part-time students
If your course is offered full-time and part-time, normally the fee for part-time course is half the full-time fee per year, please check the fact file for confirmation.

Deposits
If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment at registration in August and the second in January.

How can I pay?
By Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.

Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment please email our Fees Office at fees@ucc.ie

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.

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

Skills and Careers Information
Our MEd programme 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.

MEd 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.

School of Education: News Link: https://www.ucc.ie/en/education/news/.