Education - Post Primary Teaching

Your enthusiasm and knowledge of your two teaching subjects will enable you to inspire your future students. Our PME programme will teach you how to facilitate academic and personal growth and help each student achieve their full potential. Prior teaching experience is not required to apply.

Our PME programme prepares students to become the best and most professional teachers they can be.

We are open for Spring 2023 and Autumn 2023*.
*pending validation and accreditation

The Professional Master of Education (PME) in Post-Primary Education is a 120-credit award at Level 9 delivered over 24 months. It is a blended learning programme, combining online and face-to-face delivery to develop professionals positioned to be leaders in the field of post-primary education.

The programme consists of a sequence of modules that reflect contemporary issues in education and the skills and knowledge required to be post-primary school teachers who enable effective student learning. Our emphasis on research ensures that student teachers understand teaching as a form of self-critical learning. Student teachers are trained to use evidence-based reflection to continually improve their practice.

Programme Structure

ONLINE TUTORIALS
You should expect to have approximately 3-4 tutorials each week (Mon.-Fri.). Tutorials are 1-1.5 hours in length and occur typically between the hours of 5-9 PM. Please note that these classes are live and you will be expected to attend at the times stated.

FACE-TO-FACE LECTURES
You will meet approximately two Saturdays per month at a study centre from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. There will also be a number of face-to-face weeks.

SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
You will complete 24 weeks school experience in total throughout the programme. Placements are broken down into two 7-week blocks and one 10-week block. Students arrange their own placements, and at least two of the placements must be in different schools.

REQUIRED STUDY AND ATTENDANCE
It's recommended that you set aside approximately 37 hours per week for study, including tutorials and classes. The programme is 24 continuous months with a short break at Christmas and in summer. The programme is full-time, delivered through a blended learning model, and full attendance is required.

Available Teaching Methodologies:
Accounting, Agricultural Science, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science*, Economics, English, French, Gaeilge, Geography, German, History, Mathematics, Physics, Politics and Society*, Spanish

*pending validation and accreditation

An undergraduate degree at Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits.

Please note that an NFQ Level 8 Higher Diploma on its own does not fulfil this requirement.

CURRICULAR SUBJECT CRITERIA
Applicants are required to have a Level 8 degree which satisfies the curricular subject criteria set and regulated by the Department of Education and Skills in association with the Teaching Council of Ireland. It is the applicant's responsibility to ascertain whether their specific qualifications are in accord with the Teaching Council requirements, satisfying the general and specific criteria for post-primary registration purposes and including the requisite number of ECTS credits and a completed Subject Declaration Form.

Teaching Council regulations stipulate that, in addition to holding a Level 8 degree which has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits on the NFQ (or equivalent), you must meet the requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject. Applicants must follow the Teaching Council guidelines. You can access Subject Declaration Forms here.

Subject 1 When making subject choices, it is important to note that you are required to meet all Teaching Council requirements in your Subject 1, including the requisite number of ECTS credits and completed Subject Declaration Form.

Subject 2 If you hold 40 credits or more in a second subject, we recommend you select this as your Subject 2. While you will not be in a position to register in this subject unless you meet all Teaching Council requirements, you will be required to upload a Subject Declaration Form for the purposes of your application only. If you hold less than 40 credits in a second subject or you do not have a second subject, we offer a 'Digital Tech T&L' course in lieu of a second subject. Your subject knowledge and eligibility to teach both of your chosen subjects will be considered at interview.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Garda Vetting
Hibernia College offers programmes of study that require participants to work with children and/or other vulnerable groups. For this reason, successful applicants will be required to complete and sign a Garda Vetting Invitation Form. By completing and signing the Garda Vetting Invitation Form, the applicant is granting permission to Hibernia College to process details of any prosecutions/convictions for the purpose of assessing the candidate's suitability for the course for which he/she has applied and the completion of work placements associated with the course.

Primary Degree Level
If you are unsure of the level of your primary degree, contact the conferring college or university, the awarding body or the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland at www.qqi.ie. In order to gain entry to the programme, candidates are required to possess a Level 8 award which has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits, as per the NFQ. While Hibernia College will make every effort at the time of application to check the level of the award and notify applicants if the College believes there may be a concern with their qualification, it is each applicant's responsibility to check the level of their award. Hibernia College will not be held responsible in the unlikely event a graduate of the PME programme is refused admission to the Register of Teachers.

Mature Students
Note that there are no concessions for mature students. All applicants must meet the same minimum entry requirements to be considered for admission to the programme, and all applicants who meet those requirements will be called for interview.

All applicants who are deemed to have met the entry requirements and who have submitted a fully completed application form with supporting documentation and have paid the application fee will be interviewed.

We strongly encourage applicants to submit their completed application form as early as possible.

SPRING 2023: CLOSING 9TH FEBRUARY
AUTUMN 2023: CLOSING 21ST JUNE

Application Fee: €95

24 months

School Experience: 24 weeks in total

Next start dates: Spring and Autumn every year