Education - Primary Teaching

The Professional Masters of Education (Primary) is a full-time, two-year course designed to equip student teachers with the range of knowledge and skills related to the profession of primary school teaching and its curriculum. The course structure enables student teachers to make real connections between the theory and practice of education. This is achieved through the blend of methodology and foundation discipline courses on offer.

Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) for all candidates

Please note that prospective applicants must have completed and achieved 65% or higher in the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination prior to the closing date to satisfy the entry requirements. TEG is a prerequisite for application to the PMEd (Primary) in at Maynooth University. We cannot accommodate students who are hoping to pass TEG in an examination that is scheduled subsequent to the deadline for applications.

If you have questions relating to the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG), visit the website: http://www.teg.ie/english.167.html or contact TEG directly at the email addres: teanga@mu.ie and telephone 01 708 3737.

The oral Irish examination will be administered by the Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching and Testing in Maynooth University and candidates must apply separately to do this oral Irish exam. More information, including examination guidelines, is available here: http://www.teg.ie/about-exams/teg-pme-primary-teaching.860.html

Applications to each Higher Education Institution (HEI)

Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co Kildare. (froebel.department@mu.ie), Telephone: 01 4747413. Applications to the Froebel Department should be completed online at maestro.mie.ie

Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. (admissions@mie.ie). Telephone: (01) 8057742. Applications to Marino Institute of Education should be completed online at maestro.mie.ie

Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Road, Limerick. (Email: admissions@mic.ul.ie). Contactable on Microsoft Teams/Lilian.Monahan@mic.ul.ie Applications to Mary Immaculate College, Limerick should be made using the 'How to Apply' section of the PME course page at https://www.mic.ul.ie/pme

DCU Institute of Education, DCU St Patrick's Campus, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. (ioe@dcu.ie). Applications to the DCU Institute of Education should be submitted through the Postgraduate Applications Centre www.pac.ie/dcu. (Course Code DC970)

The closing date for receipt of completed applications to the four institutions named above is TBC.

Conditions of Eligibility

Applicants must have the following academic qualifications:

Minimum H2.2 Honours Bachelor Degree (Major Award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or a major award at Level 9 or a major award at Level 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications,

AND

(b) one of the following sets of second level qualifications:
(i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination

Subject: Irish
Minimum Grade (new 2017 Scheme): H4
% Mark: 60% - 70%

Subject: Mathematics
Minimum Grade (new 2017 Scheme): H7 or O4
% Mark: 30%-39% or 60%-70%

Subject: English
Minimum Grade (new 2017 Scheme): H7 or O4
% Mark: 30%-39% or 60%-70%

H – Higher Level
O – Ordinary Level

The grades and % marks in the 1992-2016 grading scheme and the new 2017 scheme are set out at Appendix 1

(ii) in the Northern Ireland GCSE and GCE A Level Examinations: a Grade C at GCE A Level Irish; a Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature or Grade B at GCSE Level in either; and a Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or a Grade C at GCSE Level in Mathematics.

Applicants must provide evidence to the Higher Education Institution that their degree is placed as a major award at the appropriate level on the National Framework of Qualifications. Applicants must meet entry requirements (a) and (b) by July 2022 and must provide documentary evidence of meeting these requirements.

Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Irish, English or Maths

A Pass in a University First Arts Examination in Irish, English or Mathematics will be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination or GCE/GCSE requirement for the relevant subject.

Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Irish

Grade C obtained in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992)
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level C1, NUIG
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level B2, NUIG
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Maynooth University
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) at Level B2, Maynooth University
Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish), University College Cork
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach, UCD
Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha), University of Limerick
Diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster

Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Mathematics

A Pass grade obtained in Mathematics in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992).

A merit grade (65-79%) or distinction grade (80-100%) obtained in QQI Level 5 Mathematics Course (5N1833).

AND ALSO

(c) Oral Irish Examination
Applicants must achieve 65% or higher on the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination, prior to the closing date for applications (date to be confirmed) to satisfy the entry requirements.

A successful result in the TEG oral will be valid for two years before the test needs to be retaken. Candidates who have achieved a minimum of 65% on the TEG oral exam in the last two years are eligible to apply.

A limited number of places will be available and shortlisting for interview may take place on the basis of criteria to be applied by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Please note that canvassing will disqualify.

The Oral Irish Examination will comprise:-

conversation on everyday topics, giving information and expressing opinions;

role play on a given scenario, asking for information, giving information and expressing opinions;

telling a simple story, describing what is happening in a series of pictures.

Applicants should note that a high standard of fluency is required in the Oral Irish Examination and should prepare for the examination accordingly. See http://www.teg.ie/_fileupload/guides/B1_treoir_PME_EN.pdf for further information.

Interview

Eligible applicants will be required to undergo an interview. This interview will be conducted in English and is due to take place on (date to be confirmed after application is submitted). Up to 100 marks may be awarded for performance in the interview. Applicants who get a "fail" grade in the interview will be eliminated from the competition. The purpose of the interview is to ascertain the suitability of the applicant for participation in a primary teacher education programme.

Additional marks awarded for students who complete the TEG oral examination at a high level.

Up to 10 additional marks may be awarded for students who successfully complete the TEG oral examination at a high level and these marks will be added to their interview score. Candidates achieving from 90-100% receive 10 additional marks, candidates achieving from 80-89% receive 5 additional marks.

Candidates who complete the TEG oral examination and obtain 65-79% receive no additional marks but are deemed to have passed the test and are eligible for the programme.

Candidates who have passed higher levels of TEG (B2, C1 and C2) receive 10 additional marks.

Interview Locations
Applicants will be advised by the relevant Higher Education Institution of the date, time, venue, etc, of their interview and must attend at their own expense. The location will be Dublin and/or Maynooth and/or Limerick. Please note that interviews may take place online in 2022 depending on the Government Covid-19 restrictions.

** Important Notice ** Application Procedure for September 2022

Applications are invited from holders of an Honours Bachelor Degree (180 credits) for admission to this full-time 2 year course which will commence in September 2022. The minimum entry requirements are outlined below.

How to apply: Applications for 2022 are not currently open. Please email froebel.department@mu.ie to register your interest.

Closing date: TBC - see the 'Application Weblink' below for up to date information.

Before applying to the relevant higher education institution(s), prospective applicants are required to take the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination. Obtaining 65% in this TEG oral Irish examination is a prerequisite for application to the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching). Candidates who have not already registered for the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (ORAL) examination, can do so by completing an online application form on www.TEG.ie Registration is now open and the TEG exams will take place in January and February. Please make contact with TEG directly to secure your examination space. Please note that applications for January and February TEG B1 examinations close on January 5th 2022. Applications for the PMEd will not be accepted without the TEG Irish Oral result or where the result is pending.

If you have questions relating to the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG), visit the website: http://www.teg.ie/english.167.html or contact TEG directly at the email addres: teanga@mu.ie and telephone 01 708 3737.

Persons who successfully complete this programme are eligible to be registered by the Teaching Council under Route 1: Primary and will thereby be eligible for appointment in primary schools.

Late applications will not be accepted.

2 years full-time

The Professional Masters of Education (Primary) is designed to prepare students to be primary school teachers.