Educational Guidance Counselling

This is an 18-months part-time taught postgraduate diploma which is designed to prepare qualified second-level teachers to provide and lead a school's guidance counselling service. Graduates will be equipped to lead and contribute to a school's Whole School Guidance team.



The programme is recognised by the Irish Department of Education (DE) and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) as a professional, international qualification in guidance counselling.



The part-time programme is running in different Cycles. Accordingly, the next intake is as follows:



Cycle 3: August 2026 - December 2027 (PDEGCP)

Year 1: August 2026–May 2027 (year-long)

Year 2: September 2027–December 2027



Cycle 3 participants attend Maynooth University two full-days per month: one Friday from 3.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. and one Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. They also attend online lectures three Thursday evenings per month from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.



Participants also engage in school placement for one day per week during the 32 weeks (32 full school days in total) of the course.



Programme participants are responsible for arranging the school placement component of the course during which they work in close co-operation with the school guidance counsellor. Students who have a full-time qualified practicing school guidance counsellor at their current school may complete their placement at their own school. If a student's school does not have a full-time qualified practicing school guidance counsellor, they will be required to fulfil their placement at a different school.



There are no distance restrictions on the schools participants can choose for their placements. The PGDEGC part-time programme is nationwide, allowing students to choose schools across the country that best suit their academic and professional aspirations for placement.



The programme begins with two full-day induction sessions in late August and workshops (attendance is mandatory).



Intensive training in psychometric testing is scheduled for the October mid-term break in Year 2 (dates to be confirmed), and there will be additional 2 - 3 Saturday workshops for this training in the second year.



Course Duration: 18-months part-time



MU Apply Code: MH99G

Participants attend Maynooth University two days per month (one Friday and one Saturday), three days online lectures (three Thursday evenings per month) and engage in school placement for one day in a week during the 32 weeks (32 full school days in total) of the course.



The programme (Cycle 3) begins in late August 2026 with two full days, these are induction days and attendance is mandatory.



Intensive training in psychometric testing is scheduled for the October mid-term break in Year 2 and there will be 2 - 3 Saturday workshops.



MU Apply Code: MH99G



Course Duration Cycle 3: 18-months part-time



Course Duration: 18-months part-time (Cycle 2)

Closing Date : 13 February 2026

18 Months Full Time

Successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Guidance Counselling will qualify participants to provide and manage a School Guidance Counselling Service.



The programme is recognised by the Irish Department of Education, the National Centre for Guidance in Education and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors as a professional, international qualification in Guidance Counselling.