Inclusive & Special Education

This course is designed to develop the skills of special education teachers who work in primary, post-primary and special school or specialist unit settings, in all aspects of theory and practice related to teaching pupils with additional educational needs.



It develops students’ knowledge and skills in identification and assessment of pupils with additional educational needs and in planning, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of, interventions for such pupils



This professional full-time course is delivered over an academic year, with two four-week periods of fulltime attendance at college, supplemented by attendance on four Saturdays spread throughout the year. The vast majority of students on the course are funded by the Department of Education and full substitution cover is funded by the Department of Education while those students attend college.



When not attending college, students on the course are otherwise teaching in their own schools, where they are supported by site visits from UCD tutors. The format of delivery combines lectures, tutorials, workshops and visits to other schools considered to be centres of excellence.



UCD School of Education also invites applications from self-financed applicants to complete the course.

Stage 1 Core Modules

EDUC40980 Assessment in Inclusive and Special Education 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

EDUC40990 Inclusive Pedagogy 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

EDUC41420 Leadership, Collaboration, and Inclusive Practice 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 20

EDUC41430 Inclusion and Development 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

EDUC41440 Inclusive Education: Theory and Practice Autumn 10

Primary and post-primary teachers from mainstream schools, special schools and other education providers in Ireland who are in a full-time, recognised LS/RT position are eligible to apply.



Please note that there are two pathways for entry to this programme. Pathway One is for Department of Education funded applicants and Pathway Two is for Self-Financed applicants. Details of both pathways are outlined below.



Pathway One: Department of Education Funded Applicants:

Applications are now open for the September 2026 intake of the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education. Please see the Department of Education circular 0034/2025 which contains the application details and information on eligibility as well as the closing date. The circular is now available to download from the Department of Education's website and will be distributed to Schools and Teaching Unions.



UCD has a limited number of Department of Education funded places on this programme annually where Department of Education funded substitution cover is provided for the eight-week block release time.



Applicants for Department of Education funding must read this year’s Department of Education circular 0034/2025 prior to submitting the UCD Application Form. Prior to submitting the UCD Application Form please also ensure that your principal and your Board of Management Chairperson are familiar with the Department of Education circular governing these courses (especially in relation to eligibility).



Pathway Two: Self-Financing Applicants:

A number of places on the course are reserved for self-financing teachers. Applications will open for those who are self-financing (ie paying their own course fees and not being subsidised by the Department of Education) once all Department of Education funded places have been filled. These self-financing applicants can apply online via www.ucd.ie/apply when applications open. Fee information for self-financing students is available on our fees webpage. Applications for self financing applicants will remain open until all places have been filled, early application is advised. Please only apply to the course via www.ucd.ie/apply if you are a self-financing applicant. Department of Education funded applicants must follow the application instructions in the above paragraph.



Students who obtain a 2.1 honours grade in the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education have the option to apply to the part-time one-year Masters in Inclusive Education which focuses on research skills. This pathway is only recommended for graduates of the Grad Dip ISE W424 who have completed the course in the last five years.



Further queries on the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education and the Masters in Inclusive Education can be directed to educationenquiries@ucd.ie



Full details on the programme can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/



For further details, view course webpage - link below

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:



Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: No

60

1 year full-time

GradDip Inclusive & Special Education (W424) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 6695

nonEU fee per year - € 13270


***Fees are subject to change


Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Support under the terms and conditions of the relevant annual Department of Education and Skills (DES) Circular is available to suitably qualified primary and post-primary teachers who currently hold, or are eligible to hold, permanent positions in their schools.

W424 Graduate Diploma Inclusive & Special Education Graduate Diploma - Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Careers & Employability

Completion of this course will significantly enhance the knowledge and skills of Special Education Teachers and will render them considerably more competent and confident in fulfilment of their roles.



It will further the careers of Special Education Teachers in schools, enabling them to perform a co-ordinating and managerial role in relation to provision for pupils with Additional Educational Needs in schools.



It will enable SET teachers to apply for national and regional roles within the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including, but not confined to, the roles of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) and Visiting Teachers providing consultative services to schools.



Students who complete the full-time Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education W424 have the option (within 5 years of graduating) of transferring directly into Year 2 of the MEd Inclusive Education and obtaining this Masters qualification by completing one module in Research Methods and a thesis.