Course Summary
The Professional Master of Education (PME) at UCC is a two-year, level 9, full-time teacher education course. This 120-credit programme is designed to qualify graduates as post-primary secondary school teachers.
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Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Candidates must have a primary degree at a minimum level of 2H2 or equivalent (e.g. primary degree and Masters) that is recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the teaching of at least one subject in a post-primary school.
Candidates must also complete and submit a Subject Declaration Form from the Teaching Council in respect of their eligibility to meet the requirements to teach their specific subjects.
Entry to the PME programme is competitive and selection is according to a subject-based application system with points awarded based on the marks obtained in the undergraduate degree, any subsequent academic qualifications, and certain categories of relevant professional work experience. See the PAC website for details.
The current PAC PME subject-based entry system does not have set quotas for each subject but offers in subject areas are made based on Department of Education and Skills priority subjects (e.g. languages, maths, physics, chemistry) and each institution's own local circumstances, demands and ability to cater for subjects on the programme. It is necessary to limit the number of students admitted to the PME and our current quota is circa 120 students per year. (Deferrals are not permitted on this programme due to its competitive nature.)
Subject Teaching Choice
Students are normally allowed to teach only those subjects, which they have pursued to an advanced level in their degree (normally a minimum of 60 credits) and for which they have completed, signed, and submitted a Teaching Council Subject Declaration Form on application. At least one of these subjects must be approved by the Teaching Council for teacher registration.
Students normally also teach a second subject in which they have some recognised academic attainment and for which they are recognised to teach by the Teaching Council. All students are required to attend pedagogy courses to support the teaching of both their teaching subjects.
Students who do not have a second teaching subject will be required to attend ED6309 The Teaching of Civic, Social and Political Education to support them to be possibly able to teach CSPE as a second subject in post-primary schools.
Application Details
Fees
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 at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
Fees for Non-EU Students are payable in one instalment in August.
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 [email protected] .
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Career Progression
Graduates of the PME will be well equipped to begin a teaching career in Ireland or abroad. Our graduates are highly sought after in the UK and elsewhere. Furthermore, the skills gained in teaching are easily transferrable to other careers. Teachers learn to communicate with groups and to present material in an organised manner, which is an enduring skill that is much sought after in many fields. Our PME graduates are working in many other non-school settings.