Education - Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs

The Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs is a full-time programme running for 9 months from the date of first registration for the programme designed for primary and post-primary teachers. You will be notified by the School of Education, UCC, when to attend your first lecture.

Teachers will be released from their schools for 8 weeks during the academic year to attend lectures and seminars at the University. In addition, teachers will be supervised in their schools during the portion of the academic year when they return to their teaching duties. Teachers will also be required to undertake action research and case study work in their schools, all of which will form an integral part of the programme.

a) Primary

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank, teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream primary sector or to teach students with special educational needs.

Applicants from Primary Schools should have successfully completed their probationary period in accordance with the requirements as set out by the Teaching Council in their publication Procedures for Induction and Procedures and Criteria for Probation and hold a position in a sanctioned post in an area of special education or be taking up such posts in September 2025. For the purpose of the course, teachers will need to deliver a range of programmes related to the learning and teaching of students with special educational needs. Teachers’ timetables must also include periods during which they are working with small groups of students. Collaborative practices, such as team-teaching, can also form a part of these arrangements.

b) Post Primary

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank, teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream post-primary sector or to teach students with special educational needs in the post-primary sector.

Applicants from Post-Primary Schools should have successfully completed their Induction and Post Qualification Employment (PQE).

Applications are invited from recognised second-level schools/centres that have been allocated special education teaching supports or officially sanctioned special classes. The person nominated must be a teacher eligible to hold a permanent post in recognised second-level schools. In order to be eligible for the programme, teachers must spend a minimum of 11 hours per week including in-class support working with students who have special educational needs. For the purpose of the course, teachers will need to deliver a range of programmes related to the learning and teaching of students with special educational needs. Teachers’ timetables must also include periods during which they are working with small groups of students. Collaborative practices, such as team-teaching, can also form a part of these arrangements. At least four class periods should be allocated to teaching individuals or groups of not more than six students. Additional time should also be made available for consultation with parents/guardians and colleagues. Together with work in numeracy, assigned hours must include at least 4 class periods per week of literacy work (maintaining a focus on developing pupils’ literacy skills related to reading, writing, listening and speaking).

c) Special Schools

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council, when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream primary or post-primary sectors or to teach students with special educational needs in the primary or post-primary sector or to teach in special school settings.

Applicants from Special Schools should have successfully completed their probationary period in accordance with the requirements as set out by the Teaching Council in their publication Procedures for Induction and Procedures and Criteria for Probation and hold a sanctioned post in a Special School or be taking up such posts in the September of the year of course commencement.

d) Other Educational Service

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council, when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable to teach either in the mainstream primary or post-primary sectors or to teach students with special educational needs in the primary or post-primary sectors.

Applicants must have successfully completed their Induction and probationary period/PQE in accordance with Teaching Council requirements and be recognised as being eligible for permanent appointment in a primary, post-primary or special school. Applications are invited from qualified teachers employed by ETBs as literacy and/or numeracy tutors in Youthreach, Community Projects or in the Prison Service and who are assigned to Special Education work for a minimum of 11 hours per week. At least four class periods should be allocated to teaching individuals or groups of not more than six students. Additional time should also be made available for consultation with parents/guardians and colleagues. Together with work in numeracy, assigned Special Education hours must include at least 4 class periods per week of literacy work.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: