POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN GERMAN FOR TEACHING AT POST-PRIMARY LEVEL

The Postgraduate Diploma in German for Teaching at Post-Primary Level is the first programme of its kind in Ireland and is intended for candidates who already possess a Professional Masters of Education (PME), or equivalent (e.g. Lehramt), or those who intend on pursuing a PME upon completion of this postgraduate diploma.

The programme aims to provide domestic and international candidates with an opportunity to engage in an accelerated programme of studies. It has been designed in consultation with the Teaching Council of Ireland and specifically tailored to meeting its requirements for registration as an accredited German teacher at post-primary level. The programme follows a three-pronged approach by offering intensive studies in the areas of German language skills; literary, cultural and film studies of the German-speaking world and German linguistics and language pedagogy. In doing so, students’ knowledge and understanding of important concepts in German language and literature (including their didactic and methodological application), culture and society will be enhanced. The Postgraduate Diploma programme may also serve as an entry route to the MLitt / PhD programmes in Applied Linguistics and Intercultural Studies, and German Studies.

IMPORTANT: This programme does not involve professional accreditation. It provides its graduates with the requisite 60 ECTS credits configured to meeting current Teaching Council requirements for German. In order to be accredited by the Teaching Council, all graduates of this programme must hold a PME or equivalent (e.g. Lehramt), and will be required to submit themselves for individual evaluation by the Teaching Council of Ireland.

BA involving German Studies or a cognate discipline (e.g. Lehramt, linguistics, literary cultural studies) with at least a II.1 degree, (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent honours degree) or equivalent. Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent honours degree).

Minimum CEFR Proficiency level of B2.2 in German and C1.1 in English.

Minimum English language requirements:

Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.

Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

IELTS : 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band

Duolingo English Test (DET) : The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 120 - with at least 110 in each individual subscore. 

Pearson Test of English : 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section

TOEFL internet-based test  : iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in every other section

The Postgraduate Diploma in German for Teaching at Post-Primary Level is intended for candidates who already possess a Professional Masters of Education (PME) or equivalent (e.g. Lehramt) or those who intend on pursuing a PME upon completion of this postgraduate diploma, with the end goal of becoming fully accredited post-primary teachers of German in Ireland. The Postgraduate Diploma programme may also serve as an entry route to the MLitt / PhD programmes in Applied Linguistics and Intercultural Studies and German Studies.