professional master of education (primary)

This is a full-time postgraduate teacher education programme for primary teaching (20212023) for persons who possess an honours Bachelor Degree at Level 8 or those who expect to have successfully completed final examinations before Monday, 5 July 2021.

Applicants must have the following academic qualifications:
(a) Minimum H2.2 Honours Bachelor Degree[1] (Major Award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or a major award at Level 9 or a major award at Level 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, and

(b) one of the following sets of second level qualifications:
(i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination[2]

Table 1: Minimum Entry Requirements for September 2021

Subject	Irish	Mathematics	English
Minimum Grade (new 2017 Scheme)	H4	H7 or O4	H7 or O4
% Mark	60%< 70%	30%<40% or 60%<70%	30%<40% or 60%<70%

H Higher Level
O Ordinary Level

The grades and % marks in the 1992-2016 grading scheme and the new 2017 scheme are set out at Appendix 1 below.

(ii) in the Northern Ireland GCSE and GCE A Level Examinations: a Grade C at GCE A Level Irish; a Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature or Grade B at GCSE Level in either; and a Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or a Grade C at GCSE Level in Mathematics.

Applicants must provide evidence to the Higher Education Institution that their degree is placed as a major award at the appropriate level on the National Framework of Qualifications. Applicants must meet all entry requirements by Monday, 5^th July 2021 and must provide documentary evidence of meeting these requirements.

Alternatives to second-level qualifications in Irish, English or Maths

A Pass in a University First Arts Examination in Irish, English or Mathematics will be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination GCE/GCSE requirement for the relevant subject.

In the case of Irish, a Grade C in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992) will also be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCE/GCSE requirement. In addition, the following are accepted as satisfying the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCE/GCSE requirement:

Diopma sa Ghaeilge, Level C1, NUIG
Diopma sa Ghaeilge, Level B2, NUIG
Diopma sa Ghaeilge, NUI Maynooth
Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) at Level B2, NUI Maynooth
Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish), University College Cork
Diopma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach, UCD
Diopma sa Ghaeilge (An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha), University of Limerick
Diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster
In the case of Mathematics, a Pass in that subject in the Matriculation Examination will also be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination/GCSE requirement or A merit grade (65-79%) or distinction grade (80-100%) obtained in QQI Level 5 Mathematics Course (5N 1833).

[1] Please note that notice of this requirement (H2.2 Bachelor Degree) which commenced in 2016 was included in the PME Entry Requirements 2014 and the PME Entry Requirements 2015.

[2] Please note that the overall position on minimum entry requirements from 2018 onwards are being reviewed by the Department of Education & Skills.

2019 & 2020 Entry Requirements
The Minister has decided that the minimum entry grades for entry to primary ITEprogrammes in 2019 and 20202 will be increased as set out in table 2 below.

Subject	Grade	%
Irish	H4	60<70
English	O4	60<70
	or
	H7	30<40
Maths	O4	60<70
	or
	H7	30<40

Appendix 1

Leaving Cert Grading Schemes (1992-2016 Scheme and New Scheme 2017)

1992 2016 Scheme	% Awarded	New Scheme 2017 onwards	% Awarded
A1	90-100	H1 / O1	90-100
A2	85<90	H2 / O2	80<90
B1	80<85	H2 / O2	80<90
B2	75<80	H3/ O3	70<80
B3	70<75	H3 / O3	70<80
C1	65<70	H4 / O4	60<70
C2	60<65	H4/O4	60<70
C3	55<60	H5 / O5	50<60
D1	50<55	H5/O5	50<60
D2	45<50	H6 / O6	40<50
D3	40<45	H6/ O6	40<50
E	25<40	H7 / O7	30<40
F	10<25	H8/ O8	0<30

Prior to applying, please visit the following link to the Professional Masters in Education (Primary) to obtain further details. The closing date has passed in relation to applicants registering for the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1). Applicants are required to achieve 65% in this oral exam. Contact the TEG office directly on 01 708 3737 with queries relating to this section of the application process.

Applicants wishing to apply to the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University can do so by visiting the following link: http://maestro.mie.ie/appcentre

A limited number of places will be available on these programmes and successful applicants will be selected by way of competition. Applicants are advised that shortlisting may apply.

Persons who successfully complete this programme are eligible to be registered by the Teaching Council under Route 1: Primary and will thereby be eligible for appointment in primary schools.