Program Overview

Education - Professional Master of Education (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training)

The Professional Master of Education (PME) at University College Cork is a two-year, full-time teacher education course designed to qualify graduates as post-primary secondary school teachers. This 120-credit program is fully recognized and accredited by the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purpose of registration as a professional post-primary teacher in Ireland and the EU.

Course Outline

The PME combines two school placements with university lectures and tutorials, developing student teachers' requisite professional knowledge, skills, understanding, and competence. Students are introduced to best practices in teaching, learning, and educational research, with special emphasis on meeting the diverse needs of learners, the curriculum, and current issues in education.

PME Subjects

The program supports the following post-primary teaching subjects:

• Business Studies (covering Accounting, Business, and Economics)
• Civic, Social, and Political Education
• Computer Science
• English
• French
• Gaeilge/Irish
• Geography
• German
• History
• Home Economics
• Italian
• Maths
• Music
• Politics & Society
• Religious Education
• Science (covering Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Agricultural Science)
• Spanish

Year 1

Placement for PME Year 1 students is negotiated and arranged by the University College Cork School of Education, taking into account the various circumstances of the program and the available placement opportunities in partner schools. Students must sign a placement form and are contracted until the end of the school year to carry out their teaching placement in the school in question.

Year 2

Each student is expected to have a contrasting placement experience in a different school context for Year 2. Placement for PME Year 2 students is again negotiated and arranged by the University College Cork School of Education PME Placement Committee.

Course Content

Year 1 (60 credits)

• Core Modules (50 credits)
  • ED6301 Philosophy and History of Education (5 credits)
  • ED6302 Introduction to Psychology and Sociology of Education (5 credits)
  • ED6303 Curriculum and Assessment (5 credits)
  • ED6306 Inclusion Special Educational Needs and Multicultural Education (5 credits)
  • ED6330 School Placement 1 (20 credits)
  • ED6331 School Placement: Research and Professional Experiences Portfolio A (5 credits)
  • ED6332 School Placement: Research and Professional Experiences Portfolio B (5 credits)
• Plus 10 credits from the following:
  • ED6308 The Teaching of Business Studies 1A (5 credits)
  • ED6309 The Teaching of Civic, Social and Political Education (5 credits)
  • ED6312 The Teaching of English (5 credits)
  • ED6313 The Teaching of a Second Language 1A (5 credits)
  • ED6314 The Teaching of a Second Language 1B (5 credits)
  • ED6315 The Teaching of Geography (5 credits)
  • ED6316 The Teaching of History (5 credits)
  • ED6317 The Teaching of Mathematics (5 credits)
  • ED6318 The Teaching of Music (5 credits)
  • ED6319 The Teaching of Religious Education (5 credits)
  • ED6325 The Teaching of Physical Sciences (5 credits)
  • ED6326 The Teaching of Biological Sciences (5 credits)
  • ED6327 The Teaching of Irish (5 credits)
  • ED6328 The Teaching of Business Studies 1B (5 credits)
  • ED6329 The Teaching of Home Economics (5 credits)
  • ED6333 The Teaching of Computer Science (5 credits)

Year 2 (60 credits)

• ED6341 Collaborative Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Irish Schools (5 credits)
• ED6354 Literacy and Numeracy Development in the Post-Primary Classroom (5 credits)
• ED6359 PME Professional Research Paper (10 credits)
• ED6360 PME School Placement 2 (30 credits)
• ED6361 Specialist Subject Pedagogies 2 (5 credits)
• ED6362 Designing Curriculum and Assessment for the Contemporary Classroom (5 credits)

Course Practicalities

Students must teach a specified number of lessons per week in both Years 1 and 2, as laid down by the School of Education to meet the requirements of the Teaching Council. School placements last for the full school year, during which student teachers are expected to participate fully in school life.

Why Choose This Course

The PME in University College Cork is a ground-breaking and innovative teacher education program, which is excellent preparation for teaching at the second level. It incorporates the latest research in the field of education studies with a key emphasis on fostering innovative and inclusive classroom pedagogies.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Two year-long school placements in two contrasting post-primary schools (one in Year 1 and one in Year 2) are an integral part of this course. Schools placements are normally only in the greater County Cork area and are only arranged in specific PME partner schools.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates of the PME will be well-equipped to begin a teaching career in Ireland or abroad. The skills gained in teaching are easily transferable to other careers. Teachers learn to communicate with groups and to present material in an organized manner, which is an enduring skill that is much sought after in many fields.

Requirements

Candidates must have a primary degree at a minimum level of 2H2 or equivalent that is recognized 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.

Fees and Costs

The tuition fees for the PME program are as follows:

• EU Fees: 8,100
• Non-EU Fees: 18,500

How to Apply

Please see the dedicated How to Apply page for information and instructions on how to apply to the PME at University College Cork. All applications will be reviewed in full after the application deadline in January. Offers will be made in March for the Autumn intake. The closing date for non-EU applications is 26 January 2026.