Professional Master of Education

The Professional Master of Education is a two-year full-time initial teacher education programme designed to qualify post-primary teachers in the following disciplines:

• Business (Accounting, Business, Economics)
• Languages (French, German, Irish, Japanese, Spanish, English as a Second Language (ESL) – Note: those studying one language only must take ESL; ESL is not available with a non-language discipline.
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical Education
• Science (Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Technological Education (Engineering, Technology, Construction Studies, Design and Communication Graphics)

For all disciplines (except Mathematics, Music and Physical Education), students are required to specialise in TWO subject areas. Students can specialise in subjects in different disciplines if they have the necessary Level 8 credits.  For example: Biology with French or Physical Education with Business.

Please note that a minimum number of students are required before a discipline will run. 

PROGRAMME AIMS

 The aims of the Professional Master of Education (PME) are to ensure those successful graduates:

1. To foster a vision of professional practice among prospective teachers who view the development and human flourishing of all pupils within the context of a changing world.
2. To develop knowledge of learners and their development in social context, teaching, subject pedagogy (business, languages, mathematics, music, physical education, science and technological education) and curriculum goals (including national priorities).
3. To foster social justice- and sustainability-oriented critical engagement by prospective teachers in the context of classrooms, school, wider society and the globe/planet.
4. To cultivate an openness to engaging critically, including from a research-informed stance, with reforms in teaching, learning and assessment in schools, i.e. reform readiness.
5. To develop prospective teachers to have the requisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions as adaptive experts to proactively engage as learners within their immediate and wider professional contexts.
6. To enable prospective teachers’ development to include an agentic vision of self as teacher informed by reflexivity, engagement with professional literature in educational studies, their subject disciplines and experiences on school placement.
7. To prepare prospective teachers who are curious and open to professional learning and development across the continuum of teacher education from ITE to induction and onward to learning across the professional life-cycle.
8. To foster the professional values of trust, care, respect, integrity, and social justice both as a basis for, and as valued aspirations worthy of further cultivation within the teaching profession.
9. To develop critical understanding of the enduring, contesters and changing nature of the aims of education so programme graduates are well prepared to engage with the professional role of teacher in school and system contexts.

Learn more from course directors and students on the programme.

Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules

Applicants must possess a relevant primary degree at 2.2 honours level or higher (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or equivalent) or be about to graduate with such a degree. In line with Teaching Council and HEA protocol, when applying for a place on the Professional Master of Education programme, the PME Applicant is required to make a formal declaration, using a Subject Declaration Form, that he/she:

1. Holds/will hold, by the date of commencement of the PME programme, a level 8 honours degree
2. Has studied the relevant number of ECTS credits in the relevant subject area(s) as part of their degree
3. Has studied higher-level degree content related to the subject area(s) in year 3 or 4 of their degree
4. Has covered, as part of their degree, the mandatory topics/subjects as set out in the Teaching Council subject requirements

It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that his/her primary degree meets the requirements of the Teaching Council of Ireland for the purposes of teaching their chosen subject(s). Any successful application to join the course is subject to the individual applicant having established and declared for himself/herself that he/she has met this requirement.

Candidates will be required to attend an interview for all subject pathways as part of the selection process.

Languages: As the professional practice of language teaching involves teaching through the target language, applicants are expected to evidence competency in this regard in the selection process (screening, shortlisting, and interview partly conducted through MFL, Gaeilge and ESL as appropriate).
 

Short-listing

• Within each subject area, interview priority will be given to candidates who meet the full Teaching Council requirements (content and credits)
• Physical Education: All applications will be screened and shortlisted for interviews considering four criteria: (1) Education and awards (undergraduate, postgraduate and respective awards); (2) Relevant work or voluntary experience (subbing, shadowing, etc.); (3) Personal statement (see below); and (4) Application quality (CV format / structure and Subject Declaration Form correctly submitted)

Please have the following documents ready to upload with your application:  please note your application will not be processed without these required documents

• Fully and accurately completed  ‘Subject Declaration Form(s)’ in those subjects you believe you will be qualified in. Please ensure that the pages in your Forms are combined into one file for each subject. 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement 

  • This should include:

    Brief background (undergraduate and postgraduate programme(s) done and key learning points in relation to teaching your subject area(s). 

    Evidence of knowledge of the Teaching Council requirements.

    Evidence of experience shadowing, or voluntary work related to your subject area(s).

    Considering points 1, 2 and 3, arguments to deserve a place in the programme.

    2 pages maximum (Times New Roman 12pt 1.5 line spacing)

• Qualification transcripts and awards/certificates
• A copy of your birth certificate or passport
• If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice.  If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
• English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
• English language competency certificate  
• Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements
• Vetting is also required for this programme for successful applicants. 

Guidelines on Completing your Application

• To ensure a speedy assessment of your application, please upload the above documents with your application form – your application cannot be assessed until relevant documentation is uploaded
• Please title appropriately any documents you are uploading with the application form, for example "Supporting Statement", "Undergraduate Transcript", "Postgraduate Transcript", "English Language Certificate" etc.

International students can find more information on eligibility requirements here. 

EU - €5,600 per annum*

Non- EU - €10,100 per annum*

*Please note year 2 fees are subject to change

Once registered, students can apply to pay their fees in instalments. A request for a payment plan should be emailed to student.fees.office@ul.ie.

Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie.)

Graduates from this course are enabled to teach a wide range of subjects across a number of programmes.  Since its inception, there has been a consistently strong demand for teachers with this qualification.  The majority of Professional Master in Education graduates opt for teaching in second-level schools.  Others have secured employment in the further education sector, the international education sector, alternative education sector, community education and adult education settings.

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Laila Jedir – PME Music (Graduated August 2021)

I was thrilled to complete the professional master of education in music in university of Limerick in 2021. It opened up many opportunities for me and most importantly gave me skills to pass down music education in efficient, informed and positive ways. Jean Downey also helped me build the skills to start a choir which I am now leading in a secondary school in London, which is a fantastic opportunity. I cannot recommend the qualification more.