PME in Post-Primary Education

Our flexible post-primary teaching programme

Do you want to affect change in a meaningful way by realising the talents and passions of students and encouraging young people to utilise and get the most out of their abilities? Then, this course is for you.

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SPRING 2025: CLOSES 12 FEBRUARY

Programme Type: Professional Master of Education
Next Intakes: Spring 2025, Autumn 2025

NFQ: Level 9
ECTS: 120 credits

Academic Validation: QQI

Professional Accreditation: The Teaching Council

About the
PME in Post-Primary Education

Are you passionate about empowering young people? With a Professional Master of Education (PME) from Hibernia College, you can register with the Teaching Council as a member of the teaching profession.

Your enthusiasm and knowledge of your teaching subject(s) will enable you to inspire your future students. Our PME programme will teach you how to facilitate academic and personal growth and help each student achieve their full potential. The programme will prepare you to become the best and most professional teacher you can be. Prior teaching experience is not required to apply.

The PME in Post-Primary Education is a 120-credit award at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). It is delivered over 24 months and is a blended learning programme, combining online and face-to-face delivery to develop professionals positioned to be leaders in the field of post-primary education.

The programme consists of a sequence of modules that reflect contemporary issues in education and the skills and knowledge required to be post-primary school teachers who enable effective learning. Our emphasis on research ensures that student teachers understand teaching as a form of self-critical learning. Student teachers are trained to use evidence-based reflection to continually improve their practice.

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Entry Requirements

NFQ Level 8 Degree

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree at Level 8 or higher on the NFQ, which has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits.

Note: Do your official undergraduate transcripts include module codes and ECTS credits? If not, you will need to request these from your undergraduate provider. If you have any issues, please email advisor@hiberniacollege.net.

Is your answer ‘yes’ to the following questions?
Do you have an honours Level 8 degree in subject(s) strongly related to the subject(s) you hope to teach?	✓
Do your relevant qualifications meet the requirements of the Subject Declaration Form (SDF)?	✓

Teaching Council Curricular Subject Requirements

Teaching Council regulations stipulate that, in addition to holding a Level 8 degree that has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits on the NFQ (or equivalent), applicants must meet the curricular subject requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject to be eligible for entry to the PME.

When applying for a place on the PME, an applicant will be required to complete and submit a Subject Declaration Form for their chosen subject(s), declaring they:

Hold an honours bachelor degree at NFQ Level 8, or equivalent, carrying at least 180 ECTS credits
Have studied the requisite number of ECTS credits in the subject(s) they wish to have recorded on the Register of Teachers
Have studied the subject(s) at third-year degree level, or higher
Have met all other specific subject requirements outlined by the Teaching Council. e.g. have studied modules across the required areas of study

Choosing Subjects

When making subject choices, it is important to note that you are required to meet all Teaching Council requirements in your Subject 1, including the requisite number of ECTS credits, and submit a completed Subject Declaration Form.

If you hold 40 credits or more in a second subject, we recommend you select this as your Subject 2. While you will not be in a position to register in this subject, unless you meet all Teaching Council requirements, you will be required to upload a Subject Declaration Form for the purposes of your application only. If you hold less than 40 credits in a second subject or you do not have a second subject, we offer a ‘Digital Technology for Teaching and Learning’ module in lieu of a second subject. Your subject knowledge and eligibility to teach both of your chosen subjects will be considered at interview.

Post-Primary Teaching Subjects

Accounting
Agricultural Science
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Computer Science

Economics
English
French
Gaeilge
Geography
German

History
Mathematics
Physics
Politics and Society
Spanish
PE *Autumn 25 (Pending validation)

Online Tutorials

You should expect to have approximately three to four tutorials each week (Monday–Friday). Tutorials are 1–2 hours in length and typically occur between the hours of 5.00 PM and 9.30 PM. Please note that these classes are live, and you will be expected to attend at the times stated.

Face-to-Face Events

You will meet face-to-face on Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The number of Saturdays is dependent on which module you are undertaking. Depending on the module, attendance at face-to-face events on Saturdays may be required consecutively over a number of weekends. There will also be a number of face-to-face weeks as well as some mid-term face-to-face days.

School Experience

You will complete 24 weeks of school placement in total throughout the programme. Placements are broken down into two 7-week blocks and one 10-week block. You arrange your own placements, and at least two of the placements must be in different schools.

Assessments

The programme is assessed on a continual basis. Assessments include but are not limited to essays, reflective journals, presentations, practical demonstrations, learning logs, a research project, written exam, portfolio submissions and a mini-thesis of 10,000 words.

Required Study and Attendance

It is recommended that you set aside approximately 37 hours per week for study, including tutorials and classes. The programme is 24 continuous months, with a short break at Christmas and in summer. The programme is full-time, delivered through a blended learning model, and full attendance is required.

Modules

Module	Title	Credits
101	Professional Studies: Evidence-Informed Practice in Teaching and Learning	5
102	Foundation Studies: Education, Schools and Society	5
103	Foundation Studies: Psychology for Teaching and Learning	5
104	Foundation Studies: Inclusion, Diversity and Global Education	5
105	Professional Studies: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1	5
106	Professional Studies: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 2	5
107	School Experience and Professional Practice 1	10
108	Foundation Studies: History, Policy and Contemporary Issues in Education	5
109	Foundation Studies: Curriculum Studies	5
110	Foundation Studies: Philosophy of Education	5
111	School Experience and Professional Practice 2	15
112	Professional Studies: Inclusive Pedagogy	5
113	Electives:
113a	Wellbeing in Post-Primary Schools	5
113b	Digital Technology for Teaching and Learning	5
113c	Development Education	5
113d	Inclusion of Learners with AENs	5
114	Professional Studies: Core Teaching Methodologies	5
115	Advanced School Experience and Professional Practice	25
116	Professional Practice and Inquiry: The Teacher as Researcher	10

Application Fee

€95

Tuition Fees

On acceptance of place: €1,050 deposit. Includes €50 in respect of Garda Vetting processing fee.
First instalment (before course begins): €6,875
Second instalment (approx. 10 months later): €7,875

How to Pay Tuition Fees

The application fee is paid online and must be paid in full before an application can be processed. Tuition fees are to be paid by bank transfer.

Graduation Fee

The current fee for attending the graduation ceremony is €125.

1.7% Learner Protection Charge

This charge is incurred to finance arrangements required under Part 6 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012, to ensure protection of enrolled learners and is applied to each fee instalment.

QQI Certification Fee

A QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) Certification Fee is applicable in the award stage of all QQI programmes. The applicable Certification Fee for the PME is €200.

Supplementary Fees

There is a list of supplementary fees, which covers additional services in relation to the programme. It will be available to view on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) from the commencement of the programme.

Loan Facility

TUI Credit Union has formulated a loan facility that may interest you. For more information, read about the facility on their website.

Tax Relief

Under current Revenue rules, tax relief is available if you are eligible at the standard rate of income tax (20%) for qualifying tuition fees. From September 2017, subject to compliance with Revenue regulations, students who are eligible will be able to claim approximately €800 per year in tax relief over the two years of the course, thereby reducing the actual cost of the course to €14,150 (€15,750 – €1,600). For further information, explore the Revenue website.

Please note that the above, provided for information purposes, is of a general nature and is not a substitute for formal advice on taxation matters. We recommend, where necessary, you seek professional advice in relation to taxation matters.

Interview

Once your online application has been reviewed and processed, you will be called for an interview. The interview will be approximately 30 minutes in length.

At the start of the interview, you will present on a Junior or Senior Cycle curriculum topic of interest. The chosen topic must be related to your first subject choice. The presentation should be no longer than three minutes. If your first subject is a language, you should consider conducting your presentation in this language. You will then be given the opportunity to show interest and enthusiasm for both of your chosen subject areas, where relevant, and the profession.

The interview will focus on the following key elements:

Motivations and the Profession: You will be given the opportunity to show you possess skills, interest and enthusiasm for both of your subject areas and the profession.
Suitability to Teach and Subject Knowledge: You will be provided with an opportunity to show that you have investigated both of your subjects and have given some thought to teaching at different levels to different class groups. If you have chosen a language as one of your subjects, some questions will be asked through the medium of your chosen language.
Preparation: You should be able to display knowledge of Hibernia College and the programme for which you have applied.
Competencies: You will have the opportunity to demonstrate competencies that will be pertinent to teaching, e.g. effective planning, responsiveness, and interpersonal and reflective skills.

Please note that this list is given as a guide only.

Acceptance and entry to the course is by interview. The process is as follows:

Applications that are fully completed, with all supporting documentation, will be acknowledged by email.
Applicants are placed in a queue for processing and will be called by the Admissions Team to confirm their scheduled date and time for interview. During busy periods, the waiting time for interview may be slightly longer.
Applicants will usually be given a notice period of approximately one week ahead of their allotted interview date and time.
Interviews are limited, and applicants are expected to attend at the scheduled time and date.
Applicants must bring a valid photographic identification with them to the interview; this should be a current passport or driving license. If an applicant fails to present identification, the interview panel cannot proceed with the interview.
Applicants will receive a reminder by email confirming the scheduled interview, meeting link and other important information.
Applicants that fail to attend without prior notification will have their application cancelled automatically.
Once an interview has been scheduled, in the unlikely event that an applicant has no choice but to cancel, the Admissions Team will endeavour to reschedule the interview. However, during busy periods or nearing the start date of the programme, this may not be possible.
Please note that if you are unable to attend the interview on the date offered, it is important to communicate this to the Admissions Team at the earliest opportunity.

After the interview, the applicant will be recommended or not recommended for the programme.
The outcome of the interview is communicated via email only and is not given to applicants by phone.
Those who are unsuccessful in their application may only re-apply for a future intake (i.e. an applicant cannot submit more than one application for entry to each specific intake of a programme).
Those who are recommended will be made an offer for the next available intake. To accept an offer, applicants must submit documentation and payment in accordance with the terms of the offer.
Where the College has concerns about any individual failing to show genuine commitment to the commencement and/or completion of the programme following repeated applications/admissions, the College reserves the right to refuse future applications. In addition to this, in instances where an individual demonstrates that they do not have the potential to succeed on the programme and/or in the associated profession, the College reserves the right to refuse a subsequent application.

Support for Students

Administrative and technical support teams, faculty and tutors are committed to helping students meet academic and career goals while having a positive experience. Students can draw from a range of available support to navigate big and small questions.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Our Faculty

Our dedicated faculty are mentors and leaders who bring their rich experience to the learning environment at Hibernia College. They are educators, practitioners and active researchers. Common among all our faculty is their focus on students.

EXPLORE FACULty

Student Experiences

Are you curious about studying at Hibernia College? Former students share their own reasons for choosing Hibernia College. Read about their prior experience, research and careers. ‘As a mother and mature student, the course’s flexibility and the use of blended learning made it possible for me to balance my studies with taking care of my family.’ – Therese Barrett

HEAR FROM ALUMNi

FAQs

If you have any questions, please contact our Enrolment team at +353 (0)1 661 0168 (press 2) between 9 AM and 5 PM Monday to Friday. You are also welcome to email advisor@hiberniacollege.net.

The PME in Post-Primary Education is a flexible programme, but it requires a full-time commitment (37 hours per week minimum).

The College does not provide verification that the programme is defined as full-time or part-time for the purposes of third parties, because third parties have different definitions of these terms.

No. You are not required to have prior teaching experience to be eligible to apply for this programme.

All applicants must meet the same minimum entry requirements to be considered for admission to the programme, and all applicants who meet those requirements will be called for interview.

If you are unsure of the level of your honours degree, contact the conferring college or university, the awarding body or Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). To gain entry to the programme, applicants are required to possess a Level 8 award that has an ECTS weighting of at least 180 credits, as per the NFQ. While Hibernia College will make every effort at the time of application to check the level of the award and notify applicants if there is a concern with their qualification, it is each applicant’s responsibility to check the level of their award. Hibernia College will not be held responsible in the unlikely event a graduate of the PME programme is refused admission to the Register of Teachers.

Those who are unsuccessful in their application may only re-apply for future intakes (i.e. you cannot submit more than one application for entry to each specific intake of a programme).

Teaching Council regulations stipulate that, in addition to holding a Level 8 degree (or equivalent) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), applicants to a PME programme must meet the requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject. The requirements for all qualifying subjects are set by the Teaching Council. You will find the curricular subject requirements here.

It is your responsibility to ascertain whether your specific qualifications are in accord with the Teaching Council requirements, satisfying the general and specific criteria for post-primary registration purposes.

You are required to have 60 ECTS credits or more in your first subject and meet all the Teaching Council requirements. To see if you meet the Teaching Council requirements in your Subject 1, complete the relevant Subject Declaration Form.

If you hold 40 credits or more in a second subject, we recommend you select this as your Subject 2. While you will not be in a position to register in this subject unless you meet all Teaching Council requirements, you will be required to upload a Subject Declaration Form for the purposes of your application only. If you hold less than 40 credits in a second subject or you do not have a second subject, we offer a ‘Digital Technology for Teaching and Learning’ module in lieu of a second subject. Your subject knowledge and eligibility to teach both of your chosen subjects will be considered at interview.

Hibernia College offers programmes of study that require participants to work with children and/or other vulnerable groups. For this reason, successful applicants will be required to complete and sign a Garda Vetting Invitation Form. By completing and signing the Garda Vetting Invitation Form, the applicant is granting permission to Hibernia College to process details of any prosecutions/convictions for the purpose of assessing the applicant’s suitability for the programme for which he/she has applied and the completion of work placements associated with the programme.