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BSC SCIENCE (WITH EDUCATION) (SED)

Qualification : BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

Award Type and NFQ level : UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)

CAO/MU Apply code : MH212

CAO Points : 420

Closing Date : 01 July 2025

View QQI details

If you are interested in a career as a second-level science and/or mathematics teacher, this may be the degree for you.

You will study with the Maynooth University Department of Education who are committed to reflecting on and interrogating the purposes, principles and values underpinning educational policy, practice and theory. You will take a five year route to second-level teaching instead of a six-year route.

Why choose this degree?

As an undergraduate, you will study a four-year Science degree, while also completing 60 credits in Education.

After four years you are awarded a BSc Science (with Education) degree – a level 8 honours degree. You now have two pathways open to you:

  1. You can choose to exit your studies with your level 8 qualification and take a different path in your education or career.
  2. You can continue with your studies to become a fully qualified teacher. This means you complete one further year of study at postgraduate level - required in order to meet the Teaching Council requirements to be registered as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) in two subjects. Having graduated with your Level 8 BSc Science (with Education) degree, you are guaranteed your place in this postgraduate year. At the end of year five of your studies, you will be a fully qualified second-level science and mathematics teacher, up to Leaving Certificate level. Through this pathway you are fully qualified after five years rather than taking the six year route (details of the six-year route are outlined in the next bullet point above).

An alternative, six-year route to second-level teaching is available. You can take the BSc Bachelor of Science degree (MH201) for four years and then apply for a place on the Level 9 Professional Master of Education degree. The PME is a two-year, full-time programme designed to qualify graduates to teach at second level. Entry to the PME is competitive and is not guaranteed to graduates of the BSc Bachelor of Science degree.

Duration: 4 years + 1 year postgraduate study

Study for four years as an undergraduate for a two-subject Science degree, while also completing 60 credits in Education. After four years you are awarded a BSc Science (with Education) degree – a level 8 honours degree. To become a fully qualified teacher, you must complete one further year.

Having graduated with the Level 8 BSc Science (with Education) degree after four years, you are guaranteed a place in year five - the one year Level 9 Professional Master of Education. At the end of year five, you will be a fully qualified and registered second level science teacher

  • After four years of concurrent Science and Education studies, students may graduate with a Level 8 honours degree in Science (with Education).
  • To become a fully qualified science teacher, students must complete a fifth year of study at Masters level – the Professional Master of Education. Once you reach the required standards after 4th year, the place in 5th year is guaranteed.
Course Duration: 5 years (4 years BSc + 1 year PME)

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Options after graduation?

MH212 SED: depending on the subjects chosen during the course of the degree, graduates will be in a position to teach any two of the following subjects to senior cycle level (HL): mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics.

Graduates apply to the Teaching Council of Ireland for registration.

Visit the Department website for more information about postgraduate options.

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.
Subject Required Ordinary Level Grade Higher Level Grade
Irish Yes O6 H7
English Yes O6 H7
Language No N/A N/A
Math Yes O4 H7
Science Yes O6 H7

International & EU/EFTA Entry Requirements

Mature Students

Mature Applicants 

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time/flexible degrees the mature age is 21. 

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability 

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require examination support for any required written exercise/interview which may form part of your application assessment please submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2025 to the Access Office. Unfortunately we are unable to consider applications for alternative examination accommodation after this deadline.  

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

01 February 2025

Additional Information

Leaving Certificate Applicants

Required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish, English & Science subject (one of Agricultural Science, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, or Physics with Chemistry) & O4/H7 Mathematics. MH212 Round 1 Points 2024: 420

CAO applicants may also consider the BSc MH201 degree as another potential route into MH212. There is a potential transfer pathway from 1st year MH201 Science to 2nd year MH212 SED Science (with Education). More details about potential MH201 transfer opportunities. 

Garda Vetting

An offer of a place on this course is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

HEAR and DARE

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds

Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.

APPLY TO THE CAO - WWW.CAO.IE

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are.

Click here for all information about how to apply.

CAO applicants may also consider the BSc MH201 degree as another potential route into MH212. There is a potential transfer pathway from 1st year BSc MH201 Science to 2nd year MH212 SED Science (with Education). More details about potential MH201 transfer opportunities. 

These transfers are subject to the availability of places, the student's performance in first year and an interview.

Categories of applicant:

  • School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
  • Mature students (23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University/part-time degrees the mature age is 21)
  • EU/EFTA/UK students
  • International students (outside the EU)
  • QQI (Further Education) students
  • Transferring students
  • Deferring students
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