Qualification : POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA
Award Type and NFQ level : POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA (9)
CAO/MU Apply code : MH99G
CAO Points :
Closing Date : 14 February 2025
The Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Guidance Counselling is an 18-month part-time taught postgraduate diploma which is designed to prepare qualified second-level teachers to provide and lead a school guidance counselling service. The graduates of this programme will lead and contribute the whole school guidance teams at schools. The programme is recognised by the Irish Department of Education (DE) and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) as a professional, international qualification in guidance counselling.
The part-time programme will run in three different cycles. Accordingly, Cycle times are given below:
Cycle 1: January 2025 - May 2026 (PDEGXP)
Year 1 Subject Code EDGCSP5 (January - May)
Year 2 Subject Code EDGXP52 (September - May, i.e. year-long)
Cycle 2: Sept 2025- Dec 2026 (PDEGCP)
Year 1 Subject Code EDGCP5 (September - May, i.e. year-long)
Year 2 Subject Code EDGCP52 (September -Dececember)
Cycle 3: September 2026 - December 2027 (PDEGCP)
Participants attend Maynooth University two full-days per month (one Friday and one Saturday) and online lectures for two evenings per month (Thursday evenings between 5 p.m.- 7 p.m.) and engage in school placement for one day in a week during the 32 weeks (32 full school days in total) of the course
Students who have a full-time qualified practising school guidance counsellor at their current school may complete their placement at their own school. If a student's school does not have a full-time qualified practising school guidance counsellor, they will be required to fulfil their placement at a different school.
The programme begins with two full-days induction and workshops (attendance is mandatory). Intensive training in psychometric testing is scheduled for the October mid-term break (dates to be confirmed) and there will be 2 - 3 Saturday workshops.
Course Duration: 18-months part-time
Closing Date: TBC
Applicants will be qualified, registered second-level teachers ( Route 2 registration with Teaching Council ) with an honours Professional Masters in Education (PME) or equivalent qualifications. At least three years' experience of teaching and experience in areas such as pastoral care or a school care team are essential. Experience on a whole school guidance team would be advantageous.
This does not include your teaching experience while training as a second level schoolteacher.
Academic
Academic
Academic
Participants attend Maynooth University two days per month (one Friday and one Saturday), two days online lectures (two Thursday evenings per month) and engage in school placement.
The programme (Cycle 2) begins in August 2025 with two full-days as induction week.
Intensive training in psychometric testing is scheduled for the October mid-term break and there will be 2 - 3 Saturday workshops.
Course Duration: 18-months part-time
Here are the links to the two programmes on course finder:
MH49G: Cycle 1 (Year 1 Jan-May. Year 2 Sept-May)
MH99G: Cycles 2 and 3 (Year 1 Sept-May, Year 2 Sept-Dec)
The closing date is 14th February 2025.
Please note the following documents must be uploaded to your application. Failure to do so will delay your application being processed. Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for all non-Maynooth University qualifications listed MUST accompany the application. Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide a copy of their birth certificate or a valid passport. Maynooth University graduates who gained qualifications at other institutions should submit certified copies of those qualifications. All applicants must submit 2 professional written references from current school management on headed paper which are dated within the last year and these references must be submitted with the application.