Applications are invited from holders of an Honours Bachelor Degree (180 credits) for admission to this full-time two-year course which will commence in late August 2025. The minimum entry requirements are outlined below.
A limited number of places will be available. Commencing with applications for the 2024-2026 programme cycle, an interview will no longer be part of the selection process for Froebel Department, Maynooth University, and will be replaced by a points scoring system, outlined under the Selection Procedure tab.
All candidates are also required to attend an open day on campus at Maynooth University on a date to be confirmed. Attendance is a compulsory component of the application to the Professional Master of Education (Primary) in the Froebel Department, Maynooth University. If you have any queries about the open day, please contact us.
Please note that canvassing will disqualify.
There are two key stages in the application process as set out below.
Applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence to their chosen higher education institution of meeting the requirements at (a), (b) and (c) below, as follows.
Applicants must have the following academic qualifications:
(a) Oral Irish Examination: Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1)
(b) Minimum Entry Requirements in Irish, English and Math
(c) Academic Qualification: Minimum H2.2 Honours Bachelor Degree
A) Oral Irish Examination
Before applying to the Froebel Department, Maynooth University, prospective applicants are required to take the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination. Obtaining 65% in this TEG oral Irish examination is a prerequisite for application to the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching).
Further information on the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) (ORAL) examination, can be found at
www.TEG.ie
- Applicants must achieve 65% or higher on the oral component of the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 1 (B1) Irish examination, prior to the closing date for applications to satisfy the entry requirements
OR
- Currently hold a valid certificate in either Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Meánleibhéal 2 (B2) or Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Ardleibhéal (C1) Irish examination having achieved a grade of 50% or higher.
A successful result in the TEG examination will be valid for two years before the test needs to be retaken.
All candidates must apply separately to do the TEG oral Irish exam, which is administered by the Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching and Testing in Maynooth University.
The closing date for submitting TEG (B1) Oral examination online applications is
3rd January 2025. You can register for this examination at
www.teg.ie
The Oral Irish Examination will comprise:
- conversation on everyday topics, giving information and expressing opinions;
- role play on a given scenario, asking for information, giving information and expressing opinions;
- telling a simple story, describing what is happening in a series of pictures.
Applicants should note that a high standard of fluency is required in the Oral Irish Examination and should prepare for the examination accordingly.
AND
B) Minimum Entry Requirements in Irish, English and Math.
(i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination
Leaving Certificate Examination
Entry Requirements |
|
| Subject |
Grade |
% |
|
| Irish |
H4 |
60 < 70 |
|
| English |
O4 |
60 < 70 |
|
| |
or |
or |
|
| |
H7 |
30 < 40 |
|
| Maths |
O4 |
60 < 70 |
|
| |
or |
or |
|
| |
H7 |
30 < 40 |
|
H – Higher Level
O – Ordinary Level
The grades and % marks in the 1992-2016 grading scheme and the new 2017 scheme are set out at Appendix 1
(ii) in the Northern Ireland GCSE and GCE A Level Examinations: a Grade C at GCE A Level Irish; a Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature or Grade B at GCSE Level in either; and a Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or a Grade C at GCSE Level in Mathematics.
Applicants must provide evidence to the Higher Education Institution that their degree is placed as a major award at the appropriate level on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Irish, English or Maths
A Pass in a University First Arts Examination in Irish, English or Mathematics will be accepted in lieu of the Leaving Certificate Examination or GCE/GCSE requirement for the relevant subject.
An accepted alternative to the Irish/Maths/English Leaving Certificate grade is a ‘Pass in University First Arts’. To obtain this, applicants must complete, and pass, relevant First Arts modules to the value of 15 ECTS credits (please note that it is not sufficient to pass through compensation). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the combination of modules studied is equivalent to a University First Arts. Please be advised that you may be asked to provide an official statement from the University/ Higher Education Institution where the modules are undertaken confirming that the results attained are equivalent to a pass in University First Arts.
Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Irish
- Grade C obtained in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992)
- Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level C1, NUIG
- Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Level B2, NUIG
- Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, Maynooth University
- Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) at Level B2, Maynooth University
- Diploma in Arts (Applied Irish), University College Cork
- Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach, UCD
- Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (An Ghaeilge sa Saol Comhaimseartha), University of Limerick
- Diploma in Irish at the University of Ulster
Alternatives to a second-level qualification in Mathematics
- A Pass grade obtained in Mathematics in the Matriculation Examination (which existed up to 1992).
- A merit grade (65-79%) or distinction grade (80-100%) obtained in QQI Level 5 Mathematics Course (5N 1833).
AND ALSO
C) Academic Qualification
Applicants must possess:
Minimum H2.2 Honours Bachelor Degree (Major Award at Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications) which has an ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits.
Applicants must provide evidence to their chosen Higher Education Institution that their degree is placed as a major award at the appropriate level on the National Framework of Qualifications in advance of the closing date for applications in their chosen Higher Education Institution(s).
Applications are now open!
Application procedure:
1. Fill out the online application form via MU Apply and pay the €80 non-refundable deposit.
2. Upload supporting documents (listed below)
a. Evidence of Primary Degree / Transcripts of Results (additional qualifications uploaded on MU apply also)
b. Complete the Additional specific online questionnaire.
c. Evidence of fulfilment of minimum requirements - verified Leaving Certificate transcripts.
d. TEG Certificate
e. A copy of a valid Passport Evidence of Primary Degree/Transcripts of Result
2025 PMEd Entry Requirements : English
2025 PMEd Riachtanais Iontrála : Gaeilge
- Applications will remain open until Monday, 7th of April 2025.
- TEG results must be uploaded to MU Apply by the application closing date.
- All other entry requirements must have been met and verified submissions uploaded to your account on MU Apply by Friday 11th July 2025.
In addition to your application below is a checklist of documents you will need to supply to support your application:
- Passport size colour photograph (head shot only)
- Photographic identification, such as a:
- Passport
- Drivers licence
- Public Services Card
- National Identity Card
- Leaving Certificate/GCE/GC(S)E Examination results (or approved alternative)* showing that the 2nd level minimum entry requirements have been met. If submitting Leaving Certificate results, please ensure to submit a Certificate or Statement of Results only (i.e. a ‘Provisional Statement of Results’ will not be accepted). Further information regarding obtaining a Certificate or Statement of Results is available on the State Examinations Commission Website.
- Official final year transcript* showing that the 3rd level academic qualifications are met (i.e. a Level 8 honours degree with a II.2 result or higher).
- Certified copy of results* from TEG Level B1 Irish Oral Examination showing that a minimum of 65% has been obtained (or a pass at TEG Level B2/C1/C2).
- Applicants who are sitting final examinations and who are awaiting final results must provide a letter from their HEI confirming the date of the publication of final grades and the level of the course. Please allow a sufficient number of weeks for this to be obtained from your HEI.
* Certified true copies – Uncertified copies will not be accepted.
In order to certify documents, applicants must bring the original document and a photocopy of it to a competent authority (such as a lawyer, Commissioner for Oaths, medical doctor, justice of the peace, university administrator, local law enforcement officer e.g. Garda Síochána, etc.). That authority must then stamp and sign the photocopy to certify that the photocopy is a true copy of the original. Applicants must then upload the certified photocopy to their application. Photocopies of originals that have not been certified will not be accepted.
Each offer of a place on the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) at Froebel Department, Maynooth University will be PROVISIONAL pending verification of information supplied by the applicant, and fulfilment of other offer conditions. If information supplied is found to be false or incomplete, the absolute right is reserved to cancel the offer of a place. Commencing with applications for the 2024-2026 programme cycle, an interview will no longer be part of the selection process for Froebel Department, Maynooth University, and will be replaced by a points scoring system.
Points Scoring System 2024
The basic requirement for entry is an eligible honours Bachelor Degree at level 8. Those who have not yet completed their degree at the time of applying are evaluated on the examination results of the most recently completed academic year (not ERASMUS or equivalent). In the case of degree courses assessed by Grade Point Average (GPA), the most recent cumulative grade point average figure will be the relevant one.
Applicants can be offered places provisional to their being successful in their final degree examination. Applicants who hold an eligible primary degree at the time of application are evaluated on their degree results at level 8.
Points will be awarded on the basis of
- performance in an eligible honours Bachelor Degree at level 8, and
- additional relevant academic qualifications, if any
- relevant professional experience, if any
Up to 10 additional marks may be awarded to students who complete the TEG oral examination at a high level.
The Froebel Department Points System can be found below:
PMEd Froebel Department Points System 2024
Interview / Open Day
As interviews are no longer required as part of the application process for the Professional Masters of Education (Primary Teaching) at the Froebel Department at Maynooth University. Instead, candidates are required to attend an Information Day on campus, on a date to be confirmed. Eligible candidates will be provided with additional detail via PAC in due course.
Gaeltacht Placement
Attendance and Cost: All students who gain entry to the programme are required to attend two residential placements in the Gaeltacht. Each placement will be of two weeks’ duration. It should be noted that this is a compulsory part of the programme. The Department of Education and Skills announced its intention to restore the Gaeltacht grant for students on State-funded Initial Teacher Education programmes with effect from the academic year 2020/21.
Student Grants:
SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is Ireland’s single national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants. Further information regarding the Student Grant Scheme for the academic year will be available in coming months on the SUSI website at www.susi.ie
Fitness to Practise:
1. Garda Vetting: Before a student’s registration can be completed, the student must undergo a process of Garda vetting in order to establish whether (s)he has any convictions or criminal charges pending. Where this process confirms the existence of such, the matter is referred to a Vetting Committee within the Higher Education Institution which decides whether the student can continue with his/her programme of study.
2. Medical Requirements: Some incoming teacher education students are required to complete a Health Status Information Form, indicating whether they have any significant ongoing illnesses or disabilities which might adversely impact their capacity to meet the requirements of the programme, including School Placement. Entrants who declare significant health conditions, disabilities or psychological conditions will be assessed on an individual basis to evaluate whether, with reasonable accommodations, they would have the ability to undertake the demands of the programme. Individuals will not be excluded on the grounds that they possess a particular condition or disability if it is deemed likely that it would be possible for that person to fulfil the requirements of the programme with reasonable accommodation(s). The Higher Education Institutions will advise students as to the procedure to be followed in this regard.
During this full-time teacher education programme, participants may not engage in business or in any other programme of study without the prior permission of the Higher Education Institution’s President/Head of Department.
Further information regarding the programme is available from the applicant’s Higher Education Institution of choice.
Leaving Cert Grading Schemes (1992-2016 Scheme and New Scheme 2017)
| 1992 – 2016 Scheme |
% Awarded |
New Scheme 2017 onwards |
% Awarded |
| A1 |
90-100 |
H1 / O1 |
90-100 |
| A2 |
85<90 |
H2 / O2 |
80<90 |
| B1 |
80<85 |
| B2 |
75<80 |
H3 / O3 |
70<80 |
| B3 |
70<75 |
| C1 |
65<70 |
H4 / O4 |
60<70 |
| C2 |
60<65 |
| C3 |
55<60 |
H5 / O5 |
50<60 |
| D1 |
50<55 |
| D2 |
45<50 |
H6 / O6 |
40<50 |
| D3 |
40<45 |
| E |
25<40 |
H7/O7 |
30<40 |
| F |
10<25 |
H8/O8 |
0<30 |
I am sitting the Leaving Cert this June to make up the entry requirement, am I eligible to apply?
If you are sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2025 in order to meet a minimum entry requirement in a subject(s), you are not eligible to enter the 2025 competition.
I only have a copy of my Provisional Leaving Certificate Results. Will this be accepted as proof that I have met the second-level requirements?
Applicants must submit a copy of either the official Certificate or official Statement of Results. If you do not have a copy of one of these, you will need to order a copy from the State Examinations Commission. Please ensure to allow sufficient time for this document to be issued; and then you will need to have it certified before uploading it.
When will I know that I have been offered a place?
We expect that successful candidates will receive offers by mid-July.
I have been offered a place but I wish to defer. Is this possible?
The PME course is sanctioned from year to year. Therefore, it is not possible to defer an offer of a place until the next academic year.
When does the course commence?
The course will commence during late August.
Can I still apply for the PME for 2025 entry if I have not met the TEG B1 Irish Oral requirement by the application closing date?
We regret that we are unable to accept applications where the TEG B1 Irish Oral result is not included or where the result is pending. A minimum of 65% must be obtained in the TEG B1 Irish Oral examination in order to be eligible to apply for the PME. Evidence of this result must be included at the time of submitting an online application.
Further information can be obtained by contacting:
Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education
Maynooth University
Maynooth
Co Kildare
Telephone: (01) 474 7400
Email: [email protected]
