A varied and diverse experience, this four-year degree prepares students to teach within primary schools where children are exposed to a broad curriculum. As the Department is named after the famous educational philosopher, Friedrich Froebel, our programmes reflect his ideology by incorporating active, student-centric approaches to our teaching.
The programme requires students to be reflective and to blend theory with practice through a combination of university-based learning and school placement. Students who join this degree need to have a keen interest in making a difference in the lives of children and possess a deep desire to inspire children towards becoming active and independent agents of their own learning.
Suitable students usually possess excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills and are committed to becoming highly creative, dynamic and dedicated teaching professionals.
Choose this option if you are interested in
–– studying the range of knowledge and skills related to the profession of primary school teaching and its curriculum;
–– qualifying as a primary school teaching professional;
–– the methodologies of primary school teaching;
–– taking an exciting range of modules.
Please note: H4 Irish or equivalent is required for all applicants to this programme - irrespective of the qualifications they are presenting as a basis for admission
Maynooth University Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education
ToggleEntry Requirements
Minimum Academic Requirements 2024 – Leaving Certificate Examination
(a) minimum grades required in essential subjects
| Subject | Irish | Mathematics | English |
| Minimum Grade [1] | H4 | H7 or O4 | H7 or O4 |
| % Mark | 60%<70% | 30%<40% or 60%<70% |
30%<40% or 60%<70% |
H – Higher Level
O – Ordinary Level
[1] See Appendix 3 for equivalent grades in pre-2017 marking scheme
(b)
General grades required in the Leaving Certificate.
In addition to meeting the minimum grades required in Irish, English and Maths, students must have achieved the following grades across their overall results.
- Grade H5 (50%<60%) on a Higher Level paper in not less than three subjects
- Grade O6 (40%<50% Ordinary Level) or H7 (30%<40% Higher Level) in three other subjects in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools.
The best six subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points purposes in accordance with CAO procedures. While the minimum grades in the subjects Irish, English and Mathematics specified above need not be obtained at the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination, applicants should note the requirement to achieve a minimum of Grade H5 on three Higher Level papers and Grade O6/H7 in three other subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate.
The grades and % marks in the 1992-2016 grading scheme and the new 2017 scheme are set out at Appendix 3
GCSE and GCE, AS Level and A Level Examinations – the minimum requirements are set out in Appendix 2.
| Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) CAO Entry Requirements 2024 |
| Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) Mature Entry Requirements 2024 |
CAO Selection Procedure
Grades obtained in the Leaving Certificate or GCE Examinations will be converted in accordance with the points scale of the appropriate College. Where two or more applicants obtain the same points total, if necessary the CAO will apply the random selection procedure.
Successful applicants will be notified by the CAO, in accordance with its normal procedures. Initial offers of places will be included in the CAO "first round" offers. Depending on the response, further offers may be made in subsequent rounds.
Successful applicants who accept places are required to enter the Higher Education Institutions in autumn (actual dates available from the individual Institutions). In special circumstances, at the discretion of the Institution authorities, the date of entry may be deferred for a limited period.
Additional Information
Proficiency in spoken Irish:
- Gaeltacht Course – Attendance and Cost: All primary initial teacher education (ITE) students are required to attend residential courses (2 x 2 weeks course) in the Gaeltacht. It should be noted that this is a compulsory part of the course. Since the 2012/13 academic year, the cost of this compulsory course has no longer been met by the Department of Education & Skills.
- Oral Irish Test: In addition, applicants should note that students will be subject to undergo an oral Irish test at the end of their first year of initial teacher education, and must pass this test in order to continue to the second year of the course. Students who fail this oral Irish test may, at the discretion of the Institution, be allowed to repeat the test.
Student Grants:
SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is Ireland’s single national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants. Students are advised to submit a fully completed online grant application to SUSI so that their eligibility for grant assistance can be assessed. It is anticipated that the 2020/21 Scheme will open for applications in early April. Further information regarding the Student Grant Scheme is available on the SUSI website at www.susi.ie.
Scholarships:
- Third Level Bursary Scheme
In 2012, the then Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn T.D. established a scheme of bursaries for students from DEIS schools based on Leaving Certificate examination results.
Applications are not needed for these bursaries as they are awarded on a regional basis (Dublin, rest of Leinster, Munster and Connaught/Ulster) based on Leaving Certificate results achieved in 2019.
- All Ireland Scholarship Scheme
The All Ireland Scholarship Scheme is administered by the Department of Education & Skills and funded by J.P. McManus. No applications are necessary for the All Ireland Scholarships as they are awarded based on the Leaving Certificate exam results achieved in 2019. They are available to first-time Leaving Certificate students who have been exempt from paying the Leaving Certificate exam fee and who have attended non-fee paying post primary schools.
Further information is available on the All Ireland Scholarship website.
Fitness to Practise:
- Garda Vetting: Before a Higher Education Institution can complete a student registration; the Higher Education Institution requires that all incoming teacher education students undergo a process of Garda vetting in order to establish whether they have 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.
- Medical Requirements: Some Higher Education Institutions require that all incoming teacher education students complete a medical information form, indicating whether they have any significant ongoing illnesses or disabilities which might adversely impact their capacity to meet the requirements of the course, 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 course with reasonable accommodation(s). The Institutions will advise students as to the procedure to be followed in this regard.
Gaeltacht Applicants:
Up to ten per cent of places on the Bachelor of Education programme may be reserved for applicants from the Gaeltacht, i.e. applicants must reside in the officially designated Gaeltacht and must use Irish as the normal language of home.
Marino Institute of Education - Bachelor in Education through the Medium of Irish (Primary Teaching)
The Bachelor of Education through the Medium of Irish (Primary Teaching) course at Marino Institute of Education is a new 4-year initial teacher education programme through the medium of Irish which will commence in September 2020. The commencement of this course forms part of the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022.
Applications are invited for the above course through the CAO (CAO course codes: CM003/CM004). The minimum entry requirements for this course include a H3 in Leaving Certificate Irish. In addition to the minimum entry requirements, candidates must also achieve 50% or higher in the Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) Level B1 examination. Candidates who have not already done so should apply for this examination at http://www.teg.ie Full details regarding this course are available online at http://www.mie.ie/oid
Contact us
Further information on entry requirements can be obtained by contacting:
Admissions Office
Maynooth University
Maynooth
Co Kildare
Telephone: (01) 708 3822
Email: [email protected]
Further information on course content 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]
Appendix 2
Minimum Qualifications in GCSE and GCE AS and A Level Examinations for admission to the Bachelor of Education Degree Course
General
Six subjects must be presented, at least three subjects at GCE A Level and the remaining subjects at GCE AS or GCSE level. The six subjects must include Irish, English and Mathematics.
A subject may be counted from only one of the examinations, GCSE, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level.
Only subjects taken at one sitting of a particular examination, GCSE, GCE AS Level or GCE A Level, will be accepted. Examinations taken in the same academic year are regarded as the same sitting.
Specific Requirements in Irish, English & Mathematics
Grade C at GCE A level in at least three subjects, including Irish
Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature, or Grade B at GCSE Level in either
Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or Grade C at GCSE Level in Mathematics
Grade C in one other subject at GCSE level Applicants must satisfy the matriculation requirements of the University to which the College of Education is affiliated.
Appendix 3
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 | H2 / O2 | 80<90 |
| B2 | 75<80 | H3 / O3 | 70<80 |
| B3 | 70<75 | H3 / O3 | 70<80 |
| C1 | 65<70 | H4 / O4 |
60<70 |
| C2 | 60<65 | H4 / O4 | 60<70 |
| C3 | 55<60 | H5 / O5 | 50<60 |
| D1 | 50<55 | H5 / O5 | 50<60 |
| D2 | 45<50 | H6 / O6 | 40<50 |
| D3 | 40<45 | H6 / O6 | 40<50 |
| E | 25<40 | H7/O7 |
30<40 |
| F | 10<25 | H8/O8 | 0<30 |