All Primary / Secondary Masters Courses - Post Q's Here Please

Gaeilgeoir · 01-10-2010 11:46pm

I checked it out today & it looks like I'll be ok to do the PGDE in Trinity. Had planned on going to UCD but they insist you have two subjects. So will have to take my chances with the harder application process in Trinity!

awny · 02-10-2010 12:56pm

Gaeilgeoir wrote: »

I checked it out today & it looks like I'll be ok to do the PGDE in Trinity. Had planned on going to UCD but they insist you have two subjects. So will have to take my chances with the harder application process in Trinity!

Gaeilgeoir you should still be able to apply for UCD. My degree allows me to teach Maths and Applied Maths. I rang UCD about it last year and they said they dont do Applied Maths as a second subject. So they asked me what I covered in my first year of college, I said accounting and computer programming. So the course director told me to put either ICT or accounting for my second subject. You could give them a buzz to confirm it, but youll prob be able to do one of your first year subjects as your second subject for UCD!

Random_Fate · 06-10-2010 3:35pm

Quick question everyone

I found this course - a Higher Diploma in Mathematical Studies. Link here.

I was wondering if anyone had done this course and applied to the Teaching Council to see if it qualified you to teach Maths?

My current ''teachable'' subjects would be quite poor and if this course was approved, it would make becoming a teacher a more viable prospect.

raver85 · 07-10-2010 12:23am

Hi

Ok I have a degree in Tourism Management and really want to get into teaching tourism at a plc level. I have looked at the teachers council website and cant find out how to apply or even where to apply other than going through the pdge route but I cant see tourism as a subject on it.

If anyone could give me some pointers I would really appreciate it.

Thank you

readystudypass · 07-10-2010 1:17am

raver85 wrote: »

Hi

Ok I have a degree in Tourism Management and really want to get into teaching tourism at a plc level. I have looked at the teachers council website and cant find out how to apply or even where to apply other than going through the pdge route but I cant see tourism as a subject on it.

If anyone could give me some pointers I would really appreciate it.

Thank you

The secondary PGDE only covers subjects up to the leaving cert. PLC subjects would not be covered.

ALH-06 · 10-10-2010 11:22am

Can anyone tell me what the current fee is for the PGDE? And how one might qualify for a Higher Education grant?

Are you still assessed on your parent's salary if you're over 25?

sunflower3 · 10-10-2010 9:49pm

Hi

Can anyone tell me what the current fee is for the PGDE? And how one might qualify for a Higher Education grant?

Are you still assessed on your parent's salary if you're over 25?

Fee for NUIM this year is around €6,500.

For information on grants etc., go to www.studentfinance.ie. Its a great website

ALH-06 · 11-10-2010 4:56am

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

There's a radius you've got to be inside, but it's pretty broad. I did mine in Balbriggan and I know people who did their placement in Drogheda, which is just over an hour away by car.

As far as the workload, I'm not sure how they compare. NUIM doesn't have exams at Xmas and I think the others do. To counter that though, NUIM has a block teaching period in Jan. where you spend 3 weeks in a school fulltime.

In terms of days in school (just for general info), last year it was...
NUIM: Monday and Friday in school.
Trinity: Monday morning, Thursday morning & all day Friday.
UCD: Every morning, with lectures in the afternoon.

Thanks for the info. What's the actual course itself like in Maynooth? Any idea how the workload would compare to other HDip courses?

And a general question relating to all HDip courses - At what stage in the application process do you need to acquire / confirm a school for teaching practice?

Lord TSC · 15-10-2010 2:06pm

ALH-06 wrote: »

Thanks for the info. What's the actual course itself like in Maynooth? Any idea how the workload would compare to other HDip courses?

And a general question relating to all HDip courses - At what stage in the application process do you need to acquire / confirm a school for teaching practice?

You don't go looking for a placement until you've been accepted onto the course. Or...well, I suppose you could go looking earlier but you don't have to and I'd imagine no school would make a full commitment until they were sure you got it.

As for the workload, I'm not 100% sure. On the one hand, the Maynooth one doesn't have exams at Xmas and only have 3 in the summer, as compared to the other courses which have exams at both times iirc. On the other, Maynooth have the three week block teaching period in Jan. which requires a fair bit of work in terms of lesson plans. Likewise all the courses have various essays and assignments.

As for what the course is like....I won't be too negative. There are bits of the Maynooth PGDE I found to be stupid, illogical and a waste of time (Oh hai DiViAte), and I wasn't alone in that view, but there were others who didn't share the same concerns. It seems to depend what tutors and that you get.

PsychoSue · 18-10-2010 11:56pm

Gaeilgeoir wrote: »

It's my understanding that you can teach any subject up to Junior Cert level without having a degree in that subject. In order to apply to the PGDE I will have to name a second subject, are you saying I can't apply at all? I would have thought the Postgrad Diploma would count for something, as it's actually a highel level of qualification than a degree.

I studied Bio, Chem, Maths Phys and Maths in 1st year!!
Bio, chem and maths in 2nd yr
Bio and Chem in 3rd
Bio in 4th

I did my PGDE In UCD 2 years ago, My 2 subjects were science and maths! UCD knew I did maths for 2 years of my degree n they let me do it, so Im assuming its ok! I was told I didnt have to do it, that I could have just done the science pedegogy (because this covers science and Bio/Chem for me, so they would have been my 2 subjects, so maybe this makes a difference). Simply I choice to do it in a bid to increase my employability. When I said this I was told I could have done ICT (I have the ECDL and lots of other experience) A post grad in accounting and u cant teach maths???? Defo ask the college about it also ask about doing ICT!!

If you did it for ur degree u can apply to do it in the PGDE, having covered the subject for 30% of ur degree only comes into it for registration with the TC.
If ur only registered with the TC for 1 subject it doesnt matter because once ur in a school u can be asked to teach ANYTHING. I only have spanish for my LC and was teaching LCA spanish for the last 3 months of the school term last year.

Im not registered with the teaching council to teach maths. But I AM teaching it now to 5th yrs. In the science pedegogy I did the Biology assignment, I didnt do the Chemistry assignment because I was doing the maths assignment YET Im registered with the TC to teach Chemistry aswell as Biology!! Id be teaching chem but the school doesn't offer it, atm:) anyway!!!

raver85 wrote: »

Hi

Ok I have a degree in Tourism Management and really want to get into teaching tourism at a plc level. I have looked at the teachers council website and cant find out how to apply or even where to apply other than going through the pdge route but I cant see tourism as a subject on it.

If anyone could give me some pointers I would really appreciate it.

Thank you

Ur best bet would be to check out the fetac and itec websites. I have a science degree and Im qualified to teach anatomy and Physiology to adult beauty students.

ALH-06 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what the current fee is for the PGDE? And how one might qualify for a Higher Education grant?

Are you still assessed on your parent's salary if you're over 25?

I paid €6500 2 years ago I was 25, living with my partner, paying a mortgage, bills etc, my partners weekly wage after tax was €500 and I DIDNT qualifiy for ANYTHING!!

Mature candidate = any1 over 23.

Mature dependant candidate = candidates who lived with their parents from Oct 1st the year BEFORE entering the course and WILL be assessed on their own + their parents income of the PREVIOUS tax year....

Mature independant candidate = are candidates over 23 who live separately from their parents from October 1 of the year preceding the year of entry to the course. They are assessed on their own income.

roe_cat · 21-10-2010 8:46pm

Hi - I'm doing my pac application for the pgde and have a question about teaching subjects. I know that it should be perfectly clear what subjects you plan to teach,but...
1) 1 of my subjects is a minority language so I don't expect to get any teaching practice or to have methodology classes covering it - should i still include that in the application or will it just cause confusion?
2) I plan to teach history - but i need to take extra modules to cover the Irish history requirement - on the application it says to include only subjects that you are qualified for. I do plan to cover these modules through dcu oscail before applying for teaching council recognition - and i want to do teaching practice in history - but i won't be fully qualified while i'm doing the pgde - can i still put it in the application?
Thanks

Toto Wolfcastle · 21-10-2010 9:58pm

Moved to PGDE thread.

rainbowtrout · 21-10-2010 11:27pm

roe_cat wrote: »

Hi - I'm doing my pac application for the pgde and have a question about teaching subjects. I know that it should be perfectly clear what subjects you plan to teach,but...
1) 1 of my subjects is a minority language so I don't expect to get any teaching practice or to have methodology classes covering it - should i still include that in the application or will it just cause confusion?
2) I plan to teach history - but i need to take extra modules to cover the Irish history requirement - on the application it says to include only subjects that you are qualified for. I do plan to cover these modules through dcu oscail before applying for teaching council recognition - and i want to do teaching practice in history - but i won't be fully qualified while i'm doing the pgde - can i still put it in the application?
Thanks

You're not qualified in history so how can you put it down as a subject you are qualified in? If that was the case anyone could just throw down any subjects on the form and say they would do them later.

Toto Wolfcastle · 22-10-2010 7:32am

Why not do the history modules first and then the PGDE? It would be done in the same amount of time but it would mean that you could go looking for jobs straight after doing the PGDE rather than having to wait.

roe_cat · 22-10-2010 11:59am

rainbowtrout wrote: »

You're not qualified in history so how can you put it down as a subject you are qualified in? If that was the case anyone could just throw down any subjects on the form and say they would do them later.

But if I want to do it as a second subject for the pgde do I not mention it in the application (because I'm not fully qualified) but choose it when I'm registering for the course?
(you have to pick 2 subjects and the issue of non-qualified second subjects has been addressed before) Really I just want to make sure that come September I'm not told - you didn't apply for that subject so you can't pick it now.

I don't want to wait another year to do the pgde - i plan to take the extra modules at the same time - or even the following year when i am already qualified in my other subjects

CiaranHdip · 27-10-2010 12:47am

Hi all... Im wondering if any of you would give me advice?

Im considering returning to college In September 2010. I intend to complete my Hdip. My Question is this;

"Should i complete my studies here in Ireland or venture to England?"

What conversion courses must i complete on return to Ireland if I do indeed decide to study in England?

Finally, Can anyone recommend a good university to apply to in england?

I do apologize in advance if this question is a repetition of previous enquiries.

ANY help and advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

iarmhii · 27-10-2010 4:58pm

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone would hav info on possible ways of obtaining extra points for the pgde app, as the points for subbing has now gone ? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Is there any realistic possibility of being accpeted on 2:2 degree given the likely high standard of applicants?

anneh2010 · 27-10-2010 5:02pm

iarmhii wrote: »

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone would hav info on possible ways of obtaining extra points for the pgde app, as the points for subbing has now gone ? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Is there any realistic possibility of being accpeted on 2:2 degree given the likely high standard of applicants?

I would defo apply as you never know. Your in with a chance.... As to gaining extra points I'ill be honest I'm not sure, I think the focus is on working with young people, coaching etc is favoured. Good Luck and Fingers Crossed

UnLuckyAgain · 27-10-2010 10:11pm

Just wanted to ask about the calculation of points for the PGDE (NUI).

If I hold a B.A (Joint Honours) and return to college to add another teaching subject, will my points be calculated based on the results of all 3 subjects?
All examples on the PAC website involve only two subjects, so was just looking for any advice?

Thanks in advance

GERMAN ROCKS · 27-10-2010 10:30pm

how could one gain extra points for entry.
how many points would you get for a 2:1 in a degree

delta_bravo · 28-10-2010 1:10pm

All this info is available online

Keehar · 29-10-2010 5:22pm

peanuthead wrote: »

Great stuff, janeybabe, I will kick off with this one:

How do I apply for the PGDE?

To apply for the PGDE you will go through PAC, which is the postgraduate applications centre.

http://www.pac.ie

Colleges that use the PAC system are:

NUIM
UCD
UCC
NUIG - as gaeilge option
For 2009-10 entry, the deadline was December 1st and the fee was €80. There is a late applications date sometime in January and the fee for that is €120

The system is very much like the CAO system for undergraduates and you will be allocated a number of points depending on your final year results (2nd year results if applying during your 3rd year) and any other postgraduate courses you have done (minimum requirement of a 1year full time course)

There are no longer points given for teaching practice, although its not a bad idea to have some done before deciding the course is for you.

The times you are in college and in school will vary from college to college.

The fees in 2009-10 were around the 6.5K mark.

You are not paid for teaching practice.

The other colleges that offer the PGDE in Ireland are:

TCD
Application through the college. Interview and application based. For those doing Modern Foreign Languages, a portion of your interview is carried out in that language. In 2009 is cost €50 to apply through Trinity. Deadline was December 1st 2009 for 2009-10 entry.

DCU
Application through the college. This is a part time, 2 year course.

There's a fee just to simply apply?

Which college is the best to apply to? I've got a degree in Science/Biology, and I can teach Junior cert Science and Leaving Cert Biology. I even did some sub teaching with it.

delta_bravo · 29-10-2010 5:35pm

Keehar wrote: »

There's a fee just to simply apply?

Which college is the best to apply to? I've got a degree in Science/Biology, and I can teach Junior cert Science and Leaving Cert Biology. I even did some sub teaching with it.

Of course there is an application fee. Think of this system as applying to the CAO when you did your leaving, its a very similar process.

I have heard very good things about the science methods teacher in UCD - Paul McElwee. Apparently he is an excellent person to learn how to teach science. I dont know about the other Uni's really. I have spoken to people who did the PGDe in Trinity and weren't very fond of it, a bit too academic in focus with very little practical experience. UCD has a lot of teaching inspections (7) which are ultimately beneficial for your development whereas Trinity has only 4 and some people I know only got 3 visits.

I have heard Maynooth is good also but I recommend you accept whoever offers you a place, its really competitive.

JohnMearsheimer · 29-10-2010 7:00pm

I went to an information evening given by the Teaching Council during the week at UCC. I left more puzzled than I was before I went in. I asked about doing a H Dip in history (Arts) in UCC for recognition to teach history on the PGDE. The guy from the Teaching Council said to me to do it and get UCC to say it's a degree in Arts

I couldn't push him on it as the queue to talk to him was massive. He also told me I could register for some history modules through Ollscoil and take history on the PGDE. He said I would have a few years to complete 54 credits of history. I was under the impression I would have to have all the Ollscoil history modules completed before I could teach history.

inde · 31-10-2010 9:23pm

Hey everyone I am completing the application for the Hdip.

At the end of the form under "Teaching Subjects"
It says: Please State Your Proposed Teaching Subjects which must be taken to degree level; there are three places? Do all three have to be completed. I took Irish and History as Joint Honours in my BA.

Dumb question, but would appreciate answer!

rainbowtrout · 31-10-2010 9:29pm

inde wrote: »

Hey everyone I am completing the application for the Hdip.

At the end of the form under "Teaching Subjects"
It says: Please State Your Proposed Teaching Subjects which must be taken to degree level; there are three places? Do all three have to be completed. I took Irish and History as Joint Honours in my BA.

Dumb question, but would appreciate answer!

Put down history and Irish. Some people may have three subjects from their degree depending on the electives they took (Business) or might have two degrees and be eligible to teach 3 subjects. I have Ag Science, Biology and Chemistry from my degree but it was a teacher training degree to begin with.

inde · 31-10-2010 9:32pm

So I don't have to fill in all the three spaces?

geurrp the yard · 02-11-2010 12:47am

Hi, can someone tell me can i go straight from my degree to the hdip or do I have to wait a year as I havent got my degree results when applying. Ive heard that they look at your second year result but im not sure if thats the case. Im talking for both colleges in Ireland and the uk.

readystudypass · 02-11-2010 2:49am

inde wrote: »

So I don't have to fill in all the three spaces?

No. Just 2 for you.

readystudypass · 02-11-2010 2:53am

geurrp the yard wrote: »

Hi, can someone tell me can i go straight from my degree to the hdip or do I have to wait a year as I havent got my degree results when applying. Ive heard that they look at your second year result but im not sure if thats the case. Im talking for both colleges in Ireland and the uk.

If its a 3 year degree you are taking they look at your second year results in the case of Ireland. So you can go straight from your degree to your HDip (PGDE).

I'm not sure about the UK but they may make you a provisional offer which will then be offered providing you get the required results in your finals.

Ellen33 · 02-11-2010 7:17pm

Hi everyone just want to clear something up.
Was talking to a friend recently who is doing the PGDE. He told me that after doing the course you are only really qualified to teach the subject you major in (during the PGDE year) even if your degree is in two subjects.

Also, he claims that although he has a single honours degree (History) he can still in the future apply for jobs advertised for example for History AND French and be hired to teach both?

I am nearly sure this information isn't fully accurate - can anyone enlighten me on this?

rainbowtrout · 02-11-2010 7:31pm

Ellen33 wrote: »

Hi everyone just want to clear something up.
Was talking to a friend recently who is doing the PGDE. He told me that after doing the course you are only really qualified to teach the subject you major in (during the PGDE year) even if your degree is in two subjects.

Also, he claims that although he has a single honours degree (History) he can still in the future apply for jobs advertised for example for History AND French and be hired to teach both?

I am nearly sure this information isn't fully accurate - can anyone enlighten me on this?

Your friend doesn't really know what he is talking about. If both of your subjects are recognised by the Teaching Council, then you would do both on the PGDE and be qualified in both.

The History/French thing. If he isn't even qualified in French, he wouldn't get a sniff at the interview not to mind get the job. Nobody is going to hire a person for two subjects when they are only qualified in one, particularly when there are plenty of people qualified in the two subjects.You can be asked to teach anything once you are hired by the school, but when you are initially applying for an advertised job eg. History/French you will need to be qualified in both subjects.

To be honest I think your friend is trying to fool himself into thinking he'll get a job at the end of all this. He's only got History with no other subject and History teachers are ten a penny and have been for the last 20 years. Most of them also have English or another Arts subject in their degree so they would get a job ahead of him, more than likely.

Ellen33 · 02-11-2010 7:37pm

That is what I said but he is convinced that although he has only History if a job was advertised for History and another subject then he could "give the second subject a go" and would be hired. I was thinking well if that's the case why would anyone put themselves through a double honours degree if it doesn't put you ahead of those with just the one subject?

The other age old opinion seems to be that "I took SPHE/CSPE/English/Music as my minor in the PGDE therefore I can now teach it" - I have heard this from many!

rainbowtrout · 02-11-2010 7:52pm

Ellen33 wrote: »

That is what I said but he is convinced that although he has only History if a job was advertised for History and another subject then he could "give the second subject a go" and would be hired. I was thinking well if that's the case why would anyone put themselves through a double honours degree if it doesn't put you ahead of those with just the one subject?

The other age old opinion seems to be that "I took SPHE/CSPE/English/Music as my minor in the PGDE therefore I can now teach it" - I have heard this from many!

You're pretty spot on there with your assessment Ellen. Sure if that was the case, wouldn't we all just do the PGDE regardless of our degrees and give anything a go. It's one thing for people to pass comment like that who have no connection to teaching and don't know what they are talking about but it depresses me to hear it from people training to be teachers.

He hasn't a hope of getting called for interview if he doesn't have the second subject, unless it is a job in SPHE/CSPE

There was a maternity leave advertised in my school last week, Business and Computing. Forty applied for the job. To be honest I was surprised more hadn't applied, but I don't know if it was in the national papers, I only saw it on the VEC website.

Ellen33 · 02-11-2010 8:03pm

I know I totally agree

I'm hoping this is just his way of making himself feel better and not actual fact of what they are being told on the course.

Would I be right in saying that it will be hard for him to get work given the fact he has just the one subject?

rainbowtrout · 02-11-2010 8:20pm

Ellen33 wrote: »

I know I totally agree I'm hoping this is just his way of making himself feel better and not actual fact of what they are being told on the course.

Would I be right in saying that it will be hard for him to get work given the fact he has just the one subject?

Yes, I'm sure you've read the other threads and posts, people are having a hard time finding teaching hours in all subjects, with experience and more than one subject. He could be lucky, but he'll be up against it.

dno7239 · 02-11-2010 11:11pm

Hi im applying for the dip this year too and was just wondering do you need references for the application on pac (i dont think we did last year but im trying to remember). Also, is the Trinity one just online now this year aswell (although it is a seperate application). Anyone know if you need references for trinity, i know we def did last year. Im having trouble accessing the application but maybe its just my internet....

ALH-06 · 03-11-2010 2:29am

Does anyone have any info on the UCC PGDE?

How is the week divided between university and teaching practice?
Are there set parametres for TP schools in the area, or can you undertake TP anywhere?
What's the workload like, compared to other PGDE courses you've heard about?

Thanks...

bananaskin · 04-11-2010 2:06pm

Hey,
has anybody got a list of the uni/colleges offering the hdip/pgde in ireland for 2011? part time and full time?
cheers
g

implausible · 05-11-2010 12:01am

bananaskin wrote: »

has anybody got a list of the uni/colleges offering the hdip/pgde in ireland for 2011? part time and full time?

Page one of this thread.

seachto7 · 05-11-2010 12:59am

Hi all,

Just working my way through the application and am at page 2. I have saved it for now. Is there anything I should be watching out for or to take note of? Or is it a straight forward application...
Do I need hard/soft copies of my uni results to hand when completing it?

mr_november · 09-11-2010 4:28pm

Hey does anybody know where you can find out what last year's points PGDE requirements to actually get offer the course...I can't find ant other than 2006's...:(:(

:cool::cool:

readystudypass · 09-11-2010 4:34pm

mr_november wrote: »

Hey does anybody know where you can find out what last year's points PGDE requirements to actually get offer the course...I can't find ant other than 2006's...:(:(

:cool::cool:

http://www.pac.ie/pgdeinfo/points.php?inst=pe . Note the points calculation was slightly different last year to 2006

10-11-2010 5:16pm

Firstly sorry if this has been posted already I just can't find a definitive answer I hope maybe someone can help me.

If you are applying for the pgde on your penultimate year results and are offered a place, but in the summer when you get your degree rsults these aren't enough to get you a place i.e. you pass but don't get the necessary high 2.1 etc. does this mean you don't get to do the pgde?? Or because your 2nd yeart results are high enough that as long as you pass your final year you're in??
Thanks a mil people.

looder · 15-11-2010 9:55pm

Hi,

Quick question for you guys re points calculation.

I've a BBS degree - got a 2.1 (66% average - I think that matters)
I've also a taught Masters degree.

Does this mean I have 51 points as per: http://www.pac.ie/pgdeinfo/PointsCalc.php?inst=pe

45 points for degree and 6 for Masters r am I calculating it totally wrong?

Also, on the application form where it says
"Teaching Subjects *:

Please state your proposed Teaching Subjects which must be taken to Degree level."

Does this mean I would just put down Business as this was the subject my degree and Masters was in?

Or would I put down Business and maybe a second subject that I'm interested in? i.e Geography as is offered here in UCC:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/what/acsss/pgdip/education/
Thanks

looder

dory · 18-11-2010 2:55pm

Random question: can I apply to the PGDE using a pen and paper? I'm having crazy trouble with the online method. I can't find anywhere to print off an application form.

smcmaths · 18-11-2010 7:09pm

you can only apply online at www.pac.ie, there is no longer an option to apply by post!

seachto7 · 18-11-2010 7:17pm

Hi all,

I sent off my undergrad to the TC last week to get a subject assessed. Do I have to wait until I get confirmation of this before I can continue with the application and make the payment?

roe_cat · 21-11-2010 5:58pm

looder - points calculation looks right. subjects should only be what your degree is in - so if that's just 1 subject thats all you put down

roe_cat · 21-11-2010 6:12pm

hey - applying for pgde
2 problems
1 - finished a master's in sep but no sign of results. can't use it in the application unless i've graduated. anyone else had to deal with this? Gonna be pretty annoyed if i have to wait around for an extra year because they can't be arsed to read my thesis.
2 - my transcript gives an overall grade but not an overall percentage. I can just average out the % of the modules but that's not my true overall % because each module was weighted differently (although of course the transcript gives no indication of weighting either) What do other people do?

All Primary / Secondary Masters Courses - Post Q's Here Please

Comments