Skip to main content

Secondary School Pathways

Routes to qualifying as a secondary school teacher

In Ireland, secondary education is referred to as post-Primary Education. There are many routes to becoming a secondary school teacher in Ireland. The School of Education at UCC can help you achieve your goal of becoming a post-Primary teacher through one of its undergraduate or graduate courses. 

The Teaching Council is the independent body that oversees the registration of primary, secondary and further education teachers in Ireland. Their website contains lots of essential information for registration.  

What cost is involved?

Undergraduate Programmes Professional Masters of Education (PME) 

You pay the usual student contribution for undergraduate programmes. Full details are available on the Fees Office website

If you are undertaking an undergraduate degree, you may also qualify for financial support through one of our scholarships. You can find more information about our scholarshipson the Start Your Journey in Education page.

The fees for year 1 and year 2 of the PME may be found on the Fees Office website. 

Note: The undergraduate route to qualifying as a secondary school teacher is often called the concurrent model  for training teachers because you study your specialist teaching subjects at the same time as Education during the four years of the programme.

The PME route to qualifying as a secondary school teacher is often called the consecutive model  for training teachers because you study Education for two years after you have completed your undergraduate degree.

Who are you?

If you are interested in a career as a secondary school teacher, you can apply for an undergraduate degree leading to a qualification as a secondary school teacher.

I am a secondary school student

Find Out More
If you have an undergraduate degree in subjects recognised by the Teaching Council, you can apply to study the Professional Masters in Education (PME)

I am an undergraduate student

Find Out More Find Out More
The School of Education offers a range of postgraduate qualifications for qualified teachers including the Masters in Education (MEd)

I am currently a fully qualified teacher

Find Out More
If you are over the age of 23 and interested in qualifying as a teacher, you can apply to CAO for entry to a programme leading
to a qualification as a teacher.

I am a mature student

Find Out More
If you are under the age of 19 and do not have an undergraduate degree, then you can apply for one of UCC’s undergraduate education degrees through the CAO.

I am a prospective international student

Find Out More

Quercus Scholars

It is an active, engaging, and challenging degree, that allows you to investigate a variety of different areas of human interaction.

Cian Bohane

B.Ed. Sports Studies & Physical Education

Find Out More
The B.Ed. Gaeilge programme is quite unique, in that it allows students to qualify as post-primary teachers of Gaeilge and another subject after just four years

Siobhán Cronin

B.Ed. Gaeilge

Find Out More

Top Tips for School Placement

Top 3 Tips

The idea of starting school placement can be daunting, but don’t worry, here are some tips that will hopefully help you settle into your placement with ease.

Find Out More

School of Education

Scoil an Oideachais

Leeholme, O'Donovan's Road, Cork, Ireland

Top