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4. Education Gaeilge

Course Fact File

Code	CK124
Duration	4 Years
Teaching Mode	Full-time
Qualifications	BEd (Hons)
NFQ Level	Level 8
Fees	See Fees and Costs for full details.
CAO Points	2025:
CAO Points Range	2025:

Course Outline

This innovative four-year BEd programme prepares students to become qualified post-primary teachers of Irish, combined with a second subject, French, Spanish, German, Italian, or Mathematical Studies. Responding to a critical national shortage of teachers in Gaeilge, modern languages, and Mathematics, the programme ensures a consistent supply of highly skilled, professionally qualified graduates. Aligned with Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (2020), the programme develops strong professional values, pedagogical knowledge, and teaching practice. It also addresses the complexities of teaching through Irish, especially in immersion settings such as Gaelcholáistí, Scoileanna Gaeltachta, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge.

Students receive intensive instruction in Irish and their second subject, with a strong emphasis on immersive learning. A semester in the Gaeltacht enables students to advance their linguistic skills and connect with Irish culture and heritage. Those studying a second language also benefit from an Erasmus semester abroad, enhancing proficiency and intercultural competence. Over four years, students complete at least 200 hours of structured school placement in diverse educational settings.

This practical, inquiry-led experience fosters reflective, flexible, and effective teaching. The BEd Gaeilge programme, therefore,  offers a unique and timely pathway to teaching in high-demand areas, empowering graduates to teach Irish, through Irish, and a second subject in varied school contexts.

Based on their subject selection, students will take either Cúrsa A (French, German, Spanish, Italian) or Cúrsa B (Mathematical Studies).

Year 1 Modules - CÚRSA A – LANGUAGES

Students take 60 credits as follows – 20 credits Education, 25 credits Irish/Gaeilge and 15 credits of modules from the second selected subject (French, German, Italian or Spanish):

Education

• ED1401 Teagasc, Foghlaim agus Measúnú na Gaeilge 1 (10 credits)
• ED4105 Conceptual Foundations in the Psychology and Sociology of Education (5 credits)
• ED4106 Conceptual Foundations in Curriculum and Assessment (5 credits)

Gaeilge

• GA1002 Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10 credits)
• GA1008 An Nualitríocht (10 credits)
• GA1009 An Ghaeilge Bheo (5 credits)

Plus 15 credits from one of the following subjects:

French

• FR1101 Foundation Course in Written and Oral French (10 credits)
• FR1201 Introduction to French Studies (5 credits)

German

• GE1101 Integrated Written and Oral Language Course for German (10 credits)
• GE1102 Introduction to Literature (5 credits)

Italian

• IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10 credits)
• IT1201 Post-Unification Italian Culture and Society  (5 credits)

Spanish

• HS1102 First Year Spanish Language for Non-Beginners (10 credits) 
• HS1030 Introduction to Spanish and Latin American Studies (5 credits)

Year 1 Modules - CÚRSA B - Mathematical Studies 

Students take 60 credits as follows – 15 credits Education, 15 credits Irish/Gaeilge and 30 credits Mathematical Studies:

Education

• ED1401 Teagasc, Foghlaim agus Measúnú na Gaeilge 1 (10 credits)
• ED4106 Conceptual Foundations in Curriculum and Assessment (5 credits)

Gaeilge

• GA1002 Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10 credits)
• GA1009 An Ghaeilge Bheo (5 credits)

Mathematical Studies

• MA1058 Introduction to Linear Algebra (5 credits)
• MA1059 Calculus (5 credits)
• AM1052 Introduction to Mechanics (5 credits
• MS2013 Geometry (5 credits)
• AM1054 Mathematical Software (5 credits)
• ST1051 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

Typically 15-credit modules involve a minimum of 72 contact hours, generally consisting of lectures and small-group classes such as tutorials and seminars; for languages, conversation classes and language laboratory work also feature. These modules are generally assessed by a combination of written examination and continuous assessments (essays, journals, projects, presentations, etc.) 10- and 5-credit modules involve a minimum of 48 and 24 contact hours, respectively, generally consisting of lectures (and small group classes) and/or assessed by a combination of written examination and continuous assessment.

The concurrent Education component of this degree will begin in Year 1 and continue to Year 4, and will contain lectures on the methodology of the teaching of the specific subjects selected by the student. It will also involve school placements, again in Years 2 to 4.

To practice in Ireland, all teachers are required to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland. Complying with subject-specific Teaching Council requirements is therefore essential for every graduate. In the languages, this refers particularly to modular content (e.g. prose and poetry), residency in the area where the language is spoken, and overall linguistic ability. In this degree, a 9-week Gaeltacht residency will be accommodated within the course, as will a three-month Erasmus residency for those students taking a second language.

Why Choose This Course

This is an employment-focused degree that responds to teacher shortages in the secondary school sector.

The BEd Gaeilge is a 4-year degree that will fully qualify graduates as post-primary teachers of Gaeilge and one other subject without requiring any additional credits or postgraduate qualification.

Long-established, and ever-growing links between UCC and the Gaeltacht areas on its doorstep provide ready-made centres of excellence for teaching and learning of Gaeilge. Embedded features of Gaeltacht and Erasmus residencies during Year 3 facilitate immersive language exposure, and ensure that on graduation the student will have completed all Teaching Council requirements. Gaeltacht residencies will benefit from the Department of the Gaeltacht subsidies. Education work placements with UCC’s network of school affiliations, in years 2, 3 and 4, account for a significantly high proportion of credits, serving to position graduates strongly for employment.

See also BEd Gaeilge Scholarships/Scoláireachtaí Bed Gaeilge for information on BEd Gaeilge scholarships.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The elements of the degree completed in the four years include school-placements and Erasmus/Gaeltacht semesters. School placements occur throughout Years 2, 3 and 4 of the degree. The first semester (weeks 4-12) of Year 3 will be spent entirely in a Gaeltacht location. Where another language is chosen as the second subject, the second semester (January to March/April) of Year 3 will be spent entirely in a country where that language is spoken.

Skills and Careers Information

In the Irish educational system at present there is a shortage of teachers of Irish and of the other subjects offered in this degree. This is recognised by the Department of Education and Skills in the Teacher Supply Action Plan 2018, which encourages teacher-training degrees ‘which qualify teachers in two subject areas’ including those subjects offered by this degree: Irish, Mathematics, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.

Teachers of these subjects are in such demand not only in English-speaking schools. Gaelcholáistí are experiencing shortages of teachers qualified to teach second subjects through Irish. Both shortages are addressed through this BEd, and graduates can expect a high employability profile.

Requirements

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) entry requirements:  At least six subjects must be presented – minimum grade H4 in Irish, minimum grade H5 in one subject and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects.  All applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:

• English – 06/H7
• Irish – H4
• French/German/Italian/Spanish H4 OR
• Other Language O6/H7 and Mathematics:  H3

CÚRSA A 

For students taking French/German/Italian/Spanish with Irish a minimum Leaving Certificate grade H4 in that language is required

CÚRSA B 

For students taking Mathematics with Irish a minimum Leaving Certificate grade H3 in Maths and grade O6/H7 in a language (other than Irish and English) is required.

Mature Students

To compete through the mature entry route, applicants must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the application year and apply online via the CAO by 1 February. The application should include a statement of interest, and prospective students must also apply for and sit the Mature Student Evaluation (MSE) test.

Applicants will be called for an Interview conducted in Irish. The Interview in Irish will consist of a conversation with staff in order to establish that the applicant is competent in Irish to a level sufficient to understand lectures, to partake in continuous assessment, and to undergo written examinations in Irish.

Further information on applying as a mature student is available on the Mature Applicants and Mature Student Entry support pages. 

QQI FET Entry

Applicants who meet the required level of distinctions in required subjects can apply for entry to this course using specific QQI FET qualifications. Please review the Programme Requirements on our Information for QQI FET Applicants page for information on related QQI courses, and visit Access UCC’s QQI/FET Entry section for further support. 

Fitness to Practise

This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy. 

Student Garda Vetting

All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme. 

Vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Acts) once a student has accepted their place on the programme. This involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence). 

All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there. 

Further information can be found on our Student Garda Vetting page. 

 

Fees and Costs

Additional costs (travel, accommodation and subsistence) may be incurred during the Gaeltacht residency and, for those choosing a second language, during the Erasmus semester. 

How To Apply