Graduate Diploma/M Ed in Inclusive Special Education

Key Features

Eligibility

The programme is open to primary and post-primary teachers who are employed in a position (or shared position) that is funded by the Department of Education and who provide Special Education Teaching in recognised primary schools, post-primary schools, and in other recognised educational services. Teachers serving in special schools and special classes are also eligible to apply. Teachers must teach a minimum of 11 hours in special education each week.

The programme provides a Level 9 qualification that is recognised by the Department of Education for teachers working in the areas of inclusive education, special education and learning support who work in the following roles: Special Education Teacher, Teacher in a Special School, Teacher in a Special Class.

For queries relating to eligibility or PGDISE programme structure, please contact PGDISE@mic.ul.ie

Fees

Funding for the course is provided by the DE. This means that for teachers who are eligible:

• No fees or registration charges will apply to participants
• They will continue to receive their salary in the usual way during their participation
• Substitution will be provided by the DE to the schools in which they work, to cover their full attendance at lectures and seminars during school hours. This amounts to eight weeks substitution from school.

Programme Structure

Participating teachers will engage with four modules across the academic year. Two modules will be covered in autumn, and two in spring.

1. The Theory and Practice of Collaborative Leadership (autumn semester)
2. Assessment, Teaching and Learning in Language, Literacy and Mathematics (autumn semester)
3. Critical Influences on Child Cognitive, Social, Emotional and Behavioural Development (spring semester)
4. Collaborative Practice for Assessment, Teaching and Learning (spring semester)

The course commences with a full day on campus in MIC Limerick in September 2025. Date to be decided.

Thereafter participants are required to attend blocks of lectures across both semesters amounting to eight weeks in total. The dates for block release will be communicated to participating teachers in June 2025. DE-funded substitution is available to the schools/centres of all those who are offered a place on the programme to allow this to occur.

Lectures are normally held continuously from 9.30am - 3.30pm for face-to-face learning in the MIC Limerick Campus. On campus days usually occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays of block release weeks. Mondays and Fridays are usually scheduled for synchronous and synchronous online lectures and activities. There will also be some on-line sessions scheduled in the evening time (usually on Wednesday evenings) during the year. Access to reliable broadband is an essential prerequisite for satisfactory engagement with the PGDISE programme.

Assessment

There are no formal written examinations involved in the course. Participating teachers will be assessed on the basis of full attendance across the eight-week block release and four Saturdays, engagement with course content and activities, successful completion of selected tasks and written assignments and supervision and evaluation of teaching in schools/centres.