Primary Teaching (Bachelor of Education)

A Bachelor of Education in Primary Teaching prepares you to teach children from junior infants through to sixth class in Irish primary schools. You study curriculum subjects such as English, Mathematics, Irish, Arts, Physical Education, and Social, Personal and Health Education, alongside educational psychology, pedagogy, and inclusive education. A distinctive feature is the Gaeltacht placement, where you spend time in an Irish-speaking community to develop your ability to teach through Irish. School placement is embedded throughout all four years, giving you sustained, supervised classroom experience from an early stage. A typical week balances lectures and seminars on campus with preparation for and reflection on your time in schools.

Entry requires the Leaving Certificate with a minimum grade of H4 (or equivalent) in Higher-level Irish, along with satisfactory grades in English and Mathematics, as specified by the Teaching Council and individual colleges. CAO points for Primary Teaching programmes are typically high, reflecting strong competition for limited places. QQI Level 5 or Level 6 awards do not generally provide a direct progression route into the B.Ed, as Irish language proficiency at a specified standard is a firm entry requirement. Mature applicants (aged 23 or over by 1 January of the entry year) may apply through the mature student CAO route and are typically interviewed. HEAR and DARE access schemes are available at participating institutions for applicants from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities.

Demand for qualified primary teachers in Ireland is expected to remain steady, with particular shortages in Irish-medium (Gaelscoileanna) and special education settings. Graduates must register with the Teaching Council before they can be employed as teachers in a recognised school. Employment prospects in recent years have been broadly positive, though securing a permanent post can take time and newly qualified teachers often begin on substitute or fixed-term contracts. Ireland's growing population of school-age children supports continued demand for primary teachers over the medium term.