Overview
This part-time programme gives teachers across primary, post-primary and special education contexts the skills to recognise autistic students’ educational strengths and needs and help them thrive.
Gain in-depth skills to support autistic students ~
Modules are delivered in-person and online, and you’ll get the chance to visit a classroom setting to observe what you’ve learned put into practice. You’ll also get 15 days’ allowance to attend the course (with substitution covered) and all travel expenses are paid.
Once you graduate, you will have a deeper understanding of autism and evidence-informed skills to help you tailor your planning and teaching to provide better educational opportunities to autistic children and young adults. You’ll also be a great candidate for the Master’s of Education in Autism if you choose to pursue further studies.
DCU People
Entry Requirements
Please review the Department of Education Circular for 2024 here in English and here in Irish.
This programme is for registered teachers who currently:
- Hold a post funded by the Department of Education.
- Work in recognised primary, post-primary, or special school settings.
- Work with autistic students or will be working with autistic students for the duration of the programme.
The programme is designed to assist teachers to effectively support the holistic educational development of their autistic students. Therefore, applicants must hold a teaching role, supporting autistic students.
Programme Structure
The aim of this programme is to develop the knowledge, skills and expertise of teachers, thus enhancing the provision of appropriate education for autistic children and young people.
Understanding Autism: aims to provide a foundation in the history, concept and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, causes and prevalence will also be considered. Students will explore the diversity across the spectrum and reflect in an informed manner on the implications of autism in an educational context.
Autism - Assessment, Profiling and Planning: addresses the principles underpinning inclusive assessment and focuses on the development of a holistic profile of the student’s strengths, interests and needs, leading to the development of learning programmes and individualised planning.
Autism - Planning,Teaching and Learning 1 & 2: focuses on the application of skills and knowledge presented across the programme to teaching and learning contexts.
Wellbeing Across the Continuum: Addresses current and evolving issues in relation to the education of autistic students including life span perspective, wellbeing of such students and proactive strategies to support them.
The programme will include three weeks block release from your school/centre during the year. Below are the indicative times of year when these weeks occur. Dates will be communicated upon offer of a place on the course.
Week 1: 9-13th September
Week 2: 11-15th November
Week 3: 10-14th February
Lectures take place Monday to Friday during these weeks from 9am - 4pm.
In addition there are seven evening online sessions which occur on Tuesday evenings throughout the year ( 6-7.15). Further details will be made available upon starting the course.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
Applications will open in Spring 2025.
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
Applicants must submit:
- Additional Questions Form - submitted within the Application Portal
- An up-to-date Teaching Council Registration Certificate (card not accepted) - upload to portal
- A Principal Declaration Form - completed by the Principal. This form must be signed by the Principal (not the Deputy Principal or any other school representative) - submitted within the Application Portal
Application Queries
Closing date: TBC
There is no Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) entry route for this programme.
For EU applicant queries, please visit /registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email pgedapplications@dcu.ie. Please include the programme code (DC879) in the subject line of your email.
For non EU applicant queries, please visit /registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on the GCAE programme.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus ?ireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas ?ireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU St Patrick's Campus
FAQs
What courses are offered by the DCU Institute of Education?
DCU Institute of Education brings together students of education and provides a rich menu of undergraduate courses across all sectors from early childhood, to primary and post-primary and further and higher education. We offer a range of taught and research postgraduate courses at doctoral, masters, diploma and certificate level and have a distinguished record in providing continuing professional development.
Is there Garda vetting for students who study DCU Institute of Education courses?
Garda vetting is required for all students who have unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults as part of their studies at DCU. Applicants must successfully pass the Garda vetting process in order to complete the registration process.
What are the potential teaching pathways for primary, post-primary and further education and training offered by DCU?
Primary Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
Postgraduate**
- Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) - DC970
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes
** Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes
Post-Primary Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
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Bachelor of Religious Education & English or History or Music - DC010 | DC011 | DC012
-
Bachelor of Education in Gaeilge and French or German or Spanish - DC013
-
Bachelor of Education in Technology, Engineering and Graphics - DC015
-
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Science Education - DC203
-
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physical Education with Biology - DC205
-
Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with Mathematics - DC206
Postgraduate**
- Professional Master of Education (Post-Primary Teaching) - DC905
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes
** Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes
Further Education and Training Teaching Pathways
Undergraduate*
- BSc (Hons) in Education and Training (Further, Adult and Continuing Education) - DC235
* Please ensure that you consult minimum entry requirements and CAO points for all undergraduate programmes
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