Expand+Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of O1 or H6 in Mathematics and minimum of O4 or H6 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certific...

Hide-Course Requirements
Subjects Required
Minimum of O1 or H6 in Mathematics and minimum of O4 or H6 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

General Entry Requirements
A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6 or H7, with at least two at H5, which must include the subjects Mathematics AND either English or Irish.

Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level.

This subject will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:

BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
BA in Contemporary Culture and Society
BSc in Education and Training
BA in Journalism
BA in International Relations
BA in Communication Studies
BA Gaeilge agus Iriseoireacht (Irish and Journalism)
Bachelor of Civil Law (Law and Society)
BSc in Multimedia
Bachelor of Arts (Joint Honours)
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored.

The following six groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B

2 Economics, Agricultural Economics

3 Physics with Chemistry – if combined with Physics and Chemistry, only two best scored – if combined with Physics or Chemistry, only best scored

4 History, Economics and Economic History – if all three are taken, only the best two will be scored

5 Latin, Classical Studies

6 Greek, Classical Studies

Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded in 2017 for higher level mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.

Expand+Applicants who have a full FETAC Level 5 award in the appropriate qualifications and modules, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses. There are a limited number of places available on course...

Hide-Applicants who have a full FETAC Level 5 award in the appropriate qualifications and modules, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses. There are a limited number of places available on courses.

FETAC has made changes to the CAS (Common Awards System). Please refer to the DCU website for specific details on the range of FETAC awards which link into the university’s Level 8 degree courses.

General Entry Requirements

• Full FETAC Level 5 Certification must be achieved in one single sitting.

• FETAC awards are normally made up of eight minor awards, commonly known as modules.

• Five distinctions from the eight modules must be achieved.

Course Entry Requirements
Additional course requirements are indicated in the details of each course in this prospectus. This requires the attainment of performance in specifically named FETAC Level 5 awards and in some cases, the inclusion of specific modules. For example, for the BSc in Education and Training, students must attain the full FETAC Level 5 award with distinctions in five modules, but three of the distinctions must be in modules that DCU specifies. Please visit www.cao.ie/ index.php?page=fetac_search for the most up-to-date information on course requirements.

Applying to DCU

Candidates make their application to DCU through the CAO and are ranked based on their performance in the eight modules that make up their award. From 2017 the points awarded for FETAC awards will be revised.

Please visit www2.cao.ie/fetac/FETAC_scoring.pdf for scoring information.

Please note
1 A Major Award must be achieved. Component Certificates or Records of Achievement are not acceptable.

2 In certain courses, DCU will require the achievement of certain grades and/or specified components, e.g. five distinctions, including a minimum pass in Mathematics, or four specific science modules.

3 A Major Award may be achieved over a number of sittings; however, for scoring purposes, only results achieved in a single sitting, e.g. between 1st August and 31st July are assessed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their FETAC centre applies for a Major Award to FETAC where courses are taken over more than one year.

Expand+EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience wi...

Hide-EU/EEA and Non-EU
DCU has an active mature student body and strongly encourages applications from mature candidates (those aged 23 years or above on 1st January in the year of entry). As a mature student, your wealth of knowledge and experience will make a valuable contribution to the university, and we are always working towards widening participation to allow mature students gain entry onto DCU courses.

What are the entry requirements?
Applying as a mature applicant means that you do not compete with Leaving Certificate students for places at DCU. Instead, experience other than examination grades is taken into consideration – this may be work experience, further studies or other relevant experience. For some courses, however, particular Leaving Certificate subjects may be necessary. In all cases, the university will want to know that you have the ability and motivation to make the most of your studies at DCU.

What supports are available for mature students?
There is a wide network of services. The Mature Student Academic Writing Week prepares you for college life through workshops on topics such as academic writing, citing and referencing. Other topics include supports for students at DCU, such as the Mathematics Learning Centre, IT supports and the Mature Student Society. You will also have access to Student Support and Development workshops throughout the academic year for example CV Clinics, Learning Students and Motivational Workshops.

What financial supports are available to mature students?
There are a number of sources, including the Government’s Free Fees Initiative, the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Back to Education Allowance and the DCU Student Assistance Fund, once a registered DCU student. Information on these schemes is available at www.studentfinance.ie.

Where can I find out more?
For the Mature Student Officer, please contact 01 700 6987. For general and admission enquiries, please contact the Registry on T +353 (0)1 700 5338 E registry@dcu.ie

How do I apply?
All mature applicants for full-time study must apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February in the year of entry.

Expand+There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students ...

Hide-There are many different ways to enter DCU. While candidates are primarily assessed on the basis of their second level examinations, other assessments are in place for mature students, students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties and transfer students. The university is committed to welcoming students from countries worldwide. For Undergraduate Admissions - General Information please go to: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/undergrad.shtml

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2017 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2017 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2017 CAO Handbook: Fee €50 Closing Date: 22nd July 2017 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2017 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2017, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2017 CAO Handbook.

Late Applications (Exception to Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these three HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 15 of the 2017 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2017 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2017 at 5:15pm.

Expand+Why DCU?

• A four-year programme providing a direct route into post-primary teaching.
• Honours teaching qualification after four years.
• Teacher training concurrent with science and mathematics courses.
• Computing/IT fully integrated with sc...

Hide-Why DCU?

• A four-year programme providing a direct route into post-primary teaching.
• Honours teaching qualification after four years.
• Teacher training concurrent with science and mathematics courses.
• Computing/IT fully integrated with science.
• Specialisation in two of chemistry, physics or mathematics.
• Good background for alternative career.

Understanding Science Education
Mathematics, science and technology play vital roles in our day-to-day lives, so having an understanding of these subjects is important for everyone. As a science/mathematics teacher, you will develop your pupils’ understanding of the world in which we live and you will educate future generations of business people, scientists, engineers and technologists.

You will help young minds develop and you will prepare them for an increasingly technological and information-based future.

You will also play a vital role in Ireland’s economic recovery by teaching subjects that will be central to a sustainable and successful future for the country. Science Education will give you a teaching qualification with a specialisation in two of chemistry, physics or mathematics, and strong elements of information and communication technology (ICT).

Teachers with this degree are highly skilled and motivated and are highly sought after in the second-level education system.

Garda vetting has been introduced for students who have unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults as part of their studies at Dublin City University. Applicants must successfully pass the Garda vetting process in order to complete the process of registration.

About You
If you are enthusiastic about science and mathematics and want to share this enthusiasm with young people, then this course is the place to start.

Course Structure
You can specialise in any two subjects from chemistry, physics or mathematics. The first two years are common to all students. At the start of the third year, you choose two subjects to specialise in (chemistry/ physics, maths/physics or chemistry/ maths). You will be qualified to teach your two speciality subjects to honours Leaving Certificate level.

In your fourth year you will further specialise in one of your two chosen subjects. A quarter of the course is devoted to education, particularly science education, while the remainder focuses on two of physics, chemistry or mathematics, with additional courses in biology and IT.

In first year, most science and mathematics modules will be taken in common with other first-year science students. There are also further specialist modules in mathematics and education. The second and third years build on this content and integrate science and mathematics with education, while Year Four allows you to opt for further modules in one major area. A major science or mathematics education project is part of Year Three.

School Placement
There are four important school placement periods over the duration of the course. This allows you to work in real classrooms to practise and develop the teaching skills that are being learnt in the programme. In Year One, you teach small groups of students from local schools. In Year Two, you spend four weeks in post-primary schools, taking classes up to Junior Certificate level. There is another four-week school placement that takes place in the September immediately preceding Year Three. All of the second semester in Year Four is spent taking junior and senior cycle classes in science, mathematics, physics and/or chemistry.

You will enjoy strong support from DCU throughout your teaching assignments, which makes it easier to go from being a student to a professional teacher.

Expand+What Will I Study?

Year One
Micro Teaching and Teaching Preparation
Calculus
Chemistry
Physics
Microbiology and Biochemistry
Microbiology and Genetics

Year Two
Microteaching and School Placement
Teaching and Assessing the Junior Cycle...

Hide-What Will I Study?

Year One
Micro Teaching and Teaching Preparation
Calculus
Chemistry
Physics
Microbiology and Biochemistry
Microbiology and Genetics

Year Two
Microteaching and School Placement
Teaching and Assessing the Junior Cycle Science and Mathematics
Irish Education: History Structure and Development
Mathematics
Thermal and Physical Properties of Matter
Linear Algebra
Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry Laboratory and Spectroscopy Workshop
Physics Laboratory

Year Three
Developmental Psychology and individual differences
Philosophical Perspectives on education
School placement


YEAR THREE PATHWAY OPTIONS
Modules offered will be dependent on chosen pathway
see www.dcu.ie/DC203

Year Four
ICT Teaching Strategies and Professional Preparation
Curriculum Development and Evaluation
Equality in education
School Placement
Preparation and Professional Development

Year Four Pathway Options.
Modules offered will be dependent on chosen pathway.