Physical Education Sports Studies & Arts - Second Level Teaching
Our Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree is a dynamic course that aims to produce creative educators in physical education, sport and physical activity settings. As well as qualifying to teach physical education, students will also graduate in a chosen specialist arts subject from one of the following: English, Gaeilge/Irish, Mathematics, French, or History.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Cert entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
French
A Student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).
Mathematical Studies
Students will be required to achieve a minimum H3 in Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Students are subject to Garda Vetting
Students are subject to Fitness to Practise policy.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
Our graduates gain a range of transferable skills in planning, implementing and assessing learning across the lifespan – whether in schools, clubs or communities – specifically in the areas of sport, physical activity and physical education.
The course, through its school-university partnership, also provides career advice and preparation practice for interviews for all our students. Graduates are very well placed to begin a postgraduate course of study through our School of Education M.Ed, or cohort PhD routes also.
Further information
September 2026
Approximate Available Places 5
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 50
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Our Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree is a dynamic course that aims to produce creative educators in physical education, sport and physical activity settings. As well as qualifying to teach physical education, students will also graduate in a chosen specialist arts subject from one of the following: English, Gaeilge/Irish, Mathematics, French, or History.
Graduates from this programme display independent, innovative thinking, and are agents of change in the areas of physical education, sport, and physical activity settings. Our staff are experts and research-informed practitioners in their discipline.
Teaching, coaching and community placements are available throughout the degree, and the programmes works in partnership with schools, clubs, and the community, allowing students to immerse themselves in teaching and coaching from the beginning. Please note that while we endeavour to place students in schools within Cork City and County, this is not guaranteed and will depend on your selected teaching subjects, the number of schools in which they are taught and the capacity within individual schools.
The Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts degree also operate a comprehensive well-being mentoring programme involving buddy mentoring, tutor mentoring, and teacher/coach mentors.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Year 2: School Placement teaching Physical Education
Year 3: School Placement teaching chosen Arts subject
Year 4: School Placement teaching PE and Arts subject (entire school year)
Note for Irish and French students: the Teaching Council requires that students must have verifiable residential experience (in France or Gaeltacht). In order to fulfill this requirement, students may opt to register for an additional 5-credit module, ED2319, which is available to students taking this programme. The module is taken in addition to the prescribed programme requirements. Work towards this module can be undertaken in part in Semester 3 of Years 1, 2 or 3 but must be completed in full in time for examination at the Summer Examination Board in the Fourth Year of the programme. Students who wish to take this module will register for it in Year 4.
Alternatively, students who choose not to register for ED2319 will be expected to provide the Teaching Council with proof of their residency (such as a letter from their landlord/employer) upon application to register as a Newly Qualified teacher.
Modules
Year 1
ED1308 Sport Psychology: Fundamentals & Application
ED1309 Motor Development and Learning for Skill Competence
ED1310 Introduction to Exercise Physiology, Diet, and Nutrition
ED1314 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 1
ED1323 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 2
ED1324 Pedagogical Foundations
ED1325 Curriculum and Pedagogical Coherence in Junior Cycles
AN1063 Anatomy of Exercise
DH1001 Digital Humanities: Theories & Concepts 1
Elective Modules
One Arts subject (15 credits) from the following: English, French, (a student will not normally be allowed to select French unless they have attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate examination [or equivalent]), Gaeilge/ Irish, History and Mathematics.
Please go to the individual subject pages for a list of first-year modules to find out more details.
Year 2
ED2322 Curriculum and Pedagogical Coherence
ED2324 Arts Subject Pedagogy 1
ED2325 Placement 1
ED2405 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 3
ED2406 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 4
Elective Modules
Arts subject continued from Year 1
Practical modules include dance, gymnastics, G.A.A., and rugby. Students will also complete their second placement in a school setting where they will observe, plan and teach physical education, under the guidance of a mentor (co-operating teacher).
Year 3
ED3304 Curriculum-Based Physical Activities 5
ED3307 Coaching Science 1
ED3308 Health and Wellbeing
ED3327 Creativity and Innovation in Education
ED3328 Community-Based Physical Activity
ED3329 Placement 2
Elective Modules
Students will complete their third placement in a school setting where they will observe, plan and teach their chosen Arts subject, under the guidance of a mentor (co-operating teacher).
Year 4
ED4104 Conceptual Foundations in the Philosophy and History of Education
ED4105 Conceptual Foundations in the Psychology and Sociology of Education
ED4106 Conceptual Foundations in Curriculum and Assessment
ED4107 Conceptual Foundations in Inclusive Education
ED4326 Professional Relationships and Development in Education
ED4315 Final Year Research Project
ED4320 Placement 4
Elective Modules
The Teaching of Irish
The Teaching of English
Second Language Education - French
The Teaching of History
The Teaching of Mathematics
A large proportion of Year 4 will comprise school placement for the student, specifically teaching physical education and the selected specialist Arts subject for an entire school year. Students will then return to university for lectures, practicals and workshops in the afternoons.
Ms Marie Nash
sportsstudiesandphysicaleducation@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 3055
https://www.ucc.ie/en/education/