Expand+Course Codes:
CWB09 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time

CWL17 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time

CWW05 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Educa...

Hide-Course Codes:
CWB09 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time

CWL17 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time

CWW05 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WICKLOW Part-time

CWX16 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WEXFORD Part-time

CWB10 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time

CWL18 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time

CWW06 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WICKLOW Part-time

Entry 2022/2023
Please note that all postgraduate applications for taught programmes at Institute of Technology Carlow should be completed online via PAC (Postgraduate Application System) www.pac.ie

It is important to note that each programme has a different PAC code based on award level, schedule and campus location.

Timetabled hours may include daytime, evening and Saturday classes.

HOW TO APPLY
APPLICATION PROCESS - TAUGHT PROGRAMMES
Please note that all Non-EU international student applicants must apply through our International Office. Please refer to the International section of the prospectus or our website: www.itcarlow.ie/international/non-eu-students or alternatively email: internationaladmin@itcarlow.ie.

Application process steps
1. Choose your programme(s) from our prospectus or online postgraduate programme listing on the Institute website.

It is very important that you review all of the following before applying:

• Entry requirements
• Supporting documentation requirements for your application
• Course modules and information
• Schedule and location (i.e. part-time or full time, and which campus you would like to attend)
• Fees
• Relevant PAC code
• Closing dates for applications.

Should you have any queries, or need further information on a particular programme of study, please contact the relevant programme director or head of department listed on the individual programme.

2. Register with PAC online at www.pac.ie and gather all supporting documentation required for your application (e.g. references, CV, personal statement etc.).

Scanned copies of your supporting documentation must be uploaded to www.pac.ie. Alternatively, supporting documentation can be posted to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway. Please note that supplementary documentation should be sent within 7 days of your online application. Documents must be in a clear format, of good quality and a readable size.

Poor quality/unreadable documents may affect the assessment of your application.

3. Apply online at www.pac.ie.
The PAC online application system is now open for new postgraduate applications for the academic year 2022/2023. This is an online application system that allows applicants, for a non-refundable fee of €50 paid directly to PAC, to apply for multiple postgraduate programmes at Institute of Technology Carlow. Applications will be considered in order of preference. If you are successful in receiving an offer on your first preference or first choice of programme, all other preferences will be excluded. Similarly, if you are unsuccessful in your first preference, then your second preference will be considered and so on.

Course selection may be from any of our Masters, Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Diplomas.

PAC may be contacted for support via email: pachelp@pac.ie or through the website. Applicants may contact Admissions via email: graduatestudies@itcarlow.ie.

To ensure a place on your chosen course we advise registering as soon as possible. Certain programmes are restricted to a limited number of applicants and places on these courses are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Late applications will be considered on a case-bycase basis.

Institute of Technology Carlow reserves the right to request that some applicants attend for interview to determine their suitability for individual programmes.

4. Review application status via the My Account section on the PAC website.

All applicants will be notified by email of changes to the status of their application. Alternatively, applicants may login online any time to the PAC system under the My Account section to view their application. Applicants who receive an offer have 14 days to accept or decline that offer. Applicants who accept must also pay a deposit of €500 within 14 days which may be paid online via the PAC system. This deposit is then offset against the full tuition fee.

5. Getting started
Applicants who accept their offer should keep up-to-date by logging onto the Institute website. Our academic year starts in September and academic timetables and other news and events will be posted on the website and on other social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Expand+CWB09 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time €7,400*

CWL17 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time €7,400*

CWW05 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years ...

Hide-CWB09 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time €7,400*

CWL17 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time €7,400*

CWW05 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WICKLOW Part-time €7,400*

CWX16 Master of Arts in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WEXFORD Part-time €7,400*

CWB10 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Full-time €5,500

CWL18 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care CARLOW Part-time €5,500

CWW06 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care WICKLOW Part-time €5,500

*Fees for ITC Major Award graduates only – €5,500.

Programme Fees for Non-EU Students
Masters Programme Fee – €11,250.

Expand+Entry requirements are a Level 8 degree, with a minimum of Second Class Honours, Grade 2 or equivalent in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Applied Social Studies
• Social and Community Studies
• Youth an...

Hide-Entry requirements are a Level 8 degree, with a minimum of Second Class Honours, Grade 2 or equivalent in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Applied Social Studies
• Social and Community Studies
• Youth and Community Work
• Social Sciences or cognate area

Candidates with significant experience in the social sciences (as determined by IT Carlow’s Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) policy), in addition to an honours primary degree in another discipline area may also be considered for entry.

Applicants applying for entry via routes other than those listed above will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with IT Carlow’s Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) policy.

Expand+What is the programme about?
Early Years Education and Care is a rapidly growing area in Ireland. This programme has been designed to facilitate and prepare students and current practitioners or those with an interest in early childhood education f...

Hide-What is the programme about?
Early Years Education and Care is a rapidly growing area in Ireland. This programme has been designed to facilitate and prepare students and current practitioners or those with an interest in early childhood education for leadership and management roles in the operation of early childhood education services and related public policy. This Masters programme will develop students’ ability to both analyse, manage and creatively respond to critical issues and changes in early childhood care policy and service implementation, all the time being cognisant of the best interests of the child.

Right from the Start- Report of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy, September 2013.

Department of Children and Youth Affairs:
This report looks at the growing requirements of a rapidly expanding sector in a population with “over 480,000 children aged 0-6, representing 11% of the population” which is set to increase by between 17-20% by 2021 and the importance of having a policy for the youngest members of society. The reports notes that “only 12% of those working in early childhood care and education services in Ireland have Degree-level qualifications (Pobal, 2013)”, while the CoRe report has set out an EU benchmark of at least 60% of those working in this area who “should be graduates”, “including equally those working with under-3s and those working with over-3s.” A competent quality based systems calls for competent practitioners, which requires “a qualified workforce at all levels, which includes trainers, managers and inspectors.”

Expand+What will I be able to do when I finish this programme?
Graduates of this programme will be able to:
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the underlying theories and key concepts with a focus on leadership and critical assessment skills withi...

Hide-What will I be able to do when I finish this programme?
Graduates of this programme will be able to:
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the underlying theories and key concepts with a focus on leadership and critical assessment skills within an Irish and International context;

• Analyse the current theories, concepts, challenges and research areas with an ability to solve complex problems through a variety of reflective and participatory work;

• Exhibit critical awareness of contemporary issues and challenges relating to the role and effect of early years education on the child, the family and society;

• Apply the theory and practice of leadership roles in supporting quality;

• Engage in scholarly debate at an academic, policy and practice based level on a range of early year’s education and leadership issues;

• Develop, maintain and build on professional relationships fostered throughout the programme with practical skills and tools to reflect and critically self-evaluate;

• Gather, assimilate, synthesise and analyse information on a variety of levels;

• Critically reflect on how leadership practice in early year’s education connects to and interacts with wider social issues in Ireland and beyond.

What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates of the programme may progress to a PhD programme of study in the discipline areas, in Ireland or abroad. Graduates of the programme may also be eligible to progress to a professional doctorate in the field of teaching and learning in both Irish and international Institutions.

Potential employment opportunities
This is an ideal postgraduate programme for students or current practitioners within the early childhood education sector who are interested in becoming an administrator, director or manager of early childhood education programs. It is also suitable for those interested in advisory, mentoring and inspection roles within the sector.