Expand+To compete for a place as a school leaver, an applicant must satisfy the minimum entry requirements as well as any specific programme requirements, and then compete on the basis of the results obtained in their school leaving examinations.

Applic...

Hide-To compete for a place as a school leaver, an applicant must satisfy the minimum entry requirements as well as any specific programme requirements, and then compete on the basis of the results obtained in their school leaving examinations.

Applicants may combine results achieved in different sittings for the purpose of meeting the minimum entry requirements for programmes, with the exception of Medicine (CK701). However, results achieved in separate years of school-leaving exams may not be combined for the purpose of scoring points.

Leaving Certificate applicants compete on the basis of a Points scheme.

Age Limits for Entry
For 2020 entry, CAO applicants for full-time degree programmes should have reached 17 years of age by 15th January 2021. Where a candidate below that age seeks to enter UCC, a special application must be made by the applicant to the Admissions Officer. Such an application should be accompanied by a letter of support from the Principal of the school at which the student is completing their school leaving examination.

Exemption from Irish And/Or The 3rd Language
In certain circumstances, applicants may be exempt from Irish and/or the third language requirement. Please refer to the NUI Handbook, the UCC Calendar or talk to your Guidance Counsellor for further details.

Infectious Diseases Policy
Students enroled on certain courses in the College of Medicine and Health are at increased risk of contracting and transmitting certain infectious diseases as a result of being in the clinical environment as part of their course. It is important, therefore, in order to protect patients and students that healthcare students are screened for, and immunized against, certain infectious illnesses. Students enroling in the School of Nursing and Midwifery are screened and immunized by the Health Service Executive Occupational Health Service and are subject to the HSE policies in this regard. All other undergraduate students in the College of Medicine and Health are subject to the UCC Infectious Disease Screening and Blood Borne Virus Policy. Details will be sent from the Admissions Office once a student has accepted his/her place.

Expand+MATURE STUDENT APPLICANTS
To be eligible to compete for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2021 and apply via www.cao.ie by 1 February. Please check out the CAO website for more information on the applic...

Hide-MATURE STUDENT APPLICANTS
To be eligible to compete for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January 2021 and apply via www.cao.ie by 1 February. Please check out the CAO website for more information on the application process as a mature student. There is a helpful video for mature applicants.

There are places for mature students on all undergraduate programmes. As a mature student you do not need Leaving Certificate points to enter UCC. However, some degree programmes have specific educational requirements so it is essential that you check the CAO Mature Student Guide, the Mature Student Office website www.ucc.ie/en/mature or contact our Mature Student Advisor for further details mso@ucc.ie. The Mature Student Office will be happy to help you with your application.

If you are a mature applicant, please note that you can also apply to UCC based on Leaving Certificate (LC) or QQI FE results. You may apply under all three pathways, if applicable (LC, QQI FE, Mature). Just ensure to tick boxes 1, 2 & 8, on the Qualifications and Assessment Summary section on the CAO application form, to be assessed under all three pathways.

Expand+Entry 2021

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2021 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2021 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CA...

Hide-Entry 2021

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2021 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2021 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2021 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2021 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 21 of the 2021 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2021 at 5:15pm

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 5:15pm on 1 February 2021. The closing date for late applications is 5:15pm on 1 May 2021, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2021 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2021 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2021 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, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Maynooth University and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology 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 six HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 21 of the 2021 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

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 2021 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:

General Restricitons
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

Expand+Course Outline
The Bachelor of Education Sports Studies and Physical Education degree (BEDSSPE) is a dynamic course that aims to produce creative educators in physical education, sport and physical activity settings. As well as qualifying to teach p...

Hide-Course Outline
The Bachelor of Education Sports Studies and Physical Education degree (BEDSSPE) 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 (five places), Gaeilge/Irish, Mathematics, French, or History.

Graduates from our BEDSSPE degree 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 BEDSSPE degree, and the programmes works in partnership with schools, clubs and the community, allowing students to immerse themselves within teaching and coaching from the beginning.

The BEDSSPE degree also operates a comprehensive wellbeing mentoring programme involving buddy mentoring, tutor mentoring, and teacher/coach mentors.

Why Choose This Course
Most recent 5-year trend data has indicated that 88% of our graduates successfully gain employment in the teaching and coaching sectors. To date, our graduates have found employment in Ireland, the UK, the US, Korea, Canada, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.

The BEDSSPE also provides a pathway for graduates who wish to study at postgraduate level in sport, physical activity, physical education, wellbeing, physical literacy, or general education.

Placement or Study Abroad Information
Year 1: Coaching Placement (24 hours)
Year 2: School Placement teaching Physical Education (3 weeks)
Year 3: School Placement teaching chosen Arts subject (3 weeks)
Year 4: School Placement teaching PE and Arts subject (entire school year)

Expand+Year 1 Modules:
Core:

Anatomy of Exercise
Psychosocial Basis of Physical Education, Sport & Health
Movement Analysis
Introduction to Exercise Physiology
Health
Practical Areas 1
Placement 1
Curriculum Design: Youth, Learning & Cultural Co...

Hide-Year 1 Modules:
Core:

Anatomy of Exercise
Psychosocial Basis of Physical Education, Sport & Health
Movement Analysis
Introduction to Exercise Physiology
Health
Practical Areas 1
Placement 1
Curriculum Design: Youth, Learning & Cultural Contexts
Practical Areas 2

Electives:

One Arts subject from English, French, Gaeilge/Irish, History or Mathematics

In addition, students will learn about dance, gymnastics, striking and fielding, badminton, athletics and aquatics and adventure activities, as well as their chosen specialist Arts subject (The Arts subject is studied throughout all four years). Students will also complete their first school/club placement under the guidance of a mentor.

Year 2 Modules:
Core:

Exercise Prescription
Exercise Physiology
Practical Areas
Physical Education Teacher & Coaching Pedagogy
Placement
Creativity & Innovation in Physical Education
Sport and Physical Activity

Electives:

Arts subject continued from First Year.

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 Modules:
Core:

Skill Acquisition & Analysis
Sports Medicine
Curriculum & Assessment
Placement; Research Methods
Policy and Practice in Physical Education
Disability: Pedagogical Approaches to Physical Education

Electives:

Coaching Science

or

Health

Students will also 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 Modules:
Core:

Philosophy & History of Education
Professional Issues in Education
Approaches to Teaching & Assessment in Physical Education
Research Project; Placements
Historical & Philosophical Aspects of Physical Education
Electives:

Coaching Science

or

Health

and one from the following

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 four will comprise of school placement for the student, specifically teaching physical education and the selected specialist Arts subject for an entire school year (mornings only: 9am to 1.15pm approximately). Students will then return to university for lectures, practicals and workshops in the afternoons.

Prospective students can search the College Calendar for detailed information on the programme, and the Book of Modules for more precise individual module specifics.

Course Practicalities
As part of the BEDSSPE degree’s semesterisation format, some written exams will take place before Christmas (semester one), and in May (semester two). Not all modules will have formal written summative type examinations. Many modules use continuous and formative types of assessment, including in-class tests, oral presentations, end-of-semester assessments, digital portfolios, online learning tasks, reflections and micro-teaching/micro-coaching etc. You will develop invaluable transferable skills of independent, critical thinking by completing these wide-ranging assessments.

Expand+Skills and Careers Information
The graduates from the BEDSSPE degree 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 ...

Hide-Skills and Careers Information
The graduates from the BEDSSPE degree 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.