General Information for Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) - PGDE

General Statement

Applications for admission to the courses in Autumn 2011 will be processed in accordance with the regulations, procedures and timetable described in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre's Website. No applicant should attempt to complete the Form without first reading these Instructions.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre is agent for and acts on behalf of the universities participating in the Application System. The application regulations, procedures and timetable are agreed annually by these universities. The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre has no discretion to set them aside so as either to afford special treatment to any applicant over another or to deprive any applicant of his/her entitlement in favour of another.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre is purely an administrative facility and does not endorse or recommend any one of the 5 courses listed herein. It is the responsibility of each applicant to determine the status and the suitability of any course chosen.

Instructions for Applicants

University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork

University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin

National University of Ireland, Galway

National University of Ireland, Maynooth

Applicants for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education beginning in Autumn 2011 at any one or more of the above-named Universities are required to complete a single common application form. Preferences must be expressed if applying to more than one programme. The online form must be completed and any additional information received not later than 01 December 2010 at Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway. If you submit a late online application, then you must use the same method of payment and the completed online application must arrive not later than 09 January 2011. The Application Fee for a Late Application is €120. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of information supplied in the Form together with accompanying documentation.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to supply complete and accurate information.

Each offer of a place in a Postgraduate Diploma in Education course will be PROVISIONAL pending verification of information supplied by the applicant and fulfilment of other offer conditions. In all cases, successful completion of an eligible primary degree course (see here) is an essential prerequisite for entry to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

If information supplied is found to be false the absolute right is reserved to cancel the offer and the university will NOT accept any responsibility for arrangements, commitments or liabilities undertaken by the applicant on foot of the offer.

Applicants are asked not to approach schools seeking teaching practice until they have received an offer of a place on a Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme.

Important Dates/Notes to Remember

1. 01 December 2010 - Closing date for receipt of completed applications. The Application Fee is €80. Late applications will be received up to and including 09 January 2011 for a fee of €120. ALL Application Fees are non-refundable.
2. The PDEAC does NOT have a Change of Mind facility. However, in certain special circumstances, the PDEAC may allow an exception to be made. All such special cases should present documentary evidence, outlining why a change of mind should be granted. This must be done on or before 16 March 2011 at the latest.
3. Applications for recognition of degrees for teacher registration purposes must arrive with the Teaching Council by 09 January 2011. This covers both Standard (01 December 2010) and Late (09 January 2011) Applications. Please refer here for details.
4. 01 February 2011 – Application Records available to view online.
5. First Round Provisional Offers to be issued online on or after 01 April 2011.
   (The offer acceptance fee is non-transferrable and non-refundable).
6. Second Round Provisional Offers (if any), to be issued issued online by the end of May 2011.
7. It is important to note that ALL those wishing to accept an offer of a place will have to pay a deposit of €260 regardless of whether they are entitled to a grant or not. This money will be credited to their fees account in the relevant university if they register in that college in Autumn of 2011. It is important to note that the €260 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre (PDEAC) will continue to issue Provisional Offers to successful applicants until all places are filled.

Admission Timetable

Following application, you must submit supporting documentation.
Undergraduate (Final Year) Applicants are required to give the results in an overall percentage mark. An original copy or a certified photocopy of the Statement of Results obtained on the completion of the most recent academic year (not ERASMUS or equivalent) should be posted to PDEAC.
Graduate Applicants are required to give the results in an overall percentage mark. An original copy or a certified photocopy of the Statement of Results obtained on the completion of the degree examination should be posted to PDEAC.
Please ensure the information is clear and accurate. Results being submitted for assessment purposes must be in percentage (%) or GPA format only.
Applications are assessed during the period 15 January to 01 April 2011 and will be placed in order of merit. Please note that the position of a course in your order of preference will have no bearing on your place in the order of merit for that course.

Following assessment, places will be allocated as soon as possible after 01 April 2011. You will be offered a place in the highest of your preferences which your position in order of merit warrants (if any).

IMPORTANT: When an applicant has been offered a place in one of his/her course preferences, he/she is excluded from further consideration for any course which is lower in his/her order of preference than the one in which he/she has been offered a place. This means that while an applicant may subsequently move upwards in his/her order of preference (if places become available) he/she will not be considered for a place in a course which is a lower preference than that already offered. An applicant who is being offered a place in a course, which is not his/her first preference, may subsequently be offered a place in a course of higher preference if such a place becomes available. This applies whether or not the earlier offer has been accepted by the applicant. It is NOT necessary to accept an offer in order to be considered for a higher preference if it becomes available later. There is no guarantee, of course, that a higher preference will become available.

Random Selection will be used where it is necessary to distinguish between applicants with equal points.

Having accepted an offer of a place, an applicant is not obliged to accept a subsequent offer. He/she may retain the original offer simply by ignoring the subsequent one.

Those who are offered a place will also be given advice on further procedures, including registration and the requirement to make their own arrangements for teaching practice.

Those who wish to accept offered places will be asked to reply within a specified period.

If vacancies remain after the First Round of offers of places, further offers will be made to fill them. Such additional offers will be made online by the last week in May.

Independent Appeals Committee

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre has an Independent Appeals Committee to which recourse may be had by applicants who believe that they have been treated unfairly and whose complaints have not been resolved by the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre. Appeals must be submitted within 14 days of receipt of notification at the offer stage and should be addressed to: The Secretary, Postgraduate Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre Appeals Committee, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway. They should be made in writing, accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation and they should be signed by the appellant. An appeals fee of €64 is applicable, refundable ONLY if the appeal is successful.

Deferred Entry

The four universities participating in the scheme for processing Postgraduate Diploma in Education applications wish to advise applicants that they will not grant a deferral to any applicant under any circumstances.

Applicant's Undertaking

Applicants should be very clearly aware that, in completing the Form, they accept all the directions and conditions set out in it and on the website.

Defective Information: WARNING

The institutions participating in the System reserve the right not to consider applications, and to cancel any offers of places, in cases where requested information has not been supplied or where falsified or misleading information has been supplied.

No responsibility will be accepted for any loss or hardship arising from failure to supply correct and complete information at the appropriate time.

Completeness

All supporting documents for your application must be submitted together in one envelope with your application number clearly marked on them; supporting application documents sent piecemeal will be returned to the sender and no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage of same.

Application/Documentation Dates and Fees