Overview
The programme is free to eligible post-primary teachers and is fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills as part of the national strategy to support the implementation of STEM education and improve standards in physics education in post-primary schools by increasing the numbers of qualified teachers of physics.
The programme will ensure that successful candidates:
- Acquire the theoretical and experimental knowledge of physics as well as pedagogical content knowledge that is necessary for effective physics teaching at post-primary level;
- Demonstrate an ability to connect physics content modules and the school physics curriculum;
- Develop a high standard of practical competence in physics teaching as reflective practitioners during their programme of study.
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Careers & Further Options
Careers
Graduates will be qualified to teach post-primary physics at the highest level.
Entry Requirements
For admission to the Professional Diploma in Teaching Physics programme, successful applicants must have:
- An honours undergraduate degree at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or equivalent.
- Minimum H4 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics (or equivalent) OR 5 ECTS credits in mathematics at NFQ level 6 or above, if not already demonstrated at at NFQ level 8 or equivalent / greater.
- Full current registration as a post-primary teacher with the Teaching Council for Education Sector = Route 2 Post Primary.
- A completed self-declaration form
Programme Structure
The Professional Diploma in Teaching Physics (PDITP) programme is delivered by Dublin City University in collaboration with the University of Limerick & University of Galway. This programme will be offered on a part-time basis and will deliver 75 ECTS of programme modules over two academic years, commencing in January. All modules will be assessment on the basis on 100% continuous assessment. The programme will align to the DCU academic calendar.
Online Modules:
- Physics modules – timetabled on Mondays 6pm-8pm and Wednesdays 6pm-8pm during semester one and two.
Students will complete 10 Physics lecture-based modules (10 x 5 ECTS) which consist of 24 hours of lectures (asynchronous) and 24 hours of tutorials (synchronous) for each module.
- Year 1 Spring Semester Module topics: Mechanics, Waves/Light/Modern Physics & Thermal Physics.
- Year 1 Autumn Semester Module topics: Electricity, Modern Physics.
- Year 2 Spring Semester Module topics: Environmental Physics, Semiconductor Devices & Life, the Universe and everything.
- Year 2 Autumn Semester Module topics: Electricity and Magnetism, Optics.
- Physics Pedagogy modules – timetabled as summer schools which will be facilitated online workshops over two weeks in June 2025.
Students will complete 15 ECTS credits of physics pedagogy modules. These modules will require participation in two weeks of summer schools in June 2025 and coursework to be submitted by mid July 2025. Teachers will be supported to carry out an inquiry on their own practice throughout Year 2 and attend online workshops held throughout year 2.
Dates for Physics Pedagogy Summer Schools in June 2025 are:
- PHY1011: 4-day Summer School: 9-12 June 2025 (9:30am - 4:00pm daily)
- PHY1066: 5-day Summer School: 16-20 June 2025 (9:30am - 4:00pm daily)
On campus Modules:
Students will also complete 10 ECTS of experimental-based modules over the two years. Laboratory investigations will be facilitated on campus in Dublin, Limerick, Galway for three Saturdays (10am-5pm) during each academic term.
Fees and Funding
Fees
The programme is free to eligible post-primary teachers and is fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills as part of the national strategy to support the implementation of STEM education and improve standards in physics education in post-primary schools by increasing the numbers of qualified teachers of physics.
Upon acceptance of an offer participants pay a deposit of €250 to secure a place on the programme. This deposit will be refunded to those who complete the programme in full or to those who withdraw from the programme within the first two months.
How To Apply
To apply for this programme:
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application. You will find this programme listed as 'Undergraduate' within the Programme Group.
When applications open you will need to provide:
- Academic Transcripts, NFQ Level 8 or equivalent / greater, for each and every year of study. (These should demonstrate mathematics requirement if not demonstrated at Leaving Certificate level. Include English language translation, if applicable).
- Copy of passport.
- Leaving Certificate Results or equivalent if required should be uploaded alongside the Transcript of Results/Evidence of Primary Degree supplemental items field in the CRM Student Application Portal. This should indicate a minimum of H4 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics (or equivalent) for 5 ECTS credits in mathematics at NFQ Level 6 or above, if not already demonstrated at at NFQ level 8 or equivalent / greater.
- Proof of full current registration as a post-primary teacher with the Teaching Council for Education Sector = Route 2 Post Primary, dated within 2024. (To do this you need to logon to the Teaching Council Portal and download your current registration certificate.) Candidates who have conditional Teaching Council registration e.g. Droichead or pending completion of the History of Irish Education Module do not meet the programme requirements, and any offer made will be conditional pending receipt of proof of full registration no later than December 31st 2024.
- Please upload a completed Professional Diploma in Teaching Physics self-declaration form confirming that your existing qualifications are not sufficient to meet Teaching Council criteria for the purposes of teaching physics at post-primary level. Completed and signed Self Declaration Form
- If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.
Once your application form is complete please submit, you will then be prompted to upload supplementary documentation which you must do before your application can be reviewed.
- Please be aware that if you have uploaded supplementary documentation previously as part of an earlier application then it will be considered unless you choose to replace it with a more recent version via the application portal.
Application Deadlines
Offers to complete and eligible applications will be made on a first come first served basis until the programme reaches capacity. All required documentation must be submitted before the application can be reviewed.
- Closing date for applications is 27th January 2025. However as classes start on 20th January 2025, it is recommended to apply as early as possible.
- The programme will align to DCU academic calendar and commences on 20th January 2025.
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
Application Review Process
- Completed applications will be reviewed as received and offers will be issued up to the closing date or until the programme is at capacity.
- In line with the terms of the HEA funding, candidates who meet any of the following criteria will be prioritised for admission
- those undertaking the full award
- those teaching physics out of field
- unemployed teachers
- those not in full employment
- Candidates who do not meet the criteria above will be considered after the closing date if places are still available
- All candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application through the DCU applications system.
- Only completed application forms with all supporting documents received will be considered.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in January 2025.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice & Learning Skills Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.