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Early Childhood Education - Grangegorman

Higher Education CAO
TU995

The early years are well recognised by legislators, policymakers, educationalists and researchers as a critical period in children’s learning and development. The ECE professional needs to understand many facets of the child’s learning and development and the role of early education and care in promoting the best outcomes for children.

Award Name Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body Technological University Dublin
NFQ Level Level 8 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) Major Technological University Dublin Level 8 NFQ
Location:
Grangegorman
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BA (Hons)
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 310
2022 340
2021 378
2020 367

Duration

4 Years.

Specific Subjects or course requirements

Irish Leaving Certificate

Minimum No of Subjects: 6
Higher: 2 H5's

Minimum Grade in:
Maths: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7

Students must undergo Garda Vetting

Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

Entry/Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for consideration for a course an applicant must possess the minimum entry requirements for that course. Entry requirements are outlined above.

CAO offers are determined on the basis of examination score except in the case of courses which involve suitability tests, interviews and other assessment procedures. All suitability tests/interviews/auditions/portfolio reviews etc will generally be carried out during the period March - May each year.

Where a specific grade is required in a subject (H4, O3 etc) an applicant must achieve that grade or better in order to be eligible for consideration (H = Higher Level; O = Ordinary Level). Where a requirement is 2 or 3 honours, grade H5 or better on Higher Level
Leaving Certificate papers is needed to meet such a requirement.

In the case of both Higher and Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate results, grades lower than H7 (Higher) or 06 (Ordinary) are not acceptable for eligibility purposes or for points calculation.

For the purpose of meeting minimum entry requirements, results from any number of sittings of the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination may be combined.

An applicant’s examination score will be calculated by adding together the points scored in the best six subjects in a single sitting of the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination.

Matriculation Examinations will not be accepted either for the purpose of meeting minimum entry requirements or for calculating examination scores.

Demand usually exceeds the number of places available and therefore examination results better than the minimum entry requirement are likely to be required.

When a number of applicants have the same points score, a random number is attached to the score for each course preference. This will then determine the position of each applicant on the waiting lists for offers.

Bonus Points Maths (Irish Leaving Certificate)
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for Higher Level Mathematics for H6 grades and above. Bonus points are only counted where that subject is scored as one of the applicant’s best six subjects for points purposes.

Foundation Level Mathematics
We accept Foundation Level Mathematics for the purposes of entry requirements the case of any course where Higher or Ordinary Level Mathematics is not a requirement. Please check above to ensure you are aware of the individual math requirement.

Points are awarded as follows:
F1 = 20 points
F2 = 12 points

Foundation Level Irish
For the most part the University will not consider Foundation Level Irish for the purposes of entry requirements or for points, however a grade F3 in Foundation level Irish is acceptable for meeting the minimum entry requirements for some Higher Certificate courses. Students with an F3 in Foundation level Irish must have passed five other subjects with a minimum grade of O6 including Math, students should check on individual course pages to determine if their foundation Irish grade is sufficient.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP

The University recognises the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) for admission purposes and results in the Link Modules element of the programme will be considered as follows:

Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points

The Link Modules can be used as one of the six subjects for overall points calculation and may also be considered as a subject for the purposes of minimum entry requirements, dependent on the programme for which you are applying.

Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP

The Leaving Cert Applied Programme will not meet minimum entry requirements and will not be awarded points.

QQI FET Applicants General Information

We welcome applications from students presenting QQI (formerly known as FET/FETAC) Level 5/6 awards. Over 500 first-year places are available, for QQI FET Applicants, on our Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree and most Honours Degree courses.

How to Apply
You must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
In order to apply, you must have obtained a full major award. A Component Certificate (minor award) is not sufficient.
The best 8 modules of your award are used for ranking purposes.
In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390.
If you’ve accumulated your major award over more than one academic year, you’ll need to apply to the QQI for a major award.
If you present full QQI Level 5/6 awards, you won’t be required to meet minimum entry requirements based on Leaving Certificate results. The QQI Level 5/6 award is accepted in its own right.

QQI FET General Information Link

QQI FET Entry Requirements

Careers / Further progression

What are my career opportunities?
Graduates work as practitioners and managers in early years settings such as crèches, day nurseries, preschools, after-school services, special education services, early-start classrooms and family centres, as well as in project development and management positions in the Health Service Executive, county childcare committees and public and voluntary organisations.

Childcare Management
Child & Family Support Worker ​
Working with children who have additional needs ​
Childcare Supervisor – Housing Association
Course Co-Ordinator – QQI Levels 5 & 6 Childcare ​
City/ County Childcare Committee ​
School Completion Officer
Tusla and Early Years inspector ​
Community Work
Research
Policy Development
NGO’s and statutory organisations

Course Web Page

Further information

Whatever your reason for coming back to education – to update your skills, gain a new qualification, achieve a personal goal or ambition, etc. TU Dublin welcomes applications from all mature students aged 23+.

It may be daunting but you’re not alone. TU Dublin has a range of supports in place to help you decide what course to take, get through the application process and get settled into college life.

For further information go to https://www.tudublin.ie/study/undergraduate/cao/entry-routes/mature-applicants/

EU Applicants
We welcome EU Applicants with high-school qualifications from a European Union or European Free Trade Association country.

A Level GCSE Applicants
We welcome students who have completed their GCSE or A Level exams.

TU Dublin Access Routes
We aim to ensure that students of all backgrounds and nationalities can find a pathway to higher education that suits their circumstances at different stages of their lives and careers. Please take some time to look at the various Access entry routes outlined below and feel free to contact us for further information. We are more than happy to give you advice on which entry route might be suitable for your individual needs and to support you in making your application.

For more information on these entry routes go to https://www.tudublin.ie/study/undergraduate/cao/entry-routes/

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Entry 2024

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 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 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 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. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.

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 and Maynooth University 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 five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 34 of the 2024 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 2024 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

Is Social Sciences & Education for you?
Society depends heavily on the professionals that support our social structures – whether that’s early childhood settings, community engagement, or caring for people who are unable to care for themselves. Social sciences and education in TU Dublin include such areas as social care, childhood care and education, community and youth development, special needs, criminology, psychology, sociology, and human development.

What is Early Childhood Education?
You may be in contact with food/food products during course placement. For further information please contact the School Office (contact details below)
Early Childhood Education (ECE) generally refers to education before the start of primary school attendance (0-6 years in Ireland). Services include pre-schools, Naíonraí, specific intervention centres such as community support preschools, Barnardo's childcare services, Focus Ireland support services, crèches, child-minding and after-school groups.

The early years are well recognised by legislators, policymakers, educationalists and researchers as a critical period in children’s learning and development.

The ECE professional needs to understand many facets of the child’s learning and development and the role of early education and care in promoting the best outcomes for children.

This course is approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (instituted to review Level 7 and Level 8 degree courses for the Early Learning and Care Sector) as meeting the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines standards.

Study Abroad Opportunities
You can apply to take part in an Erasmus exchange in the Year 2.

Work Placement
There is a work placement of 100 hours in Year 1, 300 hours in Year 2 and Year 3; and 100 hours in Year 4.

Year One
Psychology and Child Development
Principles of Pedagogy
Aistear and Early Years Curricula
Professional Practice in Early Childhood Education
Child Health & Nutrition
Introduction to Art in Early Education
Drama in Education
Supervised Practice Placement: Developing as an Early Childhood Educator
Understanding Social Policy
Skills Development

Year Two
Child Development in Context
Language, Literacy and Numeracy
Cultural and Linguistic diversity
Outdoor Learning
Inclusion in Early Years practice
Inclusion in Early Years practice 2
Drama, Music and Movements
Art in Early Education 2
Supervised Practice Placement: The skilled Early Years Educator
Supervised Practice Placement: The competent Early Years Educator
Sociological Foundations
Research Methods

Option: Study Abroad option for students going on Erasmus exchange programme in Semester 2.

Year Three
Mental Health during the Early Years
Perspectives on Early Childhood Education: Issues in Policy, Practice & Research
Working with Families and Communities
Child Safeguarding
Leadership and Mentoring Skills
Supervised Practice Placement: The Reflective Educator
Pedagogical and Practice documentation
Sociology of Education and Inequality
Law
Research Methods: Documenting Young Children’s Meanings

Year Four
Therapeutic Skills with Young Children and Families
Early Years and School-Age childcare – Pedagogy and Curriculum
Digital Childhoods
Children’s Rights and Advocacy in the Early Years sector
Business & Management Skills
Creativity in Early Childhood Education
Supervised Practice Placement 4
Research Methods
Dissertation

Contact Us
School of Social Sciences, Law and Education
socialsciences@tudublin.ie
+35312208477

Location:
Grangegorman
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BA (Hons)
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 310
2022 340
2021 378
2020 367