Bachelor in Science (Education Studies)
General Information
CAO Code
CM010
CAO points latest intake (most recent)
2025 CAO Points: 320
2024 CAO Points: 317
NFQ Level
Level 8
Awarding Body
Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin
ECTS
240 ECTS
Programme Duration
4 years' full time
Mode of Delivery
Classroom-based
Garda Vetting Required
Yes
Programme Placement Information
3 weeks in year 1, semester 2 (Adult Education Setting)
3 weeks in year 2, semester 2 (Adolescent Setting)
3 weeks in year 3, semester 2 (Early Childhood Setting)
8 week Internship in year 4, semester 2
Professional Accreditation
None
Next Start Date
September 2026
Eligible for Free Fees Initiative
No.
The Bachelor of Science courses are self-funded courses that do not qualify under the Free Fees Initiative. At time of publication, the 2025-26 tuition fee for these courses is €3000 per annum, payable by the student. This is different to the normal student contribution fee. Contact the Institute directly for details of fees for these courses in 2026-2026.
Students on the Bachelor of Science courses in receipt of fee-only SUSI grants (i.e. where no maintenance element is payable to the student) should be aware that SUSI will only contribute 50% of the tuition fees for those students and students must pay the balance. For the 2025-26 academic year this amounted to €1,500.
Currently, students in receipt of SUSI grants which include a maintenance payment to the student receive 100% of their tuition fees from SUSI.
Programme Overview
The BSc Education Studies course explores education as an academic field and examines how learning takes place across different stages of life and in a variety of settings. It focuses on understanding the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of education ensuring that students understand that education can encompass both the formal and informal sector. Throughout the course, students study how children, young people, and adults learn, while also examining the role education plays in society. Key areas of study include educational psychology, education policy, inclusion and special educational needs, intercultural education, and the use of technology in learning. The degree is clustered around four separate pillars which underpin its curriculum: Lifelong learning, policy and practice, education and culture and education and social justice.
A strong practical element is included in the programme through a series of work placements each year, where students gain experience working with different groups such as children, teenagers, and adult learners in community or educational organisations. In the final year, students complete a longer internship that allows them to apply their knowledge in a real educational setting.
Click here and listen to our 1st year students describe B.Sc Education Studies
What will I study?
Each year students study these such as equality, social justice, and access to education, encouraging students to think about how education systems operate. Each of these themes are shaped by the four pillars of the degree - lifelong learning, policy and practice, education and culture, education and social justice.
Year 1 - Semester 1
- Foundation Studies of Education (10 ECTS)
- Adult Education (5 ECTS)
- Transitioning to Higher Education (5 ECTS)
- Education & the Arts - Nurturing Creativity (5 ECTS)
- Communication for Education (5 ECTS)
Year 1 - Semester 2
- Introduction to Educational Psychology (10 ECTS)
- Educational Leadership: Underpinnings of Practice (5 ECTS)
- Special Educational Needs 1 (5 ECTS)
- Technology for Teaching & Learning 1 (5 ECTS)
- Work Placement 1 (5 ECTS)
Year 2 - Semester 1
- Special Educational Needs 2 (5 ECTS)
- Adolescence (5 ECTS)
- Intercultural Education (5 ECTS)
- Education & Culture - Literature (5 ECTS)
- Educational Leadership: Management, Purpose and Practice (5 ECTS)
- Education for Sustainable Development (5 ECTS)
Year 2 - Semester 2
- Contemporary Issues in Education, Politics and Society (10 ECTS)
- Programme Design & Development (10 ECTS)
- Development Education (5 ECTS)
- Work Placement 2 (5 ECTS)
Year 3 - Semester 1
- Education as Liberation or Oppression (10 ECTS)
- Childhood (5 ECTS)
- Assessment & Evaluation (5 ECTS)
- Educational Leadership: Learning, Development and Change (5 ECTS)
- Special Educational Needs 3 (5 ECTS)
Year 3 - Semester 2
- Understanding Irish Education Policy (10 ECTS)
- Education & Sports - Inclusion, Diversity and Diversion (5 ECTS)
- Evidence in Education (5 ECTS)
- Research Methods 1 (5 ECTS)
- Work Placement 3 (5 ECTS)
Year 4 - Semester 1
- Research Methods 2 (20 ECTS)
- Workplace Cultures and Competencies (5 ECTS)
- Professional Studies (5 ECTS)
Year 4 - Semester 2
- Internship (20 ECTS)
- Comparative Education (5 ECTS)
- Technology for Teaching and Learning 2 (5 ECTS)
- Dissertation
What are my career options?
The B.Sc. in Education Studies will empower students to follow their own career path in a variety of education environments. Equipped with versatile skills and competencies, graduates can embark on fulfilling careers in learning and development, community education, instructional design, advocacy, educational technology, international aid settings and project management.
What are my further study options upon completion of this programme?
The B.Sc. in Education Studies provides an excellent knowledge base for graduates who choose to advance to postgraduate study. Recent graduates have pursued further study in fields such as social care, speech and language therapy and psychology, while others have gone on to complete postgraduate initial teacher education programmes such as the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) or the Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education) in MIE and beyond.
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Minimum Entry Requirements
Irish Leaving Certificate Requirements
Number of Leaving Certificate Subjects
6
Minimum number of higher level subjects
2 (minimum grade H5)
Minimum grade in other subjects
H7/O6 in 4 other subjects
Minimum grade in Maths
H7/O6
Minimum grade in English
H7/O6
Minimum grade in Irish
N/A
Minimum grade in Other Language (can be Irish or another language)
H7/O6
Minimum CAO Points Requirement
315 points
QQI Requirements
Students with appropriate QQI (Level 5 and Level 6) qualifications, with a minimum of five distinctions, can be admitted on a competitive basis to this course.
The QQI awards accepted can be found here.
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants must apply through the CAO by 5pm on 1 February. A mature student must be 23 years of age or over on 1 January in the year of intended entry. The CAO online application facility for late applicants opens on 5 March at 12 noon and closes on 1 May at 5.15pm.
In mid-March, the MIE Admissions Office will email mature applicants and advise them to complete and return a 'Mature Student Supplementary Application Form'. The closing date will be 31 March. Applicants will be notified of interview dates and times by the end of May. Please note that any offer is typically subject to fulfilling the minimum entry requirements for CM010.
International Students
For information about eligibility for this programme please contact [email protected]. All applicants for our programmes must have a minimum English level. You will find more information about the English Language Requirements in the Study With Us section of the website under ‘How to Apply’.
You can find information about international institute fees and charges in the policies section of our website.
You can also find information on accommodation and student support services in the Student Life section of our website.
All MIE programmes follow the academic year, with all programmes starting in late August/early September.
