Bachelor of Technology (Education) in Materials and Engineering Technology

Key information
About the course
What you will study
Entry requirements
How to apply
Fees and funding
Your future career

Bachelor of Technology (Education) in Materials and Engineering Technology
NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree

Apply now for September

CAO points history:

367 †

Course code:

LM095

Duration:

4 Years

† Indicates that students admitted to the programme are required to undergo a Garda Vetting process.

Fees: See what fees may apply to students
Subject area: Education

Course leader:

Dr Jason Power

Email:

jason.power@ul.ie

Tel:

+35361233783

Admissions:
Tel: 00 353 61 202015
Queries: www.ul.ie/admissions-askus

Work experience Scholarships

Download our prospectus

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Why Study Technology and Education in Materials and Engineering Technology at UL?

UL's School of Education is the largest post-primary teacher education provider in the state and is ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Education programmes. University of Limerick is also ranked within the top 75 universities in Europe for excellence in teaching and learning.

This degree with specialism in the teaching of Metalwork and Technology, is designed to produce graduates with technological and engineering skills to satisfy the needs of the Irish second level school system in relation to teaching Metalwork, Technical Graphics and Technology at Junior Cycle, and the subjects Technology, Engineering and Design & Communication Graphics at Leaving Certificate.

This programme of study is unique to UL - the only degree course of its kind in Ireland
The School of Education at UL is one of the largest suppliers of teachers in Ireland - the reputation of our graduates and their tradition of success are well established in schools around Ireland
You can go straight into teaching after graduation, no further study at postgraduate level is required
In this program, you will develop a wide range of skills and knowledge that will prepare you to shape the next generation of engineers
You can avail of dedicated design and manufacturing facilities where you will develop your understanding of teaching in an applied environment, using mechanical design, manufacturing and robotics
In the ‘Sumo-bot’ module you will design, manufacture, and program a robot to battle other robots
A recent survey from the Higher Education Authority found that education graduates have the highest starting salary of any group of graduates

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Read about our students experiences

What you will study

The programme is four years in duration, and is organised into streams in the following subject areas:

Education
Manufacturing Technology
Technical Graphics
Design
Electronics and Information Technologies
Materials and Engineering Sciences

The material in each stream has been carefully selected to be relevant to the requirements of the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate syllabi in the Technology subjects. An element of design is incorporated throughout, with emphasis on design-based activities and independent learning as the course progresses. Pedagogy, the theory of teaching, is incorporated throughout the programme.

Year 1

The first year concentrates on developing essential knowledge and skills in the key areas of Education, Manufacturing Technology, and Technical Graphics, in addition to the related areas of Mathematics, Materials Science, Electrotechnology.

Year 1 modules

	Semester 1		Semester 2
PN4011	Design and Communication Graphics 1	PN4012	Design and Communication Graphics 2
PN4021	Process Technology 1	PN4002	Design and Technology 1
MA4701	Technological Maths 1	MT4002	Materials 1
ET4003	Electro Technology (Ed)	EN4022	Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning
EN4041	Contemporary Understandings and Thinking on Education	EN4032	Understanding Young People and how they Learn

Year 2

The start of year 2 sees preparation for Teaching Practice and introduces the concept of Design. Semester four features six weeks of Teaching Practice preceded by four weeks of preparation.

Year 2 modules

	Semester 3		Semester 4
PN4023	Design and Communication Graphics 3	PN4014	Preparation & Planning for Technology Teaching
EY4013	Subject Pedagogics 1 (LM095)	TP4024	School Placement
PN4033	Process Technology 2
EN4043	Understanding Classroom Practices
EN4033	Planning for Learning

Year 3

The areas of Materials Technology, Electronics, Automation as well as advanced topics in Manufacturing Technology and Technical Graphics are the focus of Year 3. There is a particular emphasis on design-based learning and problem solving as well as the management of these activities in schools. Education & Society is also explored.

Year 3 modules

	Semester 5		Semester 6
PN4025	Design and Communication Graphics 4	PN4036	Design and Communication Graphics 5
PN4035	Process Technology 3	EY4076	Subject Pedagogics 2 (LM095)
PN4045	Design and Technology 2	PN4056	Design and Technology 3
EN4015	Curriculum and Policy Studies	PH4032	Physics for General Science 2
EN4025	Inclusive Education 1: Contemporary Perspectives	EN4026	Inclusive Education 2: Special Educational Needs
			Optional
		GA4006	An Ghaeilge Ghairmiuil

Year 4

In the fourth year of the programme, you will further develop your teaching skills and apply your knowledge and skills in a final year project. Semester seven includes ten weeks of teaching practice. The final semester deals with advanced topics in education and technology. Your final year project will be completed during this semester also.

Year 4 modules

	Semester 7		Semester 8
TP4017	School Placement	PN4038	Design and Communication Graphics 6
		PN4048	Technology Teacher as Innovator
		PN4108	Manufacturing and Service Systems Design
		ET4006	Electro Technology (Ed)
		EN4008	Teacher as Professional

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Entry requirements

CAO points history	367
Minimum grades	Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
Subject requirements	In addition, applicants must hold an O3/H7 grade in Mathematics and an O4/H7 in at least one of the following: Applied Mathematics; Biology; Physics; Chemistry; Construction Studies; Computer Science; Engineering; Physics with Chemistry; Agricultural Science; Technology; Design & Communication Graphics /Technical Drawing.
Additional considerations	We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Application information for mature student applicants (PDF) QQI Pathways information available here. Note: the University’s Special Mathematics Examination is applicable to this programme.

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Fees & funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Centre Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
SUSI pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
Student pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays	Tuition Fees	€4,262
Student pays	Student contribution	€3,000
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€7,354

Non-EU Students

Student pays	Tuition Fees	€16,373
Student pays	Student Centre Levy	€92
		€16,465

Student course fees are comprised of three components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The curent student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Centre Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Centre Levy of €90. Please note the Student Centre Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
Course Requirements (all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for all courses

Title	Award	Scholarships available
Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme	Individual Award - a bursary to the value of €2000. Team Project Grant - €1750	1 of each
Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme
All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus	€6,750	125
Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants
Financial Aid Fund
Elaine Fagan Scholarship	€5,000	5
Stuart Mangan Scholarship
Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme	€750
The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship	Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value
Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship	€2,500
UL Sports Scholarships	Varies depending on level of Scholarship	Multiple
Cooperative Education Award		1 award per faculty
UL 40 Entrance Scholarship	€2,000	40

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Your future career

As a teaching degree, graduates of this programme are eligible for appointments to all second level schools (vocational, secondary, community and comprehensive schools) and for admission to the open register for Secondary Teachers. The graduates of the programme will be able to teach Engineering, Design and Communications Graphics & Technology.

Follow-On Study

Graduates from the programme have the opportunity to pursue further study in the disciplines of Engineering or Education. There are a number of taught masters degree programmes in UL that can be taken up by graduates of the programme. In addition, graduates can register for higher degrees by research in either engineering or education that lead to masters or PhD qualifications.

Want to find out more about possible careers with this degree? Click Here

Student Profile - Eoin Smyth

This course is very broad - in a single day, you could program a robot, learn a new method of teaching and design a new project. Material science is explored, electronic circuits are designed, detailed technical drawings are produced, and each opportunity adds to your development as a teacher. Having never studied technical graphics in school, I was able to develop my skills in this area while never feeling I was behind anyone of my colleagues.

The projects here are really interesting - I designed and made a robotic aluminium scorpion which I will program and control remotely either using a smartphone or a laptop - something I would only have dreamed of before entering the course. So far, I’ve been on two blocks of teaching practice. These classroom experiences give you the opportunity of dealing with new pupils and colleagues. I’ve realised that even as a teacher, you are constantly learning, as you deal with new situations every day.

Student Profile - Diarmuid McCarthy

Since I graduated from UL, I’ve been teaching at a post-primary school where my task was to introduce the new subject Technology at both Junior and Leaving Certificate.

Teaching Technology is most enjoyable as we cover the subject through a mix of theory and practical classes. The subject is taught to all pupils, so I have all 6 different year groups at various times during the week. Part of my job is to manage the material and component stocks that are involved in teaching this practical subject. This involves managing the budget and ordering from a range of suppliers to ensure best value can be obtained.

Our school encourages teachers to get involved in extra-curricular activities and I am involved with two GAA teams in the school. This often involves taking the pupils to matches. I really enjoy this and it is a great way of building up a rapport with the students. As the school teams train outside of school hours, teachers will remain back after school on certain evenings to put the students through their paces.

Diarmuid’s tip: Choose a career that will play to your strengths. Don’t settle for a career that you are not truly happy in; retirement will be a long time coming!

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Bachelor of Technology (Education) in Materials and Engineering Technology

† Indicates that students admitted to the programme are required to undergo a Garda Vetting process.