Program Description

UL's School of Education is the largest post-primary teacher education provider in the state and is ranked in the top 100 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. The aim of the programme is to educate teachers and equip them with the skills and aptitudes for a successful career as a languages teacher. Graduates from the programme will be qualified to teach their chosen languages at both Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate level. This programme will provide opportunities for school-leavers with proven ability and interest in languages to acquire a high level of cultural and communicative competence in two languages. The languages students can choose from are French, German, Irish, Japanese and Spanish. You will choose two of these.

The programme is four years in duration and includes a number of school-based teaching practice placements. These include a six-week placement in the spring semester of year two and a further ten week placement in autumn semester of year four. These placements are designed to provide you, the student teacher, with practice-based opportunities for professional development supported via the supervision of faculty members of the University. 

Prior to the completion of your teacher education studies you will need to provide verifiable evidence of an immersive educational experience in the curricular language of a minimum of four weeks duration. This may be accessed in two blocks, each of which must be at least two weeks. At least one of these blocks must be in a setting where the language is the vernacular language of the region/country. Students are responsible for securing and completing these immersive educational experiences themselves; students may apply for internal or external funding to support these immersion experiences. Please note that immersive educational experiences must be completed outside of the UL academic term time.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements for applicants from India:

Standard XII examinations of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Metro State Boards or Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), with first-division/class standing and a minimum average grade of 70%.  

• A language other than English and Mathematics must be taken as a subject up to Grade X.
• Where there is a specific subject requirement for a specific programme (e.g. Math, Physics, French, etc.), a minimum grade of 70% in that subject at Grade XII is required.

Entry Requirements for applicants from Saudi Arabia:

Foundation Entry- Undergraduate students need a Foundation Programme. Entry to the UL International Foundation Programme with CGPA of 80% or above in General Secondary Education Certificate including English, Mathematics and another language. An IELTS of 5.5 is also necessary depending on the Foundation Stream.  

IELTS Requirements

Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking	Overall
6	6	6	6	6.5

Remarks:

• Yearly tuition fee is given