Inclusive & Special Education

This course is designed to develop the skills of special education teachers who work in primary, post-primary and special school or specialist unit settings, in all aspects of theory and practice related to teaching pupils with additional educational needs.

Primary and post-primary teachers from mainstream schools, special schools and other education providers in Ireland who are in a full-time, recognised LS/RT position are eligible to apply. Please note that there are two pathways for entry to this programme. Pathway One is for Department of Education funded applicants and Pathway Two is for Self-Financed applicants. Details of both pathways are outlined below. Pathway One: Department of Education Funded Applicants: Applications are now open for the September 2026 intake of the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education. Please see the Department of Education circular 0034/2025 which contains the application details and information on eligibility as well as the closing date. The circular is now available to download from the Department of Education's website and will be distributed to Schools and Teaching Unions. UCD has a limited number of Department of Education funded places on this programme annually where Department of Education funded substitution cover is provided for the eight-week block release time. Applicants for Department of Education funding must read this year’s Department of Education circular 0034/2025 prior to submitting the UCD Application Form. Prior to submitting the UCD Application Form please also ensure that your principal and your Board of Management Chairperson are familiar with the Department of Education circular governing these courses (especially in relation to eligibility). Pathway Two: Self-Financing Applicants: A number of places on the course are reserved for self-financing teachers. Applications will open for those who are self-financing (ie paying their own course fees and not being subsidised by the Department of Education) once all Department of Education funded places have been filled. These self-financing applicants can apply online via www.ucd.ie/apply when applications open. Fee information for self-financing students is available on our fees webpage. Applications for self financing applicants will remain open until all places have been filled, early application is advised. Please only apply to the course via www.ucd.ie/apply if you are a self-financing applicant. Department of Education funded applicants must follow the application instructions in the above paragraph. Students who obtain a 2.1 honours grade in the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education have the option to apply to the part-time one-year Masters in Inclusive Education which focuses on research skills. This pathway is only recommended for graduates of the Grad Dip ISE W424 who have completed the course in the last five years. Further queries on the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education and the Masters in Inclusive Education can be directed to educationenquiries@ucd.ie Full details on the programme can be found on the Graduate Admissions page. You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ For further details, view course webpage - link below