Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics and Education)

Expand all

Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics and Education) at University of Galway Studying Mathematics and Education

Entry Points (2024)

433

Course Overview

The BA in Mathematics and Education is a four-year, fulltime honours degree programme which incorporates a teacher training qualification and opportunities for practical teaching experience throughout the four years of its duration. Graduates of the programme will be qualified mathematicians and will be recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland as qualified postprimary teachers of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. The programme is jointly run by the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics and the School of Education of University of Galway. It has been created as a response to the growing need for excellent Mathematics teachers in Irish post-primary schools as well as a general need for qualified mathematicians.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, and another language, and two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. Additional requirements: Minimum H5 or 01 in Mathematics.

Additional Requirements

A H5 or O1 Grade in Mathematics is also a requirement. Students must satisfy Garda/Police vetting requirements.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades (2024)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

3 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY109

Course code

Course Outline

Year 1:

Philosophy and History of Irish Education
Principles of Second-Level Mathematics
Introduction to Educational Sciences
Preparing to Teach
Algebra and Analysis I and II
Skills of Mathematics
Introduction to Applied Mathematics I and II
Skills of Applied Mathematics

Year 2:

Curriculum and Assessment
Methodologies I and II
Practical Teaching Programme II (work placement component)
Mechanics I
Differential Forms
Statistics in Data Science I and II
Linear Algebra
Geometry

Year 3:

Practical Teaching Programme III (work placement component)
Research Dissertation Part 1
Psychology, Sociology and Catering for Diversity
Mathematical Modelling I and II
Groups
Discrete Mathematics
Complex Analysis
One Mathematics elective

Year 4:

Block Teaching Practice (work placement component)
Research Dissertation Part 2
Non Linear Systems
Mathematics electives
Mathematics electives may include: Numerical Analysis II; Modelling II; Cryptography; Topology; Functional Analysis; Applied Statistics II; Advanced Group Theory; Fields and Applications; Networks; Mathematical Molecular Biology II

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

Higher degrees at either the masters or doctorate level in maths or education.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates will have excellent opportunities to become Mathematics and Applied Mathematics teachers. But prospects are not limited to teaching. Mathematics graduates are in short supply and are regarded as being integral to Ireland’s economic recovery and development in future years. They have a wide range of career options, including IT, finance, actuarial work and academia. In addition, graduates will also have a wide range of educational careers open to them in the further and higher education sectors.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

The BA (Mathematics and Education) has links with teacher training institutions throughout Europe, and there may be opportunities for students of the programme to spend time studying abroad. For example, as part of their studies, students have in the past participated in a two-week Erasmus Intensive Programme at the University College of Teacher Education/Viktor Frankl Hochschule, in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,598 p.a. (€5,738 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€2,598 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€19,000 p.a. (€19,140 including levy). 2025/26

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy* €140. *Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees**.
**Excludes Full-Time EU Undergraduate fees. These are fixed and do not change.

Find out More

Sinéad Coyne, Administrative Assistant
School/College Name: School of Education
T: 353 (0)91 492 195
E: education@universityofgalway.ieURL for School/College webpage: School of Education - University of GalwayOther Useful Links: School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences - University of Galway

What Our Students Say

Nichola Leonard | Year Two, BA (Mathematics and Education)

At first I was a little apprehensive about taking this course especially when I learned that we would have to study applied maths, but surprisingly I actually enjoyed this element of the course along with the maths and education. The lecturers are very approachable and I would encourage anyone who is doing this course to ask questions if they are having difficulties.They will help you also to avail of the new support sums centre.