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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose NUI Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at NUI Galway is all about here.
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About NUI Galway
About NUI Galway
Since 1845, NUI Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
NUI Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at NUI Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at NUI Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
There are over 90,000 NUI Galway graduates Worldwide, connect with us and tap into the online community.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At NUI Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Training & Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)
Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive grounding in the knowledge and skills required to develop professional competence in training delivery and related activities.
Students may take year 1 of this course as the first year in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Training and Education, or as a stand-alone course for which a Certificate in Training and Education will be awarded. At the end of year 2, a Diploma in Training and Education will be awarded. On completion of year 4, a Degree in Training and Education will be awarded. Participants must successfully complete all course requirements before proceeding to the next year of the Bachelor of Arts course.
In Year 1 the course focuses on basic trainer skills, adult learning theories, and individual and group management techniques. In Year 2 it focuses on curriculum design, course delivery methods, assessment of learning, and management of training and education. Years 3 and 4 will extend your knowledge and skills development to encompass human resource development, project and change management, quality assurance, coaching techniques, online learning, lifelong learning issues, community issues, the sociology of education, and critical thinking. You will also learn and apply research skills in the completion of work-based projects.
Applications and Selections
Online Applications open on March 1st, 2021
Please visit our How to Apply page for Application tips and Supporting Documents information.
A limited number of applications may be accepted after the official application closing date, subject to the availability of places.
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Each course comprises a number of modules. Course assessment generally takes the form of continuous assessment. Continuous assessment methods include written assignments, practical assignments, online activities, learning portfolios, group projects and work-based research projects.
Workshops will take place in NUI Galway and subject to numbers, at one other national location.
Notice: with the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus, we have decided to move classroom-based courses and blended learning seminars to a fully online teaching mode for the academic year 2020/21. The teaching schedule for the 2021/22 academic year will be reviewed over the coming months in line with government restrictions and social distancing guidelines. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of students & staff and our desire to continue to provide upskilling and professional development opportunities for all. If you have any queries regarding the format of online delivery mode, please contact your course administrator for further details.Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Applicants typically have appropriate experience in a training or educational organisation and are in a position to undertake assignments and end of year projects relating to practical aspects of training or education.
Entry requirements for part-time students can be found in our FAQs section (i.e. age, english language requirements etc.).
Additional Requirements
Duration
Certificate: 1 year, Diploma: 2 years, Degree: 4 years
Next start date
September
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
30
Closing Date
TBC
NFQ level
Certificate/Diploma: Level 7, Degree: Level 8
Mode of study
Blended learning
ECTS weighting
Certificate: 45 ECTS, Diploma: 90 ECTS, Degree: 180 ECTS
Award
Certificate in Training and Education
Diploma in Arts (Training and Education)
Bachelor of Arts (Training and Education)
CAO
Course code
Course Outline
Year 1: Introduction to Learning, Essential Trainer Skills, The Individual Learner, Learning in Groups, The Learning Process, Online Teaching and Learning Essentials.
Year 2: Management of Training and Education, Course Design, Course Delivery, Assessment of Learning, Introduction to Research in the Social Sciences, Work-based Project.
Year 3: Organisational Management: Human Resources, Social Science: Research Methods, Project Planning, Management and Evaluation, Lifelong Learning: Contemporary Policy and Practice, The Virtual Learning Environment, Coaching for Improved Performance, Quality Assurance: Monitoring, Evaluation Assessment, Work-based Project.
Year 4: Critical Thinking, Management of Innovation, The Political and Social Context of Education, Research Project.
NB: Modules of equivalent status may be offered on each year of the course.
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 (45 Credits)
Required TE1370: Essential Trainer Skills - 10 Credits - Semester 1Required TE1102: Introduction to Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required TE164: Learning in Groups - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required TE165: The Individual Learner - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required TE173: The Learning Process - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required TE305: Online Teaching and Learning Essentials - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional TE1101: Skills for Professional Development - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional TE168: The Assessment of Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Year 2 (45 Credits)
Required TE1660: Management of Training & Education - 10 Credits - Semester 3Required TE168: The Assessment of Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required TE191: Introduction to Research in the Social Sciences - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional TE166: Management of Training & Education - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional TE156: Understanding Communities - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional TE1102: Introduction to Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required TE201: Work-based Project Year 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Required TE139: Course Design - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Required TE140: Course Delivery - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (45 Credits)
Optional TE156: Understanding Communities - 5 Credits - Semester 5Optional TE1750: Project Planning, Management & Evaluation - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required TE192: Social Science: Research Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required TE170: The Virtual Learning Environment - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Required TE153: Critical Thinking - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Required TE193: Lifelong Learning: Contemporary Policy and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required TE301: Work-based Project Year 3 - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional TE175: Project Planning, Management & Evaluation - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional TE1740: Organisation Management: Human Resources - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional TE190: Coaching for Improved Performance - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional TE123: Quality Assurance: Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Year 4 (45 Credits)
Optional TE180: Management of Innovation - 10 Credits - Semester 7Optional TE123: Quality Assurance: Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Optional TE190: Coaching for Improved Performance - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Required TE1740: Organisation Management: Human Resources - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Required TE122: The Political & Social Context of Education - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Required TE401: Research Project Year 4 - 15 Credits - Semester 7
Optional TE153: Critical Thinking - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Further Education
On completion of the Degree in Training and Education, students may undertake the Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development or the Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education)
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
This course will provide you with a recognised training qualification that can lead to career opportunities in a wide range of areas such as:
- Further education and training sectors
- Voluntary and community-based training organisations
- Human resources and staff development areas of a wide range of organisations
- Private training providers
- Corporate training and professional development sectors
Who’s Suited to This Course
These courses are suitable to mature applicants from backgrounds such as:
- Vocational trainers;
- Solas instructors or people wishing to pursue a career as a trainer in Solas;
- Educational consultants;
- Human resource specialists;
- Those practising or planning a career as trainers in the educational, industrial, commercial, voluntary and community sectors.
Over the past number of years, students who have attended the programme have come from a wide range of areas including; Defence Forces, Solas, Gardaí, Customer Service, Childcare, Hairdressers, Carpenters, Security Specialists, Driving Instructors, Training Specialists, VECs, ITs, Outdoor Pursuits, Writers and Artists.
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
A fees scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment. Students must be registered as unemployed and in receipt of one of the following:
- Job-seekers Benefit
- Job-seekers Allowance
- One-parent family allowance
- Disability allowance
- Community Employment Scheme
- Carer’s Allowance
- Signing for social insurance contribution credits
Please download the 2020_21 Fees Scholarship Form for more information.
Find out More
Adult Training and Education Studies
Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development
NUI Galway
Nuns' Island, Galway
Tel: 353 91 494059/494055
Email: pauline.dillon@nuigalway.ie / trainingeducation@nuigalway.ie
What Our Students Say

Maria Nordwind | Graduate
During this course I gained a lot of confidence, especially when consulting with stakeholders on various matters from training needs analysis, development and deployment, delivery methods and learner feedback. The course made it easy to apply the knowledge to every day life and most importantly to my career at IBM.

Gerard O'Connor | Games Manager Leinster GAA
The theory of training has revolutionised my training methods and I now deliver in a more professional manner. The resource materials supplied are still a reference point for me and I use them continually in my work.

Geraldine Sidley | Graduate
Through this course I believe that I have developed key competencies that will be useful in my role as Employment Services Officer within the Department of Social Protection. The range of topics I studied has provided me with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the adult learning education sector and the labour market. The support I received from the staff was very helpful they were professional and always on hand to assist with any queries I had.