Course Summary
The Graduate Diploma in Social, Personal and Health Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education SPHE/RSE, the first of its kind in an Irish context, is funded by the Department of Education (DE) under an initiative to provide pathways for progression for post-primary teachers and to build capacity and leadership within the teaching profession in relation to the teaching of SPHE/RSE.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
This programme is open to all serving teachers who are employed in a position funded by the DE and who teach, and will continue to teach, SPHE/RSE in recognised Post-Primary schools.
View the relevant DE Circular Eligibility Criteria - see https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/e4f70-nqf-level-9-graduate-diploma-in-social-personal-and-health-educationrelationships-and-sexuality-education-spherse-programme-2025/
Application Details
Applications for this programme will follow a two-stage process:
Stage 1. Pre-application
Pre-applications will open on the 28th of August 2025 and close on the 30th of September 2025. Applicants must complete the pre-application form here by 5pm on the closing date.
Pre-application Requirements: All Applicants must submit the following support documentation with their pre-application:
Teaching Council Registration Certificate
Signed Principal Declaration Form
Current CV
Stage 2. Formal Application via DCU Student Application Portal.
Applicants will receive an email from DCU with regard to the outcome of their pre-application by end of October / early November. Successful pre-applicants will then be invited to complete the formal application on DCU's Student Application Portal from the 6th of November to the 20th of November 2025. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your formal application. Please note that new applications will not be accepted at this stage.
Formal Application Requirements
All Applicants must submit the following support documentation with their formal application:
Certified academic transcripts for each and every year of study, with certified English translations if applicable
Copy of passport
Certified copy of parchment / degree certificate, with certified English translation if necessary
Non Native English Speakers - Additional
Evidence of English competency which meets DCU entry requirements - see https://www.dcu.ie/registry/english-language-requirements-non-native-speakers-english-registry
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email [email protected]
For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email [email protected]
Fees
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.