I'm an American with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts. How do I become a University Teacher in Ireland?

Question

I'm looking for requirments of education, if my degree counts towards education or if I would have to start from square one, and how and if a foriegner would even be able to become a University Teacher.

Answer 1

Foreigners can definitely become university teachers (Lecturers). I only know the UK well (worth saying as I don't know if you mean Eire or Northern Ireland) but I have friends from universities in Eire and it appears to be the same.

In the UK you don't need to have a PGCE for teaching at universities, just for teaching in schools. Most lecturers have a PhD in the subject that they teach so that they know the advanced knowledge and skills of their subject. However, some don't, particularly in practical subjects, where lots of experience working in the subject out in the real world gives you that expertise instead. So if you were wanting to teach Fine Arts at university you would need a PhD in Fine Art or a good reputation as a fine artist. Often people get some teaching experience when they are doing their PhD, or by using their good reputation and experience to find some part-time teaching (usually where you help the main lecturer with practical sessions). This experience then helps you to get a full-time lecturing post

There is now a trend for university lecturers to do a qualification in Higher education teaching, but this usually is done when you actually start as a lecturer.

You might follow a different route though if you are looking to teach English to international students, or something like that. It depends which bit of university teaching you are aiming for...

Answer 2

You nedd a PGCE to teach in the UK..and to teach at a Uni, you need at leaster a Masters Degree also.

Answer 3

Graduates have a Bachelors as their primary degree, but their teachers/professors have PhD.   But you might be well equipped to work in other areas  -  antiques, furniture, art  etc.

To know if your degree counts towards further education, you'd best email individual universities for clarification.

Answer 4

Kamma has her information wrong about PGCE in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish is called Higher Diploma in Education to teach. Commonly knowing in Ireland as Hdip for short. You need a masters degree to teach at University or a Phd.

The reason foreigners can't teach in Ireland is because you have to have the Irish language. Irish teacher can teach in UK schools etc. But the other way round they can't teach here like I have mention above they don't have the Irish language.

Irish is compulsory in schools

Northern Ireland follows the UK system. The Republic of Ireland has there own system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_Cer...