University College Cork

at-a-glance:

Named the “Irish University of the Year” on two separate occasions, UCC is an excellent gateway into the vibrant lifestyle of Cork and dynamic Irish culture. Known for the warm disposition of both its students and natives, Ireland’s top research university has much to offer students. Students will have the opportunity to relish in both the university’s artistic culture or experience it through Cork, proudly designated “European Capital of Culture” in 2005 in recognition for its strong tradition of music, art, and theater.

academics

UCC offers a number of academic programs, including eight early start fall semester programs, regular fall semester, spring semester, and full academic year.  Some courses are designed for full year study; however, most are available for one semester. The actual number of courses you take for a full course load varies, depending on the individual course weight. All of your work is assessed for final letter grades according to regular departmental standards, which include final examinations.

The university is a great place to study Irish culture, especially in the special Celtic civilization courses developed for visiting students during the fall pre-sessions. Early-start fall semester options include archaeology, literature in Ireland, history and modern Ireland, and Irish ecosystems. Full-year students can earn a certificate in Irish studies.The music department at UCC is world-renowned, and full-year students can earn a certificate in traditional Irish music. The mathematics department is also outstanding; in fact, UCC's first professor of mathematics was George Boole, who developed the algebra that makes computer programming possible.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

University College Cork

Butler Institute for Study Abroad

student life

University College Cork offers the best of traditional scholarship and cutting-edge technology in a beautiful, friendly city. Students may join one of the more than 100 clubs and societies on campus to get a feel for the social life on this campus of 12,000.

Music is a big part of the life of the university, so students will have access to the Irish Traditional Music Society, the UCC choir, orchestra, or choral society, or just enjoy the lunchtime and evening concerts.

housing

Students will live in modern student flats in Cork with shared bathroom, cooking, and living facilities. Since the city spans the River Lee, they will cross bridges to arrive at the beautiful wooded campus, which boasts restaurants, banks, bars, a sports complex, and outdoor playing fields.

location

Cork City and County Cork are ideal places to study Irish civilization. In addition to its rich archaeological and cultural heritage, a small area of west County Cork is home to those who still speak the Irish language. More extensive communities of Irish speakers are in County Kerry just west of County Cork.

Located about 160 miles southwest of Dublin, Cork’s population of 200,000 makes it the second largest city in the republic. The people in Cork are friendly, talkative, and incredibly welcoming. Their warmth and wit is not surprising, since the legendary Blarney Castle and the “stone of eloquence” are just five miles outside of the city.

Among the city’s many cultural features are an art gallery with public painting and sculpture galleries, an opera house, three theaters, and a city museum in the garden of Fitzgerald Park. Music is a fundamental part of the city’s culture, with international jazz and choral festivals taking place every year.

  

The surrounding countryside is varied and beautiful, with mountains, hills, and river valleys to the north and east and the breathtaking Lakes of Killarney to the west. County Cork is lush and green, benefiting from the Gulf Stream and mild winds. In your free time, consider hiking in nearby County Kerry or taking a ferry from Cork Harbor to mainland Europe. 

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

University College Cork Application