Irish University Guide: University College Cork

Some 1,700 students from 75 countries studied in UCC during the 2003-04 academic year.
UCC attracts a high number of U.S. students who come to the university for a semester or full year under the study abroad program. U.S. students select UCC on the basis of its unique program offerings in a diverse range of disciplines, ranging from Archaeology to Zoology. UCC has attracted particular attention for its range of Early Start programs, which give students the opportunity to follow an intensive pre-session course during the month of September before joining their Irish counterparts in mainstream classes when the regular semester begins in early October. Seven separate programs are currently offered: Irish Archaeology, Irish Folklore and Ethnology, History and Modern Ireland, Literatures in Ireland, Musics in Ireland, Irish Ecosystems and Management and Marketing in the European Union. The Early Start is an ideal way of gaining an introduction to Irish Studies through a carefully guided approach to Ireland’s history, culture, civilization and environment.
An increasing number of U.S. students are now opting to pursue bachelor’s degree programs at UCC in one of the university’s eight faculties – Arts, Celtic Studies, Commerce, Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Law, Medicine, and Science. UCC offers 47 undergraduate degree programs. The university is keen to attract more American students into faculties, such as law, which offers a three-year undergraduate BCL degree. This degree is recognized in many jurisdictions and is a recognized qualifying degree for the New York Bar examinations. Many graduates of UCC’s Faculty of Law are currently pursuing successful legal careers in the U.S.
Demand on the part of U.S. students is also strong in the Faculty of Arts, where students can take either a three- or four-year degree in a wide range of subjects. While many of the U.S. students studying at UCC have Irish heritage, a growing number of students come to study at UCC for the intrinsic value of the student experience UCC.
Apart from the excellence of the academic programs, the vibrant social life at UCC is also attractive to U.S. students with over 80 clubs and societies on campus. Impressive sports facilities are a five-minute walk from the campus at the Mardyke arena and high-quality apartment-style accommodation is guaranteed for all U.S. students studying at the university.
Tracy Serge, a Yale University student who spent the 2002-03 academic year at UCC, praised both the university and the city of Cork.
“The quality of the courses at UCC is top-class. The instructors here are very approachable and I have taken classes that I wouldn’t have been able to take anywhere else,” she said. “Furthering the appeal of UCC is the city of Cork itself, which offers something for everyone, from ballet and theater to numerous pubs and nightclubs. But the city also has the feel of a small town, filled with friendly, welcoming people. Adding to Cork’s appeal, it is also a great location for traveling throughout Ireland as well as the rest of Europe.”