University College Cork

© 2005 Holly Glickman

Cork, the largest county in Ireland and Ireland's second largest city, was once the capital of the ancient province of Munster. The meaning of the name of this city - Cork; Corcaigh - "Marsh" can be considered apt for the fact that, as late as the beginning of the 18th century, Cork was intersected by muddy streams. On a small island in this marsh, St. Finbarr founded his monastery in the 7th century. The main streets (St. Patrick Street, Grand Parade and the South Mall) together with many other smaller streets, are actually constructed over broad and deep canals in which ships were loaded and unloaded in the 18th century. Like Venice, Cork is on the water with the City Centre on an island in the River Lee just upstream from the harbor, the second biggest harbour in the world (after Sydney). The two channels of the River Lee which embrace the City Centre are spanned by twenty public bridges, giving Cork a distinctive Continental air. However, it is often said of Cork that it has all the amenities of a large city while still retaining its pleasant atmosphere and extreme friendliness.

Founded in 1845, University College Cork is one of the oldest universities in Ireland. Occupying its historic site near the City Centre of Cork, the wooded ground of its campus form a splendid setting for its 19th century Gothic main building.

Academic Program 
Built around a beautiful stone-faced quadrangle, UCC has always maintained a tradition of academic excellence across a wide range of disciplines. It has established a reputation as one of the top institutions in Ireland for innovative research in the humanities, sciences, engineering, medicine and business. Students come to UCC from over 60 countries to pursue their studies in a stimulating academic environment and to be part of a vibrant community sharing a rich social life. The Irish educational system focuses more on independent research and generally has fewer opportunities for evaluation. Students are enrolled in courses with Irish students and can take courses in a variety of fields such as: archeology, art history, biology, business, history, Irish (Celtic language), literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology. Fall semester students must take 12 USD equivalent units in addition to participation in the Early Start Program, an introduction to Irish studies through a carefully guided approach to Ireland's history, culture, civilization and environment. Early Start Program courses range from: Irish Archaeology, Irish Folklore and Ethnology, History and Modern Ireland, Literatures in Ireland, Irish Ecosystems and Management and Marketing in the European Union. Spring semester students interested in Irish political affairs may choose to participate in the certificate program, "Political Issues in Ireland Today". The program consists of a combination of core and elective courses for a total of 18 units (30 UCC credit modules) in Irish government and political science and includes field trips to Belfast and Dublin.

Eligibility, Applications, and Deadlines 
To be considered for the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Selection for the program is based on a written application and a review of transcripts (to be submitted with the application form). Preliminary applications are available in Founders Hall, Room 106 or can be downloaded by clicking on "Applications/Forms" on the toolbar to the left. Deadlines for applications are generally in late September and late February for participation in the following semester.

Living Arrangements
Students are housed in University housing with Irish students or private residences throughout the city. Meals are the students' responsibility. An optional prepaid partial meal plan covers an average of three meals per week.

Expenses
Tuition for this program is the same as for full-time, on-campus attendance at USD and is paid directly to USD. Other program fees such as room and board are paid directly to UCC. Estimates for these program fees and personal expenses can be obtained from the Study Abroad Office located in Founders Hall, Room 106.

See Pre-Approved Cork Course Listing

How to Obtain USD Course Approval

Visit the UCC Web site

Visit the Webpage of the Irish Embassy in Washington DC for travel info

Contact University College Cork, Ireland
International Education Office
*011 353 21 490 2918

(*international call)