University College Cork: What it's really like
Get to know this Irish university
Want to study in one of Ireland’s biggest cities, but with the support of a close-knit community? UCC could be for you…
University College Cork at a glance:
| Founded | 1845 |
| Locations | Cork, South West Ireland |
| Undergraduate course length | Three to four years |
| Courses | The university college offers a wide range of courses from architecture to music, and Hispanic studies to zoology. |
| Students | 24,000 |
| Great for | Students looking for a university that’s world-renowned for its sustainability efforts. |
| Not for | Students who want to live and study somewhere busy and bustling. |
Stephen, who works in University College Cork’s students’ union, tells us what it’s like to study there.
What is University College Cork?
University College Cork (UCC) was established in 1845 in Cork, in the South West of Ireland. There are around 24,000 students here. That includes about 4,000 international students representing 104 countries.
UCC was the first uni in the world to receive a Green Flag status in recognition of its focus on sustainability, for which it is ranked 7th in the world. Our Green Campus Committee includes students and staff to help us change habits on campus and work towards a more sustainable future.
It’s also the highest rated uni in Ireland for student experience and student campus, both of which UCC has upheld for three years.
Why apply to University College Cork?
A great reason to apply to UCC is that it’s one of the top third level institutions in Ireland for graduate employability. Over 90% of our graduates are in employment or further study, and over 90% of our degrees offer work placements, so you can even develop your workplace skills and connections whilst you study.
UCC also focuses on internationalisation which is really noticeable in our sustainability work. We rank 13th, 17th, and 24th global on different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And more recently, we’ve developed a single use plastic reduction policy. We believe your degree should be connected to global issues, and therefore we believe that a degree from UCC should take you anywhere.
Finally, our online course Nurturing Bright Futures helps students with the transition to uni. It includes podcasts, videos, and exercises to get you prepared, so you feel more relaxed and confident upon your arrival at UCC.
Who isn’t the right fit for University College Cork?
Cork perhaps doesn’t offer the ‘big city’ vibe which, say, a capital city might offer. So if you feel at home somewhere busy and bustling, Cork may not be for you. That said, UCC prides itself on making sure no one feels left behind. So regardless of your entry route or educational background, UCC aims to make you feel welcome and included.
Any application tips?
My top tip is to check out UCC’s application portal! It has all the information you’ll need, from FAQs to our list of programmes, and a form where you can ask someone at the uni for help if you can’t get your question answered.
What’s the location like?
UCC is based in Cork, which is the second biggest city in Ireland. It’s a metropolitan city, but is very walkable. There’s also a lot of history and heritage to learn about. You’ll find people from Cork love talking about Cork!
UCC is very much integrated into the community of Cork, which feels friendly and safe. It has an exciting nightlife, as well as cultural activities for students to enjoy in the daytime like museums, galleries, and markets.
Cork is also well-connected to some of the more rural towns across the county. So if you’d like to see the Wild Atlantic Way, go stargazing, or try sailing, you’ll have lots of opportunities to do so on your weekends.
What facilities does University College Cork have to offer?
UCC offers over 50 clubs for you to join including team sports and individual sports. Your clubs and gym membership is included in your fees. The gym has a climbing wall, courts, swimming pool, and running tracks.
There are over 150 student societies at UCC spanning academic, social, and cultural interests. There are also opportunities to work with charities and connect with employers, providing a space for students to meet like-minded individuals. This feeds into our graduate attributes program at UCC, which supports you to develop professionally as well as academically, so you feel ready for work after graduating.
If you need space to hang out in between lectures, the students’ union runs a common room. UCC’s library has the longest opening hours of any uni in the country, in addition to skills units to support students with things like essay writing.
Our academic facilities include labs and digital lecture rooms, so you can tune into lectures remotely. Some of our standout facilities include a dental school, VR lounge, and university hospital.
What is the accommodation like?
UCC offers four accommodation options for students. There’s UCC campus accommodation, which is a student complex based on campus near your lecture halls. Privately owned student apartment complexes, which are similar in style, are based locally. They offer more amenities, like cinema rooms and gyms, but are also more expensive.
Many students live in house shares, renting with other students privately. And the fourth option is what we call ‘digs’, or living with a family nearby in a spare room in their home.
Our accommodation and community life office supports students with making the right choice for them, whilst the students’ union helps with any tricky issues around things like paying deposits and knowing your rights as a tenant.
How does University College Cork meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?
To support students in financial need, our students’ union offers an emergency fund, food bank, creche subsidy scheme, and free contraception and period products. Our student budgetary advisor can tell you all the funds you could be eligible for.
Our Inclusive UCC Project is aimed at making both our physical and digital campus as accessible as possible. Recently, for example, we rolled out a new tool to make sure our educational resources meet the needs of all students.
The campus also has a calm zone, where autistic students might find respite from the noise and busy atmosphere of other parts of campus. We also offer student counselling and development services to support students in emotional need.
Want to explore more Irish universities? Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.