University College Cork

Sustainability

It has been more than ten years since UCC was granted the pioneering Green Flag Award, the first university in the world to do so. Established by the Foundation for Environmental Education, the award recognises sustainability and environmental issues, which the university continues to uphold. It is also ranked first in the world by Times Higher Education for responsible consumption and production, and the only Irish university to make the top 10 of the greenest universities in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Ranking).

The university achieves this by divesting completely from fossil fuel investments, hosting Ireland's only ''Farm to Fork'' food campaign and having a zero-plastic cafe on the campus. In recent years, UCC has cut its carbon footprint by over a third.

New learning centre

Recently, UCC opened a brand-new student services and learning centre. One of the university's oldest buildings on campus, it has been radically transformed into ''the Hub'', which sits at the heart of the campus. It is now a modern, state-of-the-art facility while still managing to conserve the heritage of its 170-year-old historic building.

Inside the hub, students will find study facilities, teaching and event spaces, along with a range of student services, such as student wellbeing, careers advice, accessibility support and the student support office. Many of the university's clubs and societies are also found in the Hub - with over 100 to choose from, students will find something which matches their interests.

Nurturing Bright Futures

The university has launched a new online course to help students make the transition to university. Entitled Nurturing Bright Futures, it hosts videos, articles as well as interactive worksheets and exercises. It is designed to help incoming students understand more about higher education and engage with UCC before classes begin.

The focus of UCC is to produce students who are world and work ready. Over 90 per cent of its programmes offer placements both internationally and nationally, equipping students with the best skills upon graduation.

Around 4,300 UCC students undertake a placement each year, with 38 different placement programmes across three colleges, including 360 unique employers nationally and internationally.

While at the university, students have access to helpful career services including Connect - an online system where vacancies are posted. There is also the UCC Works Award, a professional skills development programme which gives students extra skills through extra-curricular activities and experiences.

The university has strong links with industry too, including its international and award-winning Ignite start-up programme for recent graduates. The 12-month programme helps to make a student's business idea a success, giving them access to coaches, mentors and industry contacts.

Being based in Ireland is also excellent for career prospects. Being an alumni of UCC gives students an excellent advantage. Over 90 per cent of graduates consistently enter employment or continue to further study from UCC.

Ireland is ranked first across Europe for employer attitude, while international students can secure a post-degree working visa. The visa allows them to remain and work in Ireland for up to 12 months following graduation.

Many of the world's leading companies, such as Apple, Pfizer and Dell have offices in Ireland, making it a truly global and exciting workplace.

Ranked in the top two per cent of institutions worldwide (Sunday Times), UCC provides quality teaching and is committed to providing the best possible learning experience. Its reputation is maintained through its huge variety of taught courses across different subject areas. It is also supported by a commitment to world-leading research.

Teaching and research excellent are not tackled separately by UCC, with a connected curriculum approach. This gives students the opportunity to learn in a unique way by working with leading academic experts and professional researchers.

Researchers at the university have collaborated with 309 different industry partners in the last five years, so students can also be sure that academics at UCC have the latest industry and professional knowledge to underpin their work. Nine UCC researchers were ranked in the top 1 per cent of their field (Clarivate / Web of Science 2019).

In 2019, UCC received EUR 483,000 in funding for teaching and learning enhancement initiatives. As part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, UCC fosters a Learning Neighbourhood Programme to provide community-based learning support and build a culture of lifelong learning.

Specific entry requirements differ depending on the specific course applied for.

International applicants will be required to have qualifications which are equivalent to the Irish Learning Certificate. Applications will be made on a case-by-case basis, with minimum requirements visible by checking the course outline by subject / course. Several courses also have special additional requirements which will need to be taken into consideration too.

For international students whose first language is not English, proficiency will also need to be demonstrated. Tests such as the IELTS, TOEFL and Pearson PTE are accepted, and need to have been completed within three years prior to the commencement of study. A school leaving or matriculation examination may also be used to show English language proficiency.

Students at UCC have access to a variety of support services. UCC prides itself on providing personalized support which helps students feel at home while living and studying in Cork.

The university was the first in Ireland to appoint a first year experience coordinator to ensure the successful transition and progression of first year students. If students are finding settling into university life difficult, or there are any unforeseen problems, the coordinator is there to offer advice and support. They also offer career guidance and life coaching to help students achieve their academic and personal career goals.

International students also have a dedicated support service. Students are supported right from pre-departure, with advice available on a range of matters including immigration and how to open a bank account, all the way through to graduation.

All students are invited to take part in orientation when they arrive. Here they can learn about all the student services and meet peer student leaders who can answer questions about life on campus. This orientation event will take place immediately prior to the start of term.

Additionally, the Welcome Programme is organised by the international office for newly-arrived international students. It includes familiarisation with the campus, walking tours of the city, day trips, Irish music and Irish dancing.

Other student support facilities at UCC include a skills centre, student counselling and development, as well as student health and wellbeing.

International students at UCC can access several different avenues of funding and scholarships. Each year, the university offers more than 1,000 bursaries and scholarships.

International applicants can receive funding from several areas, including:

• Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
• Local Authority Grant (LAG)
• Student Assistance Fund (SAF)
• Scholarships for UCC students

The various scholarships and funding opportunities are made possible by the university's partnerships and can be secured in several different ways. This includes sporting achievements and academic performance to assist students who have specific financial difficulties that might prevent them from accessing a course.

The university has a dedicated international scholarship list, which includes the qualification criteria and amounts. Many scholarships also have automatic application, so students are automatically considered for them, while others need to be actively applied for.

A full list of all available scholarships is on the UCC website, which provides the latest information on who can apply for each one, as well as subject-specific grants.