Direct Enrollment at University College Cork

Studying at UCC was the best experience of my life. Ireland is such an incredible country with amazing culture and a rich history. The campus is beautiful and Cork is a blast. I would absolutely do it again and I highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it. Anyone who studies at UCC will have their lives changed.

I can easily say the best semester I've had in college was when I attended UCC in the Fall of 2013. I miss it every single day. The classes, staff, campus, city (and country) are absolutely amazing. On a day to day basis, I would go to class, take solo trips around the city to make myself more familiar, and enjoy work outs at the Mardyke gym, which is absolutely beautiful. The Quad and main campus of UCC is in a prime location, just a short walk out of the city where there is access to anything you need from food to nightlife to transportation. Cork City is also full of traditional Irish customs, so it was great to be able to immerse myself in the culture. The Irish people are some of the most kind and talkative humans I have ever met, and they are more than willing to help out.

UCC is a fantastic university! Faculty and staff are very kind, supportive, and fun. Even after I returned to America I have been able to keep in touch with a few of my lecturers. Students are very kind and helpful as well. When I was alone at the Student Centre they would often sit with me and include me in conversation (this is a great way to make friends!).

The first two weeks at UCC were very well structured with the Failte Fest and Societies/Clubs Days. These events gave me the chance to meet Irish students and get a real feel for the campus. From there, I was able to pick the society I spent most of my time in and make so real, lasting friendships.

UCC is a great location to study at because it is a a major city in Ireland but also tucked away in the countryside so you get the best of both worlds. There is plenty to do in the surrounding areas, there are more transportation options, and you can easily enjoy the natural Irish countryside! Not to mention almost every person I met in Cork was incredibly kind and welcoming (so asking for directions was a great experience surprisingly!).

UCC is a great study abroad option. I took many classes that dove into Irish culture, history and politics. Ireland overall was the most beautiful country I have ever been too. I highly recommend UCC!

I attend Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City, and I chose to study in Cork after a friend of mine came back from UCC with rave reviews. I knew I wanted to study abroad in a small city after spending two and half years going to school in Manhattan, and I am so glad I did. While at times I was frustrated with the slow, Irish pace of things, that was a really important cultural learning experience for me. UCC is also a pretty diverse university, and in terms of student life there are always events on campus and the clubs & societies are super active. I joined the dance team, which was absolutely the highlight of my experience at UCC. I made amazing friends from Ireland, Brazil, France, Finland, and beyond. The Irish are exceedingly welcoming and friendly, and the Cork community was no exception. The pubs are great, the music is great, the shopping is great, IT'S ALL GREAT. Not to mention UCC's campus and the city of Cork in general are absolutely gorgeous.

The community culture of UCC was really lovely, the many student groups are super inclusive of visiting students and there's always a random film/show/event you feel welcome to attend, even if you're not a member of the society hosting it. I played with the Ultimate Frisbee teams, was part of a student book club, and spent a lot of time in the chaplaincy lounge--open to everyone, right on campus, and always a good group of students and sometimes professors having a lively chat about something. It was a really warm environment, and I made great Irish, American, and international friends there.

Spending a year abroad was wonderful, but my only regret is that I only spent one semester of it at UCC.
There was a very friendly orientation staff and I gained so many friends just from going around to different events, joining numerous clubs, and taking some time to hang out at the local grinds like the new bar and even the library. I always felt included, though after I made a few friends they were the ones I met up with the most anyway. I went to events such as the arts ball and participated in 'raise and give' week which were a blast, not to mention joining the volleyball team and the model united nations group for some differing stimulus here and there.

The teachers were also quite wonderful, not only for their naturally charming Irish jokes, but for the extent of confidence and sociability they had with their students. I had multiple who didn't mind grabbing tea together or who would ask about if anyone wanted to come out to a trad night. The only downside can be the walks between campus and your residence depending on your classes and where you end up living, but it becomes more manageable as you go on.

Most always locals are more than willing to tell you of good places to go for x, y, or z depending on your interests (they love to chat) and can point out tid bits they know about upcoming events. Overall, it was a warm, welcoming , and slightly sarcastic atmosphere that I came to love and call my home. If given the opportunity to go back, I would go in a heartbeat. :)

I studied at UCC in the Autumn of 2013. This was my first time to Ireland and I loved the atmosphere of the city of Cork and the students at the University as well. I lived in The Spires and was lucky enough to live with students from Italy, France, and Ireland. We were a very nice mix and learned a lot of customs from each other. I took courses in biology, public health, economics, Irish literature, and world religions. Throughout my experience I made lifelong friends and got to travel to a variety of countries throughout Europe. I would recommend a study experience at UCC for anyone because the Irish culture and education I learned are unparalleled!