Program Reviews

Landing in a new country and completely alone was quite daunting, to say the least, but wow, it was Ireland! A beautiful and highly reputable country that carries a terrific presence in the world. I was ready to begin my journey. I will say, it was tough at first, adjusting to the culture, norms, and the overall isolation away from home. Though, as time crept by the city grew on me and the University was astounding. I decided to take a step away from my undergrad studies of accounting and English literature and take a step towards the realm of politics and international relations. I was in an unfamiliar world of political and theoretical debate, learning the ideologies and opinions of citizens from across the globe, including Iran, Latvia, the UK, and (obviously) Ireland. It was insanely stimulating, and I dove into the material hard, absorbing all that I could. It's truly fascinating stuff. I absolutely standby my decision to get an MA in International Relations and the choice to study abroad. I have made incredible friends from France, Malta, and Ireland, and I have traveled across Europe, both solo and with friends, going to Spain, Romania, and Portugal. I have had a truly brilliant experience and opportunity to grow abroad because of the decision to get an MA at the University College Cork (UCC) and I'll always take that with me wherever I go.

I was humbled by the beauty I saw in Ireland. I believe if you decide to study abroad at the University of College Cork you would find the same happiness here. My roommates and I decided to go to an International party that was hosted by the University my first night here. Those parties are such good craic and they are just one of the things that made my year the most incredible one yet! That night we all decided to walk home instead of taking the bus (FYI I highly recommend walking everywhere!!) There was this group of Irish students walking in front of us singing "I love you Baby" "And if it's quite all right" and in that moment I knew I chose the right place. The challenging coursework, building international friendships, and endless adventure was soo much more than I anticipated. I cannot thank the University of College Cork and the people I met here enough for my amazing experience.

Get out there and Study Abroad, Cheers!

Ireland was beautiful and UCC was terrific. If there is something that piques your interest, odds are you'll be able to find it at UCC. It doesn't feel like the massive school it is, though. The professors are enthusiastic and happy to help, especially for foreign students, which is helpful considering how different the Irish universities are from American ones. Communication to students is great, and support is readily available and easy to find, if needed. All of the UCC staff are extremely welcoming, and make students feel like they belong. They are always ready for tea and a chat, and seem to genuinely care about the students' well-being, all 20,000 of them. I only did this program because of a very last minute decision, but I'm extremely grateful that I did because it was absolutely incredible.

Studying abroad in Cork was the best decision I've made. I instantly fell in love with UCC and Cork. The campus is stunning and the classes are challenging but manageable. Cork City is filled with mostly Irish people who are so kind and welcoming. The city is very safe and very active. I love Cork so much that I've already been back once since my fall semester abroad! I highly recommend this city and university to anyone who is looking to get the real Irish experience. I am so thankful for the people from Cork who I met abroad and the opportunity to learn all about their culture. Study at UCC!!

The Fall semester at The University College Cork was a semester that I will never forget! From meeting life long friends to realizing how much I love to travel, Cork provided me with experiences like no other. If I could have stayed another semester, I would have in a heart beat. Within the last few weeks of the semester I didn't want to leave. I would catch myself calling Cork 'home', and it truly was. I never felt unwelcomed or unsafe, and I think that is why I gained such an attachment to Cork.

I was looking for a authentic Irish experience and Cork provided it. From listening to live Irish music in local pubs to interacting with the locals at the market, there was never a day in Cork where I wasn't smiling. I had the ability to dive right into the culture, and if that is what you are looking for then I highly suggest Cork, Ireland. It truly is an experience you will never forget!

Studying abroad at University College Cork was the best decision I've made! The classes were interesting but not overwhelming, the campus was beautiful, and the accommodations were clean and newly renovated. Cork is an extremely safe city that is filled with friendly people and lots to do during the day and at night. I 10/10 recommend studying at UCC and exploring the beautiful and charming city of Cork!

Beautiful campus, I cannot comment enough on the safety, gym is in a good location, I loved walking everywhere, UCC International is great at organizing events and makes it easy to connect with other students and have fun. Cork is a fantastic area that has the benefits of a small town, but is large enough to where you always seem something new and you're able to run into friends, but you don't know everyone that you come across. UCC has tons of clubs and societies that students can partake in, all are fairly well organized.

I loved the city of Cork. The lifestyle was very appealing to me and how close the main part of campus was to the city center was ideal. My housing itself was not the best, but its location was prime. Cork was absolutely beautiful! And being in a bigger city (but not too big), it was easy to get public transportation to travel around the country. My favorite part of the trip was meeting a bunch of the locals and them taking me to all the cool places in and around the city. I will definitely be going back to Cork in the future.

Ever since starting college I wanted to study abroad. University College Cork seemed like a good fit so I took a chance and traveled to Cork in the Fall of 2016. Although nervous at first, I can confidently say this was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Upon coming to the university, I was placed in an early start program focused primarily on folklore, where I went on field trips that provided me with once in a lifetime opportunities. We traveled around the country (even took a boat to the Aran Islands!!) with the professor as we learned about Irish traditions and customs. This class not only allowed me to become more accustomed to everyday life in Cork and learn about the culture, it enabled me to meet people from all over the world. Additionally, UCC's International Students Society made it easy to meet people, many of which I'm still friends with today. Everyone I met in Cork was so welcoming and my friends and I had so much fun exploring the city, the pubs, and the nightlife. Cork is a city, but it feels more like a town, so it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable living there. I always felt safe, even at night.

I would recommend getting involved as much as possible. Step outside your comfort zone and join clubs, take classes you might not have at home, and talk to as many people as possible. By taking classes such as Irish folklore and Irish history I learned so much about topics I otherwise would know very little about! The professors were happy to give their recommendations or advice to the international students. I really think putting myself out there made me a more open and confident person.

I'm so thankful for my time in Cork studying at UCC and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an abroad experience!

UCC's large, diverse population made it a great school to choose. I felt like a learned a lot about so many cultures along with the Irish culture. My experiences were enhanced by the people that I got to share it with! At first, I spent a lot of time with other Americans. But, after awhile, I felt comfortable enough to branch out and this is how I had some of the greatest experiences. Interacting with different individuals and learning their stories was an important part of my study abroad experience.