University College Cork-Cork, Ireland

Students study at the University College Cork (UCC). The university was established in 1845 and is one of Ireland's oldest universities. UCC is also a leading research university. Today, it is the home campus for over 17,000 students. There are over 1500 international students who attend UCC for a semester or year. UCC has 4 colleges: Art, Celtic Studies, and Social Science; Business and Law; Science, Engineering and Food Science; and Medicine and Health.

Semester only (fall or spring)

The fall and spring semesters offer very different opportunities for students to study at UCC. We recommend that you investigate the benefits for the fall and spring semesters before deciding on which semester you want to study abroad. The Office of International Programs will provide several information sessions throughout the fall term. 

Fall Semester at University College Cork

Fall: Mid-August to late-December

Students participate in the pre-term program called Early Start. The early start courses offer excursions around Ireland. It is an excellent opportunity for students to gain an introduction to Ireland and Irish Studies through a carefully guided approach to the country's rich culture, history, politics, business, and civilization. Loyola provides excursions for the students who study in the spring, along with other cultural activities and group dinners.

Students can choose from the following early start: (fall semester only)

• Early Start in Archaeology
• Early Start in Modern Irish History
• Early Start in Literatures in Ireland
• Early Start in Music

Spring Semester at University College Cork

Spring: Early -January to late-May

Students start classes early in January with registration taking place upon arrival. Students have approximately two and a half weeks off to prepare for finals and some use this time to travel. Loyola provides excursions for the students who study in the spring, along with other cultural activities and group dinners.

• Loyola students will be studying in a European educational environment at UCC. As an example, for many of the courses offered at UCC, there may only be one test in the course, the final examination. The final examination can be written or oral and this final examination grade will be your final grade earned in the course. So, if you do well on the final examination that is your final grade.
• Registration takes place overseas. You need to have as many course options as possible to counter any registration problems, like a course cancellation or course time conflict.
• All students should save at least 3-4 electives to use as back-up courses for abroad.
• Students have to follow the same prerequisites for courses abroad as you would at Loyola. Therefore, make sure you have satisfied any prerequisite(s) in order to be able to take certain core or major courses at UCC.

*All grades from abroad are transferred and calculated into your Loyola GPA; no courses can be taken as pass/fail.

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola tuition
• Loyola housing charge
• Program fee

Students receive the following benefits on the Cork Program:

• Tuition fee covered at UCC
• Shared housing at Jennings Pool Apartments
• Limited trips through Early Start Program (fall only); and limited cultural excursions
• (no Early Start in the spring semester)
• Roundtrip airfare
• Official airport pick-up and drop-off
• Orientation on campus and abroad
• Enrollment in student travel plan
• Guide fees, entrance fees, and motor coach expenses
• Services provided by part-time on-site director

Items not included in the Loyola charges but should be budgeted for (items marked with * are required):

• *Meals (past students suggest budgeting $1,800- $3,500)
• *Passport
• cell phones and other communication expenses
• Personal travel (hostels, hotels, airline or rail tickets, food, etc.)

Students will be supported by our part-time director, Mary Breen. She is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of English at UCC. Our part-time director will help students get acclimated to their new surroundings and direct them to the appropriate personnel or office that can assist them with any questions they may have. More information on academic services, practical life and services for students.

In addition to Mary Breen, students can consult the International Education Office for additional support.  

When reviewing the above information, please note that certain services and accommodations provided by Loyola may not be available abroad, or services or accommodations provided abroad may not be provided at the same caliber or manner as Loyola. You should contact the Office of International Programs  early in the process to find out more detailed information or to get in contact with the appropriate department at UCC.

The course approvals and equivalencies provided are the most current for the Office of International Programs. Once accepted to a study abroad program, students will have an academic interview with the appropriate director and will be advised on their course selection.

*Please be advised: All students are solely responsible for informing themselves about the status of these courses. Course approvals and equivalencies are subject to change.

 

Semester students currently live in Jennings Pool Apartments, part of the Brookfield Village complex.

• Jennings Pool apartments is approximately 20 minutes from the city center and 5-10 minutes from campus.
• Most of the rooms are single bedrooms in a shared apartment.
• The apartments are fully furnished.
• Students share a living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
• Apartments are co-ed or mixed gender apartments.
• Jennings Pool rents to various groups of students, and not exclusively to Loyola. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that all students will have a single bedroom.
• Meals are not included. Students must provide for their own meals. There is a cafeteria on campus and other eateries around campus and in the city. Most students cook their own meals. There is an English market in town, and supermarkets.

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment for the semester/s that they go abroad. If the student qualifies for federal work study, they can use the award for the semester they are on campus during their abroad year.

If you receive GI/Veterans benefits, please contact our Registrar’s office as soon as possible before you apply!!

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Loyola Housing
• Study Abroad Program fee
• International Insurance Premium

Students’ expenses in Cork will vary depending on how much they travel, shop, and go out at night. Most students will take advantage of the proximity to other European countries and cheap airline tickets and travel, and that usually accounts for much of their spending.

Medical insurance is provided for all students during the program term by Loyola University Maryland through Chubb Insurance. This insurance coverage includes medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as 24-hour support services for medical issues. This insurance functions as a primary insurance while abroad.

Students are required to submit a copy of their U.S. health insurance card/policy. Please be sure not to cancel your US insurance policy while abroad since the provided insurances only function while on program and outside of the US.

Students can easily use both American credit cards (MasterCard and Visa mostly) and American ATM/Debit cards from US banks to pay for goods and services in Ireland. Make sure you contact your bank and credit card company prior to your departure in order to let them know you will be in Ireland for a specific period of time. It is also good to let the banks know when you will be traveling outside of Ireland, too, so your card will not be deactivated.

• Students reported spending anywhere from $3.000-$5,000 during a semester in addition to paying for tuition and housing. These funds are primarily used for travel, meals, and entertainment. The exchange rate and other factors can affect spending amounts.

No visas are necessary to study abroad in Ireland.

Loyola will arrange and pay for group travel to and from Cork. Any change to the students booked itinerary is done at their own cost. Loyola does not pay for any flight deviations or tickets changes. Group flights are arranged for students traveling to Cork. Student departures are usually from Newark International Airport in New Jersey or JFK Airport in New York.

Application Requirements 

Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 

• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.00
• Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
• ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
• An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.