A STRONG culture, beautiful scenery and a government that is “Investing in Global Relationships”: Ireland is fast becoming a go-to destination for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Ireland currently has an international student population of around 139,000 and University College Cork (UCC) hosts 3,000 of those students from over 100 countries.
Cork is the most Southerly city in Ireland, and often referred to as Ireland’s second city – but there is every reason UCC is the first choice for many international students. Here at Student World Online, we've narrowed it down to 10 for you to consider.
1) Excellent ranking
UCC is in the top 2% of universities in the world and has won The Sunday Times University of the Year 5 times – including 2016 and 2017, which makes it the only Irish university to win two years in a row. It has also recently scored top marks across five core areas in the EU-sponsored U-Multirank, the most comprehensive ranking system internationally.
2) Quality of education
Beyond learning and developing skills, getting a good job upon graduation is important – and UCC graduates are certainly doing that. Approximately 93% of students find employment after they graduate, because UCC ensures that graduates are work ready and world ready. Many courses involve placements and industry input.
3) Research led
The University collaborates with over 700 of the world’s top universities, and generates the highest research income per academic in Ireland. In fact, UCC has long been one of the best-funded research universities in Ireland, and the Research and Development investment exceeds €90 million – and is getting larger year-on-year.
4) A green campus
We’re not talking about the luscious green countryside of the ‘Emerald Isle’: UCC is the world’s first Green Flag Campus. This means that they pioneer sustainable practices – for example, they recycle nearly 80% of waste and have dedicated Sustainability Officers as part of the staff. UCC also provides a safe and friendly campus environment, whilst still being close to the city centre.
5) Great support for international students
The UCC International Office was ranked ‘Outstanding’ by Study Portals in the 2016 International Student Satisfaction Awards. This ranking in based on feedback from actual international students across Europe. On the 2016 International Student Barometer over 90% of international students responded that they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their experience at UCC and they ranked Ireland as the second most satisfactory country in Europe.
6) You’re well-placed for career prospects
Cork is a hub for IT, agribusiness, energy and pharmaceutical multinationals. Companies including Apple, Amazon and GlaxoSmithKline are based in the city. These strong industry links mean there are excellent placement opportunities both during and after your studies. The city also has several business and leisure developments underway, so in the future, opportunities will increase.
7) Stay back option
If you graduate from an Irish university and are from outside EU and EAA, you can take advantage of the stay back options that are available. Non EU/EAA graduates can remain in Ireland for up to 2 years to seek employment, with the option of applying for a work permit when you are successful in your job search.
8) Learn in English
Immerse yourself in the English language by living and studying in Ireland, a gateway to exciting opportunities in Europe. As an English-speaking European country (that is remaining part of the EU), Ireland is ideal for setting you up to work around the world. And as a bonus, you can immerse yourself in the Irish language to really fit-in!
9) Scholarships
UCC has a variety of scholarship options on offer. Please check their website for more details.
10) Internationally recognised
There is a broad spectrum of over 200 programmes on offer at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with a growing number of online courses. For more information on some of the courses available, head to the UCC full profile to find out more.
