On the Road Again! University College Cork
Founded in 1845, University College Cork (UCC)’s campus is beautiful both architecturally and naturally. From the iconic quad, with its stunning limestone facades, to the tranquil banks of the River Lee meandering through the grounds, every corner has a sense of history. But this university is more than just beautiful. Here is a bit about it and Cork:
Cork is known as the rebel county. The setting of the university is right in the city of Cork, an easy city to get around with a diverse population of under 200,000 people. Cork received its charter in 1185, is built on the River Lee, is the hub of the pharma industry, is the European headquarters of Apple which employs 7,000 people, is a major center for the arts and calls itself the food capital of Ireland.
The undergraduate population of UCC is about 24,000 students including 4,000 international students. This research intensive university contains four colleges: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, Business and Law, Medicine and Health, and Science, Engineering and Food Science.
This is where I first learned about the Irish tradition of “digs.” I had heard the term before meaning someone’s home but the Irish university concept is a bit different. Many Irish students rent accommodations for the weekdays and live with a family who provides meals and then they go home for homecooked meals (and laundry!) on the weekends. But have no fear – UCC still has a lot going on during the weekends since there are over 120 societies and 45 sports clubs. Housing is guaranteed for first year international students generally consisting of an en-suite private bedroom and a communal kitchen and living room.
One of the premier programs is the course in Food Science, logical being in the food capital of Ireland. This hands-on, innovative program features courses on healthy eating, athletic performance and disease prevention. The top student in the program receives the Kerry Gold (think butter!) award.
The Granary Theater is a wonderful classroom and performance space. Fiona Shaw, Harry Potter’s mother, is an alum. The Oscar winner, Cillian Murphy, spent time here as well although rumor has it that he started as a law student. Unlike some universities, UCC offers a flexible program so that a theater major can be combined with other dissimilar majors such as math or archaeology. Affiliations between UCC and the Cork Opera House and theaters in Cork give students many opportunities.
The Law School is ranked #1 in Ireland and #17 in Europe. A student can study law and then take the NY bar exam saving thousands of dollars and several years of study.
George Boole was a professor of mathematics at UCC. He is the namesake of the branch of algebra known as Boolean algebra. The library and the Boole Centre for Research in Informatics are named in his honor.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and once an application is complete, including first semester grades from 12th grade, students typically receive a response within one or two weeks.
Not sure what to study? No problem. Check out UCC’s program called Nurturing Bright Futures. This free resource is open to high school students to help them decide what to study. Whether or not a student applies to UCC, this is a great find!
