Academic Focus
This program gives students the opportunity to be fully immersed in the Irish higher education system and choose courses from University College Cork’s full course catalog. You may wish to continue taking courses in your major, or choose courses from those subject areas for which UCC is the best known such as European Studies, Celtic Civilization, History and Biological or Chemical Sciences. Either way, you will attend classes with Irish students taught by UCC faculty.
Early Start Program
If you choose to enroll in either a Fall Semester or Year program, you have the opportunity to study Ireland's history, culture and civilization in a unique pre-semester program. The Early Start Program, approximately four weeks in length, is offered prior to the start of the Fall Semester. Choose a Fall (link to semester term page) or Year (link to year term page) Early Start Program to learn more about this opportunity.
One academic year of coursework at UCC is generally worth 60 UCC credits. As a semester student, you must take a schedule of classes totaling 30 UCC credits. This total number of credits can be reached through multiple combinations of courses offered worth 5, 10 and 15 UCC credits each. Courses with these UCC credit values are typically worth 3, 6 and 9 credits respectively within the US semester system. Therefore, you will typically earn a total of 18 credits within the US system per semester session at UCC. Remember, it is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how many credits will be awarded.
Certificate Programs
For an additional fee, you have the opportunity to complete a Certificate in Irish Studies or Irish Political Issues, or earn a Diploma in Irish Music or Common Law.
Certificate in Irish Studies
This certificate is specifically designed for students studying at UCC for the full year. Students take a number of required core classes and select their remaining electives from such departments as Early and Medieval Irish, Modern Irish, Archaeology, History and Folklore.
Certificate in Irish Political Issues
This certificate is for students studying during the spring semester and is designed to give students a solid foundation in the Irish political system and political issues in Ireland today. Students take two required classes and select their remaining two electives from a select number of Government classes. This certificate includes excursions to areas surrounding Cork, Dublin and Belfast.
Diploma in Irish Traditional Music
This diploma gives music students studying at UCC for the full year the opportunity to study Irish music from both a practical and academic perspective. Students will take a range of classes taught by the Faculty of Music and must have an extensive music background or knowledge of Irish Traditional Music. An audition tape may be required.
Diploma in Irish Common Law
This diploma gives students an overview of the Irish legal system within the European context and is open to students studying at UCC for the full year. Three required courses will be taken throughout the year, and complimented by additional electives chosen from the Law Faculty. This program can also be combined with the Early Start Program in Law.
Schedule Summary
Contact hours for each course vary and may be comprised of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Due to the differences in the Irish higher education system, there is no standard for the number of days a week a course may meet. Class meeting times vary across departments and subject areas. Expect the number of times you meet with your class to be different than what you are used to at your home institution. Although the number of contact hours, in class assessment and homework assignments may be smaller and than you are used to, it would be a mistake to think that this means less work is required. In preparation for your classes, you are expected to read extensively, participate fully in discussions and develop your own ideas and arguments.
Registration
You will be required to submit your course selections and alternates to the CEA headquarter office prior to departure for Ireland. You will be pre-registered for classes but formal registration does not take place until you have your registration session during the first week of the program. Arts, Education, Early Childhood Studies classes can be immediately approved by the International Office but students wishing to take Science and Engineering classes will have to “shop” for classes. This means that you will visit the Professor giving the class and get their approval before the International Office can register them. For classes that have prerequisites, alternatives can often be given within the same department.
Students will choose a course schedule comprising of classes worth 30 UCC credits per semester. The number of classes you choose will depend on the credit value for each course. There are no required courses. To aid in the registration process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.
Courses offered through the Science, Music, Commerce Faculties require an additional fee, for which you will be invoiced after you complete registration in Ireland.
To learn more about course requirements for your particular session as well as information regarding your host institution, you may click on the appropriate links above.
