Academic Focus
This program allows students to gain valuable experience in the workplace while also earning academic credit. Students may participate in semester or year long placements that offer the opportunity to participate in a meaningful career-related
work environment in UCC academic departments. Past internships have focused on research projects for the Criminal Law Program, fieldwork for the Department of Zoology and mapping migration patterns of Irish immigrants for the Irish Center for Migration Studies. Your internship may be complimented by courses from University College Cork's full course catalog. UCC Internships are competitive but are sure to provide international work experience highly sought by employers after graduation. This program offers the best in Irish university education, as well as affording you the chance to gain excellent practical experience.
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. Internships offered at UCC are worth 5 UCC credits. The remaining 25 credits needed to complete your schedule 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
Each internship is comprised of 40 hours of supervised work over the course of the semester. Your exact schedule will be determined in conjunction with the sponsor department for your internship. With regards to academic courses, contact hours 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.
Course Registration
You will be required to submit your internship application, first choice course selections and alternates to the CEA headquarter office prior to departure for Ireland. Placement for the internships happens upon arrival in 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 get approval from each individual lecturer. For classes that have prerequisites, alternatives can often be given within the same department.
Applications for internships in the Fall Semester or Full Academic Year should be submitted by the last week of May. Applications for internships in the Spring Semester should be submitted the last week of October. The application should be attached to the standard UCC application form for visiting students and should give an outline of the student's academic background along with a two-page statement on the reasons for applying for the internship. The statement should be accompanied by the name of a faculty sponsor who can vouch for the student's suitability for the internship.
Students will choose a course schedule comprising of classes worth 30 UCC credits per semester, of which your internship will count for 5. 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.
