International Students:

If you come to UCC as an international student you will find a warm welcome in the university and in the city of Cork as a whole.

We want your stay at UCC to be a very positive experience, both academically and culturally. As Ireland’s top research university and as the only Irish University to be named “Irish University of the Year “on two occasions, UCC has much to offer. With over 2,000 international students currently studying at UCC, the university has a very rich multicultural environment.

The International Education Office is the "one stop shop" which will guide you through your application procedure, answer your questions and offer practical support during your time in UCC.

The Foundation Year Programme

The Medical and Dental Foundation Year Programme for international students is offered by the Faculty of Medicine and Health in conjunction with the UCC Language Centre.  It provides access to Medicine and Dentistry at University College Cork on successful completion of the one year programme.  The Programme caters specifically for the needs of students whose standard of English language reaches at least 5.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with no single skill below 5.0. [TOEFL equivalent: Paper score 530-550; computer score 197-213].  Equivalent scores on an internationally recognised examination in English as a foreign language will be considered.  The successful English language exit level will be an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.  Applicants who have already reached a level of 6.5 or equivalent and whose other subjects are of a competitive standard may apply for direct entry to year 1 of Medicine or Dentistry.

Accommodation:  UCC has excellent student accommodation available within walking distance of the Brookfield Health Sciences Complex.  A schedule of current accommodation charges may be found at the Accommodation and Student Activities Office.