How do I Apply?

A research course is usually longer in duration, involves study of a specialised subject/area, and the student will present a thesis at the end of their research studies.

A Masters by Research, PhD by Research and a Structured PhD are examples of research courses available in UCC.

A Structured PhD is considered a research course and is "a graduate course of study undertaken by PhD students that maintains a research-based education, but one that is augmented by activities that support the acquisition of a range of relevant specialist and generic skills" (IUQB 2009). A Structured PhD may include some transferable, discipline-specific, or generic skills training. Your studies, therefore, may have some "taught" components. As with all PhDs, the core component of a structured PhD course is "the advancement of knowledge through original research".

All postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English are required to sit either an IELTS or TOEFL test.

English Language Requirements for Postgraduate Degree Programmes:

• College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences: IELTS 6.5 - With no individual section lower than 5.5
• College of Business and Law: Business IELTS 6.5 and Law IELTS 6.5 - With no individual section lower than 5.5
• College of Science, Engineering and Food Science: IELTS 6.5 - With no individual section lower than 6.0
• College of Medicine and Health: IELTS 6.5 - With no individual section lower than 6.5
• Speech and Language Therapy: 7.0 - With no individual section lower than 6.5

University Language Centre

The UCC Language Centre can help you to acquire the English language skills you will need in your undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Courses cover reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, as well as focusing on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. These courses are either part-time (usually 4 hours per week, morning or evening) or full-time (20 hours per week, usually mornings only).

The UCC Language Centre is also an examination centre for IELTS with examinations taking place once a month. Intensive courses are offered by the Language Centre in preparation for the examination. The Language Centre has an excellent record in helping students achieve the results they require in IELTS. For more details visit our IELTS page.

About IELTS:

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.

IELTS has a validity period of no more than two years from the date of the test.

Please see the IELTS website for further information: http://www.ielts.org/

About TOEFL:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL) measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings.
• The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test taker's location.
• When an applicant is taking a TOEFL test he/she should provide their test centre with the TOEFL code assigned to University College Cork. This ensures that the applicant's score will be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the International Education Office

TOEFL has a validity period of no more than two years from the date of the test.

The code number for University College Cork is 0300

Please see the TOEFL website for further information: http://www.toefl.org/

For admission purpose all applicants are divided into two categories: EU and Non-EU.

It is important that you establish your status before you make an application to UCC as you will retain your status (EU/Non-EU) during your study and you will be unable to change from one category to the other in the middle of a course. Also there is a different application procedure for each category.

EU Status:

• An applicant’s principal residence for the purpose of taxation must have been in a European Union Member State for a minimum of 3 of the 5 years prior to entry to university. Prior residence as a full-time student alone does not qualify a student for EU fee rates.
• If an applicant is under 23 years of age on the start date of the course then the principal residence for the purpose of taxation of the parents will be examined. The applicant must also have been resident for the required period.
• If an applicant is over 23 years of age on the start date of the course then the principle residence for the purpose of taxations of the applicant is examined.

P21 forms will be required in both instances and will be requested when an applicant applies though the Postgraduate Application Centre to confirm EU status.

Non-EU Status:

If you do not meet the criteria outlined above you will qualify as a Non-EU applicant.

This means that you pay Non-EU fees and apply through the International Education Office. For Non-EU application information and/or any other queries please contact internationalpostgrad@ucc.ie