Courses for UCC Students

International Students Currently Studying at UCC

Courses for UCC students

UCC Language Centre offers a limited number of free-of-charge places on part-time English language courses to international students currently studying at UCC, including Erasmus and other visiting students. Places are limited and are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

Only one course per semester may be taken and normally only one course (one semester) per academic year is allowed due to the large demand for them.

In-sessional Courses

Open for applications now.

In-sessional courses focus on developing the necessary academic skills and language required at UCC for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes.

Course	Description
Credit Modules for Spring 2025	All courses are now fully booked.
LC1002 English for Academic Study (B2+)	This can be taken, subject to availability, as a 5-credit module by Erasmus/Visiting students in either semester as part of their Learning Agreement, or on a non-credit basis by non-visiting international students at UCC. Spaces are limited and are usually allocated before the start of the semester.
LC1003 Advanced English for Academic Study (C1-)	This can be taken, subject to availability, as a 5-credit module by Erasmus/Visiting students in either semester as part of their Learning Agreement, or on a non-credit basis by non-visiting international students at UCC. Spaces are limited and are usually allocated before the start of the semester.
Teaching Period 3 PG6023 (C1+)	These 5-credit academic English training modules can be taken for credit by international students doing a full PhD programme at UCC or a full Master's course of more than one-year duration at UCC, not as a visiting student. See UCC Book of Modules for more details.

Visiting Students

To apply for a place on LC1002 or LC1003, Erasmus and other visiting students must apply before arriving at UCC as all spaces are usually allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, before the start of term. Please email academicenquiries@ucc.ie as soon as possible, putting your name and student number and either Erasmus or Visiting Student in the subject line and you will be contacted before the start of the semester with details. Some places on LC1002 and LC1003 will be reserved for non-visiting international students.

There are a number of non-credit programs that are available for Erasmus and other visiting students. Please see information below.

Non-Credit Digital Badges

Digital Badge courses are offered online:

Academic Language for Reading & Writing (ULC22001)
Academic Language for Speaking & Listening (ULC22003)

These are 5-week courses (1 x 2-hour sessions a week = 10 hours in total).

The online Digital Badge courses are free of charge to UCC students when they apply by submitting this Digital Badge Application Form

Day/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-4PM.

Location: Online

Level: Both courses are aimed at students who are beginning to develop their academic language for either reading and writing or listening and speaking.

Assessment: Assessment is minimal on this course as the main aim of this course is for students to apply what they are learning to their UCC programme studies. However, to receive the digital badge there is a short review assessment at the end of the course.

ULC22001 Academic Language for Reading & Writing

Tuesdays 2-4 pm online

21 January - 18 February 2025

This course will allow you to reflect on differences between your previous education, learn about what is expected at UCC and develop the language for academic reading and writing.

These are some of the areas that the course focuses on:

Academic Reading:

Strategies to use include skimming, scanning, identifying macro and microstructure, using synthesizing grids to make notes and questions to help read critically.

Academic Writing:

Developing the basics of academic style, using language to create cohesion and coherence to help your writing read more smoothly, using language to integrate/synthesise reading sources, identifying the differences between descriptive, analytical, evaluative and reflective writing and language techniques to avoid plagiarism specifically regarding paraphrasing.

ULC22003 Academic Language for Speaking & Listening

Thursdays 2-4pm online

23 January - 20 February 2025

This course will enable you to build confidence and fluency in your academic speaking skills. You will be able to practice deconstructing lectures and using different strategies to enhance your academic listening skills. You will also have opportunities to practice your speaking in group discussions using suggested useful phrases.

These are some of the areas that the course focuses on:

Academic Listening:

Raising awareness of strategies to deconstruct lectures to aid comprehension such as identifying discourse markers and speakers’ stance/attitude, focusing on questions to encourage active listening, being better able to understand the different opinions of students participating in discussions.

Academic Speaking:

Developing appropriacy and flexibility to communicate in academic discussions, using appropriate language and strategies to contribute meaningfully to discussions such as developing a range of functional language (e.g phrases for negotiating meaning, sharing opinions) and developing pronunciation and articulation concerning the English Lingua Franca core.

Dates

Academic English for Reading & Writing Block 1

21 January - 18 February 2025

Academic English for Reading & Writing Block 2

04 March – 01 April 2025

Academic English for Speaking & Listening Block 1

23 January - 20 February 2025

Academic English for Speaking & Listening Block 2

06 March – 03 April 2025

Part-time Evening Courses

General English non-credit courses at B1, B2, C1 and C2 levels including Irish Culture and preparation for international examinations (e.g. IELTS / Cambridge Advanced). These are usually evening or afternoon courses of up to 4 hours per week. These classes are available to fee-paying external students. A discount will be applied to registered UCC students.

Specialised non-credit courses in Business English, English for University Studies, Focus on Fluency and Effective Writing Skills. These are usually evening or afternoon courses of up to 4 hours per week. These classes are available to fee-paying external students. A discount will be applied to registered UCC students.

IT requirements to join our courses:

All students are required to bring to class a fully-charged laptop (with audio and video) and headphones to ensure full participation and access to course materials and a more valuable student experience. A reliable internet connection is required (this is provided by UCC for on-campus students). You should download Microsoft Teams to your laptop before starting your course. UCC recommends the use of Microsoft Edge browser for the best interaction with all its applications. Please note that a laptop is a device that is suitable for study purposes and students who use another device such as a tablet will not be able to access some functions. A smartphone is not considered to be a suitable device for study purposes.

Other supports available to UCC Students whose first language is not English

If you're interested in a conversation exchange with Irish UCC students needing to practise their Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Italian and other languages, and willing to speak in English with you, please call to G.29 O'Rahilly Building to register. Alternatively, email Rita Flynn at r.flynn@ucc.ie to enquire.

Drop in English Language workshops for UCC students

Each of these weekly workshops addresses common challenges for our international students. These sessions are in collaboration with the Skills Centre, UCC.

While each workshop has a focus, the tutors are English language teachers so students can feel free to bring their English language queries to these workshops.

Dates and Times for Semester 2 2025 TBC

Language Centre

Lárionad Teanga

Main Office, G36, O'Rahilly Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland