The Student Health Department is situated in Ardpatrick House, next to the student car park on College Road.  A confidential health service is provided free of charge by the University to any student requiring medical care. This service is available during office hours, Monday to Friday.  It is not intended to provide a full General Practice service and students are advised to register with a General Practitioner (doctor). The Student Health Centre closes at 4.15pm. However, there is an emergency phone number - +353 21 4542551 - where doctors are available on a rota basis between 4.15pm and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Students are liable for charges, which may arise from the use of this emergency service. 

Facilities provided at the University are geared for the special needs of students in relation to physical and/or psychological health.

There is also a physiotherapy service available which is open to students at a fee. A doctor’s letter is required for referral to this service.

Anyone who is “ordinarily resident” in Ireland can access the public health care system (the HSE) - regardless of nationality. To be considered “ordinarily resident” you must show that you intend to stay in Ireland for at least one year (eg by showing your Immigration Card).

Please note that waiting lists in the public health service are extremely long and patients can wait for long periods of time for treatment. For this reason we recommend that students obtain private health insurance. 

Importing Medication

Occasionally, students will need to import prescribed medication until they can source an alternative supply in Ireland.  We advise you, in the first instance, to ensure that the quantity of medicines proposed to be sent by courier to Ireland can be legally dispensed by the pharmacist in your country in accordance with the prescription.  Only that amount, at a maximum, may be sent by you at any one time. As a general guide, a maximum of a three month supply of the medicine is permitted to be sent at any one time. This may be replenished at a later date if necessary.

Once you have all the information from the pharmacist/medical practitioner please contact Oisin McGeown or one of his colleagues at enforcementcontrol@hpra.ie when your medication being sent. He will notify the Irish Customs Service with a view to facilitating minimising any possible delays on entering Ireland.

The Irish Customs Service may inspect any package with a view to ensuring the compliance with Customs legislation in Ireland.

In your email please provide the following information:

• Name and quantity of product.
• Name and address of the person to whom the package is being sent.
• The tracking number of the package.
• The name of the courier company being used.
• The expected date of arrival into Ireland.
• A copy of the prescription.

Carrying Medication into the State

As a general rule  we use the 90 day period amount as a guideline. This is historically tied into the internationally recognised 90 day holiday visa exempt period for travellers from countries who don’t require a visa to spend a holiday here. However, we have very recently reviewed  acceptable requirements for non- Europeans  who are working  or studying in the State on different visas’;   in excess of that  90 day period. Reasonable supplies of personal prescription medication, in excess of an  90 day supply,  may be deemed acceptable from a HPRA perspective, if an opinion was sought by Irish Customs.

Acceptance will be done on a case by case basis with notification in advance  appreciated. We are conscious, if legally dispensed personal medication is required by a visitor, it is required for a reason and is important to them without having to seek further supplies from home.

It would be imperative for that individual to carry with him or her a signed letter from their doctor, identifying  the individual as their patient and indicating the medication they are carrying, is required as part of their treatment. Originally packaging and prescriptions  for that medication should, if available, accompany the traveller.

Should you have any further queries please contact the HPRA at enforcementcontrol@hpra.ie.

After hours we recommend that students contact Southdoc. This is a scheme that the majority of GPs (general practitioner) in Cork city subscribe to. There are two Southdoc city centre clinics, which service the city after hours.  It is designed for patients who need to see a doctor but don't need to visit Accident and Emergency hospital, after 6pm, through the night or at weekends.

Basically, each GP in the scheme takes turns at covering an on call duty. Patients have access to a GP service during anti-social hours.  Patients will see a doctor, but it won't necessarily be their own. If you're too ill to travel to the centre then the doctor will come to you.  There is a charge for this service but it is at the standard GP rate.  Phone: 1850 335 999

Dental treatment in Ireland must be paid for. Students of the University can attend the Dental Hospital for a check-up from Monday to Friday at 09.00 - 10.00 and at 14.00 - 15.00 respectively. Treatment requirements will be explained to you and you will be contacted with an appointment at a later date. The time between your first visit and the appointment can vary depending on the type of treatment you require.

Dental students and dental hygienists working under supervision can provide a full range of dental treatment.  An up to date price list is available on the website.

Student Counselling and Development is located, along with the Student Health Department, in Ardpatrick House, next to the student car park on College Road.

Counselling and support is available for students who require assistance in dealing with problems, which may be blocking their academic and social progress in college.

In addition, throughout the academic year, developmental workshops are provided for students who wish to develop skills and knowledge in areas such as assertiveness, self-esteem, stress management, time management and study skills.

To contact the Student Counselling and Development service for further information or for an initial appointment:

Telephone: + 353 21 4903565 or Text: 087 2152505, Email: counselling@ucc.ie 

or

Drop-in to Student Counselling and Development, Monday-Thursday: 9.30 - 13.00 and 14.15 - 16.15.

There are also a number of online services available to assist students available on the website.

ITAS believes that every visitor to Ireland who experiences crime should be offered appropriate support and information in the immediate aftermath and at every stage within the criminal justice system. Our aim is to provide international visitors who become victims of crime and other traumatic incidents with immediate comprehensive support and information in order to make a positive difference to their experience. https://itas.ie/

Cycling is a wonderful, healthy pastime and a great mode of transport for school, college or work.  But as a cyclist, you’re a very vulnerable road user. So, it’s vital that you practice good road safety and take personal responsibility for keeping yourself, pedestrians and other road users safe on our roads.  See here for more info.

As part of the Government of Ireland initiative to provide information to the general public on issues which may affect them during summer months in Ireland. During the summer months, Ireland’s waterways and beaches become very
popular. More people visit the countryside engage in outdoor pursuits, visit family farms or take holidays. With these activities there are associated risks and be summer ready 2023 provides information on them.