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Mature Student Entry
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Welcome to our information hub for mature students. This page is designed to provide you with all the information you need to understand the opportunities and process for mature students at University College Cork. Whether you are considering returning to education or starting a new journey, we are here to support you every step of the way. By reading this content, you will gain insights into the application process, statement of interest requirements and available support resources.
Investing your time here will ensure you are well-equipped to make an informed decision about your educational future at University College Cork.
Please follow the links below to locate the specific information you need on this page.
Am I a Mature Student?
In University College Cork, a mature student is someone aged 23 years or above on 01 January in the year of entry; who wishes to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree programme.
How Do I Apply?
All interested applicants must make an application through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
The CAO is an online application form that opens in early November and closes on 01 February each year.
How Can I Contact Mature Student Support?
Mature Student Support is located in the Access Department on the 1st floor, The Hub Building, UCC Main Campus, College Road, Cork, UCC.
Please get in touch with mso@ucc.ie with your full name, surname and CAO number if you have any queries, and we will get back to you within 1-2 working days during regular daytime office hours.
When Can I book An Appointment With The Mature Applicant Support Team?
From September 2025, online appointment bookings will be available here for prospective Mature Applicants who are interested in applying to study full-time undergraduate degree programs at University College Cork.
Statement of Interest
Mature Applicants must complete a separate Mature Statement for Law if they wish to study any of the law programmes in UCC. Here is the link to the Mature Statement for Law - click here.
All other Mature Applications (apart from entry to Nursing programmes) must follow the process set out below.
Simply click on the following questions to reveal the answer in the accordion menu:
Your statement is submitted as part of your application. It is possibly the single most important document that you will write to gain entry to UCC. It is a letter, job application and interview all in one.
The most useful information to include is your previous work experience (paid or voluntary capacity) and any life experience that is relevant to your chosen course. Your aim should be to demonstrate to the university that you really want to study your chosen course.
It can be helpful to write about your aims, what you hope to gain from your course, and your long-term plans if you were to get your chosen course.
As part of the Mature Section on the CAO Application Form, you are asked to provide a Statement of Interest (Part 9). The space allocated is 3,000 characters, which equates to between 450 and 800 words. UCC accept up to 1,500 words as a Statement of Interest.
To submit a longer Statement for your UCC application, type it and send it to the CAO so that it can be attached to your application. We advise to write a longer Statement and don’t forget that you can book an online appointment to chat with us at the link above.
Put your CAO number and name on any documents (including your Statement) when you send by post to the CAO. This will ensure they get attached to your application.
- Show your motivation and enthusiasm to study your chosen course.
- Show your academic enthusiasm – hopefully, you have already demonstrated this to your school / college through examination results or your life experience to date.
- Show non-academic achievement. The university wants to know what kind of person you are. This could include insights into your personality, interests, achievements, and relevant work experience.
- To clearly state how you meet the entry requirements (if applicable).
Find out as much as possible about your chosen course and structure your personal statement under the following headings:
- Why – why have you chosen this course?
- What – what have you done to demonstrate your passionate interest in the course?
- Academic – how do your academic subjects/results relate to this course?
- Interests – what have you learned from your activities that is relevant to your chosen course and university life?
- Future – what do you plan to do on completion? This does not have to be set in stone
- Conclusion – what personal experience or ambitions can you link to your chosen course to give your personal statement a sense of completion.
Information on Tests and Interviews
Entry into some undergraduate programmes in UCC is only possible on completion of an assessment. These assessments are listed next to their respective programmes below;
NMBI Nursing – Entry requirement for all mature applicants to nursing.
HPAT – Entry requirement for all mature applicants to Medicine (CK701).
Some of our degree programmes require mature students to sit specific in-house tests. You will be contacted directly by the relevant department in UCC with details of these tests, if applicable to you.
All undergraduate programmes in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences
- Mature Student Evaluation
CK104 Arts with Music
– Music Entrance Test Information
CK112 Drama and Theatre Studies
- Theatre & Performative Practices BA Webpage
Some of our courses require an interview. Follow this link for further information in the Entry Requirements section.
There is also information on interview techniques on our Careers Service website.