Record number of UCC students lead Orientation for 4,870 new students

3 Sep 2026

• 340 Peer Support Leaders welcome 4,870 new students to UCC.
• Largest ever group of Peer Support Leaders deliver the University’s peer-led Orientation for first-year students.

A record 340 University College Cork (UCC) students are leading this year’s Orientation programme, welcoming 4,870 new first-year students as they begin their university journey.

Taking place on campus from 1–10 September, UCC Orientation is designed to give incoming students the knowledge, support and confidence they need to settle into university life and make connections from their first days on campus.

At the heart of the programme are UCC’s Peer Support Leaders, experienced students who help new students navigate the transition to university. This year, 340 students have signed up as Peer Support Leaders, the largest group in the programme’s history.

During Orientation, new students meet their classmates and UCC Students’ Union, tour UCC’s campus and library, and take part in workshops, including Finding Your Feet at UCC with Dr Eithne Hunt; Bystander Intervention and Active*Consent information session with Céline Griffin, Isobel Heaton and Chloe Boland.

Students will also learn about the wealth of opportunities to get involved in campus life, with more than 100 clubs and over 100 societies, spanning sport, culture, volunteering, academic interests and more.

From Orientation to year-long support

The support provided by UCC’s Peer Support Leaders continues well beyond Orientation. UCC Peer Support Leaders are each assigned a small group first-year students to support throughout the academic year. New students can also select a Peer Support Leader through an online portal, allowing them to connect with a student mentor based on shared interests.

The programme gives first-year students a familiar point of contact as they adjust to university, helping them find information, access supports, meet other students and become part of the UCC community.

Damian Butler, UCC Peer Support Coordinator, said: “Starting at UCC is an exciting milestone, but we also know that there is a huge amount for students to take in during those first days and weeks. Orientation is about making that transition easier and ensuring every new student knows that support is available from the moment they arrive at UCC.”

“What makes our programme particularly special is that it is led by students themselves. Our 340 Peer Support Leaders know what it feels like to arrive on campus for the first time, and they can offer practical advice, reassurance and a friendly face to our incoming students. We are incredibly proud and grateful to have our largest ever group of Peer Support Leaders this year. Their contribution will help 4,870 new students begin their UCC experience with confidence and a real sense of belonging. We want to show our students that they matter here in UCC and I have the privilege of leading the team that help make this happen.”

Preparing students for academic studies

Alongside the peer-led Orientation programme, students participate in academic induction, introducing them to the academic side of university life.

Students will be welcomed by UCC academics and introduced to the structure and content of their degree programme. They will receive an overview of their academic timetable and learn about teaching, examinations, assignments and other aspects of studying at university.

Orientation is compulsory for incoming students and forms a key first step in their UCC journey, helping students build the academic, practical and social foundations for a successful first year.