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Orientation - the online welcome experience for new students
Orientation - the online welcome experience for new students
Orientation is your formal welcome to UCC. This year (2020) orientation will take place online for the most part. Orientation is an essential part of your journey to becoming a full UCC student. We're here to help you make a successful transition to university life. You are not alone and you won’t be alone in your first year. We are very excited and can’t wait to welcome you to UCC.
Orientation will be in two parts - general orientation and academic orientation.
Pre-Orientation
Before you can take part in orientation, you'll need access to UCC's IT Systems. You will receive your UCC IT password within a day or two of accepting your offer. Once you've completed registration and received your IT password, you will be able to access Canvas, UCC's virtual learning environment.
Canvas is the platform that your online orientation will be delivered through. Canvas is a web-based learning management system, used by institutes of higher education around the world. It will be an important learning support to you in your time in UCC.
When you register with us, you will be automatically enrolled in the "Learning with Canvas" course, which is accessible through canvas.
There are a number of UCC IT Systems that you will need during your time here. You'll already have encountered MyStudentAdmin during Registration. And you will be using Canvas to take part in Orientation. One of the first modules that you can complete as part of Orientation is the UCC IT Workshop from Student IT Services. This will further introduce you to the systems you will use as a UCC student.
Academic orientation will take place on specific days, according to your degree course. Visit the full academic orientation schedule for more detail on individual course academic orientation schedules.
Degree Course
Day
Date
Architecture
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Engineering
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Nutritional Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Food Science
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Computer Science
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Biological and Chemical Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Agricultural Science
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Genetics
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Chemical Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Mathematical Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Physics and Astrophysics
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Industrial Physics
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Data Science and Analytics
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Biomedical Science
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Medicine (CK701)
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Dentistry / Graduate Entry to Dentistry
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Pharmacy
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Medical and Health Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Occupational Therapy
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Speech and Language Therapy
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Public Health Sciences
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Nursing - General Nursing
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Midwifery
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Nursing - Children's and General Nursing
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Nursing - Mental Health Nursing
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Nursing - Intellectual Disability Nursing
Monday
21 Sep 2020
Law Pathways
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Law and French
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Law and Irish
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Law and Business
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International) with French
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International) with German
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International)with Italian
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International)with Hispanic Studies
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International)with Irish
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Commerce (International)with Chinese
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Accounting
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Business Information Systems
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Finance
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Economics (through Transformational Learning)
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
International Development
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Arts Music
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Film and Screen Media
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Geographical and Archaeological Sciences
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
English
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
World Languages
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Theatre and Performative Practices
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Criminology
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Digital Humanities and Information Technology
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Government and Political Science
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Anthropology
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Education - Gaeilge
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Social Science
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Sports Studies and Physical Education
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Early Years and Childhood Studies
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Social Science (Youth and Community Work)
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Applied Psychology
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Psychology and Computing
Tuesday
22 Sep 2020
Arts - BA (CK101) and Arts (International)
Wednesday
23 Sep 2020
Course structure and learning outcomes
Understanding how your course works is important. During orientation, you will learn more about:
Your modules (compulsory and elective)
Credit weightings for them
Where you'll need to be for your classes, onsite or online
It's important to understand some of the practical elements of what's required of you to successfully complete a course of study. This part of orientation will inform you of:
Whether you'll have small group teaching in a practical, laboratory, seminar or tutorial
How much time you'll need to be dedicating to study outside of the lecture, lab or seminar room
The nature of your assignments
...and more, depending on the unique requirements of your course.
This is to allow you to plan for the year ahead and get a sense of what you will be doing.
You'll learn about the academic supports available to you in first year. You'll also learn about any mentoring schemes available. This part of the orientation programme will help you understand these supports and how they can help you to make the most of your academic learning.
There's a liklihood that you might want to change module after you commence your studies. You'll be informed of the practicalities and administration involved in this at your academic orietation.
Your timetable will tell you what classes you have, when you have them and how they will be delivered. This part of orientation will help you understand how your timetable is put together and what the different modes of delivery such as on-campus, online or blended mean for you. You will also learn how to access your timetable via Canvas.
UCC students have the option to study for for one year abroad at a host university in a different country. In this part of orientation, you'll learn about the different aspects of studying abroad such as:
Many of UCC's programmes give you the option to take part in a work placement. In this part of orientation you'll learn about the practicalities of your work placement programme.
You will also learn more about our Careers' service and how you can make the most of your degree to get yourself on your chosen career path.
Learn from those who have gone before you and experienced what you are going to experience. During online orientation you'll have the opportunity to hear from people who are currently taking the same course as you, but from a later year. Or you may also hear about the experiences from people who have taken your course in the past (alumni) and how it has affected their lives and careers.
As part of orientation you'll have the chance to participate in live, online Q&A sessions with classmates, peers and the lecturers. Take the opportunity to ask your burning questions.
Welcome to University College Cork, Professor John O'Halloran, Deputy President and Registrar
Join a Club
Student IT Services
Student Rules and Regulations
Introduction to the UCC Library
Bystander Intervention Training
COVID-19 Health Information
Student Health and Wellbeing
First Year Experience Coordinator Introduction
EveryDay Matters Programme
Peer Support - a guide for students by students
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
UCC Skills Centre - Transitioning to University
Introduction to Student Inc.
Student Counselling and Development - Overview of Services
Entrepreneurship at UCC
Careers Services - Overview of Services
Graduate Attributes and Values
Money Matters - Budgeting for First Year
UCC's Green Campus and Sustainability Journey
Student Life - Students' Union
Virtual Tour of Campus and the Mardyke Sports Arena
Join a Society
The Academic component of orientation will have specific timed events. Please visit the Academic Orientation Schedule for information specific to your degree programme.
Welcome from the Interim President
At the beginning of your general orientation programme you will be welcomed to the university by UCC's Interim President, Professor John O'Halloran.
Professor John O'Halloran took over as Interim President in September 2020 having served as Deputy President and Registrar since 2018. Further to his duties as Interim President, Professor O'Halloran is the current Director of UCC's Quercus Talented Students Programme. He is the Chair of the Green Campus Forum at UCC which has received many awards in recognition of its activities, including securing the first green flag ever awarded to a university.
Professor O'Halloran was previously Head of School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences at UCC, where he still holds the Chair in Zoology. He is also a former Vice-Head of the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science. He has also held academic posts in Wales and the USA and delivers invited lectures widely across Europe and North America.
Join Clubs and Societies
The UCC Clubs, and UCC Societies presidents will deliver presentations on the positive role that UCC clubs and societies will play in your student life.
Some of UCC's clubs include Chess, Camogie, Dance, Fencing, Ultimate Frisbee, and many more!
Some of UCC's societies include: Music, Dramat, Philosophical, Simpsons, Feminist, and many more!
This session will last for approximately 20 minutes.
In this segment of your online orientation, members of the Students' Union Executive will introduce themselves, their roles and how they can be a key support to you in your time in UCC.
The presentation will last for approximately 40 mins.
During your online orientation to UCC you will have the opportunity to meet some of your classmates but also to meet peer supporters from your degree course (programme of study). This will be a great time to ask any questions you might have about your studies or life in UCC and get an answer from an experienced peer, who knows your programme well.
After your online orientation, you can email your peer support leader at any time during the year if you have any questions about how life in UCC works or if you find that you are struggling with any aspects of student life.
Studying in UCC will enable you to develop some key life skills on your graduation. To ensure you get off on the right foot, you will also complete a Graduate Attributes module at orientation. This module will include sections on:
Introduction to Graduate Attributes and Values at University College Cork
Watch the video on the Attributes and Values you will develop at University College Cork
Familiarise yourself with UCC's beautiful campus by taking a 360 degree virtual tour. This tour is viewable as a virtual reality experience as well.
Meet the professional services teams
You will be introduced to a range of professional service offices that will be available to you in your time in UCC. Some of these key supports include:
First Year Experience Coordinator
Student Counselling and Development
Disability Support Services
Student Financial Supports and Advice
Student Health
Access Office
Counselling and Development
Every Day Matters
Each service will introduce themselves and the supports and services they will provide to you during your time at UCC.
UCC is commited to ensuring that your learning environment is as safe as possible during the current COVID-19 pandemic. All of our staff members have been trained to ensure that we are fully compliant with COVID-19 regulations as set out by the HSE and our Government.
To ensure that your learning environment continues to be safe and secure for you and the entire UCC community, all students are required to complete the COVID-19 Health Module.
Take part in orientation (you will need your UCC IT details to log in) to access the COVID-19 Health Module.
UCC's Bystander Intervention module is designed to enable a progressive and effective culture around the issues of sexual violence and harassment at university. This module seeks to not only enhance knowledge and understanding, but also attitude and behavioural change across the university.
You must complete of the Bystander Intervention module as part of your orientation.
