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Visiting Non-EU Students Information Guide
2016/2017 Academic Year
International Office
While every care has been taken to ensure that the information is this booklet is accurate, the International Office is not responsible for any errors or omissions. The booklet confers no entitlement to any course, nor is it in any way to be construed as imposing a legal obligation on the International Office or University College Cork.
The information in this booklet is also available on the UCC website at
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/
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INTERNATIONAL OFFICE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK University College Cork has been an active promoter of international student programmes for many years. Each year the University welcomes a large number of visiting students from the United States along with students from partner institutions in the European Union who come to study at UCC in the context of the ERASMUS programme. The University also welcomes students from many other parts of the world, who come to UCC as visiting students or who come to follow full degree courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. The International Office provides for the most effective possible promotion and administration of UCC's international programmes. Tasks include the dissemination of information about the University to external agencies, partner universities and interested students (through means such as this booklet), the administration of the various practical arrangements connected with application and registration of visiting students, and the organisation of orientation programmes for such students. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 1.00pm; 2.00pm - 5.00pm (Restricted office hours will be put in place during the Autumn and Spring Semesters. Students will be informed of the restricted office hours by email before they come into effect.) Telephone Number: +353 21 4904723/4904727 Fax Number: +353 21 4904735 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/international
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STUDY ABROAD AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 2016/2017 Before you leave home, don't forget to bring with you:
1 Your Passport
2 Confirmation that you are covered by Health Insurance
3 Your original acceptance letter from University College Cork
4 Proof of Financial Support:
Sponsorship letter from government or home institution* stating that ALL expenses are covered
OR
Bank Statement from an Irish Bank Account – The International Office will assist students in opening an Irish Bank Account at Orientation. To register with Immigration students are required to have the following amount of money lodged in their account: 500 EURO per month or a minimum of 3,000 EURO per year
- Students attending Fall Semester should have 2,000 EURO in their account when
registering at Immigration
- Students attending for the Spring Semester should have 2,500 EURO in their
account when registering at Immigration
- Students attending for the Full Academic Year must have at least 3,000 EURO in
their account when registering at Immigration.
These figures are non-negotiable.
* Please note: in most cases your home institution will not be covering your personal expenses while in Ireland
so you will be required to open an Irish Bank account.
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CONTENTS Page A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 7 1 CORK CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY 8 1.1 Cork City 8 1.2 University College Cork - a short historical summary 8 1.3 University College Cork today 9 2 GETTING TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 9 2.1 Application 9 2.2 Getting to Cork 9 2.3 Arrival in Cork 10 2.4 Immigration Procedures 11 3 ACADEMIC PROCEDURES 13 3.1 Academic Programmes 13 3.2 Orientation Programmes 14 3.3 Calculating module loads and credits 14 3.4 Choosing your modules 15 3.5 Pre-registration: specifying your module choices in advance 16 3.6 Restrictions on module choices 16 3.7 Registration (Enrolment) as a UCC student 17 3.8 Can you change modules after your arrival? 17 3.9 Methods of assessment 17 3.10 Explanation of UCC transcript for Visiting Students 18 3.11 Examinations Appeals Procedure 18 4 SERVICES FOR STUDENTS 18 4.1 Office opening hours on campus 18 4.2 International Office 19 4.3 Support Officer for International Students 19 4.4 Accommodation 19 4.5 The Boole Library 20 4.6 Restaurant Facilities 21 4.7 Computer and Email Facilities 21 4.8 Student Health Department 22 4.9 Student Counselling and Development 23 4.10 Disability Support Service 24 4.11 Protecting your rights on campus 24 4.12 Devere Hall - Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre 25 4.13 Campus Radio 98.3FM 25 4.14 Banking on campus 25
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5 PRACTICAL LIFE AT THE UNIVERSITY 26 5.1 Estimated cost of living 26 5.2 Social Activities 26 5.3 Sport and Recreation 27 5.4 Chaplaincy 28 5.5 Students’ Union 29 6 GENERAL INFORMATION 29 6.1 Currency 29 6.2 Climate 29 6.3 Electricity 30 6.4 Postal Service 30 6.5 Telephone Service 30 6.6 Magazines, Newspapers, Circulars 31 6.7 Personal Safety 31 6.8 Study and Work 31 6.9 Emergency Services 32 6.10 Entertainment 33 6.11 Public Holidays in Ireland 33 6.12 Public Transport 34 6.13 Embassy Addresses 34 7 SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES FOR NON-EU VISITING STUDENTS 35 7.1 Early Start Semester Programmes 35 7.2 Certificate in Irish Studies 41 7.3 Diploma in Irish Traditional Music 42 7.4 Certificate in Political Science 42 7.5 Certificate in Conflict and Conflict Resolution 43 7.6 Certificate in European Human Rights 43 7.7 Certificate in International Human Rights 43 7.8 Certificate in Irish Politics 44 7.9 Diploma in Common Law (European) 44 8.0 Summer Schools at UCC 49 APPENDIX 1: IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AT UCC 45 APPENDIX 2: EMBASSY ADDRESS 47 APPENDIX 3: MAP AND INDEX OF UCC 47 APPENDIX 4: MAP OF CORK CITY 47
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK University College Cork extends a warm welcome to visiting students from the United States, Canada and other non-EU countries. Those of you who do decide to come to study at UCC will be some distance from home; we will do our best to ensure that your stay with us will be academically rewarding and socially enjoyable. We have over 2,000 international students studying at the University during a typical academic year. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures and do much to enhance and enrich life at the University. We hope you will find the information in this booklet informative and helpful. It covers such matters as application and registration procedures, course loads and the choice of courses, campus services, accommodation costs and social life. UCC has taken a number of steps to ensure that visiting students coming here receive all the necessary attention and assistance they need. The International Office is responsible for the overall co-ordination of the many programmes in which we are partners and can assist with the various practical and personal matters which arise for any student settling into a new environment in an unfamiliar country. A number of special orientation programmes have been organised for incoming visiting students. I would like to take this opportunity to urge strongly your attendance at the appropriate orientation programme. It will allow us to provide you with a detailed introduction to the University and student life here, while giving you a little time to look around and familiarise yourself with Cork and with Irish life and culture before starting your studies. You will find the dates and locations of the various orientation programmes in this booklet. The historical links between Ireland and North America have always been strong and it is a particular pleasure to welcome American and Canadian students travelling in the other direction, as it were, from that traditionally taken by Irish emigrants. We are confident that your stay with us will be a fruitful one and that you will leave Ireland with fond memories of your time spent in University College Cork. Dr. Michael Murphy, President.
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1 CORK CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY 1.1 CORK CITY Cork, second largest city of the state of Ireland, is located on the south coast, 160 miles south west of the capital, Dublin. The greater Cork area has a population in excess of 200,000. The city is a busy seaport and is the home of a large number of industries including electronics, pharmaceuticals, brewing and food processing. The surrounding environment is as varied as it is beautiful. Cork is ideally situated at the head of the inlet of Cork Harbour with the sea just to the south, mountains, hills and river valleys to the north and east and the well-known lakes of Killarney only one hour’s drive to the west. Cork's history has been influenced by various cultures. The Danes settled the city and founded a trading centre on the banks of the River Lee. In 1172 the city was granted its first charter by Henry II of England and was held subsequently by the English for a long period. During the upheavals of 1919-20, prior to independence, Cork became a focus of nationalist politics and a main centre of resistance to military repression. There is a good mixture of educational, sporting and cultural interests in the city. Among Cork's cultural offerings are an art gallery with public painting and sculpture galleries, an Opera House, numerous theatres and a city museum. The city has an active social life and is a centre each year for International Film, Choral, Folk and Jazz festivals. 1.2 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK: A SHORT HISTORICAL SUMMARY Built around a beautiful stone-faced quadrangle, University College Cork opened its doors to students in November 1849. So began over a century and a half of teaching and research on behalf of the local community and the nation. In 1845 Sir Robert Peel's Colleges Bill had established three non-denominational Queen's Colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast. Professors were appointed in August 1849 and soon afterwards the Colleges opened for students. In 1850 the Queen's University in Ireland was founded, with the power to confer degrees on the students of the three colleges. The Irish University Education Act, 1879, provided for the formation of a new University, the Royal University of Ireland, and for the dissolution of the Queen's University. In 1908, Birrel, Chief Secretary of Ireland, introduced the Irish Universities Act establishing the National University of Ireland and the Queen's University, Belfast, and in October of that year the Royal University was dissolved. University College Cork became one of the three constituent colleges of the National University of Ireland, the others being University College Dublin and University College Galway. The Universities Act, 1997, established UCC as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. The official name is now University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork. The title “University College Cork” continues to be used on a day-to-day basis.
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1.3 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK TODAY University College Cork has four colleges: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, Business and Law, Medicine and Health and Science, Engineering and Food Science. There are over 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies. To cater for the growth in student numbers, which has been particularly strong since the 1960s, a large scale building programme is ongoing. In addition, many older buildings have been refurbished and other buildings acquired for academic purposes. A modern campus has emerged from these developments, pleasantly combining early and modern architecture along a riverside garden setting close to the city centre. The campus radiates a warm and intimate atmosphere which greatly enhances the learning environment. 2 GETTING TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK
2.1 APPLICATION The application form is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/ Please note that an up-to-date original transcript should be sent. A health questionnaire must also be completed and should accompany the application. The minimum G.P.A. required is normally 3.0 or above. However, applications at and above 2.8 will be considered. Thus, if a student who wishes to study history at UCC has good grades in history or a related topic but an overall G.P.A. of less than 3.0 because of lower grades in an unrelated subject, his/her application will be treated sympathetically. We regret that applications with a G.P.A. of less than 2.8 cannot be accepted. The deadline for applications for the Early Start, Autumn Semester and Full Academic Year programmes is the Friday 3rd June 2016, although you should note that in the case of certain housing options, the earlier you apply the better. The deadline for Spring Semester applications is the 21st October 2016. It may be possible to take a small number of late applications, although in such cases you should note that a minimum G.P.A. entry requirement of 3.0 will be rigorously adhered to. Please note that in the case of other programmes offering study options at UCC (e.g. API, Arcadia University – The College of Global Studies, Institute for Study Abroad – Butler University, Boston College, Suffolk University, University of California, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USAC, Washington College) different procedures and deadlines may apply. You should consult the appropriate literature in such cases. 2.2 GETTING TO CORK In all probability you will be flying into Shannon or Dublin (there are no direct flights from US/Canada/Asia/Australia to Cork), or via London, which has frequent direct connections with Cork. Whichever way you arrive, there are a number of possibilities for getting to Cork.
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Regular bus services connect Shannon Airport and Limerick, from where you may take a bus or a train to Cork: the journey takes less than two hours. From Dublin there are frequent connections by train (from Heuston Station: there is a direct bus there from Dublin Airport as well as regular city services) or bus (Busáras, the central bus station, also connected with the airport by bus). There are two direct bus services operated by Aircoach and GoBe direct to Cork from the Arrivals Terminal in Dublin Airport. If you are travelling via the UK, it is possible, as mentioned, to fly directly from London to Cork. You may also fly from other British and European cities directly or by transiting through Dublin or London. For information on bus and train connections please consult the following websites: http://www.buseireann.ie/ http://www.irishrail.ie/ http://www.aircoach.ie/ http://www.gobe.ie/ 2.3 ARRIVAL IN CORK Passports and Immigration Control At the port of entry into Ireland all students must pass through passport and immigration control. To receive official permission to enter Ireland you will need the following documents:
Your valid international passport
Your original UCC acceptance letter offering you a place at the institution Cork Airport Cork Airport is 6 km (4 miles) from the city centre. Bus Éireann is one of the only bus companies that provide travel to and from Cork Airport directly into Cork’s city centre. Bus Éireann:
Estimated Journey Time: 10-15 minutes
Buses run 19 hours a day from 05.40 – 00.05, Monday – Saturday
Buses run from 07.45 – 23.05 on Sundays and public holidays
Fares: Adult Single - €4.75 / Return €6.94
Website: http://www.buseirann.ie A taxi rank is also located at the airport. A taxi fare to the city centre costs approximately €20-€25, depending on traffic. Cork Airport: www.corkairport.com; Telephone Number: + 353 21 4313131 Cork Train Station (Kent Station)
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The train station is located in Lower Glanmire Road, quite close to the city centre. A taxi rank operates at the station. There are regular services to and from Dublin, Limerick, Rosslare Harbour, Waterford and Tralee. Intermediate towns and other parts of the country are served by connecting services. Details on train services can be found on Iarnród Éireann's Travel Centre’s website at http://www.irishrail.ie. You may avail of a reduced rate for travel on trains once you have a valid Student Travel card. Information about the Student Travel card is available at http://www.studenttravelcard.ie. Purchasing a train ticket online is the cheapest option. Telephone Number: +353 21 4557277 Bus Office, Parnell Place The bus station is located close to the city centre. Expressway services operate from major towns and cities in Ireland. You may avail of a reduced rate for travel on buses once you have an International Student Identity Card with a "travelsave" stamp. A taxi rank operates at the bus station. The bus station is a three-minute walk from the main shopping street in Cork - Patrick Street. City buses operate from outside Debenhams’ department store in Patrick Street and Merchants Quay Shopping Centre. A number 208 or number 205 bus, which you can take from outside Debenhams, will drop you outside UCC. These buses run approximately every 20 minutes. The cost is €2.00. Telephone Number: +353 21 4508188 Temporary Accommodation If you do not have accommodation arranged prior to your arrival in Cork, you should make arrangements for temporary accommodation in a bed and breakfast guesthouse or hostel. There are a number of bed and breakfast guesthouses close to campus. Prices range from €30 - €50 per night. The hostel closest to campus is An Óige (Irish Youth Hostel Association) 1/2 Redclyffe, Western Rd, Cork. It is located no more than 100 metres from the International Office. Prices start from €22.00. Website: www.anoige.ie Email: [email protected] Telephone: + 353 21 4543289. Fax: +353 21 4343715. Brú Hostel is located at 57 MacCurtain Street, Cork, which is walking distance from both the train station and the bus station. Prices start from €15. All rooms are en suite. Website: www.bruhostel.com Email: [email protected] Telephone: +353 21 455 9667. Fax: +353 21 450 1311. Hostel accommodation is also available at Kinlay House, Bob and Joan’s Walk, Shandon, Cork. Prices range from €14 - €35 depending on the type of room required and the time of the year. Website: www.kinlayhouse.ie Email: [email protected] Telephone: +353 21 4508966. Fax: +353 21 4506927. 2.4 IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES United States, Canadian and Japanese passport-holders do not need visas. However, all non-EU students must register with Immigration within one month of arriving in Ireland. Immigration registration takes place at the Garda Síochána (police) barracks at Anglesea Street in the city centre during normal office hours, which are 10.00am -12 noon and 2.00pm - 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. To register at Immigration in Cork City Centre you will require the following documentation:
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1. Passport 2. UCC ID Card 3. GNIB Form (available from the International Office at UCC) 4. Health Insurance (students are advised to bring copy of their private health insurance policy which
states they are covered while in Ireland and hospital cover is also included) 5. Immigration Card Fee – 300 EURO (can be paid by credit card) 6. Proof of Financial Support:
Sponsorship letter from government or home institution* stating that ALL expenses are covered
OR
Bank Statement from an Irish Bank Account – The International Office will assist students in opening an Irish Bank Account at Orientation. To register with Immigration students are required to have the following amount of money lodged in their account: 500 EURO per month or a minimum of 3,000 EURO per year
Students attending Spring Semester should have 2,500 EURO lodged in their Irish bank account when registering at Immigration.
7. Students must print an ATM receipt on the day they go to register with Immigration showing they have
the above amount in their account on that date. 8. You will be required to return to the Immigration Office after two weeks to collect your Immigration
Card. *Please note: in most cases your home institution will not be covering your personal expenses while in Ireland so you will be required to open an Irish Bank account. Further details will be available at Orientation in UCC.
Cost of Immigration Card:
There will be a €300 charge for all Immigration Cards issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Payment will be by bank giro, issued at the Garda (police) Station only, or by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Laser). Cash/Bank drafts/Postal Orders are not acceptable. Bank Giro Payment: If you pay by bank giro you will have to make two visits to the Immigration Office.
1. On your first visit you will submit all your documents and collect your bank giro form. You will be advised of the duration of processing times (approximately one week).
2. Take the bank giro form to your bank, make payment and retain your receipt. 3. Return to the Immigration Office, with the bank giro receipt, when the appropriate processing time
has elapsed. 4. Provided that your documentation is in order you should be able to collect your Immigration Card.
Credit Card Payment Those making credit card payments will have their Immigration Cards processed immediately, if all the documentation is in order. Please remember that you are a guest in Ireland and the issuing of your Immigration/ Residency/Green Card is at the discretion of the Irish government.
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3. ACADEMIC PROCEDURES 3.1 ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES Programmes for visiting students for the 2016/2017 academic year will be taught as follows: EARLY START SEMESTER 2015
ORIENTATION: Friday 19th August 2016
EARLY START DATES: Monday 22nd August – Friday 9th September 2016 AUTUMN SEMESTER 2015
ORIENTATION: 7th, 8th and 9th September 2016
AUTUMN SEMESTER DATES: Monday 12th September – Friday 2nd December 2016
STUDY REVIEW WEEK: Monday 5th - Friday 9th December 2016
CHRISTMAS RECESS: Thursday 22nd December 2016 – Sunday 15th January 2017
FINAL EXAMINATIONS: Saturday 10th December – Wednesday 21st December 2016 Please note that examinations will commence on the 10th December 2016 and will end on the 21st December 2016 who study at UCC for the Autumn Semester must sit normal end-of-semester examinations. FULL ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-2016
ORIENTATION: 7th, 8th and 9th September 2016 AUTUMN SEMESTER DATES: Monday 12th September – Friday 2nd December 2016
STUDY REVIEW WEEK: Monday 5th - Friday 9th December 2016
CHRISTMAS RECESS: Thursday 22nd December 2016 – Sunday 15th January 2017
FINAL EXAMINATIONS: Saturday 10th December – Wednesday 21st December 2016 SPRING SEMESTER DATES: Monday 16th January – Friday 7th April 2017 EASTER RECESS: Saturday 8th April – Sunday 23rd April 2017
STUDY REVIEW WEEK: Monday 24th April – Friday 28th April 2017
FINAL EXAMINATIONS: Monday 1st May – Friday 12th May 2017 SPRING SEMESTER 2016
ORIENTATION: Thursday 12th and Friday 13th January 2017
SPRING SEMESTER DATES: Monday 16th January – Friday 7th April 2017
EASTER RECESS: Saturday 8th April – Sunday 23rd April 2017
STUDY REVIEW WEEK: Monday 24th April – Friday 28th April 2017
FINAL EXAMINATIONS: Monday 1st May – Friday 12th May 2017 Please note that examinations will commence on the 1st May 2017 and will end on the 12th May 2017 who study at UCC for the Spring Semester must sit normal end-of-year examinations.
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3.2 ORIENTATION PROGRAMMES In order to introduce you to life at University College Cork and to help you to settle in, the University runs a series of orientation programmes designed to tell you about life on campus. In addition, incoming visiting students have the opportunity to attend an informal reception, where you can meet other students and academic and administrative staff responsible for your welfare while here.
Programme Orientation
Early Start Semester
Friday 19th August 2016 Location: To be confirmed – please see our website for updates
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studentinfohub/beforeyouarrive/keydates/
Autumn Semester/ Teaching Period 1 Full Academic Year
7th, 8th and 9th September 2016 Location: To be confirmed – please see our website for updates
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studentinfohub/beforeyouarrive/keydates/
Spring Semester/ Teaching Period 2
Thursday 12th and Friday 13th January 2017
Location: To be confirmed – please see our website for updates
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studentinfohub/beforeyouarrive/keydates/
Orientation Programmes will be available online nearer the relevant dates at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studentinfohub/beforeyouarrive/keydates/ Welcome Programme The Welcome Programme is organised by the International Office for newly arrived international students. It is specifically designed to help them with their initial adjustment to living in Cork and studying at UCC. The programme is full of events and activities providing a great opportunity to make new friends and to familiarise you with UCC and Cork. The range of activities includes a familiarisation tour of UCC campus, a practical walking tour of Cork city, cinema, day trips, a table quiz as well as Irish music and Irish dancing. Participation is free of charge. However, there are a limited number of places for some events and they book up quickly. 3.3 CALCULATING MODULE LOADS AND CREDITS One of the most frequently asked questions, in considering a study abroad programme is "how do I know how many courses to take in order that my own campus will grant me the credits I need?" While the answer to this question depends in the first place on your own university and the matter can sometimes be rather complicated, you may find it helpful to know that UCC has long experience in dealing with course load and credit questions,
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with a very wide range of American campuses. At this stage we have a detailed knowledge of the kind of information which American study abroad advisors, programme managers and faculty need to know about in order to assess whether UCC is a suitable campus for you and how courses and programmes are organised here. What follows is a general description of the UCC system and of the differences between our methods and those with which you are most likely to be familiar. Visiting students from countries such as Australia, Canada and other Non EU Countries should contact the International Office (email: [email protected]) for information and advice on admission requirements and academic procedures. In some respects, the Irish system is different from that of the United States. In general, greater reliance is placed here on the formal lecture rather than, say, the seminar-based approach, although certain elective courses with very small numbers may in effect function as seminars and in some departments lectures are supplemented by practical, tutorial and language laboratory sessions as appropriate. The difference in systems tends to increase the amount of private study required to pass a module, compared to what might be required on an American campus. The academic year at UCC is divided into two semesters, Semester 1 and Semester 2, which are equivalent to the Autumn and Spring Semesters, respectively, for visiting students. Visiting students may also apply for Full Academic Year and Early Start Semester programmes (see section 3.1 above). Courses at the university are taught in modules. A module represents a self-contained fraction of a student’s workload for the year. The size of a module is indicated by its credit weighting. The number of credits allocated to each module will vary depending on the fraction of work it accounts for. A module may equal 5, 10, 15 or 20 credits. A standard 5 credit module offered in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, could, for example, consist of 24 lecture hours, plus associated tutorials, essays and reading, although in certain subjects the lecture load may be greater than 24 hours. UCC students take modules to the value of 60 credits per academic year and no more than 35 credits in any one semester. It is important to note that these credit weightings are not equivalent to the credits awarded by an American institution. In general, a 5 credit UCC module will be awarded either 2.5 or 3 credits in the American academic system. As a broad rule of thumb, a student coming here for a full academic year may expect to take modules to the value of 60 UCC credits; this amount should be halved for semester programmes. The average weekly lecture load should therefore be of the order of 10-12 hours. Normally, 30 U.S. credits will be awarded for a satisfactorily completed year course load; the semester equivalent is usually 15 U.S. credits. However, it is the sending university or agency which ultimately decides on the number of credits to be awarded and not the receiving university, University College Cork in this case. Advice on changes in module choices, course loads etc. is available from the International Office, who can assist students in putting together an appropriate package of modules. Assistance may also be sought from lecturers and from department secretariats. Student counsellors are available for consultation on developing study skills. 3.4 CHOOSING YOUR MODULES The majority of visiting students coming to UCC will wish to take modules in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. Departments are happy to consider applications from students to take virtually any module (there are restrictions in some cases: these are set out in the Book of Modules for Visiting Students available on the International Office website - http://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/visiting/ - but it is helpful to bear a number of points in mind.
Demand for some modules is extremely high. This is particularly the case for modules in Applied Psychology, Science modules, Food and Nutritional Sciences, English and History, where the demands of Irish and other
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European students frequently coincide with those of visiting American students. Please bear in mind that it is not always possible to guarantee admission to particular modules, although we will do our best to offer you places in the modules you prefer.
While the academic year is divided into two semesters and most modules are taught on a semester basis, some modules are taught over the full academic year. These may not be an option for students studying at UCC for just one semester.
Visiting students usually wish to be offered places in tutorials which present the opportunity to address the material under discussion in a more informal and detailed way than in the larger lecture group. Generally, places in tutorials are offered on the same basis as for local students. However, the School of English, which has the largest number of students, is constrained by staffing and practical considerations and cannot offer tutorial classes in parallel with every module. The School of English offers (a) a special seminar class which is confined to full-degree students (i.e. not including visiting European and American students) and (b) offers separate tutorials to visiting American students taking modules in the Department of English. This means that lectures are "integrated" but tutorials are not.
As there is a wide range of modules open to visiting students at UCC it is important to ensure that careful consideration is given when selecting modules. For instance, a student without a background in a particular subject should not in general choose a specialised third or fourth year module in the subject. There will also be occasional but inevitable incompatibilities because of timetable conflicts or some other logistical problems. Students should consult with their academic advisors at their home universities, who can assist them in making the right choices, before specifying their module choices.
3.5 PRE-REGISTRATION: SPECIFYING YOUR MODULE CHOICES IN ADVANCE
On the application form, all visiting students are asked to indicate your module choices in descending order of preference (i.e. put the module you want most at the top of the list, and so on). Four to Six weeks, prior to your arrival, you will select your modules online. Students will receive instructions via email about selecting their modules online. Please note that it is not always possible to guarantee admission to particular modules, although we will do our best to offer you places in the modules you prefer.
3.6 RESTRICTIONS ON MODULE CHOICES There are a certain number of cases, as mentioned earlier, where restrictions on module choices have had to be imposed. Thus, students are in general not permitted to take first year English modules, as classes are very large and it is difficult, if not impossible, to provide tutorial support. Other departments may also have certain restrictions. There is a quota on the number of modules which visiting students may follow in the School of English. You may take modules to the value of fifteen credits for a semester and twenty-five credits for the full academic year. The School of Food and Nutritional Sciences only accept students with a detailed knowledge of Nutritional Sciences into their modules. Where restrictions do exist we have tried to indicate this in the Book of Modules for Visiting Students information on the web at http://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/visiting/ On a more general level, and for the reasons set out already, we do try to ensure that an excessive proportion of visiting students do not "cluster" in certain modules. This inevitably means that a number of particularly popular modules may not be able to admit all those who want to take them.
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Even with the best will in the world, difficulties may sometimes arise because of timetable conflicts. This is because of the more rigid nature of the curriculum followed by the typical Irish Arts student, compared to the American system. Such a student is normally a joint honours (double major) student, following designated modules, including required or core modules. Thus, second year modules must be taken in second year, third year modules in third year and so on. The time-tabling is arranged in such a way as to prevent conflicts within the framework just set out; even then there are a small number of incompatible choices. The difficulty which may occur for the visiting student arises precisely from the comparatively greater freedom the latter may also have to choose modules, not only in several different subjects, but also across different years. Thus, a third year English module may conflict with a second year Celtic Civilisation module, precisely because this is a choice which would not arise for the "domestic" student. Again the International Office will do everything to ensure that the visiting student will be given quality advice on module selection. 3.7 REGISTRATION (ENROLMENT) AS A UCC STUDENT All visiting students studying at UCC during the 2016/2017 academic year will register (enrol) online. Instructions on the online registration process will be available to you prior to your arrival to UCC. Once the registration (enrolment) process has been completed you will receive your UCC student card at orientation, which grants you access to all the usual range of student services on campus and constitutes proof that you are a registered student. Your UCC student card is also a machine-readable library card, enabling you to use the library’s borrowing services immediately. It also allows you to open an email account and to use the sports facilities at the university. 3.8 CAN YOU CHANGE MODULES AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL? The advantage of choosing your modules before arriving at UCC is that it is much easier than going around from department to department after your arrival here, when you are already trying to absorb so much information about a new campus, a new culture, and a new country. It also makes life easier for you, for your own study abroad advisor at your home campus. However, you may find that a module you have chosen is really not for you. Perhaps it is not at the right level or maybe the module description led you to expect something different. You can change modules, subject to the availability of a suitable alternative choice. You must make any such changes within one week of your arrival; after that time, it would be very difficult to begin a new module. If you would like to change modules, you should seek advice. If your programme has an on-campus academic advisor, s/he should be your first port of call. Otherwise, the staff of the International Office can help you. You have one week after general registration to finalise your module choices. You must then notify the International Office of your choices in order for the options you have chosen to be recorded on your transcript. 3.9 METHODS OF ASSESSMENT Assessment is usually by examination and by work submitted during the academic year. Formal examinations are held at the end of each Semester with repeat examinations held the following August after the academic year has ended. Departmental examinations and assessments take place at various times of the year. As a general rule, the approach is to integrate the visiting student to the maximum extent possible into the procedures normally observed by the Irish student. Visiting students who are studying at UCC must therefore sit the normal end of semester examinations, as is the case for Irish students. No alternative arrangements can be made.
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It should be noted that, as students are permitted to choose modules across Colleges and years, there is a possibility of exam timetable conflicts occurring. In the event of such conflicts special arrangements are made by the International Office but generally the student will take the exams on the same day. UCC will issue a transcript in all cases, showing modules taken and results obtained by the student. 3.10 EXPLANATION OF UCC TRANSCRIPT FOR VISITING STUDENTS Module Codes The first digit of the module code relates to the year of the module, i.e. AR1002: First Year Archaeology EN2012: Second Year English Marking System 1H First-Class Honours > 70% 2H1 Second-Class Honours, Grade 1 60%-69% 2H2 Second-Class Honours, Grade 2 50%-59% 3H Third-Class Honours (where awarded) 45%-49% Pass 40%-45% ABS Absent from Examination FA Did not submit assignments
American Grading Equivalents Marks in the following ranges would have the approximate American grade of
30 - 34 = D+ 35 - 39 = C- 40 - 44 = C 45 - 49 = C+ 50 - 54 = B- 55 - 59 = B 60 - 64 = B+ 65 - 69 = A- 70 = A 3.11 EXAMINATIONS APPEALS PROCEDURE Students may formally seek a check of their examination results or appeal their examination results. Further information, if required, is available in the International Office. 4 SERVICES FOR STUDENTS 4.1 OFFICE OPENING HOURS ON CAMPUS
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The normal office hours on campus are: 9.00am - 1.00pm 2.00pm - 5.00pm The offices are open Monday-Friday, apart from public holidays and short periods at Christmas and Easter. The International Office is open five days per week, Monday to Friday. Restricted office hours will be put in place during the Autumn and Spring Semester. Students will be informed of the restricted office hours by email before they come into effect. Emergency Contact Details: In the event of an emergency such as death, bereavement, serious illness or accident, please contact the following: Emergency Contact – During Office Hours Support Officer for International Students, Suzanne Buckley, + 353 21 490 4725 International Office Reception + 353 21 490 4734 Emergency Contact – Outside Office Hours University Reception/Security + 353 21 490 2266 (ask for a staff member in the International Office to be contacted). Emergency Services Ambulance, Police and Fire Brigade – 112 or 999 for emergency situations ONLY. 4.2 INTERNATIONAL OFFICE The International Office is located in Roseleigh on Western Road. The office provides for the most effective possible promotion and administration of UCC's international programmes. Tasks include the dissemination of information about the University to external agencies, partner universities and interested students (through means such as this booklet), the administration of the various practical arrangements connected with application and registration of visiting and full degree international students, and the organisation of orientation programmes for such students. 4.3 SUPPORT OFFICER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS The particular responsibility of the Support Officer for International Students is to help students to settle in and enjoy their stay; she acts as an identifiable point of contact with the various services on campus, seeking to ensure that problems of adjustment are minimised and that students derive the maximum benefit and enjoyment from their time at UCC. 4.4 ACCOMMODATION Students will receive information on booking their accommodation when they are offered a place at UCC.
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4.5 THE BOOLE LIBRARY The Boole Library, situated centrally on the Campus, provides a range of services to support the research and teaching of all University courses. The central location of the Library underlines its importance to all the faculties. Opened in 1983, the Boole Library, the largest in Munster, currently contains over 700,000 books and 3,500 print periodical titles, with access to approximately 60,000 e-journals and 70+ databases. Consult the obelisk in the main foyer for an outline plan of the book stock, which is organised in accordance with the Dewey Decimal Classification. Dispersed over four floors are 2,950 reader places, as well some twenty carrels, adjacent to the open access book collections. Once you are a registered student at UCC you will receive an ID card. This automatically entitles you to full membership of the library. Your ID card is also your Library card. We also have arrangements with other university libraries where visiting facilities can be made available to you. As well as printed sources, Information Technology is being increasingly employed by the Library to ensure comprehensive and easy access to the growing electronic resources available locally and over data networks. Except for a few enclosed areas, most of the holdings are open access on three floors of the Library; the basement houses the Research Centre. Books in demand, identifiable by a yellow spine label, may be borrowed for four nights, others for two weeks. Certain categories of material, i.e. desk reserve, reference and periodicals may only be consulted in the Library. Some specialist Areas within the Library
Government Publications, European Documentation Centre
Multi-Media Facilities
Special Collection, Manuscripts and Rare Books
Science, Engineering, Medicine
Social Science
Law
50 PCs with full access to the Internet, data bases and with printing facilities
Library Services Provided
Specialist Information Staff to help and guide you with your subject areas
Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) – Guide to all the materials in the Library
Library Orientation Tours in first term for the new student
General Information Service on the ground floor of the Library to direct and help you on where to go and whom to talk to for your Library needs
Subject-based Research Information Service on each floor staffed during the day and evenings to help you make the most effective use of the Library’s resources
Library Instruction Sessions/Information Skills Training can be organised through your course director and lecturers, throughout the year
Lending Services incorporates a Self-Issue machine so you can issue the Library book to yourself during the Opening hours of the Library
Document Delivery Service – you can arrange to get items not in our stock from other libraries
Web access to our catalogue and other catalogues in Ireland from campus or from home
Access to the Internet available on floors of the Library
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Photocopying and Printing facilities
Access past examination papers Information on the library’s opening hours can be found at http://booleweb.ucc.ie/ 4.6 RESTAURANT FACILITIES There is a wide range of catering facilities on campus from the Main and Mini Restaurants to separate facilities in the Bio Café (BioSciences Building), the Western Gateway Building, Pharmacy Café (Cavanagh Building), the Coffee Dock (O’Rahilly Building), Brookfield Café (Brookfield Health Sciences Complex), Café Glucksman, and Old College Bar, and Café Oasis, Café Panorama, Tóg Leat and Club Áras (New Bar) in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre and Elements Café in the Kane Building. A set meal in the main restaurant will cost approximately €6.00. A "student special" costs approximately €4.00. 4.7 COMPUTER AND EMAIL FACILITIES Computers and information technology are very much part of everyday life in UCC. They are used to support teaching, research and communications generally. There is a wide range of IT equipment on the campus including around 2,500 PCs connected to a campus network which in turn is linked to national and international networks, including the Internet, to allow rapid access to information and computing resources throughout the world. Students can have access to the computer facilities through the clusters of PCs available in many departments or through the microcomputer centres which are located in different areas on the campus. These facilities are being constantly expanded and upgraded to ensure that the very latest technology is available. Some of the facilities are designed to cater for the specialist needs of students pursuing courses in Computer Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Business Information Systems and others, and reflect the most-up-to-date information technology available in the corresponding sectors of industry, commerce and the professions. However, open-access computer rooms with full PC, email and Internet facilities are provided for all students in the following locations which are listed online at http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/about/ Students are welcome to walk in and use these facilities at any time during opening hours (normally 8.30am to 10.30pm). Registered students can connect to UCC Wifi. To register your devices go the http://sit.ucc.ie and click on “Wifi” for further instructions. Further assistance is also available at the IT Helpdesk in the Boole Basement. Every student on campus has a Portal@UCC account which is set up specifically to provide access to a variety of facilities including your UCC Umail account, Blackboard, Student Print Account, MyStudentAdmin and Smartcard Topup. Personal email facilities are available to each new student at time of registration (enrolment) and remain in place for as long as s/he is registered as a UCC student. All information regarding student IT facilities and assistance is available online at http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/ 4.8 STUDENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT 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
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service is available during office hours, Monday to Friday: 9.15am - 12.15pm and 2.15pm-4.15pm. Telephone: 021 4902311. The staff consists of five doctors and four nurses. 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 - 021 4542551 - where doctors are available on a rota basis Monday to Friday, between 4.15pm and 6pm, and Saturday, up to 1pm. Students are liable for charges, which may arise from the use of this emergency service.
The Student Health Department does not do home visits or house calls. However for students who are not yet registered with a GP Dr. Colm Gleeson and his practice are available:
Before 6pm
Mon-Fri/Sat up to 1pm
021-4542551
After 6pm
Mon-Fri & Weekends after 1pm
1850-335999 (South Doc)
Students will be responsible for any fees incurred. Accident and Emergency services are available in the Emergency Departments in the local hospitals, but this service is limited to accidents and emergencies only. There is a charge for those who attend the Emergency Departments in General Hospitals but it is free to medical card holders, those with doctors letters, those with E111, E109, E128, European Health Cards and UK students.
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 small fee. A doctor’s letter is required for referral to this service. SouthDoc After hours we recommend that students contact SouthDoc. What is SouthDoc? This is a scheme that the majority of GPs (General Practitioners) in Cork city subscribe to. There are two city centre clinics, Southside/Kinsale Road and Blackpool, which service the city after hours. It is designed for patients who need to see a GP but don't need to visit Accident and Emergency in one of the local hospitals, 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. 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. Telephone: 1850 335 999. Students from outside the EU are required to be covered by private health insurance while studying in Ireland. 4.9 STUDENT COUNSELLING AND DEVELOPMENT Student Counselling and Development is located, along with the Student Health Department, in Ardpatrick House, next to the car park on College Road.
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Counselling and support are available for students who require assistance in dealing with problems which may be blocking their academic and social progress in college. Throughout the academic year, workshops are provided for students who wish to develop in such areas as relationships, assertiveness, self-esteem, stress management and study skills. To contact the Student Counselling and Development service for further information or for an initial appointment: Telephone Number: + 353 21 4903565; Text: 087 2152505 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/studentcounselling/ or Call to Reception: Room 6, Ardpatrick, College Road, Cork. Monday-Friday: 9.15am - 12.15pm and 2.30pm-4.15pm. 4.10 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICE UCC welcomes international students with disabilities and the Disability Support Service at the University has developed progressive partnerships with support services throughout the world. Staff at the Disability Support Service are available to support students with disabilities who are pursuing degree and diploma programmes in the University. Students who utilise the service include students who are blind or vision impaired, students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students with mobility disabilities, students with specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, students with hidden disabilities such as mental health difficulties or significant on-going illnesses such as epilepsy. The service provides an individualised customised response to each student’s needs, focusing on the individual and not on the disability. International students are advised to contact the Disability Support Service in UCC via e mail for information on supports available to them whilst studying in UCC. This is crucial, as funding for supports will need to be secured in advance of embarking on the Study Abroad or ERASMUS programme in the University. In relation to examinations, students are required to abide by UCC’s regulations regarding extra time on grounds of disability. The University’s policy is to allow students with disabilities ten minutes per hour of extra time for their examinations. The Disability Support Service can provide the following support services once an allocation of funding from the Home University is made available to international students with disabilities.
Assessments and training in Assistive Technology
Dyslexia support programme
Tutor Support programme
Texts converted into Alternative Media formats
Note taking Programme
Irish Sign Language interpreters to support deaf or hearing impaired students
On-campus transport service The Disability Support Service is open daily from 10.15am to 12.45pm and from 2.15pm to 4.45pm Further information is available from:
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Mary O’Grady, Disability Support Officer/ Head of Service, Disability Support Service South Lodge, University College Cork. Telephone Number: + 353 21 4902985 Fax Number: + 353 21 4903123 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/dss 4.11 PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS ON CAMPUS The University is committed to a policy of equality. Students who feel they have a grievance have several channels through which advice and information may be sought and further action may be initiated, if necessary. Grievances of any kind should, as a general rule, be dealt with if possible through the most direct channels possible. Sometimes problems may be solved by raising them directly with the person concerned or through the academic or administrative department involved. If this is not possible, a number of other avenues exist. The Office of Ombudsman exists to enable any student who has any grievance with the University, its staff or fellow students, to have that grievance evaluated and action taken, if appropriate. All contacts with the Ombudsman are guaranteed to be absolutely confidential and remain so unless it is the wish of the student that it be otherwise. The Ombudsman will sympathetically and impartially examine any grievances which a student may have, in order to ascertain the facts and validity of the case. S/he has access to all relevant persons in the University and has freedom to investigate. S/he is independent from any institutional influence and reports directly to the President of the University. In general s/he serves as a mediator to resolve disputes informally rather than as an arbitrator. Other channels open to students include the Students’ Union (which also offers legal advice), the Student Counselling Service and the Support Officer for International Students. In all cases consultations are confidential. University College Cork is also affiliated to the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS), an independent, non-governmental organisation established in 1970 to promote the welfare of overseas students and trainees in Ireland. The ICOS Code of Practice, to which UCC is a signatory, lays down principles and procedures for the pursuit of appropriate policies with regard to international students in Irish universities. 4.12 DEVERE HALL - ÁRAS NA MAC LÉINN/STUDENT CENTRE Devere Hall - Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre, provides amenities to cater for the needs of an increasing student population and centralises in one location a wide range of student services. Facilities include cafés, multifunctional hall, photocopying shop, bank, a convenient mini-market, a stationery shop, pool room, meeting rooms, Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM and public telephones. There is an information desk in the main hallway. Further information is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/anml/ 4.13 CAMPUS RADIO 98.3FM Cork Campus Radio is the community radio station for University College Cork. The station broadcasts daily on 98.3FM from a purpose-built studio in Devere Hall - Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. CCR gives student and
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staff volunteers the opportunity to create radio of their own. If you would like to become involved in the running of the station volunteer application forms are available at the Information Desk in Devere Hall - Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. 4.14 BANKING ON CAMPUS It is of great benefit to students to establish a banking connection as soon as they arrive on campus. Staff in Bank of Ireland understand students' financial arrangements and can offer financial advice suitable to students' needs. In order to open a bank account you will need your passport/driver’s licence/national I.D, your letter of acceptance from UCC and the proof of Irish address which is available from the International Office. The bank is located in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. ATM cash dispenser machines are also located in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre, Main Restaurant, Boole Basement, and Brookfield Health Sciences Complex. Information on the service provided by Bank of Ireland and the bank’s opening hours is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/anml/retail/bankofireland/ If there is a delay in receiving money from abroad or if some unexpected event occurs, the advice of the Support Officer for International Students should be sought. 5 PRACTICAL LIFE AT THE UNIVERSITY 5.1 ESTIMATED COST OF LIVING Tuition fees do not include amounts for maintenance. Fees for the 2016/2017 academic programmes are
available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/ It can be difficult to work out how much the cost of living is in a different country. Cost of living may vary greatly according to lifestyle. What type and standard of accommodation suits your needs? Will you cook for yourself or will you eat in campus restaurants? How much will you need to spend on course textbooks and equipment? How much will you spend on leisure activities? Do you have transport costs? It is best to work out what your estimated income and expenditure will be and budget accordingly.
The following approximate figures serve as an indication of the overall expenses per month. Please note that these figures serve as a guide only.
These figures serve as a guide only.
EXPENSES COST IN EURO PER MONTH
Accommodation – Room €300 – 650
Accommodation – Booking Deposit €300 (refundable)
Accommodation – Utility Bills (Light, heat etc. –
based on 3 people sharing)
€50
Meals €420
Text Books and Stationary
(Dependent on course)
€75
Transport (local) €60
Personal Expenses
(Social Functions, sport etc)
€300
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Total €1,505 – €1,855
5.2 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES There is a wide variety of social activities to choose from both on and off the campus. Students have ample opportunity to combine a vibrant social life with an active commitment to their studies. The University has more than 70 student societies with something to suit everyone, from Drama to Irish and Traditional Music to Photography. The International Students Society organises various social and cultural events throughout the academic year. Membership of the Society is open to every student and its aims are to facilitate cross-cultural learning and to develop social integration by providing a meeting-place for international and Irish students in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. One of the highlights of the year is International Cultures Week which is organised by the Support Officer for International Students and the Student Centre and which takes place in February. International Cultures Weeks celebrates different traditions and cultures and it involves exhibitions, films, music, dance and performance. One of the most popular events is the cookery competition and food tasting. All are welcome to get involved so watch out for posters and flyers looking for volunteers. The Societies Open Day will take place during the first week of term in the Multi-Functional Hall in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. This is an opportunity not to be missed because it provides a unique cross-section of the social side of university life at a glance. No better way exists for international students to settle into university life than to join one or more of these organisations. An up-to-date list of student societies is available at http://www.collegeroad.ie/getinvolved
5.3 SPORT AND RECREATION Sport and recreation have an important place in the lives of students at University College Cork. The University has extensive outdoor sports facilities as well as indoor facilities. The list of Clubs is as follows (subject to change): Aikido Association Football Athletic Badminton Basketball Boxing Bridge Camogie Canoe Chess Cricket Cycling Dance
Equestrian Fencing GAA Handball Gaelic Football Go Golf Handball Hurling Inline Hockey Judo Juggling & Aerobalance Karate
Kendo Kickboxing Kite Surfing Kung Fu Ladies Gaelic Football Ladies Soccer Lawn Tennis Mens Hockey Mens Soccer Motorcycle Mountaineering Olympic Handball
Orienteering Paintballing Parachute Paragliding Pool & Snooker Racing Racquetball Rowing Rugby Sailing Scout & Guide Snowsports Softball
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Squash Sub-Aqua Diving Surfing Swimming & Waterpolo Table Tennis Tae Kwon Do Trampolining Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball Water-Ski Windsurfing Women’s Hockey Wushu
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The Clubs Open Day will take place during the first week of term, in the Multi-Functional Hall in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. Students are encouraged to attend the open day and to join one or more of the many clubs at the university. If you are unable to meet a Club at the Open Day, you can contact the P.E. Office for further details. Indoor Sports Centre (Mardyke Arena) The indoor sports centre is located at the Mardyke, very close to the main campus. The centre incorporates a 25m Swimming Pool, 3 Sports Halls, Dance Studio, Climbing Wall, Fitness Centre, and various other facilities. All registered students are members of the Arena. To activate your membership, please go to the reception desk of the Arena with your student card and your membership will be activated. The Mardyke Arena offers students a comprehensive recreational programme which will be available on http://www.mardykearena.com/ Mardyke Sports Grounds Located, as the name suggests in the Mardyke, just 5 minutes from campus. Outdoor facilities here include a fully floodlit Rugby/Soccer pitch, a fully floodlit GAA pitch, a floodlit Synthetic Athletics Track, and a floodlit Synthetic Hockey/Soccer Pitch. "The Farm" Curraheen Road Playing Fields ("The Farm"), two miles away on a direct bus route, have 55 acres with provision for rugby, soccer, gaelic games and cricket (artificial synthetic wicket). The Human Performance Laboratory A special feature of the sport and recreation programmes is the Human Performance Laboratory where all members of the University are afforded an opportunity to have their fitness levels assessed with the aid of the most modern scientific techniques and equipment. Advice is also given on improving lifestyle habits. Other facilities used by UCC are Presentation College Sports Hall, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Kinsale Yacht Club, Hopp Island Riding Centre, Greybrook Riding Centre, Brookfield Leisure Centre, Leisureworld Swimming Pool at Bishopstown, Cork Tennis Village, and Shandon Boat Club. For further details on Sport & Recreation contact the Office of Sport & Recreation, Mardyke Arena. Tel: +353 (0) 21 4904752 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ucc.ie/services/physed/ 5.4 CHAPLAINCY The Chaplaincy at UCC is ecumenical, representing the four main Christian churches, and is a service that offers friendship and support to all within the university community. It provides opportunities for spiritual nourishment, for faith development, for volunteering and practical engagement in issues of social justice. It is student-friendly and collaborative; students are involved in ongoing planning and in all the activities and projects of the chaplaincy e.g. social involvements, pilgrimage experiences, retreats, seminars, outreach to the student body at large.
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The Chaplaincy Centre at IONA on College Road is a place of welcome and friendship, open to people of all faiths and of none. The chaplains will be happy to meet you, to offer guidance and support, to help and advice. There are centres of worship and facilities for religious services for most of the major religions (including Judaism and Islam) in Cork. 5.5 STUDENTS’ UNION Every student of the university is a member of the Students’ Union, which is formally recognised by a Regulation of the Governing Body. Four full-time officers (President, Deputy President - Education Officer, Welfare Officer and Publications and Communications Officer) as well as seven other Executive Committee student officers are elected annually to the student body. The Students’ Union promotes and protects the interests of its members, representing them at various levels in the university and at national level. The Students’ Union organises a programme of entertainment during the academic year. Each year the Students’ Union publishes a Student handbook, which is designed to help first year and international students. The offices of the Students’ Union are located in the Student Union Building, behind the O’Rahilly Building, Main Campus. http://www.collegeroad.ie/ 6 GENERAL INFORMATION 6.1 CURRENCY The currency in Ireland is the euro. One euro (€) is divided into one hundred cent. There are €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 notes and coins in denominations of €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c. At the time of going to print (January 2016) the approximate value of the euro in a number of international currencies is as follows: €1 1.09 U.S. Dollar 0.77 Pound Sterling 132.080 Japanese Yen 1.54 Canadian Dollar 1.54 Australian Dollar Credit Cards All major credit cards are accepted throughout Ireland 6.2 CLIMATE The Irish climate is mild, with no extremes of heat or cold, and might be compared with the coastal climate of the northerly parts of the United States. Temperatures rarely fall outside the range of 320 - 700 F. Rainfall, while not as frequent and persistent as is sometimes rumoured, is unpredictable. Bring a mix of winter and summer clothing including waterproof outer wear!
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6.3 ELECTRICITY The standard mains voltage is 220v. 6.4 POSTAL SERVICE An Post operates the national postal service (http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/). Approximate postage rates are as follows: Ireland Britain Europe U.S. Letters: 70c €1.05 €1.05 €1.05 Postcodes (Zip Codes) With the exception of Dublin which has short 1 or 2 digit codes, Ireland does not have postcodes. 6.5 TELEPHONE SERVICE There are public telephones in many outdoor locations all over Ireland as well as in telecentres, public buildings including rail and bus stations, shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels. Local trunk and international calls can be dialled direct from these phones. There are cardphones in cities and towns throughout Ireland. Cards can be purchased in telecentres and in post offices and retail outlets displaying the CallCard sign. Cardphones are located in the Boole Basement, the Science Building and Devere Hall - Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. To make an international call on a landline from Ireland First dial... International Access Code then... Country Code followed by... Area Code and finally Local Number The International Access Code from Ireland is 00. Mobile (Cell) Phones There are four digital GSM mobile networks in Ireland operated by Vodafone, 3, Emobile and Meteor. All offer a pay monthly option or a prepaid option. Until you establish a credit rating it is mostly likely that you will have to avail of the prepaid option. Choosing the right network, phone and product is very person specific. You will have to investigate the best option for
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your own personal mobile phone usage. There are numerous mobile phone shops on St. Patrick Street, Cork. Information is also available on http://www.vodafone.ie/, http://www.three.ie/, http://www.emobile.ie/ and http://www.meteor.ie/. The GSM networks use the international standard 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz systems. Calling Home The majority of international students avail of low cost international phone call providers when telephoning home. These providers offer reduced rate calling plans, which are considerably less expensive. Rates change continuously in line with market competition. The two most popular providers, currently, are Spirit and Swiftcall. Spirit cards are available from reception at all the student campus residents and some newsagents. More information on Swiftcall is available from http://www.swiftcall.ie/ Directory Enquiries The number for directory enquiries is 11811. 6.6 MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, CIRCULARS A fortnightly newspaper called UCC Express is produced by the Students’ Union. It contains information on clubs and societies and events happening in UCC as well as in Cork City. It includes submissions from students and staff. Motley is UCC’s student magazine which is published monthly by the Media Executive during the academic year. This full colour glossy magazine covers everything from news & current affairs to arts & entertainment, lifestyle, fashion and health. National newspapers (The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner, and The Irish Independent) and international newspapers are available. These can be bought at a reduced student rate in “An Stad” (Stationery/Newsagency) in Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre. 6.7 PERSONAL SAFETY Cork is a relatively safe city for its size. However, as in any other city, normal precautions regarding personal safety both on and off campus should be taken. If leaving the campus after dark, avoid poorly lit areas or areas that are not frequented by the public. Thankfully life on and about UCC campus is almost incident free. A Campus Watch Service operates in the university and its objective is to make UCC a safer place in which to study, live and work. Further information is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/campuswatch/ Fire alarms If a fire alarm sounds it is imperative that you comply fully with regulations, co-operate with staff and evacuate the building immediately. Do not re-enter the building until clearance has been given to do so. 6.8 STUDY AND WORK Students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) – EU countries plus Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, are not permitted to work unless they are enrolled for a full-time courses of an least a year leading to a recognised qualification. Thus, American and Canadian students who wish to work in Ireland while studying here, must obtain a work permit. The USIT Work in Ireland Programme provides a special work permit for students.
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For information contact the following: US Applicants: USIT NY, New York Student Centre, 895 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY10025, Tel: (212) 663 5435 Email: [email protected] Canadian Applicants: Travelcuts/SWAP Ireland, Suite 100, 34 Charles Street East, Toronto, ON M4Y 1S2, Tel: (416) 966 2887 Email: [email protected] Information is also available at http://www.usit.ie/ 6.9 EMERGENCY SERVICES Fire, Police, Ambulance and Coastal Rescue, Mountain and Cave Rescue: Dial 999 or 112 and ask the operator for the emergency service you require. There is no charge for this service. SouthDoc After hours GP clinic Telephone: 1850 335 999. International Office In the event of an Emergency such as death/bereavement, serious illness or accident you may need to contact a member of the International Office Staff. Office hours Monday – Friday: +353 21 490 4734 Support Officer for International Students: +353 21 490 4725 After hours – Telephone Campus Security/Reception at +353 21 490 2266. Security staff will contact a member of the International Office staff on your behalf. “Niteline” is a confidential listening service for students. “Some advise, some judge … we just listen”. It operates during term time. Tel. 1800 32 32 42, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9.00pm – 1.00am, during term time. http://www.ucc.ie/en/pass/niteline/ Email: [email protected]
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Fire alarms If a fire alarm sounds it is imperative that you comply fully with regulations, co-operate with staff and evacuate the building immediately. Do not re-enter the building until clearance has been given to do so. 6.10 ENTERTAINMENT Cork is a lively city with a variety of entertainment to suit everybody. In addition to the usual UCC student entertainment, you will be able to participate in and avail of the vibrant Cork social activities. Cork hosts several different festivals throughout any given year as follows: Cork International Choral Festival End of April/Early May Cork Midsummer Festival Mid/End of June West Cork Chamber Music Festival End of June/Early July Live at the Marquee, Cork July Cork Folk Festival End of Sept/Early October Cork Jazz Festival End of October Cork Film Festival Mid November Cork Whazon Guide provides an up to date guide to attractions and events in Cork city and county at: http://whazon.com Popular attractions accessible by public transport include Bantry House, Blarney Castle, Charles Fort in Kinsale, Cobh – “The Queenstown Story”, Fota Wildlife Park, Jameson Heritage Centre and Millstreet Country Park. Within a short walking distance of the University you will find Fitzgerald’s Park and The Lough Bird Sanctuary. Whazon is a monthly guide to gig, film and events taking place in Cork. http://www.whazon.com
Cork Opera House http://www.corkoperahouse.ie hosts concerts and shows which cater for all musical tastes. Other places of interest include Triskel Art Centre at http://www.triskelart.com The Lewis Glucksman Gallery is a cultural and educational institution, located on UCC campus, promoting the research, creation and exploration of the visual arts. http://www.glucksman.org 6.11 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN IRELAND 2016 New Year’s Day Friday, January 1 St. Patrick's Day Thursday, March 17 Good Friday Friday, March 25 Easter Monday Monday, March 28 May Day Monday, May 2 Public Holiday Monday, June 6 Public Holiday Monday, August 1 Public Holiday Monday, October 31 Christmas Day Sunday, December 25
St Stephen’s Day Monday, December 26
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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN IRELAND 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Friday, March 17 Good Friday Friday, April 14
Easter Monday Monday, April 17 May Day Monday, May 1 Public Holiday Monday, June 5 Public Holiday Monday, August 7 Public Holiday Monday, October 30 Christmas Day Friday, December 25 St. Stephen’s Day Saturday, December 26 6.12 PUBLIC TRANSPORT Long distance travel tends to be by train or coach. Coaches are generally cheaper for long journeys but tend to take longer. Cheaper rates are available with student cards. Tickets are purchased from the ticket office in the station. http://www.buseireann.ie/ http://www.aircoach.ie/ http://www.irishrail.ie/ http://www.gobe.ie/ http://www.citylink.ie/ Services are less frequent at the weekends. Use the local buses for shorter journeys. Tickets are purchased on the bus. You may need to have exact change on some routes. Taxis are more expensive and cost more than in many other countries. You can get a taxi by entering the first taxi in line at a designated taxi rank, by hailing (waving to the driver) from the street or by telephoning one of the taxi companies. You will know that a taxi is available for hire if the taxi sign is illuminated. Always ask for an estimate of the cost before you get in a taxi and check that it has an official licence plate. The driver’s details will be displayed inside. Taxis will use a meter to determine the cost. At UCC, students are fortunate enough to be within walking distance of most of the amenities that they require. 6.13 EMBASSY ADDRESSES Embassy of the United States of America 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Telephone Number: + 353 (0) 1 668 8777; Fax Number: + 353 (0) 1 668 9946 Embassy of Canada 7-8 Wilton Terrace, Dublin 2. Telephone Number: + 353 (0) 1 234 4000; Fax Number: + 353 (0) 1 234 4001 Email: [email protected] Embassy of Australia 7th Floor, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Terrace, Dublin 2. Telephone Number: + 353 (0) 1 664 5300; Fax Number: + 353 (0) 1 662 3566 Email: [email protected]
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Embassy of Japan Nutley Building, Merrion Centre, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4. Telephone Number: + 353 (0) 1 202 8300; Fax Number: + 353 (0) 1 283 8726 Email: [email protected] 7.0 SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES FOR NON-EU VISITING STUDENTS 7.1 EARLY START SEMESTER PROGRAMMES The Early Start Semester programme – which is unique to University College Cork – is the ideal means of gaining an introduction to Irish Studies through a carefully guided approach to Ireland’s history, culture, civilisation and environment. The Early Start Semester will give the visiting student an insight into the nature of Ireland, past and present, and the manner in which the modern and the ancient may be examined side by side in an integrated programme. Six separate programmes are offered as follows:
Early Start Semester in History and Modern Ireland
Early Start Semester in Irish Archaeology
Early Start Semester in Irish Folklore and Ethnology
Early Start Semester in Literatures in Ireland
Early Start Semester in Music in Ireland
Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union Visiting students may choose one of the above Early Start programmes and follow an intensive pre-session three week course through late August into early-September. The pre-session courses include exciting field trips which serve to bring alive the material taught in class. In September visiting students will join their Irish counterparts and choose a selection of modules which will complement the pre-session. The pre-session is worth ten credits. Additional credits can be gained for modules undertaken from September to Christmas or from late September to May. Early Start Semester in History and Modern Ireland The Early Start Semester in History and Modern Ireland provides the visiting student with a stimulating introduction to the major issues in the modern history and politics of Ireland. The core element of the programme is The Challenge of Democracy in Twentieth Century Ireland. This course examines a number of key periods characterised by intense debate on Irish nationality and the forms of social, economic and political structures most appropriate to an independent, democratic Irish state. Particular attention is devoted to:-
The crisis of government in Ireland between 1912 and 1922, with particular reference to Home Rule, the 1916 Rising, and Michael Collins and the War of Independence.
Irish-America, nationalism and partition.
The outbreak of the civil war in the south and intense communal unrest in Northern Ireland.
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The consolidation of state authority on the island, with particular reference to the role of the Unionist Party in Northern Ireland and of the party system in the Free State.
The outbreak of ‘the Troubles’ in the late 1960s, and their impact upon social and political life north and south of the border.
The origins and development of the ‘Peace Process’ in the 1990s, with specific reference to the role of successive US administrations.
Field Trips To complement the material covered in the formal lecture element of the course, students undertake a number of field trips, which provide additional information to extend the students’ understanding of the period. Cork is particularly suited to field trips of this kind given that it has been the site of many of the historical controversies under review. One of the more important trips in this respect is to Béal na mBláth, site of the death of Michael Collins, the famous republican leader, killed in an ambush in August 1922 during the Irish Civil War. The field trip serves to provide details of the actual ambush itself, more general information on the life of Michael Collins (including a visit to his birthplace nearby) and to illustrate some of the issues that were at stake during the crucial years between 1919 and 1922. Study trips to a number of other local sites within the Cork area will also be included. The principal field trip of the programme takes place towards the middle of September. During this four-day visit to Dublin and Belfast, students will visit the National Museum, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Kilmainham Gaol, the Stormont complex, and hear briefings by participants from all sides of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Early Start Semester in Irish Archaeology
Modern Ireland cannot be understood without reference to the past. Through illustrated lectures and field trips, the Early Start in Irish Archaeology provides visiting students with an overview of both the physical and cultural landscapes of Ireland, past and present. Over four weeks, the programme follows the career of the human populations that have occupied the island from its initial settlement in the aftermath of the last glaciation to the racial, cultural, political and demographic transformations of the seventeenth century. It looks at their interactions with the environment and their use of material culture in expressing, among other things, social status, and individual and group identities. This is taught within a framework that will be familiar to students of Anthropology, but the programme is also open to students with no previous academic experience of Anthropology or Archaeology. The core element of the programme is The Archaeology of Prehistoric and Historic Ireland. The course examines the archaeology of Ireland from the first arrival of human groups to the early modern period. While material culture studies are central to the course, evidence from the fields of linguistics, history, art history and environmental archaeology is also examined. Particular attention is paid to:
The transformation of the physical environment by human intervention.
The use of the recurring theme of invasion as a means of explaining cultural change in Irish prehistory.
Colonialist and nationalist agendas in Irish archaeological explanation.
Celticism and the “problem” of the origins of the Irish.
The role of archaeology in revising our understanding of the Viking impact on Ireland.
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The ethnic, religious and linguistic heterogeneity of the medieval population of Ireland and its implications for modern Ireland.
The role of archaeology in the construction of Irish identities.
Field Trips Field excursions form an integral part of the course, allowing students to study at first hand the types of sites discussed in class. Day trips provide an opportunity to explore places in the environs of Cork that the casual visitor might not find and are a means of introducing the visiting student to the rural hinterland of their home for the semester or year. There is also an overnight trip to the Meath/Dublin area which boasts some of the most impressive monuments in the country. Sites to be visited include the high crosses of Monasterboice and the passage tombs of the Boyne Valley, which are among the oldest extant buildings in the world. This trip also incorporates a visit to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin and the National Museum of Ireland which houses most of the artefacts discussed in class. In the final week there is a second overnight trip to the Burren, Co. Clare, a unique upland landscape on the west coast of the island that has a particularly rich archaeological heritage. Sites range in date from dramatic megalithic tombs constructed nearly six thousand years ago to the castles and great houses of the aristocracy of the medieval and early modern periods. Participants in the programme are advised to bring weatherproof clothing and outdoor footwear. Early Start Semester in Irish Folklore and Ethnology The Early Start Semester in Irish Folklore and Ethnology will examine a variety of Irish popular customs and culture from both a traditional and contemporary perspective. The interpretation of these practices in terms of the externalisation of Irish ideologies, values and modes of thought will be examined and explained. Various forms of verbal and non-verbal behaviour, together with customs associated with a variety of ritualistic practices, will receive attention. The multi-functional nature of various assemblies which contain elements of the sacred and the social will be outlined and discussed. The course is taught within a framework which aims to develop the analytical, critical and creative skills of students. Sample texts and case studies relating primarily, though not exclusively to Ireland, will be utilised throughout the semester. Field Trips A series of field trips will take place throughout the programme. These have been designed to provide the students with first-hand experience of the subject matter dealt with theoretically in class. They will consist of local, out-of-town and seasonal trips. Bunratty Castle A one day field trip will take place in early September. This will commence with a guided tour of Bunratty Castle which was built in 1425. This authentic medieval fortress is situated in delightful surroundings. The vernacular houses, cottages and recreated ‘living village’ are located within a 26 acre site adjacent to the castle walls. The interior of these dwellings are accessible to the students who will be warmly welcomed by the Bean an Tí (woman of the house) and various personnel who work in the traditional type shops and tea rooms within this charming village setting. Inisheer A three day field trip will take place mid-September. This will consist of a coach trip to Rosaveal, Connemara and a ferry trip to Inisheer (the smallest and most beautiful of the Aran Islands, which has retained many of its unique characteristics. The students will be staying on this beautiful island for two nights. They will be taken on
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a visit to Teachín Ceann Tuí Museum which was previously a domestic island dwelling. A guided trip to Tobar Einne (St. Enda’s Holy Well) will also be provided. The students will also have an opportunity to visit other places of interest on the island such as a Bronze Age Tumulus dating from 2000 B.C., ninth and tenth century Churches as well as a fifteenth century Castle built within a Cashel (Stone Fort). The rugged scenery, remote atmosphere and wealth of material culture artefacts, will provide interesting insights into the lifestyles and customs of Irish peasants and island dwellers during earlier times. Early Start Semester in Literatures in Ireland The Early Start Semester in Literatures in Ireland provides the visiting student with an introduction to a wide range of Irish writing. The topics taught in this course include: Irish fiction, poetry and film. Twentieth-Century Irish Fiction This section of the course will look at James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Although Ulysses is one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, students are sometimes afraid to read it because of its reputed difficulty. This class will make Joyce’s innovative and compelling work accessible and enjoyable. We will also read Elizabeth Bowen’s The Last September, a very stylish novel that examines the Anglo-Irish way of life in 1920s Ireland. Twentieth Century Irish Poetry In this section we will read the poetry of William Butler Yeats. Beginning with his early work in the Irish Literary Revival we will range through Yeats’ many reinventions of himself up until his death in 1939. Irish Film This section offers an intensive introductory course to Irish cinema and will examine films from the early days of film-making in Ireland to more recent examples from directors such as Neil Jordan, Pat Murphy and Thaddeus O’Sullivan. These films’ relationship to Irish society and culture, as well as issues such as the representation of gender, national identity and financing, will be examined. Field Trips Field trips are designed to complement the central texts on the course and as an introduction to the Irish landscape which plays such a major role in Irish literature. Day trips include a visit to the ruins of Bowen’s Court in north Cork, the setting of Elizabeth Bowen’s novel The Last September. We will also visit Dublin for some days to walk in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, and recreate the events of Joyce’s Ulysses almost one hundred years after Joyce imagined them. This visit to the city where Joyce set Ulysses will help to bring the setting and the novel to life. A visit to the Abbey Theatre, which W. B. Yeats helped found, and the National Gallery, will also form part of this trip. Early Start Semester in Musics in Ireland The Early Start Semester in Musics in Ireland provides the visiting student with a series of vivid encounters with the rich variety of musical traditions that forms Ireland’s vibrant soundscape. Ranging from the historic to the contemporary, the course explores Irish traditional music, including the development of the Irish traditional
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music session and group playing; popular music forms, including jazz, rock and rap music; and art music, including the work of Irish composers and the music of Georgian Dublin. Students will examine key moments in Ireland’s musical past as well as considering their continued resonance today. They will engage with these musics by attending a variety of lectures, workshops, performances and field trips. Irish Traditional Music
Due to the phenomenal global success of Riverdance and groups such as The Chieftains and Altan, Irish traditional music at the beginning of the twenty-first century is one of the most popular folk musics on the international stage. We will examine various aspects of these contemporary expressions of Irish culture as well as exploring their historical roots: for example, the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792, the folk revival of the 1960s and 70s and the impact of recording on Irish music in America in the early 1900s.
Cork city and surroundings are home to a vibrant traditional music culture and University College Cork is itself internationally renowned for its commitment to Irish traditional music and its excellence in Irish traditional music studies. The significance of the composer Seán Ó Riada, a pivotal figure in the revival of Irish traditional music and a former lecturer at University College Cork, will also be studied, with particular attention to his contribution to ensemble playing in Ireland. Irish Popular Music Through a variety of case studies, this section of the course explores both the local voices in Irish popular music and Ireland’s contributions to the international scene. Ireland is known internationally for the quality of its rock music in particular, notably through the music of groups such as U2 and Snow Patrol. Students will explore the emergence, growth and continuing popularity of Irish acts on the international stage. As well as considering Irish popular music from an international perspective, the course also examines local music-making. The city of Cork itself provides a focal point for the study of popular music: as a hotbed of singer-songwriter activity, as host to Ireland’s largest annual Jazz Festival; as home to the late Rory Gallagher, one of Ireland’s best-loved rock icons.
European Art Music Modern Ireland has possessed, since the nineteenth century, a rich tradition of western art music. In earlier times art music was largely a feature of urban life for the Anglo-Irish, particularly in the city of Dublin which in the early eighteenth century experienced a flowering of European music after the fashion popular in London. This part of the course focuses on the music of Georgian Dublin during the 1740s, including the nine-month visit of George Frideric Handel and the first performance of Messiah. Among the strongest manifestations of art music today are the classical concerts promoted by such organizations as Lyric FM, RTÉ (the national broadcaster) and the thriving scene for the composition of new music. The course will examine a number of composers’ works that have featured as part of various film productions. It will also explore the contribution of various organisations to the promotion and development of art music in Ireland.
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Field Trips and Workshops
A series of field trips and introductory workshops will take place throughout the programme. These have been designed to provide first-hand experience of the musics and topics discussed in class, and will include visits to sessions and concerts both locally and nationally and introductory workshops in music, song and Irish dance. Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union The Early Start Semester in Management and Marketing in the European Union provides visiting students with a comprehensive introduction to doing business in Europe. The programme utilises a combination of classroom sessions, visits to local companies, and guest speakers from industry and government, to provide participants with an informed perspective on key areas of Irish and European industry. Participants can expect to spend four mornings per week in the seminar room, covering the conceptual material which will allow them to analyse the strategies of a number of diverse businesses. Most of the teaching on the programme is delivered by lecturers within the Department of Management and Marketing. Participants can expect to benefit from the expertise of members of staff in key areas including Strategy, Operations Management, Consumer Behaviour, Innovation, Tourism and Food Marketing. Guest lecturers will be present to deliver their specialist knowledge in other related areas of the programme.
Introduction to the European Union The programme begins with an intensive study of the social, historical, and political background to the formation and institutions of the EU. This is essential if participants are to understand how fundamental the EU has been to the development of Irish society and the Irish economy. The first week of the programme includes a three day field trip in the Cork/Kerry region to visit local companies who operate locally and globally such as and Skelligs Chocolates, who export gourmet chocolates all over the world from their base in Co. Kerry.
Small Enterprise Management/Operations Management During the second week of the programme students are given the opportunity to experience two sectors of the Irish economy at first hand – the small enterprise sector and the multinational sector. As an English speaking country within the EU, Ireland has long offered an excellent location to US businesses wishing to locate their manufacturing here. Visits to companies such as Pfizer provide a great opportunity to gain an understanding of Operations Management outside the classroom environment. With regard to the small enterprise sector, students will have the opportunity to meet with guest lecturers and other senior figures with a great depth of personal experience and knowledge of the issues and challenges facing the small enterprise sector in a European context.
Marketing/Innovation Week three of the programme takes an in-depth look at European Marketing and Consumer Behaviour. We examine case studies in online marketing, trends in European food consumption, and the issues faced by organisations trying to foster an innovative culture. Tourism and Marketing/Conclusion of Group Research Project During the final week of the programme students will return to the classroom, to reflect critically on the observations gathered over the course of their field trips. Particular attention is paid to the tourism and leisure sector. In the second half of the week the students give presentations on the research projects they have carried out over the four week period of the programme. Students are encouraged to make use of
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multimedia and training is provided to facilitate this. This group project and presentation exercise is seen as an integral part of the programme. Field Trips A series of field trips will take place throughout the programme. These have been designed to provide first-hand experience of the topics discussed in class and will give students the opportunity to study different forms of enterprise in different parts of the country. In addition, the field trips will allow participants to experience something of the history and culture of the country. Updated information on field trips will be available from the Department of Management and Marketing and the International Office. Entry Requirements The minimum G.P.A. requirement for admission to the Early Start Semester programme is normally 3.0. Programme Dates: Monday, 22nd August 2016 – Friday, 9th September 2016 7.2 CERTIFICATE IN IRISH STUDIES The Certificate in Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme for visiting international students drawing on a number of academic disciplines which aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the whole range of the rich indigenous Irish cultural tradition over two millennia. The modules selected for inclusion here are those which reflect the earlier cultures – of Ireland in particular, but with reference to Scotland and Wales as well. The contributing departments are Early and Medieval Irish, Modern Irish, Archaeology, History and Folklore. For students interested specifically in the Irish language a weekend in an Irish–speaking area (Gaeltacht) is arranged (through the Centre for Spoken Irish) at Dún Chíomháin, the university’s Gaeltacht site in beautiful west Kerry. The full programme runs for two semesters (i.e. one academic year). Those pursuing the Certificate select modules totalling 50 UCC credits. Students are required to take a number of core modules and the remainder from those offered by the contributing departments. The minimum GPA requirement for admission to the programme is normally 3.0.
Core Modules
AR2111 Irish Archaeology: Prehistoric, ‘Celtic’ and Historic (10 credit module) CC3010 Early Irish I (5 credits) CC3011 Early Irish (5 credits) and/or CC2250 Ancient Ireland (5 credits) GA1120 Introduction to Modern Irish (5 credits) HI3052 From Pagans to Christians (5 credits)
Elective Modules
AR2034 The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland AR2042 The Archaeology of Later Medieval Ireland, c.AD 1100-1550 AR3037 Viking Age Archaeology in Ireland and Britain AR3046 The Archaeology of Agriculture in Medieval Ireland, c. AD 500-1500 AR3052 The Iron Age in Ireland - New Horizons
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CC1111 The Ancient Celts (5 credits) CC1112 Celtic Religion and Mythology (5 credits) CC1113 The Celtic Hero (5 credits) CC2001 Saints and Scholars in Medieval Europe (5 credits) CC2002 Celtic Saints (5 credits) CC2006 The Brehon Laws (5 credits) CC2007 The Celtic Languages (5 credits) CC2008 Early Irish Spirituality (5 credits) CC2011 Celtic Women (5 credits) CC3001 The Mabinogi: Legends of Medieval Wales (5 credits) CC3003 Ireland and Scotland (5 credits) CC3004 Otherworld Journeys and Saintly Visions in Celtic Literature (5 credits) CC3006 Irish Historical Tales (5 credits) CC3007 The Finn Cycle (5 credits) CC3012 The Roots of the Arthurian Legend (5 credits) FL2111 Aspects of Irish Folklore (5 credits) GA1121 Intermediate Modern Irish (10 credits) GA2022 The Literature and Culture of Ireland through Time (5 credits) HI2031 Ireland and Rome: History, Culture and Contact (5 credits) HI3200 History Research Seminar [Monastic Ireland: from origins to dissolution] (10 credits) 7.3 DIPLOMA IN IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC This one-year programme is designed for students who seek to increase their proficiency and knowledge in Irish traditional music by taking a range of specialised modules in this area taught by the School of Music, UCC. The programme is full-time taught throughout the academic year from September to May. Applicants are expected to have either some experience of Irish traditional music or extensive musical abilities in other genres of music, and must satisfy the Head of the School of Music that they have the skills required to undertake the programme. Application should be made to the International Office by the end of May 2015. Applicants may be required to submit an audition tape. Enquiries may be directed to the School of Music ([email protected]). 7.4 CERTIFICATE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
The Certificate in Political Science is especially designed for visiting students at University College Cork (UCC)
during the Autumn Semester. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues dominating political
debates at international level as well as in a European comparative perspective. It explores the theories,
dynamics, processes and institutions which shape politics in the contemporary world. It focuses on
democrative political systems and key political behaviours within them in the context of elections, voting,
interest group activity, political party systems and political culture. By the end of this Certificate, students will
be able to:
Distinguish between different types of political regimes;
Describe the differences between the political systems in operation across Europe;
Analyse politics in a comparative manner;
Trace the similarities in the consequences of political institutions across Europe;
Explore the dominant theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of political science;
List the main features of different research techniques;
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Assess the strengths and limitations of theories of international relations;
Describe the architecture(s) of the contemporary international system;
Identify forces at play in the international system;
Predict the outcomes of international crises and conflicts.
For further information, please go to http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/ 7.5 CERTIFICATE IN CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The Certificate in Conflict and Conflict Resolution is especially designed for visiting students at University
College Cork (UCC) during the Autumn Semester It provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues
dominating the study of contemporary conflict and conflict resolution processes. It explores the pattern and
trajectory of conflict and the processes of resolution at a range of levels from small-scale disputes to
international crises. The programme includes an explicit focus on the Northern Ireland experience of conflict
and marries this with consideration of other types and scale of ethnic and international political
disputes. Modules are designed to inform students about key concepts, developments and challenges in the
study of political conflict and all its forms. Particular attention is paid to: -
Theories and practice of conflict and conflict resolution;
Architecture of the international system and theories of international relations;
Origins, roots and causes of the Northern Ireland conflict;
Attempts to manage/resolve the Northern Ireland conflict;
Challenges and potential solutions for global governance;
Peace keeping proliferation; the global economy, environmental problems and human rights issues.
For further information go to http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/ 7.6 CERTIFICATE IN EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS
The course provides students with an introduction to the concepts, institutions and practice of international human rights law. Students will be introduced to the role of the EU and regional organisations working in the field of human rights. Selected issues relating to Economic Law, Welfare Law and Citizen Participation as well as the Philosophy of human rights in international and European contexts will be examined. For further details, please go to:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/ 7.7 CERTIFICATE IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
The course provides students with an introduction to the concepts, institutions and practice of international human rights law. Students will be introduced to the role of the United Nations and regional organisations working in the field of human rights. Selected issues relating to International Criminal Law, Refugee Law, Migration, Gender and Sexuality as well as the Philosophy of human rights in international contexts will be examined. For further details, please go to
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/
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7.8 CERTIFICATE IN IRISH POLITICS
The Certificate in Irish Politics is especially designed for visiting students at University College Cork (UCC)
during the Spring Semester. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the issues dominating political
debates on the island of Ireland. It examines the unique political systems of the Republic of Ireland, Northern
Ireland and the European Union (EU). Modules are designed to inform students about key facets, symbols and
emblems associated with the island’s politics and its position within the European Union. The programme
also examines the economic situation in the Republic of Ireland, both before and during the current
EU/IMF/ECB bailout programme. Particular attention is paid to:
Structures of government in the Republic of Ireland;
Theories and practice of policy-making in the Republic of Ireland;
The impact of the EU on Irish politics;
The political institutions and structures of the EU;
The conflict in Northern Ireland;
Post Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland; and
The economic situation in the Republic of Ireland.
For further information, go to http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/
7.9 DIPLOMA IN COMMON LAW (EUROPEAN)
The Diploma in Common Law (European) is a one-year, full-time course open to students, including those wishing to pursue the Junior Year Abroad at the Faculty of Law UCC, who would like an introduction to law and to the Irish legal system within the European legal context. During the year, Diploma students experience the wide variety of legal subjects on offer at UCC's dynamic Faculty of Law, and gain a taste of what the study and practice of law has to offer. The course would be of particular interest to those considering applying to Law School in the US or hoping to practise law elsewhere. Those pursuing the Diploma select modules totalling 60 UCC credits.
Students wishing to take the Diploma in Common Law (European) are also recommended to take the Early Start Program at the Law Faculty. This one-month program is designed to introduce students to the core elements of law, including the Irish legal system, the Irish Constitution and the law and policy of the European Union (see above). It also provides a hands-on introduction to Ireland's legal environment.
For further details please go to http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/visitingusandnoneustudents/
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8.0 SUMMER SCHOOLS AT UCC International Summer School in Irish Studies The College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, International Summer School in Irish Studies at University College Cork runs for four weeks during July each summer. It draws on the expertise of established scholars in the disciplines of literature, history, archaeology, Irish language and music. The programme consists of morning lectures, afternoon seminars and one weekend trip. In addition, there are regular cultural events such as theatre and traditional music nights. The School is suitable for students of history and literature, post-graduates, teachers and researchers in Irish Studies and those generally interested in Irish culture. Credits Students who attend the school for four weeks may take a maximum of 10 ECTS credits, 5 in literature and 5 in history. Students intending to take credits need to indicate this clearly on the enrolment form. These students should also forward a transcript of courses already completed at their own university/college and also the address of their home institution, for the correct processing of completed credits. Students may also enrol for three weeks or less. Cost The cost of attendance for four weeks will be approximately €2,200EURO inclusive of full tuition, single room accommodation, travel and meals on field trip, but excluding daily meals. For further information contact International Office, UCC. Telephone Number: +353 21 4904748; Fax Number:
+ 353 21 4904735; Email: [email protected] International Latin and Greek Summer School The International Latin and Greek Summer School, organised by the Department of Classics, takes place during July and August. The course is aimed primarily at postgraduates in any discipline who require knowledge of either language for study and at teachers whose schools wish to reintroduce Latin and Greek into their curriculum. For further information contact: Vicky Janssens, Department of Classics, UCC. Tel: + 353 21 4903618/2539 Fax: + 353 21 4903277 Email: [email protected] APPENDIX 1: IMPORTANT ADDRESES AT UCC International Office:
Karen McSweeney Roseleigh, Western Road Tel: + 353 21 4904727 Fax: + 353 21 4904735 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/international/
Mary-Bríd Murphy Roseleigh, Western Road Tel: + 353 21 4904723 Fax: + 353 21 4904735 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/international/
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General Enquiries (location of offices, departments, lectures etc.): Enquiry Office, Science Building Tel: + 353 21 4902266/4902267 Support Officer for International Students: Suzanne Buckley International Office Roseleigh, Western Road Tel: + 353 21 4904725 Fax: + 353 21 4904735 Email: [email protected] Accommodation, Student Societies, Conferencing Office: 6, Carrigside, College Road Tel: + 353 21 4902276/4902475 Fax: + 353 21 4274483 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/asa/ Student Health: Student Health Department 5 Ardpatrick, College Road Tel: + 353 21 4902311 Fax: + 353 21 4903222 Student Counselling and Development: Department of Student Counselling and Development
Telephone Number: + 353 21 4903565 Text: 087 2152505 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ucc.ie/studentcounselling/
Disability Support Office: Mary O’Grady, Disability Support Officer, South Lodge. Tel: + 353 21 4902955 Fax: + 353 21 4903123 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.ucc.ie/en/dss/
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Religious Services/Pastoral Advice: Chaplaincy Iona, College Road Tel: + 353 21 4902459 Lost Property: General Services Buildings Office Tel: +353 21 4902420/4902243 Students Union Services: Students Union Office 4, Carrigside, College Road Tel: + 353 21 4902495/4902367/4902181 Fax: + 353 21 4272067 Clubs and Societies: Student Activities Officer 6, Carrigside, College Road Tel: + 353 21 4902353 Fax: 353 21 4274483 Cork Campus Radio 98.3FM:
Station Manager, CCR 98.3FM Level 3, Devere Hall -Áras na Mac Léinn/Student Centre Tel: + 353 21 4902170 Fax: + 353 21 4903108 E-mail: [email protected]
APPENDIX 2: EMBASSY ADDRESSES Information regarding Embassies and Consulates located in Ireland is available at https://www.dfa.ie/embassies/embassies-in-ireland/
APPENDIX 3: MAP AND INDEX OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK
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Campus map is available online at www.ucc.ie/media/siteassets/contentassets/maps/UCC CAMPUS MAP 23 11.pdf The International Office is building number 67 (located on Western Road) APPENDIX 4: MAP OF CORK CITY Map of Cork City is available online at www.cork-guide.ie/maps/corkcity.html