All about studying in Cork, Ireland

Some of the major courses such as Engineering, Management, and Life Sciences are popular in universities located in Cork, Ireland. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, University College Cork ranks in the top 200 for Life Sciences and top 300 for Engineering. Top courses preferred in institutions in cork include Languages, Music, Marketing, Management, Information Systems, Data Science, Corporate Finance, Marine Engineering, Art, and Design.

Cork houses some of the best-ranked universities in the world. According to the QS World University Rankings 2023 University College Cork ranks in the top 350 universities worldwide . There are also more universities that are popular among international students:

• Griffith College, Cork

• Munster Technological University (Previously Cork Institute of Technology CIT)

• National Maritime College of Ireland

We understand that studying in abroad is overwhelming for you and can also be a little financially challenging. But you don’t need to worry as there are many scholarships offered by universities in Cork for undergraduate, master, and research degrees. Here are a few you can apply to:

• University College Cork (UCC) Scholarships

• Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) International student scholarships

• Academic Merit Scholarships

For more options available for students to study in Cork, you can always seek guidance from the IDP international education experts to help you out.

Studying in Cork helps students enhance their careers as there are ample internship opportunities as well as full-time job placements.

High-performance companies having bases in Cork include Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis. Cork is also the European headquarter of Apple Inc. The IT companies present here include Logitech, EMC Corporation, and Amazon.com. The manufacturing industry includes Heineken Brewery, Ferrero Factory, and Ford Motor Company. The three hospitals, Cork University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital, and Mercy University Hospital are among the top ten employers in Cork.

UCC and CIT both have startup company incubation centres that help support entrepreneurship. The academic institutions in Cork work closely with the corporate. This helps the students get the best experience and the best employability opportunities.

International students holding a valid immigration Stamp 2 permission can work for 20 hours per week during the academic session, and 40 hours per week during the months of May, June, July, and August, and from December 15 to January 15. They do not need any specific work permit to work part-time if they are enrolled for a course of 1 year or longer.

The minimum wage in Ireland is €9.15 per hour . The country provides post study pathway for international students; called the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme, which allows the NQF Level 9 or 10 graduates to remain in Ireland to look for employment or apply for a green card/work permit. Students can eventually apply for General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit .

Cork is a culturally rich city. With its beautiful scenic locations, pleasant climate, rich theatre and music history, and architectural marvels, it has become a popular choice among international students. Here’s why you will be thoroughly impressed by Cork:

• Location: Cork city has River Lee running through the city and has one of the largest natural harbours in the world. That’s why the motto of the city stands as Station Bene Fide Carinis – a safe harbour for ships.

• Climate: The climate is mild oceanic with lots of rainfall and moderate temperature.

• Theatre and music lovers: Cork is home to many theatre companies and popular rock bands. The Lonely Planet has described Cork as being “at the top of its game: sophisticated, vibrant, and diverse"

• Architectural heritage: The city’s famous architectural pieces include the two cathedrals – St. Mary’s Cathedral and Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. St. Patrick’s Street is the main shopping street of the city.

The city has an airport that is the second busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland. The city is well connected to other cities in Ireland via train and road.

Students can opt for university or private residences. University accommodations are usually apartments, which cater to 4-8 students. Apartments include one private bedroom, a shared kitchen, one living room, and a bathroom. Alternatively, students can opt for independent self-catering accommodations.

Health and safety have been the utmost priority of international students for all institutions. International students are required to take private health insurance coverage for their stay in Ireland. Proof of health insurance is necessary while applying for a visa and at the time of registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

World Health Organisation (WHO) gave Cork, the title of a “healthy city” in January 2012 because the city continually creates and improves its physical and social environments and expands the community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential. The vision of the city is to improve the health and well-being of all its people and reduce health inequalities.