University College Cork
Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh
Ireland's southern flagship, founded in 1845, where George Boole taught and CAO points alone decide most places.
- Students
- 26,000
- Tuition
- €19,514
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1845
- QS World Ranking
- #220
- 2027 edition
About UCC
University College Cork was founded in 1845 as Queen's College Cork, one of three Queen's Colleges alongside Belfast and Galway, and opened to its first 115 students in 1849. It is now a constituent university of the National University of Ireland with over 26,000 students, including nearly 4,000 international students from 104 countries. The main campus sits on 42 acres of wooded ground about ten minutes' walk from Cork city centre, around the Tudor Gothic Main Quadrangle.
UCC is organised into four colleges: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences; Business and Law; Medicine and Health; and Science, Engineering and Food Science. George Boole, whose algebra underpins computer programming, was its first professor of mathematics, and in 1910 Mary Ryan became the first female professor in Ireland here. Today UCC is also home to the Tyndall National Institute, a centre for semiconductor and photonics research.
Admission for Irish, EU and UK school-leavers is almost entirely grades-based through the CAO, while non-EU students apply directly to the International Office. UCC suits students who want a traditional campus university in a lively, manageable city, with strengths in food science, medicine and health, law and business.
Where Finbarr taught, let Munster learn
University motto
Why students choose UCC
UCC reached 220th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its highest position in thirteen years.
It is the only university in Ireland to have been named Sunday Times University of the Year on five occasions.
UCC was the world's first university to receive a Green Campus award (2010) and ranked second worldwide in the UI GreenMetric sustainability ranking published in December 2025.
The university reports that over 90% of its graduates are in employment or further study.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
UCC does not publish an overall acceptance rate. For EU/EFTA/UK applicants, places go on merit by CAO points, and cut-off points depend on demand each year (2026 round: e.g. 300 Arts, 384 Computer Science, 510 Commerce, 534 Law, 625 Dentistry). Non-EU programmes are grouped into three bands of competitiveness.
Typical entry requirements
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Minimum H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four others, including English and Irish (unless exempt), plus course subject requirements; 2026 CAO points e.g. 300 (Arts CK101), 384 (Computer Science CK401), 510 (Commerce CK201), 534 (Law CK301), 625 (Dentistry CK702) |
|---|---|
| A-levels (EU/UK applicants via CAO) | Converted to CAO points from your best four A-levels (or three A-levels plus an AS); matriculation needs two A-levels at grade C and four other GCSE subjects at C |
| A-levels (non-EU applicants) | Minimum grades for 2026-27: CCC (e.g. Arts, Computer Science, Economics), BBC (e.g. Commerce, Law, Engineering with C in Maths), ABB (e.g. Finance, Pharmacy, Mathematical Sciences) |
| IB Diploma (non-EU applicants) | Minimum 26 (e.g. Arts, Computer Science), 31 (e.g. Commerce, Law, Engineering) or 36 points (e.g. Finance, Pharmacy) for 2026-27, including bonus points |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band for most undergraduate programmes (6.5 in each band for Medicine and Health programmes). TOEFL iBT taken from 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall and 4.5 in each section on the new scale. Tests must be no more than two years old at the start of the programme. |
Deadlines
- CAO normal closing date (EU/EFTA/UK) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months1 February 2027, 17:00 Irish time
€50 application fee; a discounted €35 fee applies up to 20 January 2027. Restricted courses, mature and DARE/HEAR applicants must apply by this date.
- CAO late applications Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027, 17:00 Irish time
€65 late application fee. Not accepted for UCC's restricted programmes (e.g. Theatre and Performative Practices).
- Non-EU direct application (UCCApply) Non-binding31 May
For 2026 entry, applications opened on 1 December 2025 and closed on 31 May 2026 (Pharmacy 1 March, Applied Psychology 20 March; Medicine and Dentistry through agents with their own dates). Computer Science and Data Science and AI closed early, on 8 May 2026. The 2027-entry dates were not yet published on 29 September 2026.
CAO dates are from the CAO Handbook 2027. UCC's non-EU page still showed the 2026-entry dates (1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026) on 29 September 2026; 2027 dates are expected to follow the same pattern, but check the International Office page.
How to apply
Irish, EU/EFTA and UK applicants apply through the CAO (Central Applications Office) and are assessed on exam grades alone, with no personal statement or references. Non-EU applicants apply directly to UCC's International Office through UCCApply (up to two programmes, €50 fee); applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and decisions take about 3–5 weeks. Non-EU Medicine and Dentistry applications go through designated agents.
What admissions looks for
- For CAO applicants, grades alone: points from your six best Leaving Certificate subjects (or equivalent) in one sitting, with no personal statement or references.
- Minimum matriculation and course subject requirements, such as Maths for Commerce and Maths plus a science for science, engineering and health courses.
- For Medicine, at least 480 Leaving Certificate points plus the HPAT-Ireland score, weighted together.
- For non-EU applicants, an individual assessment of your school results against the programme's competitiveness band.
Tips for applying to UCC
- 1 Higher Level Maths at H6 or above earns 25 bonus CAO points, and A-level Maths at grade E or above does the same for A-level applicants.
- 2 Non-EU places are given on a rolling, first-come basis, and popular courses such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence closed early in 2026, so apply soon after applications open in December.
- 3 If you plan to apply for Medicine, register for the HPAT-Ireland test; from 2027 the Leaving Certificate points above 550 will no longer be moderated in the Medicine calculation.
- 4 Establish your fee status (EU or non-EU) with the Fees Office before applying, because it decides both your route (CAO or direct) and your fees.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in EUR
For eligible EU students the state pays tuition under the Free Fees Initiative, and SUSI grants can cover all or part of the €2,500 student contribution (but not the capitation fee). Non-EU students pay the full international fee, which rises each year of the programme; students on government sponsorship or recruited through contracted agencies may get a fee concession for Medicine.
- €2,500, may be covered by a SUSI grant
- Student contribution (EU, 2027/28)
- €214 per year
- Capitation fee (all undergraduates)
Academics
Medicine (CK701)
Five-year programme with small-group, patient-centred teaching; entry combines Leaving Certificate points and HPAT-Ireland (735 combined points in 2026).
Law (CK301)
534 CAO points in 2026, with a compulsory moot court module and legal writing and research skills training.
Commerce (CK201)
UCC's flagship business degree, 510 CAO points in 2026; international fee €22,814.
Dentistry (CK702)
One of the most competitive courses at 625 points in 2026.
Food Science (CK505)
Taught in the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, in a region known as the food capital of Ireland.
Computer Science (CK401)
384 CAO points in 2026, in the university where George Boole developed Boolean algebra.
Research
- The Tyndall National Institute researches semiconductors and photonics and recently helped develop a microchip for future 6G and satellite communications.
- George Boole, UCC's first professor of mathematics, developed Boolean algebra here.
- UCC has been in the top ten of the UI GreenMetric sustainability ranking for nine years running, rising to second in the world in the edition published in December 2025.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
- College of Business and Law
- College of Medicine and Health
- College of Science, Engineering and Food Science
UCC reports that over 90% of its graduates are in employment or further study.
Student life
UCC's campus runs along the River Lee from the Main Quadrangle, whose stone corridor holds Ireland's largest public display of Ogham stones, down to the Mardyke sports grounds. The Mardyke Arena has a 25-metre pool, a climbing wall, a basketball court and a running track, and every student's capitation fee includes membership. There are over 100 societies, student radio UCC 98.3FM and the UCC Express newspaper. The university does not guarantee first-year accommodation, but its Accommodation and Community Life Office helps incoming students find housing.
- Over 100 student societies, with UCC societies winning seven national awards in 2026.
- Mardyke Arena membership is included in the €214 capitation fee.
- The world's first Green Campus award winner (2010).
- UCC 98.3FM radio and the UCC Express news outlet are run by students.
Housing. UCC does not guarantee accommodation, but from CAO Round 1 offers its Accommodation and Community Life Office runs an expression-of-interest service to help first-year students find affordable housing.
Location
Cork city is the hub of Ireland's largest and southernmost county, and a centre of culture and business. The campus is about a ten-minute walk from the city centre, so students live in a compact city rather than an isolated campus. Cork is known as the food capital of Ireland, with more than 350 artisan producers across the city and county, and the European Commission has listed it among Europe's top cultural and creative cities.
Nearest airport: Cork Airport (ORK)
Notable alumni
- MM Micheál MartinTaoiseach of Ireland
- JL Jack LynchFormer Taoiseach of Ireland
- FS Fiona ShawStage and screen actor
- SÓ Seán Ó FaoláinNovelist and short-story writer
- MM Margaret MurnaneLaser physicist, distinguished professor at the University of Colorado Boulder
- SD Séamus DavisQuantum physicist at Cornell and UCC, Buckley Prize winner (2023)
- RO Ronan O'GaraIreland and Munster rugby out-half
- SB Samantha BarryJournalist, editor-in-chief of Glamour from 2018 to 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many CAO points do you need for UCC?
It depends on the course and demand each year. In 2026 the points were 300 for Arts, 384 for Computer Science, 510 for Commerce, 534 for Law and 625 for Dentistry.
How do international students apply to UCC?
Non-EU students apply directly to the International Office through UCCApply, choosing up to two programmes with a €50 fee. For 2026 entry the closing date was 31 May, but places are allocated on a rolling basis and some courses close earlier.
How much does UCC cost for international students?
For 2027/28, total annual non-EU fees range from €19,514 for Arts to €55,214 for Dentistry, with €22,814 for Commerce and Law and €28,314 for Computer Science and Engineering.
What is the CAO deadline for UCC in 2027?
The normal closing date is 1 February 2027 at 5pm, with late applications accepted until 1 May 2027 for most courses.
What IELTS score does UCC require?
Most undergraduate programmes ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band; Medicine and Health programmes require 6.5 in each band.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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