Partner Profile: University College Cork

NC State maintains global ties with over 130 institutions around the world. Partners such as the University College Cork (UCC) create opportunities for students to have high-impact educational experiences through study abroad exchange, research and outreach.

NC State student Cashie Naylor recently studied abroad at UCC and reflected on her experience. “I chose to study abroad because I wanted to challenge myself and seek discomfort,” said Naylor. “I wanted to learn about a new culture and experience things that I would never get to in a traditional classroom.”

Founded in 1845, University College Cork is an award-winning institution with a history of independent thinking stretching back over 170 years. Today, UCC is one of Ireland’s leading research institutions, with the highest research income nationally.  

The university has over 21,000 students and is ranked in the top 2 percent of universities worldwide. UCC is one of the only universities in Ireland to be awarded The Sunday Times “University of the Year” on five occasions since the inception of the award in 2002. UCC has gained a reputation for excellence in various fields, including mathematics, medicine, and the humanities.

Additionally, UCC has been formally recognized as a Health Promoting University by the Irish Government’s Health Service Executive. UCC is the first university in Ireland to receive such recognition. This initiative seeks to improve the health and well-being of all within UCC. The success of the UCC Health Matters initiative has been noted in Ireland and overseas and has served as an example to other institutions seeking to improve the health and well-being of their community.

The Ambassador of Ireland to the U.S., Hon. Daniel Mulhall, will visit NC State on October 5 to meet with leadership and talk about NC State’s educational and research partnerships in Ireland. As longstanding partners, UCC and NC State maintain an important student exchange program between the universities.

Learn more about University College Cork and other partners through the Global Partners Database.