Admission to UCC is based on CAO points, calculated from your Baccalaureate average through an official conversion grid. Each programme has a points cut-off set annually by supply and demand, on a scale of up to 625 points. Medicine and certain Business or Law programmes require high scores, while many arts and science programmes are more accessible. The higher your Baccalaureate average, the more options you have. Tip: put your desired programme in first position in the CAO and choose more accessible backup options lower down the list.

As an EU citizen who meets the residency condition, you benefit from the Free Fees scheme: the Irish state pays the tuition, and you pay only the student contribution of up to EUR 2,500 per year (2026/27). A non-EU student instead pays ~EUR 17,000-EUR 30,000+ per year in tuition. Accommodation in Cork: EUR 500-EUR 850/month (more affordable than Dublin). Food: EUR 250-EUR 400/month. Transport and miscellaneous: EUR 100-EUR 150/month. Total cost per year: ~EUR 13,000-EUR 18,000 all-in, of which academic fees are only a small part. The saving compared with a non-EU student exceeds EUR 14,000 per year.

The Free Fees Initiative is the Irish government scheme through which the state pays the tuition for eligible undergraduate students. As a Romanian (EU) citizen you qualify if you have been resident in an EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK state for at least 3 of the last 5 years before the start of your studies and you are on your first full-time bachelor's programme. In this case you pay only the student contribution of up to EUR 2,500 per year, which also includes the capitation fees. For official details, check the HEA website and the UCC fees page.

Yes, all undergraduate programmes at UCC are taught entirely in English, because Ireland is a natively English-speaking country. This is a major advantage over other European destinations where you would have to learn a second language (Catalan, German, Dutch). You only need to prove your English level for admission: UCC accepts IELTS 6.0-6.5, TOEFL iBT 80-90, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Duolingo English Test or equivalent, depending on the programme. The language competency certificate from the Baccalaureate may be accepted in certain cases.

UCC is renowned for: Medicine (School of Medicine, affiliated with Cork University Hospital), Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), Food Science and Nutrition (a globally leading field, with Ireland being a European agri-food hub), Business (Cork University Business School), Law (School of Law), Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing, Engineering and Arts. For Romanian students interested in medicine, sciences or food science, UCC is a solid option with teaching in English and reduced academic fees through Free Fees.

Cork is Ireland's second city, in the south of the country, with a friendly university-city atmosphere and a more affordable cost of living than Dublin. The UCC campus is located on the banks of the River Lee, with historic buildings and green spaces (UCC was the first university in the world with Green Flag certification). International community: over 4,000 students from 100+ countries, with student societies, events, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and an annual International Cultures Fest. Everyday language: English, everywhere. Cork is close to the Atlantic coast, perfect for trips and outdoor life.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the UK or the USA where you have to apply for a work visa, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you have the automatic right to work and live in Ireland without a permit. Ireland hosts the European headquarters of some of the largest tech and pharma companies: Apple (its European headquarters right in Cork), Google, Meta, Microsoft, Pfizer, Stripe. Main industries: tech, pharma, food science, finance, medical devices. Salaries for graduates are among the best in the EU, and with a recognised Irish degree in English you can work anywhere in the EU or in the English-speaking world without a visa.

Bachelor's degrees at UCC generally last 3 or 4 years depending on the programme (Medicine 5-6 years, certain programmes with a placement year may last longer). Applications are made through the CAO (Central Applications Office), the national centralised system. The form opens in November, the normal deadline is 1 February. You choose up to 10 ordered programme preferences, and your Baccalaureate is converted into CAO points through an official grid. Offers are issued in August, and the academic year starts in September. As an EU citizen you apply under the EU/EFTA/UK category and benefit from Free Fees.