University College Cork

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University College Cork is a Cork-based university that opened in 1849 and now welcomes over 17,000 students from all over the world. Highly recognized for the excellence of its teaching, the University of Cork has gradually come to specialize in science, medicine and mathematics…

University College Cork: a university center of European stature

History of the University of Cork

University College Cork – © AlexMastro

University College Cork (Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh in Irish) first opened its doors in 1849, at the wish of Queen Victoria. Through the “Advancement of Learning in Ireland” program, the latter wanted to improve education in Ireland, and thus develop the excellence of Irish education. As a result, the University of Cork was originally named “The Queen’s College Cork”, in homage to the British sovereign.

Gothic/Tudor in style, the university was built on an ancient archaeological site, where St Finbarr, considered the Patron Saint of Cork, is said to have founded a monastery and a renowned school… The university has also made Saint Finbarr a veritable icon of the school (there’s a statue of the saint on the roof of the main building, and a slogan has been created for the occasion: “Where Finbarr taught, let Munster learn”).

When it opened, the university had 23 professors and welcomed around 180 students. But as the years went by, the university gradually gained in reputation, becoming one of Ireland’s most sought-after universities. Excelling mainly in the sciences and mathematics, the university acquired new buildings between 1860 and 1880, dedicated to the teaching of medicine.

In 1908, the University of Cork joined the Irish Universities Act, a group of Ireland’s leading universities. To mark the Irish desire for independence from the British, the university changed its name from “The Queen’s College Cork” to “University College Cork”.

University teachings…

Today, the University of Cork is home to more than 17,000 students from Ireland and abroad, either specializing in science and mathematics or preparing for the baccalaureate. The program is as rich as it is varied, with specializations in the following areas:

Medicine and Health – Médecine et santé
Science, Engineering and Food Science – Sciences, génie et agroalimentaire
Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences – Arts, études celtiques et sciences sociales
Business and Law – Droit et commerce