Details

• Ireland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I would highly recommend bringing a waterproof jacket and shoes with you, as it can rain almost every day from September to April. Getting to Cork can be a little bit tricky, as there are currently no direct flights from Vienna. You can either book a connecting flight via Zürich, Amsterdam or London to get directly to cork, although it is the more expensive option. Or you fly from Vienna to Dublin with Ryanair and get on the bus to Cork. Ireland loves their buses and there are many options to get to any city all around the country. Aircoach and Citylink are two well known bus companies. Unfortunately there is no direct train from Dublin Airport to Cork City. You could book the DublinExpress bus to Dublin Heuston Train Station and from there with the train to Cork City, but it is not really convenient.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation search experience: There are some websites for searching for a student accommodation on your own, or you wait until UCC sends out the Email for their student accommodation distribution, but it's not safe to get a room via the UCC one. Accommodation type: There are options from your own bedroom with bathroom and shared kitchen, shared bed and bathroom with another person and shared kitchen with 7 other people or living in a house with other families. Location: Generally I would say Cork is a safe city, even at night. Busy streets in the center of the city are often patrolled by police. Student housing is spread over the whole city, from going by foot for 5 minutes to needing to take the bus and driving for half an hour. Tips: Staying at an accommodation like Yugo Lee Point is very convenient for nights out in the city and just having to go for 10 minutes until you arrive at the main campus, but it can get really loud at nighttime when Pubs and Clubs are closing and all the people are walking through the narrow street and talking very loud. Living a little bit outside of the city center could be more of your liking, as I think the city center is not very beautiful, you have no nature nearby and it can get quite loud with music and people nearby.

3. Academic life at host university

UCC is spread over the whole city, although you probably will spend most of your time at the main campus and in the Western Gateway Building. The library is quite large but doesn't have that seating spots like WU, you can find a tiny shop with some food, snacks and drinks and the mensa next to it. Most courses don't have mandatory attendance, so you will likely see more and more students vanishing from course to course. Professors are willing to help you and are very kind. I can recommend you visiting the course "Business and Globalization in China" as the professor is Austrian and really nice.

5. Every day life in the host country

Buses are driving everywhere and have a high frequency in the city center. I would highly recommend getting the LEAP Card as soon as you get there, because public buses in the city do not accept card payment and don't have change if you want to pay by cash and you get 50% off every bus ride you take or book with the LEAP Card. Don't forget to top it up with the app. Irelands city life is all about the pubs, live music and dancing. Sometimes there are strange men in pubs that harass you. Fortunately there is almost everywhere a security you can let them know and they will kick them out. In your free time you have many options ranging from going to cafés to leaving the country to go on vacation. If the weather is alright you can visit many cities in Ireland for a day trip (Cobh, Kinsale, Killarney, Limerick) or for one or two nights like Galway or Dublin. Sometimes UCC organizes some trips for hiking or other activities and if you join UCCs Clubs, they also have weekly activities and get togethers. Occasionally there is a Rugby or Gaelic Football game you can attend.

6. Testimonial

Get together with fellow exchange students and locals to experience Cork's way of student life. Don't let the weather bother you, there are plenty of activities indoors around the city and if you want to leave Ireland for some days, buy your Ryanair ticket to Faro and enjoy the sun, beach and great food. It will be an experience of your lifetime you won't forget and make the best out of it, four month are over faster than you would think.