Courses for UCC students

UCC Language Centre offers a limited number of free-of-charge places on part-time English language courses to international students currently studying at UCC, including Erasmus and other visiting students. Places are limited and are filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

Only one course per semester may be taken and normally only one course (one semester) per academic year is allowed due to the large demand for them.

In-sessional Courses

Open for applications now.

In-sessional courses focus on developing the necessary academic skills and language required at UCC for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes.

Visiting Students

There are a number of non-credit programs that are available for Erasmus and other visiting students. Please see information below.

Non-Credit Digital Badges

Subject to availability and departmental approval, these courses are offered free of charge to international UCC students whose first language is not English.

Digital Badge courses are offered online:

1. Academic Language for Reading & Writing (ULC22001)
2. Academic Language for Speaking & Listening (ULC22003)

These are 5-week courses (1 x 2-hour sessions a week = 10 hours in total).

The online Digital Badge courses are free of charge to UCC students when they apply by submitting this UCC Language Centre Digital Badge Application Form 

Spaces are limited and offered on a first-come first-served basis. If your chosen Digital Badge course is not available, we can place you on a priority waiting list for blocks later in the academic year.

ULC22001 Academic Language for Reading & Writing

Tuesdays 2:30-4:30 pm online

23 September - 21 October 2025

This course will allow you to reflect on differences between your previous education, learn about what is expected at UCC and develop the language for academic reading and writing.

These are some of the areas that the course focuses on:

Academic Reading:

Strategies to use include skimming, scanning, identifying macro and microstructure, using synthesizing grids to make notes and questions to help read critically.

Academic Writing:

Developing the basics of academic style, using language to create cohesion and coherence to help your writing read more smoothly, using language to integrate/synthesise reading sources, identifying the differences between descriptive, analytical, evaluative and reflective writing and language techniques to avoid plagiarism specifically regarding paraphrasing.

ULC22003 Academic Language for Speaking & Listening

Thursdays 2:30-4:30 pm online 

25 September - 23 October 2025

This course will enable you to build confidence and fluency in your academic speaking skills.  You will be able to practice deconstructing lectures and using different strategies to enhance your academic listening skills.  You will also have opportunities to practice your speaking in group discussions using suggested useful phrases.

Academic Listening:

Raising awareness of strategies to deconstruct lectures to aid comprehension such as identifying discourse markers and speakers’ stance/attitude, focusing on questions to encourage active listening, being better able to understand the different opinions of students participating in discussions.

Academic Speaking:

Developing appropriacy and flexibility to communicate in academic discussions, using appropriate language and strategies to contribute meaningfully to discussions such as developing a range of functional language (e.g phrases for negotiating meaning, sharing opinions) and developing pronunciation and articulation concerning the English Lingua Franca core.

Drop in English Language workshops for UCC students

Each of these weekly workshops addresses common challenges for our international students. These sessions are in collaboration with the Skills Centre, UCC.

While each workshop has a focus, the tutors are English language teachers so students can feel free to bring their English language queries to these workshops. 

Sign up here: Skills Centre Language Centre Workshops

One to One and Other Support

One-To-One Lessons

The Language Centre also offers specialised one-to-one individual lessons tailored to support students in their specific language learning needs. Please see here for more information: One-to-One classes with University Language Tutors | Language Centre | University College Cork | Ireland or contact infolang@ucc.ie.

Other supports available to UCC Students whose first language is not English

If you're interested in a conversation exchange with Irish UCC students needing to practise their Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Italian and other languages, and willing to speak in English with you, please call to G.29 O'Rahilly Building to register.  Alternatively, email Rita Flynn at r.flynn@ucc.ie to enquire.