University College Cork - University of California Scholarship

What the University of California exchange offers

You will spend a semester or, in some cases, a full academic year at one of the nine campuses of the University of California. University College Cork (UCC) organises the exchange programme. You will remain enrolled at UCC and continue to pay your UCC fees, enabling you to secure a place at a US university that you would not normally be able to attend. The campuses are UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz.

You may be eligible for a grant of up to 4,550 euros for the exchange. The UCC International Office does not provide any further funding for exchange programmes outside Europe, so you will need to cover your living costs in California yourself. These are higher than in Cork. Some departments at UCC award their own scholarships for study abroad programmes; please therefore check with your department.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are currently a student at UCC.
• Year and degree: You are in 2nd year of a 4-year degree that lets you study abroad during 3rd year.
• Grades: You scored at least 70% in 1st year and keep that standard in 2nd year.
• Field of study: Most UCC degree programmes are eligible, provided that a UC campus offers the relevant modules. Students on the BComm programme are not eligible to apply due to module restrictions.
• Module check: You should find out about at least 3 UC campuses and make sure that suitable modules are offered there.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled as students at UCC.

How to apply

First, attend a study-abroad information session in October or November of your 2nd year. Then submit UCC's study-abroad application form, usually due in early December. It includes a personal statement and a statement of support from a UCC lecturer or academic coordinator. If UCC selects you, you apply to the University of California with your top 3 campus choices and study plans. You hear in late April or early May which campus you get.

You can find more scholarships in our guide Scholarships in Ireland.