CAO Mature Applicants
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Welcome to our information hub for mature students. This page is designed to provide you with all the information you need to understand the opportunities and process for mature students at ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork. Whether you are considering returning to education or starting a new journey, we are here to support you every step of the way. By reading this content, you will gain insights into the application process, statement of interest requirements and available support resources.
Investing your time here will ensure you are well-equipped to make an informed decision about your educational future at ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork.
Please follow the links below to locate the specific information you need on this page.
In ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork, a mature student is someone aged 23 years or above on 01 January in the year of entry; who wishes to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree programme.
All interested applicants must make an application through the .
The CAO is an online application form that opens in early November and closes on 01 February each year.
Mature Student Support is located in the Access Department on the .
Please get in touch with mso@ucc.ie with your full name, surname and CAO number if you have any queries, and we will get back to you within 1-2 working days during regular daytime office hours.
Mature Student applications to all full-time undergraduate degrees (except those in Nursing or Midwifery) at ÉîÒ¹ÑÇÖÞ¸£Àû¾Ã¾Ã College Cork, have now closed for 2026. For guidance on applying for the 2027 intake, the following hyperlink can be used to
Mature Applicants must complete a separate Mature Statement for Law if they wish to study any of the law programmes in UCC. Here is the link to the Mature Statement for Law -
All other Mature Applications (apart from entry to Nursing programmes) must follow the process set out below.
Simply click on the following questions to reveal the answer in the accordion menu:
Your statement is submitted as part of your application. It is possibly the single most important document that you will write to gain entry to UCC. It is a letter, job application and interview all in one. 
The most useful information to include is your previous work experience (paid or voluntary capacity) and any life experience that is relevant to your chosen course. Your aim should be to demonstrate to the university that you really want to study your chosen course.
It can be helpful to write about your aims, what you hope to gain from your course, and your long-term plans if you were to get your chosen course.
As part of the Mature Section on the CAO Application Form, you are asked to provide a Statement of Interest (Part 9). The space allocated is 3,000 characters, which equates to between 450 and 800 words. UCC accept up to 1,500 words as a Statement of Interest.
To submit a longer Statement for your UCC application, type it and send it to the CAO so that it can be attached to your application. We advise to write a longer Statement and don’t forget that you can book an online appointment to chat with us at the link above.
Put your CAO number and name on any documents (including your Statement) when you send by post to the CAO. This will ensure they get attached to your application.
Find out as much as possible about your chosen course and structure your personal statement under the following headings:
Entry into some undergraduate programmes in UCC is only possible on completion of an assessment. These assessments are listed next to their respective programmes below;
 – Entry requirement for all mature applicants to nursing.
 – Entry requirement for all mature applicants to Medicine (CK701).
Some of our degree programmes require mature students to sit specific in-house tests. You will be contacted directly by the relevant department in UCC with details of these tests, if applicable to you.
CK104 Arts with Music 
– Music Entrance Test Information
CK112 Drama and Theatre Studies 
- Theatre & Performative Practices BA Webpage
Some of our courses require an interview. Follow this link for further information in the Entry Requirements section. â¶Ä¯
There is also information on interview techniques on our Careers Service website.