Campus Life

 

 

Bishopstown Campus

 

The Bishopstown Campus of MTU is the centre for courses in Business, Engineering, Technology, Science, Social Studies, Recreation & Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality Studies. Also located on the campus are Student Services, Administration, Research Centres and Industry Support Centre. The main campus of MTU is situated beside a Regional Sports Centre which includes a swimming pool. The grounds of the campus are spacious and well laid out. In addition to the sports areas there are extensive car and bicycle areas with maturing trees, and a riverside walk.

 

 

Adjacent to the Institute are the residential areas of Bishopstown, Wilton, Model Farm Road and Ballincollig with extensive shopping, social and recreational facilities. Transport to the city centre is readily available and the campus is well served by urban bus routes and by both public and private buses serving rural areas.

The main building of the campus dates from 1974 and has been extensively developed and modified to cater for increased student numbers, new courses and the changing requirements of the student population. The campus is comprehensively equipped with lecture theatres, computer suites, laboratories, workshops, drawing studios and classrooms. The library is impressive both in architectural and educational terms. It is the main focus for study in the Institute and side by side with traditional facilities of a library, students can use the most up-to-date computer based methods for accessing information.

The Student Centre is the main focus for student activity and leisure. It includes all the services you could hope for, such as common room, restaurant, meeting rooms, banks, mini-market and hairdresser. The Student Centre also includes services such as the student resources manager, medical centre, student support team, students’ union offices, careers and counselling service, student accommodation office, clubs and societies, access and disability service, copy and card services.

The Information Technology Centre consists of computing laboratories, lecture theatres and open access computer stations for 90 students. All of these computers are fully networked and are on-line.

Students and visitors to the University will be most familiar with the buildings and the facilities immediately around them. They may be less conscious of the grounds that extend beyond the athletics track and down to the lower levels beside the river and the swimming pool. The GAA, Rugby and soccer pitches are located on the lower level and there is a scenic walk along the banks of the Curraheen river. Outdoor pitches on the campus cater for all major sporting codes.

The 1,200 seater Sports Stadium was officially opened in May 2008 by Minister for Education and Science, Mr Batt O’Keeffe. Adjacent to the Sports Stadium is a public pitch and putt course. The newly re-furbished championship standard athletics track and stand is a major outdoor asset to the sporting life of the University. Indoor sports and training are accommodated in a large and well-equipped sports hall featuring one of the most extensive weights rooms in the country.

 

 

Crawford College of Art & Design


The Crawford College of Art & Design is located at Sharman Crawford Street close to St Finbarre’s Cathedral. It offers well recognisedcourses in Fine Art, Ceramic Design and Art & Design education. Facilities include lecture rooms, spacious studios with personal work-spaces for all students, and well equipped workshops and laboratories for ceramics, metal and wood fabrication, stone and wood carving, foundry, photography, film and video, computers, etching, lithography, silk screen and relief printmaking, textiles and stained glass. Other facilities at the Crawford include canteen, situated on the ground floor, and an extensive library.

 

The library operates on a separate system to the main MTU library, and is open to students of the Crawford only. During term the College is open to students from 9.00am to 9.30pm Monday to Thursday, to 5.00pm on Fridays, and until 1.00pm most Saturdays.

 

Cork School of Music


A purpose-built Cork School of Music provides nearly 13,000m² of state-ofthe- art facilities. It includes a library, 60 teaching/practice studios, a 450 seater auditorium, 120 seater drama theatre and movement room, a professional recording studio, an electronic music studio, pianolabs, an audiolab, a musicITlab, a double bass studio, a harp studio, an early music studio, a percussion studio and a postgraduate centre.

 

 

 

Other facilities include lecture theatres, classrooms, student common room and office for student services, staff room, boardroom, meeting rooms, medical referral centre, and a bistro café as well as a public office and accommodation for the management, teaching and administrative staff. With an inspirational ground-floor atrium that appears to flow up the entire building through two huge natural light shafts, and with acoustic, temperature and humidity controls provided throughout the building, these facilities are without parallel.

The School of Music provides the internationally renowned staff of Irelands’ largest conservatory of music and drama with the very best of facilities to ensure that many more students are able to pursue their studies. The School organises various bands (Jazz as well as Concert), chamber music ensembles, choirs (Junior, Ladies and Oratorio) and orchestras whose activities are a fundamental part of the cultural life of the city. Students of the school may become involved in many bands, orchestras and choirs performing in a variety of styles and at varying levels of difficulty. Students of the other campuses are also eligible to join these, subject to successful audition. Regular concerts are also given at the school, which are open to all  MTU sudents.

 

National Maritime College

 

This state-of-the-art College is located in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork and provides training and education for the Merchant Marine and the non-military needs of the Irish Naval Service (INS). The NMCI provides education services of the highest quality. Specialist spaces including survival facilities, seamanship and shipwrights’ workshops, fire fighting/damage control, jetty and lifeboat facilities and engine room are provided.

 

 

 

The College also provides specialised simulation equipment in the areas of navigation, bridge training, communications, engineering-machinery operations, liquid cargo handling/ damage control and vessel traffic systems. These facilities fully comply with the most up to date international standards and requirements. A multipurpose hall and sporting facilities are also included in the college.

 

Cork City


Cork is vibrant with student life and activity. During the academic year Cork’s full-time student population exceeds 20,000, including those from MTU, UCC and several colleges of further education. This generates a unique environment of vitality and of learning. Students are an integral part of Cork, and their activities are woven through the fabric of its social and cultural life.

 

 

 

The bustling city centre with its elegant main streets, shopping malls, markets, and a network of interesting side streets gives Cork all the advantages of a major urban area. This is a diverse and cosmopolitan city with a European feel. The many restaurants, night-clubs, theatres, comedy and music venues are a focus for social life, with venues catering specially for the student population. Cinemas offer the latest blockbusters plus the best in foreign language and cult cinema. Most cinemas offer student discounts.

It would be difficult to imagine a region offering more to the student than County Cork. Stretching from Allihies and Beara in the west to Youghal in the east, the rugged coastline is dotted with beautiful havens and beaches. Skibbereen, Bantry, Schull, Clonakilty, Cobh, Kinsale, Ballycotton and many more resorts offer sailing, watersports, restaurants and festivals. All are within easy reach of the city. Inland, there are mountains, rivers, forests and lakes within easy reach of MTU, as are historic centres like Blarney, Mallow, Macroom and Fermoy. Sporting activities thrive in the city and are well organised. Highly developed facilities are located throughout the city and its suburbs.

For example, within easy access of MTU, is Páirc Uí Chaoímh which hosts many major GAA events throughout the year. Neptune Stadium on the city’s north side is one of the country’s finest basketball arenas. Musgrave Park has been the scene for many famous victories for Munster Rugby. Cork enjoys a rich cultural life as recognised by its designation as European Capital of Culture 2005. Important contributions are made by students and staff of MTU and its constituent schools, the MTU Cork School of Music, MTU Crawford College of Art and Design and the National Maritime College of Ireland. Particular high points occur during the many festivals such as the annual Film, Jazz, Choral and Folk Music festivals.