FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A PPS number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, as well as public service and information in Ireland. Please be advised that all degree seeking students must have a PPS Number while attending Griffith College. 
 A PPS number is also required for students wishing to work in Ireland. A PPS Number is always 7 numbers followed by either one or two letters. For further information please visit: www.citizensinformation.ie

You can apply for your PPS number at any local Social Welfare office. 


The Social Welfare office in the Cork area is:


Hanover Quay, Cork- (021) 480 6800


The opening hours are as follow:

9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday   

10:00am - 4:30pm on Fridays.


You will require the following:


1. Passport

2. Letter from the College (in order to apply for a letter from the College, please visit www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie and select ‘PPS Letter’)


Study Abroad and Gap Programme students do not need to apply for PPS number for college purposes.

Your PPS Number is used to access a wide variety of public services.

If you are a degree seeking student, you require your PPS Number for identification purposes for examination and registration.  Moreover, you require your PPS Number in order for Griffith College to correctly register you as a student with our validating body (QQI), and to ensure that your award can be presented upon completion of your programme.

You also require a PPS Number to work legally in Ireland. This number identifies you as a taxpayer and entitles you to the same rights as every other worker in Ireland.

You can open a bank account with Bank of Ireland:


Bank of Ireland

32, South Mall, Cork

(021) 427 6712


Opening hours: Monday 10:00- 17:00

Tuesday-Friday: 10:00- 16:00


To open a bank account with Bank of Ireland, you need to bring the following to the bank:


1. Passport

2. Letter for the College indicating your course details and contact details (you can order your letter online using the International Office Online Letter Ordering System: www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie). The letter will be posted to your home address in Ireland.

There are 4 major phone companies in Ireland- Vodafone, o2, Meteor and Three. You can find these stores anywhere in the city centre. The majority of them are on or around St. Patrick’s Street.

Almost all pharmacies offer passport photograph services can be taken in the pharmacy but the prices vary from store to store. The closest pharmacy to the College is at St Luke’s Pharmacy (2min walk).

Once you’re registered for modules of your choice, you cannot drop or change your modules. If you decide not to follow a given module, it will be still listed on your transcript and your mark will be ‘NP’ (not-present) and you will not be receiving any equivalent of ECTS credits for this module.

In order to change your contact details, please go to www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie and click on ‘Enter the Site’, and then click on 'Next' under ‘Change Contact Details’ section.

Once you bring your Academic Study form listing your modules to the International Office, our team will register you for these modules and then you will be able to access your study materials for modules of your choice. Please note that the registration for modules may take up to 2-3 days.

Our English language requirements vary depending on the programme. To find out more about our English language entry requirements, please visit: http://www.gcd.ie/english-language-requirements

The College does not accept packages on behalf of students. Students should be advised to have packages sent to their residential address only.

We recommend a variety of accommodation options to our incoming students:

 

-          Short-Term Student Village Accommodation – Dean’s Hall, Arcadia Hall.

-          Shared houses/ apartments – Eazy Cork

-          Websites to find accommodation: www.daft.ie , www.rent.ie , www.myhome.ie

            -          Host Families

You must fill out an assignment extension sheet that can be downloaded from Moodle and then submitted to your faculty. Please note if you wish to apply for an extension on your assignment, you need to have a valid reason supported by relevant documentation (for example, a certificate from a doctor).

Students choose their modules on arrival: once the academic year starts, during first 2 weeks students can attend as many classes as they want, to find out which modules they want to follow. After two weeks, students need to bring their ‘Academic Study Form’ to the International Office, listing the modules they would like to follow and the International Team will register the modules of their choice.
Once registered for modules, students cannot change the modules they have chosen.

Normally Study Abroad students choose 4-5 modules per semester, totalling an equivalent of 30 ECTS.

To obtain your student card, you must first be registered online. Once you have done this, you must send a passport style photo along with your name, date of birth and course name to [email protected]. You will receive an email when your student card is ready, this could take up to two weeks. You can collect your student card from the main reception.

You may be asked by your employer, landlord etc., to provide a letter of verification to prove that you are studying in Griffith College. This letter can be ordered from the International Office Online Ordering System- www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie

If you would like to travel outside of Ireland to a country that is not your home country, you may require a Tourist Visa. If a visa is required, you will need to apply for the visa in the local Embassy/ Consulate of the country you wish to visit and an accompanying letter (an Embassy letter) from the College will be required.

 

If you wish to order your Embassy letter, please visit www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie and click on 'Next' button under ‘Order General Letters’ section. You will be emailed with your receipt number and the letter will be ready to pick up from the International Office within next 2-3 days.

 

Students are advised that dates of travel that fall within term/class time will not be issued.

In order  to extend your visa, you need to order your visa extension letter from the International Office 2-3 weeks before your visa is due to expire. You can order your letter online using the International Office Online Letter Ordering System- www.gcdinternationaloffice.ie 

In order for us to assist you in extending your study visa, you must adhere to the following requirements:

1. you must have satisfied the Griffith College English language requirements

2. You must be fully registered with the Griffith College

3. You must have paid your tuition fees in full

Please be advised you must arrange for your visa to be extended in advance of the expiry date. The International Office is not permitted to issue visa extension letters for students; instead we must send these letters directly to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

If you hold a stamp 2 visa, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the term and up to 40 hours a week during holidays.

Please be advised that your minimum attendance must be over 80%.

You will receive your timetable from your relevant faculty during the induction week.

The International Office is located in the administration block, next to the main reception.​

Our opening hours are: Monday - Friday, 9:00am – 2:00pm, 3:30pm – 5:30pm.

By bus: At Parnell Place Bus Station, in the city centre, there are buses that can get you around Cork but also to cities in Ireland like Galway or Dublin. Bus services in Cork City and county are provided by Bus Eireann (www.buseireann.ie). One thing to remember is that the frequency of buses is restricted on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Student Travel Card: This card enables students to get substantial discounts on Bus Éireann and Irish Rail. To get it, you need to be registered at GCC and to have a GCC student card. Then, you have to apply for it at the USIT office located in Oliver Plunkett Street. 
Cork City centre is a within walking-distance from Griffith College, you can easily get around it on foot.

Brid McCarthy, Programme Leader, Business Faculty (Evening), [email protected]

Catherine O’Connell, Programme Leader, Business Faculty (Day), [email protected]

Nicholas McMurry, Programme Leader, Law Faculty, [email protected]

Rachel Andrews, Programme Leader, Journalism Faculty, [email protected]

Samane Abdi, Programme Leader, Computing Faculty, [email protected]

Sinead O’Dea, Programme Leader, Graduate Business School, [email protected]

Terry Ward, Senior Academic Administrator, [email protected]