Studying Anthropology at UCC: Callie Yemm's experience as a postgraduate student

26 Mar 2025

• Callie shares her experience of the MA in Anthropology at UCC so far.
• As an international student, Callie highlights the supportive community in Cork and shares advice for students considering postgraduate study at UCC.

Callie Yemm, an international student on the MA in Anthropology at University College Cork (UCC), is exploring funerary and memorial culture as part of her postgraduate research. Drawn to the programme for its emphasis on independent fieldwork and its balance between disciplinary foundations and contemporary relevance, she has found the experience both academically rewarding and personally meaningful.

In this Student Spotlight, Callie shares her perspective on the MA in Anthropology, the transition to life in Cork, and the advice she would offer to other international students considering postgraduate study in Ireland.

 How are you finding the MA in Anthropology at UCC so far?

I’ve been very satisfied with the programme thus far! I love to do research, so the way the programme is structured to improve students’ independent research skills through a summer fieldwork project excited me.

I really appreciate hands-on teaching, so this method of allowing me to do work rather than be stuck reading about other people’s work feels more beneficial to me personally (don’t worry, though, we still do plenty of reading). Eventually, I want to teach and do research full-time, so having the experience of another project that I ran under my belt will only be advantageous in the long run.

What inspired you to choose the MA in Anthropology at UCC?

At the risk of sounding a bit morbid, I study funerary and memorial culture, and a part of my decision to choose to move to Ireland is because scholars here happen to be doing a lot of that sort of work right now.

But as for UCC specifically, I felt that the structure of the Anthropology programme set it apart from other programmes I’d looked at. I appreciate how there is a balance between a respect for the discipline’s past as well as a focus on looking to the future.

How have you found living and studying in Ireland?

It definitely took a while for me to settle in, but since I found my rhythm, I’ve really enjoyed my time in Cork! Most of the locals are so nice and willing to help you out if you need it. There is plenty to do in/around Cork, like historical sites, parks, and the pub scene; and Ireland is connected enough that you can easily take day trips to the coast or surrounding counties.

The city and university also encourage a work life balance– from the professors to the societies to all the activities and special “nights” hosted by pubs nearby, everyone wants you to do well in your studies but also relax and enjoy a healthy amount of time off.

What advice would you give to international students considering pursuing their studies in Ireland?

Utilise the International Office and get out of your comfort zone! I will be the first to admit that I have been nervous about going to school organised events where I didn’t already know anyone in the past, but I have a good group of friends that I met at the one of the international student introductory days and my experience truly would have been different without them.

In addition, everyone in the International Office itself was super supportive in the process of getting over here and getting settled, so I’d definitely recommend getting in touch with the office as soon as you can.

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Studying Anthropology at UCC

Applications are now open for the MA in Anthropology, commencing in September 2025.
Explore how the programme can support your academic and professional journey - visit our programme page to learn more.