Home to over 13,000 students, the University of Limerick campus is green and spacious, and located a short bus ride from the city center. It has purpose-built performance spaces, exercise centers, and athletic facilities, to which all students have access. Classroom and laboratory buildings boast state-of-the-art facilities, and there is a comprehensive main library.
More photos from this program can be found here.
Home to over 13,000 students, the University of Limerick campus is green and spacious, and located a short bus ride from the city center. It has purpose-built performance spaces, exercise centers, and athletic facilities, to which all students have access. Classroom and laboratory buildings boast state-of-the-art facilities, and there is a comprehensive main library. The university is also home to several important art collections, and a major concert hall. Irish university life is active and social, and visiting students will not lack for things to do!
The University of Limerick program is ideal for students in diverse majors as students may enroll in a wide variety of regular university classes in majors including life, health, and theoretical sciences, business, education, environment and sustainability, psychology, European studies, Irish studies, and engineering. Please refer to the Limerick website for a listing of major areas of study (in Ireland, majors are referred to as “courses”). Please note, Sports Science is no longer offered to visiting students due to limited space in Sports Science classes.
You can even participate in a special Rugby Study Abroad program at Limerick – no experience playing rugby is required. Ask your IE3 Global Program Director for more information if you are interested.
Fall: March 15
Fall/Winter/Spring: March 15
Winter/Spring: September 15
- English Proficiency
- Sophomore or higher
- GPA of 2.90 or above
Participants are enrolled as regular students, taking classes with Irish and other international students. There is a range of teaching methods at Limerick, often depending upon the discipline of study. Arts and business students, for example, will generally have a combination of lecture and tutorial classes. Lectures can vary in size from 20 to 100 and the associated tutorial classes are much smaller and allow for open discussion of material. Science and Engineering students usually receive a combination of lecture and laboratory classes. Fieldwork may form a large part of some classes. The formal contact hours vary. In Ireland more emphasis is placed on independent study outside of class contact hours compared to what students may experience in Oregon.
Courses or classes are called ‘modules’ at Limerick and are generally intended to be undertaken in specific years of a degree. In a UL undergraduate degree of three years, modules are taken at three levels: first year, second year and third year. These are generally equivalent to second, third, and fourth year of a U.S. degree.
Most modules have a weighting of 6 ECTS (the European Union standard academic credit). Students are required to take a full-time load while at UL which is usually 5 modules per semester. The number of credits earned in Oregon for these units will be determined by the student’s home campus.
To prepare adequately for the study program in Ireland, students are asked to participate in an all-day pre-departure orientation here in Oregon (in November or in May). This orientation provides information on cultural adjustment, visas, travel, university policies, and more. Most importantly, you’ll meet other students going to Ireland.
Upon arrival in Ireland, UL provides a five-day orientation. The orientation is designed to make the transition into Irish culture and university life as smooth as possible, and combines information meetings with excursions and fun social events (learn Irish dances in an evening of music and dance called a ceili, or try your hand at the traditional sport of hurling!).
Students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout the application process and during their study abroad program, and otherwise comply with policies and procedures of the host university, IE3 Global, and their home university International Programs Office.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements, please consult with your home campus contact person before applying. The minimum requirements are as follows:
Students can live in on-campus accommodation in the various “Villages” at UL, an ideal way to be located at the heart of the campus and get to know Irish and other international students. UL can accommodate families and students with special needs, given appropriate notice. Most student accommodation includes several single bedrooms with a shared bathroom and kitchen area. If you prefer to live off campus, there are also a number of options: residence hall style living situations, or private apartments. Be aware that UL will provide you with assistance in finding either on or off campus housing, and that you should book early to secure space on campus.
University of Limerick offers a range of services and student support programs from airport pickup, accommodation and orientation services to advising and social activities. The University International Society organizes events, parties and excursions – visit their website at: http://www.ulinternationalsociety.com/
Students arriving at the Shannon airport can be met free of charge and taken to the university. Students accepted to the Limerick program will have an opportunity to sign up for this service – information is given via the IE3 Global application.
IE3 Global seeks to make its exchange programs affordable and accessible. For detailed information regarding the program budget (both the program fee and an estimate of personal expenses), please click on the following:
Exchange: For each University of Limerick student studying at OSU, OSU is allowed to send one student to Limerick in their place under our bilateral exchange agreement. Within the terms of this agreement, University of Limerick tuition charges are waived; this means that an OSU student who is awarded an exchange spot does not pay University of Limerick tuition while studying there, which results in a considerable price cut for the program. Because the number of exchange spots we can award depends heavily on the amount of students who study at OSU from University of Limerick, spots are limited and thus very competitive. Students should apply and complete the necessary essays found in their IE3 application to qualify and be considered for one of these spots.
Study Abroad: Qualifying students also have the option to study at University of Limerick as a traditional study abroad student (non-exchange). These students do pay University of Limerick tuition for their studies, the amount for which is included in the “Incidental Fees” section of the Study Abroad cost sheet.
The program fee includes academic and administrative fees, orientation expenses, and health and accident insurance. The program fee does not include airfare, room and board, visa fees, campus-based fees and personal expenses such as local transportation, textbooks, laundry, recreation (including travel), personal supplies and incidental expenses. All finances shown on the cost sheets are listed in US Dollars.
“Don't sweat the small things. When I face difficulties or feel tired and stressed, I tell myself "I'm in Ireland!" Then no matter what, the happiness I have just to be there triumphs all negative moments. I promise if you tell yourself this your experience will be so much better!”
– Zoie Wesenberg, 2014
“It was quite a frightening experience to do something that bold and completely alone, but I assure you it was ALL worth it… Just remember, courage is not doing something without fear, it is doing something even if that means doing it afraid.”
– Ashley Meyers, 2013
Fall: March 15
Fall/Winter/Spring: March 15
Winter/Spring: September 15
- English Proficiency
- Sophomore or higher
- GPA of 2.90 or above