Study Abroad at University of Limerick, Ireland

It was wonderful and it allowed me to socialize a lot. The UL membership to UL sport arena was really nice and I discovered a new passion ! Classes and exams were well organized, even if it was pretty hard to make my own timetable, I had to do some choices in order to have 5 modules per week, and then the teachers can change the timetable of each module, and it’s even more complicated. However, it was a nice semester and I really liked the campus and all it’s facilities. Also, Thomond village employees were really nice, especially at the reception, thank you !

The University of Limerick is a fantastic place to study abroad. The campus is very scenic and peaceful. The on-campus accommodation is very nice! I had a private bedroom and bathroom with a shared living room and kitchen. The pictures on the website do not do the spaces justice. They look quite small online but are actually spacious in person. Coming from an American university a few things surprised me:

1. The multiple bars on campus - This is something I never experienced back home and is a shame. The on-campus bars are a great time and place to meet new people. Expect a big drinking culture in Ireland.
2. The Irish students mostly go home on the weekends - Truthfully, the campus is a bit dead on the weekends. However, the study abroad office does its best to make your time at UL meaningful. Every weekend they organized day trips around Ireland to keep you busy.
3. The student clubs are a big deal - The student clubs here are amazing! I personally joined Outdoor Pursuits where I went hiking and rock climbing. I met some of my best friends through the club and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to explore Ireland's nature and stay active.

I studied abroad in Limerick,, Ireland, in Spring 2019 and Fall 2019. Study abroad is undoubtedly a fun experience but what we sometimes forget is that it is also a journey towards becoming a global citizen. This hard-fought journey exposes us to the lights and shadows of this world. My study abroad university, the University of Limerick, Ireland, ranks number 2 for international student happiness. Immersing myself in the diversity of the University, I was able to form a global network spanning from the west to the east.

One of my absolute favorite things was the mixture of roommates I had in the house included in the package price. I had roommates from Sweden, Australia, Nigeria, Dubai, and different parts of the US and India. Small moments of awkwardness were the biggest learning opportunities. This has given me the privilege to travel like a local with friends I made worldwide.

On a less deep note, the myriad of courses available makes it very easy to select courses and stay on track for graduation. Moreover, a lot of Americans were shocked by the minimal pressure of work. Most of the grades are focused on one or two big projects or exams instead of a cumulative approach.

Lastly, the weather in Ireland is always a bittersweet debate with my friends. As a fan of rainy weather, Ireland is my haven. However, I agree that it does make walking to classes and traveling a bit hectic at times but still eventful. Overall, this was indeed a life-changing experience.

I studied abroad at UL in the spring of 2019. My second week of the program, my grandmother (my best friend) passed away from a sudden heart attack. I wanted to go back home immediately but I decided to stay and it is hands down the best decision I have ever made, second only to my decision to attend college in the first place. I knew it was going to be difficult to be away from my family, friends, and home university for a semester, but my grandmother's passing made it even harder to be away from the familiar and comforting.

I will never forget the willingness the Study Abroad staff showed to support me before and after my grandmother's passing. There were countless afternoon conversations over tea, walks around campus, and helpful nudges in the right direction in the weeks following my arrival in Ireland. I truly do not think I would have stayed if it hadn't been for them.

My flatmates and the other friends I had already made in my first week of the program were also a major reason why I decided to stay. They are also the reason that my time was so enjoyable, even when it was hard. Without hesitation, they scooped me up and reminded me what it felt like to be happy again. I will never forget the nights spent at home watching bad movies, the takeout we ate by the river, and every single Friday night at Stables.

Above all, my time at UL gave me relationships that I will have for the rest of my life. The friends I made in Limerick are friends I still have today. We talk or video chat at least once a month despite all of the different timezones! I truly could not have asked for a better experience and I am grateful each and every day that I went to Ireland and most of all, that I decided to stay. Thank you, UL!

University of limerick is actually a great place to meet new people. The atmosphere of the school is something that you only get to experience once in a lifetime. The friends that you make at the school last for years to come. As far as it goes with teachers as long as you are not taking technical or scientific courses the teachers are amazing. That is not seeing that the technical and scientific courses the teachers are mean It just means you have to work harder for your grade. When it comes to the study abroad office they are amazing. They will help you with anything and everything that you need. As far as the other students that are at the school it all depends on you. You can make this experience amazing by being outgoing and meeting new people, or you can make it miserable experience and try to avoid people left and right. As far as getting around in Ireland be sure to get a bus pass it is the best though not always on time it is the best way to get around. Getting a bike is good but you have to make sure you get a nice juicy lock so that it does not get stolen. Let’s not be scared of this because those things happen everywhere in the world. But the only advice I can give to those that are going to the university of limerick is to be outgoing be interactive and get out of your comfort zone. Make sure you were one of the students that does well going in there with electives, and takes full advantage of everything they have to offer. I know 16 weeks or so is a long time for some people but it’s not enough to actually see it all.

My stay in Ireland was not my first long stay abroad but it was the first time I went for an academic purpose and I have to say that I have not been disappointed. The staff are qualified and good teachers. I do not remember a time I was as intrigued as I was in my lectures at UL. The only course I did struggle with was an Irish language course, which was fun but I could not really work with their structure, as they taught sentences and not the grammar of the language, but that is a personal difficulty I encountered in only that one course. All my other classes were very well structured. I also participated in a practicum module that I would recommend to everyone attending UL because it offers the possibility to get into a community and work with the people living in and around Limerick. I will never forget this experience.
The atmosphere at UL was amazing and I met many friendly people that I am still in touch with and hopefully never loose contact with. It was exciting to meet people from Ireland but also from all over the world. The campus offers the wonderful experience of different nations coming together. Clubs and societies as well as the international department offer many activities to get to know others and make friends.

The campus is beautiful. The professors were intelligent and qualified (and very helpful if you ask!). They are very helpful in giving information and also being there to answer questions. Limerick is a cool small city with a good night life and UL has their own bars on campus so you don't have to go far if you don't want to. Housing was nice and convient to the campus. Overall a great experience! Might even come back and study their in the future for a masters degree.

UL was truly an incredible experience. Not only was the school great, but all of the clubs and activities they offer really help to improve your experience. I joined the international society and had the opportunity to travel all over Ireland on a budget. When I wasn't traveling in Ireland, I took trips with my roommates and friends to other countries throughout Europe. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in studying abroad.