Study Abroad at University of Limerick, Ireland

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.

HI!
I'm Haileigh and I am 20 years old. I just finished studying at the University of Limerick! It was my first time traveling abroad by myself and it was amazing! One of the highlights of my trip was the London stopover because, there was a lot of free time provided for us to explore London. One of the other highlights from my trip was spending the weekend in Dublin with three of my friends I met while in Limerick. It was good to have free time and free range. In Limerick everything closes early, usually at 6 or 7pm so sometimes it was hard to find things to do after class since it ended at 4pm but one of the fun things I recommend is Smyth's bar/ club icon! It is in Limerick city and it is a great time! The bar is downstairs and it is more chill and the club is upstairs. I went a few times with friends and had a great time. I also highly recommend the Healthcare program! It is very laid back and has a more holistic approach. It was not very difficult but I definitely learned a lot! The Professors are amazing as well!

I absolutely loved UL, it was the exact university feel I was hoping to get in Ireland, chock full of the best resources, the nicest people, and of course, the greatest craic. The campus was secluded enough so that students really get the university vibe, yet it was still very easy to access the city center and any other activities one may want to do. Also, the International Office and International Club really went out of their way to make sure that every study abroad student had his or her needs met while they were at UL.