All about studying in Limerick, Ireland

There are various reasons why students pick Limerick as a top destination to study in Ireland. Some of these are mentioned below:

Some of the major courses such as Engineering, Business Management, and Life Sciences are popular in universities located in Limerick, Ireland. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, the University of Limerick ranks in the top 500 for Engineering and the top 300 for Social Sciences and Management. The top courses preferred in these institutions include Management, Arts and Humanities, Information Technology, and Engineering.

Limerick houses some of the most coveted study-abroad universities. The University of Limerick, for instance, holds a QS World University Ranking 2023 of #531-540.

The most popular options for higher education in Limerick are:

• University of Limerick

• Limerick Institute of Technology

• Griffith College

• Mary Immaculate College

• Limerick College of Further Education

• Central College Limerick
  

In case you are looking to cut down on your cost of studying and living abroad, these scholarships offered by Limerick universities might be very helpful:

• University of Limerick India PG Scholarships

• Merit-based President’s Scholarship

• Early Payment Scholarship

• Alumni Scholarship

• Inclusive Ireland Scholarships
  

There are excellent employment opportunities for international students locally. The city has a cluster of industrial and business parks, including the National Technology Park, Raheen Business Park, and Shannon Free Zone. Companies located in Limerick that you can build a career in are Avocent, GE Capital, Ingersoll Rand, Intel, Lufthansa Technik, Mentor Graphics, Molex, Shannon Aerospace, Shannon Engine Support, RSA Security and Veritas Software, Genworth, First Names Group, and The Pepper. Limerick’s economy was mainly agricultural and now it is the bacon industry and Limerick lace.

An employee in Limerick earns €48,480 on average per year.

International students holding a valid immigration Stamp 2 permission can work for 20 hours per week during the academic session, and 40 hours per week during the months of May, June, July, and August, and from December 15 to January 15. They do not need any specific work permit to work part-time if they are enrolled for a course of 1 year or longer.

Ireland’s minimum wage is €9.15 per hour and provides a post-study pathway for international students. The Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme allows the NQF Level 9 or 10 graduates to remain in Ireland to look for employment or apply for a green card/work permit. Students can eventually apply for General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Limerick was named the National City of Culture in 2014. The city hosts a lot of contemporary exhibitions, local playwrights, and drama productions. Riverfest is a summer festival held annually in the city from 2004 onwards. The city offers both Georgian architecture and modern high-rise buildings. There are a lot of shopping centres in the city and nightclubs and pubs offering music. The Limerick Milk Market is the favourite place for the students.

Limerick has Shannon airport which is 20 Kms from the city. The city has public bus services and rail services with intercity connections making it easy to move around.

Students have a choice of opting for an on-campus or off-campus accommodation. On campus, the accommodation offers a private bedroom with sharing living space and kitchen. Off-campus, some of the apartment-style residences offer ensuite accommodation.

Health and safety have been the utmost priority of international students for all institutions and hence all of them are required to take private health insurance coverage for their stay in Ireland. Proof of health insurance is necessary while applying for a visa and at the time of registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

With its academic excellence, employment opportunities, and thriving research industry, Limerick can be a great choice for you. Explore the courses available in Limerick to find your best fit. And to guide you, we, at IDP, are always there!