The University of Limerick

The University of Limerick is a higher education institution in Limerick, Ireland. Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989. It was the first university established since Irish independence in 1922, followed by the establishment of Dublin City University later the same day.

UL's campus lies along both sides of the River Shannon, on a 137.5-hectare site with 46 hectares on the north bank and 91.5 hectares on the south bank, 5 kilometers from the city center. It has over 11,000 full-time undergraduate students, including over 2,400 international students, and 1,500 part-time students. There are over 800 research postgraduates and 1,300 postgraduate students receiving instruction at the university. Its co-operative education program offers students an eight-month work placement as part of their degree; it was Ireland's first such program.

Following founding president Edward M. Walsh, Roger GH Downer, John O'Connor, Don Barry and Des Fitzgerald were presidents of UL from 1998 to August 2020. The current, interim, president is Professor Kerstin Mey.

Faculties

• Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Business
• Science
• Education
• Engineering

Entry Requirements

• Certificate of Completed Secondary Education, grade 11 is accepted with high grades for Foundation entry. Students need an average grade of 4.60/5 or above in the last three years. Final exams should include English language, Mathematics and one other language. 
• Particular programs may require specific subjects.
• TOEFL 580 (paper based) or 90 (internet based)
• IELTS minimum score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any component.

Rankings

The university is ranked fourth in attracting students who attain over 500 points on the Leaving Certificate. It is the only college in Ireland to receive a maximum five stars for its sports facilities.

UL was ranked 471–480 worldwide in the 2011 QS World University Rankings and 71–80 for universities less than 50 years old. Its highest QS ranking was reached in 2008, and its science and engineering faculty was ranked 364th worldwide.

It was the 2015 University of the Year in the Sunday Times' Good University Guide because of the university's record in graduate employability, improved academic performance, the €52-million Bernal Project and a strong record in research commercialization. UL is Ireland's only university to receive five stars for graduate employability and teaching in the 2011–12 QS reports. The school also received five stars for infrastructure, internationalization, innovation and engagement.