University of Limerick
Ollscoil Luimnigh
Ireland's riverside campus on the Shannon, where every degree includes paid work experience through Co-op.
- Students
- 19,740
- International
- 18%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 27.1:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €17,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1972
About UL
The University of Limerick opened in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, and became a university by act of the Oireachtas in 1989, the first university founded since Irish independence. It was built to serve industry, and that shows today: its Cooperative Education (Co-op) programme, which puts work experience into every degree, is the largest in Ireland, and more than 2,000 students are on paid or semi-paid placements each year.
UL has more than 19,740 students and over 70 undergraduate courses, organised into four faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Education and Health Sciences; Science and Engineering; and the Kemmy Business School, which holds EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accreditation. The 130-hectare campus stretches along both banks of the River Shannon, linked by the Living Bridge, and is home to the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
UL calls itself Ireland's Sporting Campus, with an Olympic-sized pool and the country's first altitude training centre. It suits students who want a campus university with strong employability: CAO points in 2026 ranged from 442 for Business Studies to 579 for Physiotherapy and 652 for Immersive Software Engineering.
Why students choose UL
Every degree includes Co-op work experience, and UL says its graduate employment rate is 96%.
Business Studies offers a dual-degree route with nine partner business schools in Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Poland and Japan.
UL has the largest international exchange programme in Ireland, with 725 outbound exchange students.
The riverside campus has been voted Ireland's Best Student Campus more times than any other Irish university, and includes an Olympic-sized pool.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
UL does not publish an acceptance rate. EU/EFTA/UK applicants compete through the CAO on points, and cut-offs vary by course and year: 2026 CAO points were 442 for Business Studies (LM050), 579 for Physiotherapy (LM100) and 652 for Immersive Software Engineering (LM173, which also requires a portfolio).
Typical entry requirements
| Irish Leaving Certificate | Minimum six subjects with two H5 and four O6/H7 grades, including Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English, plus course requirements (e.g. at least O4/H7 Maths for Business Studies); places then go on CAO points |
|---|---|
| A-levels (EU/UK applicants via CAO) | Minimum two A-levels at grade C plus four other GCSE subjects at grade C, including English, Mathematics and another language; scored on the best four A-levels, or three A-levels plus an AS level |
| Non-EU qualifications | Assessed by country; UL publishes country-specific entry requirements on each course page |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 UL's English language requirements page (in its undergraduate international section) lists Academic IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.0 (some programmes ask for more), TOEFL iBT 90, PTE Academic 61 (no section below 59), Duolingo 120 (no component below 110) and other equivalents. Offer holders who fall short can take pre-sessional English at the UL Language Centre. |
Deadlines
- CAO normal closing date (EU/EFTA/UK) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months1 February 2027, 17:00 Irish time
€50 CAO fee; a discounted €35 fee applies up to 20 January 2027. Mature applicants must apply by this date.
- CAO late applications Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027, 17:00 Irish time
Late application facility opens on 5 March 2027; restrictions apply to some courses.
- Non-EU direct application Non-bindingRolling (not published)
Non-EU applicants apply directly online (€50 fee); a scholarship decision comes with the offer. UL did not publish a closing date on its undergraduate international pages as of 29 September 2026.
CAO dates are from the CAO Handbook 2027. UL's first-year accommodation is allocated by lottery for applicants with UL as their CAO first choice (the 2026/27 lottery opened in early March). UL publishes no non-EU closing date on its undergraduate international and application pages (checked 29 September 2026); apply early to leave time for a visa.
How to apply
Irish, EU/EFTA and UK applicants apply through the CAO and are ranked on exam points; UL does not issue conditional offers to EU applicants, who receive offers in CAO rounds after the Leaving Certificate results. Non-EU applicants apply directly to UL through its online application system (€50 fee) and are automatically considered for faculty scholarships. Mature applicants apply through the CAO by 1 February.
What admissions looks for
- For CAO applicants, exam points from your best six Leaving Certificate subjects (or best four A-levels), with no personal statement.
- Minimum matriculation grades and subject requirements, such as Maths and a language for Business Studies.
- For language streams in Business Studies, a Leaving Certificate H4 in the relevant language (or in another language for beginners' streams).
- For non-EU applicants, school results assessed against country-specific requirements.
Tips for applying to UL
- 1 Check the previous year's CAO points for your course: popular courses such as Physiotherapy (579) and Immersive Software Engineering (652) need very high points.
- 2 UK A-level students can apply through the CAO, but offers only come after the Irish results in August; UL does not make conditional offers.
- 3 Non-EU applicants don't need a separate scholarship application: faculty merit awards of €2,000-€2,500 a year are considered automatically.
- 4 Put UL as your CAO first choice and register for the accommodation lottery as soon as it opens.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Most EU students qualify for the Free Fees scheme, where the Higher Education Authority pays tuition and the student pays the €2,500 student contribution (covered by a SUSI grant for eligible students) and a €104 levy. Non-EU students are automatically considered for merit scholarships worth €2,000 a year (Science and Engineering; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) or €2,500 a year (Kemmy Business School), and course-specific awards such as Brindle Foundation Scholarships (€5,000 a year) exist.
- €2,500, covered by SUSI grant for eligible students
- Student contribution (EU)
- €104 per year
- Student levy (all students)
- €2,500 per year, automatic
- Non-EU merit scholarship (Kemmy Business School)
- €2,000 per year, automatic
- Non-EU merit scholarship (other faculties)
Academics
Business Studies (BBS, LM050)
Kemmy Business School has EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accreditation; dual-degree route with nine partner schools; 442 CAO points in 2026.
Immersive Software Engineering (LM173)
An integrated bachelor's and master's in four years (NFQ Level 9); 652 CAO points in 2026.
Physiotherapy (BSc, LM100)
CORU-approved, with clinical placements; 579 CAO points in 2026.
Computer Systems (BSc)
Entered through the Computer Science common entry route (LM121), with Co-op placement.
Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
UL's music and dance academy; former Riverdance lead Jean Butler took her master's in Contemporary Dance Performance at UL.
Research
- UL reports 4,531 research collaborations in 141 countries since 2019 and 35 research institutes and centres.
- The Nexus Innovation Centre on campus is a hub for researchers and start-ups.
- UL is ranked 76th overall in the THE Impact Rankings 2025, including 20th for reduced inequalities.
- UL was the first university in Ireland to develop a dedicated Sustainability Framework.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Education and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Kemmy Business School
UL reports a graduate employment rate of 96%, which it says is 15% above the national average, and more than 2,000 students in paid or semi-paid placements each year.
Student life
UL is a self-contained campus on both banks of the River Shannon, with walking routes, parkland and the Living Bridge connecting the Limerick and Clare sides. Sport is central: the campus has an Olympic-sized pool, Ireland's first altitude training centre and the National Strength and Conditioning facilities, and UL markets itself as Ireland's Sporting Campus. First-years get the First Seven Weeks programme to help them settle in, and many students spend a semester abroad through Ireland's largest exchange programme.
- Voted Best Student Campus in Ireland more times than any other university.
- Ireland's largest Erasmus+ and exchange programme (713 inbound, 725 outbound students).
- Co-op placements built into every degree.
- Irish World Academy of Music and Dance on campus.
Housing. Campus rooms for new first-years are allocated by lottery to CAO applicants with a UL course as first choice; all applicants received an outcome by 11 April for 2026/27.
Location
Limerick is a city on the River Shannon in Ireland's mid-west, and Shannon Airport is the nearest international airport. The UL campus sits along both banks of the river, combining city access with open parkland. UL describes Limerick as Ireland's student city and a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, so students have access to both city life and the west coast.
Nearest airport: Shannon Airport (SNN)
Notable alumni
- PC Pat CoxFormer President of the European Parliament
- NG Nika GilauriFormer Prime Minister of Georgia; Bachelor of Business Studies from UL
- JB Jean ButlerDancer, former Riverdance lead; master's in Contemporary Dance Performance from UL
- IÓ Iarla Ó LionáirdSinger; MA in ethnomusicology from UL (2003)
- DE Dermot Earley SnrFormer Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces; MA in peace and development studies from UL (1999)
- BM Brian McManusHost of the Real Engineering YouTube channel; master's in aeronautical engineering from UL
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply to the University of Limerick?
Irish, EU/EFTA and UK applicants apply through the CAO (normal closing date 1 February 2027). Non-EU applicants apply directly to UL online with a €50 fee.
How many CAO points do you need for UL?
It depends on the course and year. In 2026, Business Studies needed 442 points, Physiotherapy 579 and Immersive Software Engineering 652.
How much are UL fees for international students?
Current non-EU fees on course pages range from €17,500 a year (Business Studies) to €26,300 (Physiotherapy), with automatic merit scholarships of €2,000-€2,500 a year for eligible applicants.
What is Co-op at UL?
Cooperative Education is UL's work placement programme, built into every degree. UL says it is the largest in Ireland and that more than 2,000 students are on paid or semi-paid placements each year.
Can UK A-level students apply to UL?
Yes, through the CAO. You need at least two A-levels at grade C plus GCSEs including English, Maths and another language, and are ranked on your best four A-levels converted to CAO points.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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