SSOE Semester in Limerick

 

Overview: 

Introducing SSOE Semester in Limerick! A new program that is exclusive for Swanson School of Engineering undergraduate students with the University of Limerick. We are incredibly excited to offer this opportunity for Fall 2024! 

The University of Limerick (UL) will offer a full-time course load of classes (12-18 credits) for each semester. This includes access to engineering classes, not just humanities or social science electives! All courses are taught in English, and the academic calendar aligns closely with Pitt's academic calendar. Head to the Academics tab to see the full Fall 2024 catalog of options, along with highlighted courses of potential interest. 

 

Did you know there is an exclusive tuition scholarship for students planning to go in Fall 2024 from the Fund for Education Abroad that includes the University of Limerick? You could win a scholarship or tuition waiver up to $5,000 USD! Read about the Education in Ireland scholarship here.

 

See what other students are saying about studying at UL as an international student in the video below. 

 

 

Fact sheet: 
Location Description: 

The University of Limerick is a young and dynamic university, ranked as one of the top 100 Young Universities of the World according to Times Higher Education. The University of Limerick (UL) is world renowned for its graduate employability, dedication to the student experience, industry relevant programs, award-winning research, stunning campus and UL`s deep commitment to community engagement. With close to 17,000 students, including 3,000 international students, UL is a young and enterprising university with a proud record of innovation in education and scholarship. 

17% of the University of Limerick's student population is comprised of international students from over 100 countries! According to the International Student Barometer survey of 2018, UL ranked number one in a variety of categories: international student happiness, university in Ireland, social activities, multicultural classroom experiences, sports facilities, international office in Ireland and the UK, and library in Ireland! 

Limerick is the mid-west capital and Ireland’s third largest city. A vibrant riverside city, Limerick is situated on the majestic river Shannon. When you study in Limerick, you can enjoy everything that a modern European city has to offer, with a wealth of cultural richness, infrastructure and amenities. Limerick offers the perfect mix of ‘affordability without compromise’. With a more competitive cost of living compared to larger Irish cities, you can afford to live life to the full in a city that is richly served by wonderful amenities and infrastructure. Limerick is an ideal place to study with lots of educational and cultural opportunities as well as being an ideal hub for travel and experiencing the West of Ireland.

Did You Know... Limerick City is located 20 kilometers from Shannon International Airport, which has full US customs pre-clearance. Shannon International Airport offers daily services to the US, UK and mainland Europe. 

Housing Description: 

Accommodation at University of Limerick is included in the program fee. Living in residence offers you an opportunity to enjoy your time at university to the full. The campus at UL offers amenities, which are among the best in the country and compare well with many worldwide renowned universities. 

When you live in our accommodation, you will have your own private study bedroom equipped with a good size study desk and free access to high-speed internet via the UL wired network. All accommodation offers a private, single bedroom with shared living space and kitchen. Apartment style residences with single bedrooms offer en-suite bathrooms. All villages are equipped with a full set of inventory. From pots, pans, pillows and duvets to a TV in the living room, we will have thought of all the essentials so that you do not have to go to additional expense. There is free Wi-Fi across campus and in the on-campus housing. 

All apartments in any of the housing villages have a mix of students in the community, first year, seniors, international students and postgraduate students. Single sex apartments or LGBTQIA+ housing options are available by request.

Academic Description: 

Read about the Fall 2024 course offerings here. Scroll to page 141 for the start of the engineering class listings! Courses from the following faculties (departments) may be of interest for engineering in Fall 2024, however check out all your options!

  1. Biological Sciences
    -BY4215 Soil Science
    -BY4033 Core Concepts in Bioscience
    -FT4305 Food Engineering Principles
    -FT4375 Food Processing Operations
    -ER4708 Biometrics
  2. Chemical Sciences
    -CG4003 Bioprocess Engineering 1
    -BC4905 Genetic Engineering
    -CH4025 Photochemistry
    -ER4627 Safety and Industry
  3. Computer Science
    -CS4171 Programming for Artificial Intelligence 
    -CS4093 Games for Global Markets
    -CS4084 Mobile Application Development
    -CS4071 Virtual and Augmented Reality Design
    -CS4287 Neural Computing
  4. Electronic and Computer Engineering
    -EE4003 The Engineer as a Professional
    -ET4003 Electro Technology (ED)
    -CE4041 Artificial Intelligence 
    -ET4021 Electronics Life Cycle Engineering
    -ET4307 Applied Cloud Computing
  5. Engineering
    -CE4041 Hydraulics and Water Engineering
    -CE4025 Transport Planning and Design
    -DM4003 Operations Modeling
    -WT4505 Building Economics
    -ME6191 Airworthiness and Spaceworthiness
    -PT4015 Lean Thinking and Lean Tools
    -WT4705 Building Production
    -ME6008 Microfluids
    -WT4507 Forensic Engineering and Ethics
    -CE6001 Wind, Ocean, and Hydro Energy

SSOE pursuing the international engineering certificate maybe interested in Irish cultural courses, such as:

  • HI4152 From Kingdom to Republic: Irish History 1660-1960
  • HI4083 Making Ireland British: Early Modern Ireland 1536-1750
  • HI 4103 Imaging Ireland: From Early Modern to Modern
  • PO4013 Government and Politics in Ireland
  • BR4012 Broadening: Communication Across Cultures
  • GA4011 Celtic Civilization: Culture, Language, and Representations
  • GA4115 Irish Language 1
  • EH4043 Irish Literary Revolutions 1880-1930
  • GA4103 Introduction to Irish Folklore
  • GA4105 Irish Folklore 1
  • MU4135 Irish Traditional Music 1
  • MD4081 Irish Music and Dance Studies
Grading: 

Courses taken at the University of Limerick will receive satisfactory/ no credit (S/NC) grades for each course. A satisfactory (S) grade will be recorded in each course for which students earn the equivalent of a C or better. A no credit (NC) grade will be recorded in each course for which students earn a C- or lower. 

Students are able to fill requirements for their majors, minors, and/or certificates with prior approval from their departmental coordinators. The approval process is formalized through the SSOE Course Approval Form administered through DocuSign. 

How Much To Budget: 

Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State
Program Fee (see the "What's included" section) $14,000 $23,854
Study Abroad Fee $400 $400
Total Billed by Pitt $14,400 $24,254

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare* Varies: $1,300-$1,800
Meals* Varies: $1,000-$1,500
Personal expenses*  Varies: $1,000-$1,500
If you are not a U.S. citizen there may be a additional costs associated with applying for a visa and/or traveling to an embassy or consulate Varies

 

The program fee includes:

  • Tuition (equivalent of 12-18 credits)
  • On-site orientation
  • Housing
  • International health and accident insurance through I-SOS

 

Did you know there is an exclusive tuition scholarship for students planning to go in Fall 2024 from the Fund for Education Abroad that includes the University of Limerick? You could win a scholarship or tuition waiver up to $5,000 USD! Read about the Education in Ireland scholarship here.

 

*Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad.  Visit our budgeting page for more information.

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • The Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

**Note that Pitt Global Experience Office courses/programs such as this one, operate outside of normal tuition and fee schedules and cannot be combined nor included in full-term tuition pricing. 

Lauren Smith-Lemesh M.Ed.

Om Swastiastu Pitt! My name is Lauren, and I am one of the Global Programs Managers in the Swanson School of Engineering. I studied abroad in Indonesia during undergraduate, and worked as a peer study abroad advisor once I returned. After my study abroad trip, I knew that I wanted to support students to have life-changing experiences abroad too. Let's talk about your interests and find a program that will help you achieve your goals! 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

  • Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
  • Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
  • Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
  • Select 152 Benedum as the Location
  • Select ENGR Global  as the service
  • Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

Application Instructions: 
  • Complete your Pitt application
  • Complete your University of Limerick application (including supplemental application materials. Also, you do not need to complete the section about an agent.)

Application Requirements:

  • Open to Swanson School of Engineering undergraduate students only
  • Good academic and behavioral standing
  • Must be in your second year student or higher at the time of application
  • Minimum 2.90 GPA 

Additional application materials include:

  • Official copy of your Pitt transcript from the Registrar
  • Copy of your passport
  • Intended course list for first and second choices for classes (4-5 each, PDFs for each semester on left side of website)
  • Any language test scores for English as a second language students

For students applying with English as their second language, the University of Limerick requires the following English Language Qualifications:

  • CEFR B2
  • TOEFL 550 (paper-based) 210 (computer based) / 80 (internet based)
  • IELTS (minimum overall score of 6.0)
  • UL has approved the use of the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a temporary measure for the 2021/22 intake (due to test centre closures). The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 95.
Additional Information: 

 

Application Requirements: 

  • Open to Swanson School of Engineering undergraduate students only
  • Good academic and behavioral standing
  • Must be in your second year student or higher at the time of application
  • Minimum 2.90 GPA 

Program Fees Overview:

  • Refer to the Pricing tab for detailed information
  • The program fee is paid directly to the University of Pittsburgh (inclusions on Pricing tab)

To participate in the program, there are 2 required Pitt meetings prior to the start of the program; the agreement meeting and the pre-departure meeting. There may be additional meetings with the University of Limerick prior to your arrival in Ireland. 

1. Agreement Meeting:

  • Explains the requirements and student expectations for going on a Pitt global experience
  • Reviews financial responsibilities of students intending to commit to the program
  • Given documents to sign after the meeting, including a Program Participant Agreement and a Student Code of Conduct
  • Given deadlines to complete documents and submit deposit to commit and participate with the program 

2. Pre-Departure Orientation:

  • Meet the other students who are going to the University of Limerick from Pitt in that semester
  • Meet the University of Limerick staff who support the program in Ireland
  • Review program logistics and arrival/departure information
  • Discuss an introduction to cultural differences, a packing list, among other program details to prepare you for Ireland

3. In-Country Orientation and Airport Pickup: 

  • Orientation is during the first week of September. Program arrival dates will be confirmed closer to the start of the program.
  • Orientation is scheduled for Sept. 2-6, 2024.
  • The University of Limerick will provide transportation from Shannon Airport to campus free of charge for orientation. Specifics will be confirmed closer to the date of arrival. 

 

Check out the student guide from the University of Limerick on eating, shopping, and sight-seeing.