Erasmus – the EU's flagship education and training programme – enables 200,000 students to study abroad each year. It is part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme and has expanded since 2007 to include teacher and staff mobility. Since the programme began in 1987, over 1.5 million students have participated in semester or year-long exchanges.
UL has been participating in the programme since 1988 and is part of an extensive Erasmus network that includes over 240 European university partners. Limerick is a popular destination for European students – we welcome 400 students each year from countries such as Spain, France, Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia and Malta.
Over 300 UL students participate in Erasmus exchanges each year – for some students, Erasmus is an integrated element of their programme, and for others, it is offered as an alternative to Cooperative Education.
Why take part in Erasmus?
Erasmus provides a unique opportunity for you to study at another European institution for a semester or full year. The academic, social, personal and cultural benefits of participating in the Erasmus programme are enormous. While living away from home and studying in another country and system can be challenging, it can also offer you a unique opportunity to travel, meet new friends and study modules that may not be offered on your UL programme. Many UL graduates have chosen to work or study abroad after completing their degree programme on the basis of their positive experiences on Erasmus. The programme is highly rated by employers.
Take a look at our map to find out where our EU partners are!
Further information on Erasmus is available on the European Commission website.