The University of Limerick today presented over 80 scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students to mark the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the first intake of students to the higher education institution in 1972.  The €2,000 entrance scholarships were presented to students who began their undergraduate and post graduate studies at UL this year.

Speaking from the UL40 Scholarships Award Ceremony, Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President Academic & Registrar of the University of Limerick said “These scholarships celebrate 40 years of academic endeavour in UL.  UL has grown expansively into an internationally renowned university which produces talented and high caliber graduates.  The UL40 scholarships are an ideal way to recognise UL’s academic achievements over the past 40 years by helping 40 undergraduate and 40 postgraduate entrant students to begin and further their academic lives.”

The undergraduate UL40 Scholarships were awarded to incoming students based on their performance in the Leaving Certificate determined by their CAO points. All CAO applicants were automatically included in the selection process provided they had not already received another bursary or scholarship from UL. The postgraduate Scholarships were awarded to recipients under a set of criteria designed to promote post graduate studies.

The scholarships were on offer across all disciplines including scholarships for each faculty of Science and Engineering, Kemmy Business School, Education and Health Sciences, and Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.  Scholarships were also awarded to students studying at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance as well as those studying UL’s Inter-faculty programmes such as BA Law and Accounting and BA International Insurance and European Studies. 

The UL40 scholarships of €2,000 each are funded by the University of Limerick in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the intake of students to the higher education institution in 1972.  The institution first opened its doors to students as the National Institute for Higher Education in 1972 and in 1989 the University of Limerick was established as the first new university in the history of the State.