UL international students bring €19m to Mid-West

More than 2,500 international students, representing over 100 countries, are attending the University of Limerick this year, providing a €19 million boost to the Mid-West.

This figure figure is based on student spending estimates of between €7,000 and €12,000 in one year and does not include tuition fees paid to the university.

Undergraduates at UL this year include 150 Brazilian students taking part in the Science without Borders programme.

Josephine Page, director, International Education Division said, “International students make a very significance impact to our region in terms of our economy and tourism but also in the cultural links built which will continue for years to come.”

University president, Professor Don Barry, said, “We have one of the largest Erasmus exchange programmes in Ireland; we have been welcoming study abroad students for the past 20 years and have made many academic links and partnerships with universities right across the globe.”

Among the international students visiting UL this year are those taking part in Study Abroad programmes, Erasmus and International Exchange programmes and full-time degree students.

Josephine Page added, “I think the reason we excel in this area is because so many of our students are encouraged to partake in international study themselves and so we welcome international students as we’d like our students to be welcomed abroad. 30 % of UL undergraduate students spend a semester abroad, this is through Erasmus, non-EU exchange or Cooperative Education.

UL has links with over 400 universities in 38 countries. International students currently account for 13.5% of the total student number and this continues to increase year-on-year.