About the Erasmus+ Programme

Eligible students are students who are enrolled in a full-time programme of study at UL leading to a degree or postgraduate qualification.

Most UL degree programmes offer study exchange opportunities. There are some exceptions with degree programmes that are subject to accreditation from an external body. Students should check with their Course Director if Erasmus is available for their degree programme.

For undergraduate students, the Erasmus study placement may only be undertaken if the student meets the minimum academic requirements to progress to the next year. The required standard is a minimum cumulative QCA of 2.00 or greater, with no deficient grades (F, I, NG, N).

ATTN: For elective placements (e.g. Business studies, Voice and Dance, Architecture, etc.), further specific selection criteria, such as a minimum QCA requirement, may apply. Students are advised to consult their UL Erasmus Academic Coordinator for further information.
NB: Students in the first or final year of a degree programme at UL may not take part in the ERASMUS+ programme.

Information on applying for an academic placement abroad can be found here.

The Erasmus/Exchange semester is an integral component of the following degree programmes:

LM002 - Arts

LM019 - Social Sciences

LM038 - Psychology and Sociology

LM039 - Journalism and New Media

LM040 - European Studies

LM044 - Applied Languages

LM056 - International Business

LM102 - Psychology

It is not necessary to take time out from your course to participate in Erasmus. The credits obtained at the host university during the Erasmus study placement will be recognised by the University of Limerick and will be integrated into your UL academic records.

 If the Erasmus+ study period is an integral part of a student’s normal study programme, students normally undertake the Erasmus programme in Year 3 (Semester 5 or 6). Students normally spend one semester abroad (approx. 5 months) but this can be extended to the full academic year if approved by the Course Director and Erasmus Academic Coordinator.

If the Erasmus+ study period is undertaken on a ‘voluntary’ basis, students have the possibility to take part in the programme in Semester 4, 5 or 6 of the degree programme. Students are advised to contact outgoing.erasmus@ul.ie for further information.

Students in the first or final year of their degree programme at UL may not take part in the ERASMUS+ programme.

Students who do not study a foreign language as part of their degree programme at UL will study at partner institutions where courses are taught through English. Those students are therefore not required to be proficient in the host country language. Nevertheless, students are encouraged to gain a minimum level of proficiency in the language, for day-to-day living. 

Students who study a foreign language as part of their degree programme at UL are expected to study in the host country language and must be confident that they have sufficient knowledge of the language to attend lectures and sit examinations in that language.

Students applying to do a study period abroad which requires them to study through the host country language, will be required to take on-line language assessments prior to and at the end of the Erasmus period.

If a student completes a language course in the local language and receives ECTS credits from this, the UL Erasmus office can reimburse up to €200 of the cost of this course. This initiative is in place to further encourage students to study their host country's language. This reimbursement can be paid to the student upon submitting a receipt for the language course (including the cost incurred), as well as evidence from the host institution that the language course carries ECTS credits.

For further information on this, please contact the Erasmus team (outgoing.erasmus@ul.ie).

The period you spend abroad on a study exchange will count as an integral part of your UL degree programme. If, for example, you are away in Semester 5 (Autumn semester of Year 3), you will progress to Semester 6 (Spring semester of Year 3) on your return, provided that you have passed all your exams at the host university.

The Erasmus exchange is wholly integrated into the existing UL curricula and students receive full academic recognition for the study period abroad, based on the ECTS credit system.
All of UL’s Erasmus partner institutions use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to provide a common scale for measuring in credits the workload required to complete course units (30 credits per semester). Students who successfully complete a semester abroad at a partner institution are awarded 30 ECTS credits.

Yes. The Erasmus+ programme provides mobility funding to contribute towards the additional costs of studying abroad, such as travel expenses, language preparation costs, higher general costs of living in the host country.  ATTN: Students going to Switzerland are not eligible for the Erasmus mobility grant.

Students who receive an education grant or a fee waiver to study at UL keep these entitlements whilst on Erasmus.

The Erasmus grants are calculated according to cost of living in the host country. Further information is available here.

It is a condition of the Erasmus+ programme that participating students are not charged fees (for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory and library facilities etc.)  However, small fees may be charged for costs such as insurance, students' union, use of photocopiers, laboratory products, etc., on an equal basis with local students.

In order to participate in Erasmus+, students must be registered at their home university. Therefore, students partaking in the exchange programme must pay their usual fees to UL prior to the start of the academic year.

Expenses such as travel, accommodation, health insurance and general living costs are the student’s own responsibility.

Non-EU students who undertake an Erasmus academic placement as part of their programme must have an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card that is valid until the end of the Erasmus academic placement.

Please see the Irish Immigration Services website for further information. 

If you require assistance to renew your IRP card, please contact international@ul.ie.

The primary function of the Erasmus/Exchanges Academic Coordinator is to ensure the efficient organisation of all academic matters pertaining to the students' study placement within their specific academic areas. This comprises the following activities and tasks:

  • Advise students on suitable destinations.
  • Review, advise on and approve students' module choices by signing the Learning Agreement, before and during the mobility.
  • Approve Erasmus full-year extensions, together with the relevant Course Director. 
  • Assess Erasmus results once the Transcript of Records is received and inform Student Academic Administration (SAA) as to whether the student has passed the Erasmus placement or which grades are to be entered on the student's records.

Find out who your Academic Coordinator is.

Private health insurance

Students are strongly advised to take out additional private medical insurance to cover the period of study abroad. If you have a medical insurance policy (VHI, Laya, Aviva, etc.) in Ireland, contact the insurer to ensure that you will be covered while abroad and bring a copy of your policy or policy number.

In some universities, students are obliged to take out additional insurance, e.g. liability insurance, repatriation cover, etc. Read the host University’s requirements on insurance or contact the host university directly to obtain this information. Please be aware that in recent years, accidents involving injuries such as broken limbs have occurred to students who were under-insured while abroad. This can incur serious problems for the student and their family, so please be attentive to this matter.

The following websites may be useful:

As a registered student of the University of Limerick you will also be covered by the University of Limerick Students’ Union Personal Accident Policy, which covers basic medical expenses resulting from accidental injury, certain permanent disabilities such as loss of a limb or loss of an eye, and accidental death. This policy extends to most sporting activities except hang-gliding. Full details of this insurance cover are available from the UL Students’ Union. Please note that this insurance does not cover medical insurance for illness.

Travel Insurance

In addition to private health insurance, students are strongly advised to take out travel insurance which includes repatriation to be transported home in the case of an illness. Please be aware that multi-trip insurance policies from most insurance providers do not cover an extended period abroad.

Students may take out travel insurance from any provider of their choice. Many institutions offer travel insurance, including insurance companies (Allianz, AXA, etc.), banks (Bank of Ireland, AIB, etc.), credit unions, etc.

Please find below examples of Erasmus insurance providers:

Oaktree Financial Services

Tel:  1890 876 077

e-mail: students@oaktreefinancial.ie

 Web: www.oaktreefinancial.ie

Study & Protect (previously O’Driscoll O’Neill)

Tel: +353 (0)1 6395800

Email: support@studyandprotect.com.

Web: https://www.studyandprotect.com/Erasmus.aspx

ATTN: Insurance policy must be taken out prior to travelling abroad. Cover cannot be provided once students have left Ireland. Many insurance providers require that students have been residing in Ireland for at least 3 months prior to taking out insurance.

You will need:

  • Passport or National Identity card (EU citizens) valid until the end of the semester abroad
  • For EU students - European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) valid until the end of the semester abroad
  • For non-EU students - valid private health insurance, IRP card valid until the end of the semester abroad & re-entry visa for Ireland, and Visa.

Your first port of call is the International Office at the host university as they will be better placed to provide this information. If you require further assistance, please contact outgoing.erasmus@ul.ie for practical matters or your UL Academic Coordinator for academic matters. 

Students receive €300 or €350 per month, depending on the host country. Grant levels can be found on the Erasmus grant webpage.

You must achieve 30 ECTS per semester to pass Erasmus, unless otherwise agreed with the UL Erasmus Academic Coordinator

Unfortunately, it is not possible for students to write their Erasmus exams at UL because our office does not have the facilities nor the resources to proctor exams.

Students must therefore write their examinations at the host university. This will mean in some cases returning to the Host University after the Christmas period in order to complete the examinations. Please plan for such an eventuality.

If the semester abroad is a compulsory part of your course, it is graded on Pass/Fail basis. 

If the semester abroad is not a compulsory part of your course, it is quality-graded, which means that the grades received abroad will be converted to UL grades and will count towards your QCA. 

Note: For BBS students, the semester abroad is graded on Pass/Fail basis. 

Please consult with your Erasmus Academic Coordinator for further information on grade conversion.

No, the exchanges are on a no-fee basis.

Generally no, but that depends on the visa requirements for the host country. Please contact outgoingexchanges@ul.ie for further information.

There is no specific grant available for students who choose a non-EU destination for their exchange placement. There are, however, some scholarships available every year for some of our USA partner universities.  These scholarships will be advertised to all eligible students, they are competitive as places limited. 

Students do not pay tuition fees at the host university. Your main expenses will be for flights, accommodation and living expenses.

Students who are in receipt of a grant from their local authority may be eligible to claim the higher rate of maintenance while they are on exchange if the exchange is a compulsory part of their UL degree programme.