The University of Limerick's Bachelor of Engineering combines a standard engineering curriculum with a paid co-operative education placement, and the programme sits on a campus that hosts the Lero software and electronics research centre. The Limerick-Shannon region is also home to several large multinational engineering employers. For a student comparing Ireland with the UK, Australia, or Canada, the appeal is a four-year degree at a public university with a built-in work-experience model and a post-study work route.
This article covers what an international applicant needs to know about UL's engineering degree: how admission works, the non-EU fees and living costs, the academic and English requirements, how to strengthen an application, and what the degree means for employment and post-study work. For the wider university picture, see the University of Limerick guide.
University of Limerick Engineering Acceptance Rate
UL does not publish an acceptance rate for its Engineering programmes, and no official figure is available for the international intake. This is typical of Irish universities, which generally run criteria-based admissions rather than the comparative, holistic process used at many US and UK schools. If you meet the stated academic entry criteria and the English requirement, you are offered a place, subject to capacity on the specific course.
Because engineering entry depends on subject requirements, the practical question is less "what percentage of applicants get in" and more "does my transcript meet the subject requirements for the specific engineering track I want." Treat any third-party acceptance-rate number you see online as an estimate, not a UL statistic.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
UL publishes its non-EU undergraduate fees for each academic year. For 2026/27, every Bachelor of Engineering track carries the same non-EU annual fee:
| Programme | Non-EU Annual Fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering (all tracks, including Aeronautical, Biomedical, Chemical and Biochemical, Civil, Design and Manufacture, Digital Mechatronic, Electronic and Computer, Electrical, General, and Mechanical) | €22,700 |
This figure is made up of €22,596 in tuition plus a €104 student levy. UL states that all fees are subject to annual review, so expect the figure to change in later years of a four-year degree. The UL Student Fees Office is the authoritative source for the exact amount on your course code.
Living costs: UL does not publish a full living-cost budget for international students. A figure that appears in third-party guides and is attributed to UL estimates about €16,000 for a nine-month academic year, covering accommodation, food, insurance, flights, and personal expenses. Treat that as a planning estimate and check current rates directly. On-campus accommodation is reported by third-party sources at roughly €5,230 to €10,025 per year with utilities included, and private rentals in Limerick are typically cheaper than in Dublin but have risen in recent years.
Scholarships: UL offers engineering-specific bursaries, including some restricted to women in STEM, and the All Ireland Scholarship. Eligibility for each scheme differs, so check whether a given award is open to non-EU applicants before planning around it.
Admission Requirements
Admission for non-EU applicants is handled directly by UL's international admissions team, not through Ireland's CAO points system used by domestic and EU applicants. The core requirements are:
- A secondary school qualification assessed as equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. UL evaluates international qualifications on a country-specific basis, so confirm how your curriculum maps before you apply.
- Strong mathematics. Third-party summaries of UL's Leaving Certificate criteria for engineering cite a high-level mathematics requirement, plus a qualifying grade in a science or technical subject. Use these as a reference point for judging your transcript, and confirm the exact equivalent with UL's international office.
- English language evidence (see below).
- Certified transcripts, with certified English translations if the originals are not in English.
Because the engineering entry requirements are subject-specific, a strong overall average in a non-maths-heavy curriculum may not be enough on its own. Check the course page for the specific track you are applying to.
How to Get Into University of Limerick's Engineering Programme
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Check your mathematics and science record against UL's Leaving Certificate equivalents early. Mathematics is the subject most likely to block an engineering application. If your school system doesn't map cleanly, ask UL's international office for a written equivalency assessment before you submit.
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Choose your track with care, and look at the common-entry option. UL lists a common-entry route in engineering, which lets you defer the choice of discipline. Confirm whether this route is open to your application, and compare it with a direct entry into a specific track such as Electronic and Computer or Mechanical Engineering.
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Clear the English threshold with margin. Engineering coursework involves lab reports, technical writing, and group design projects. Scoring above the minimum makes first-year reporting far less of a struggle.
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Use the pre-sessional English option if you are close. UL's Language Centre runs pre-sessional courses for applicants who need a higher score before their English test meets the direct-entry requirement.
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Plan around the co-op placement. Most UL undergraduate engineering degrees include a paid work placement. Research which employers in your target discipline take placements, and think about your intended career before choosing a track.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE)
UL's English requirements for undergraduate international applicants are set at university level, and individual courses can set a higher bar. Based on the figures reported for UL's undergraduate entry:
| Test | Reported Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 |
| PTE Academic | 61 |
UL accepts Academic IELTS only, so General Training results will not be accepted for direct entry. The minimum for Duolingo English Test should be confirmed directly with UL, as published figures vary across sources.
If you are close to the threshold, the pre-sessional English route described above is the practical alternative to repeated test attempts. For a broader view of UL's English and admission rules, see the University of Limerick guide.
Career Outcomes and Stamp 1G
UL's cooperative education model is the main selling point for engineering graduates. The paid placement gives you workplace experience before graduation, and UL reports strong graduate employment outcomes, although the specific placement and employment figures should be checked against UL's own graduate outcomes publications because the figures circulating in third-party sources are not always from the same survey year.
The Limerick-Shannon region has a significant multinational technology and manufacturing base. Employers frequently cited in connection with UL engineering placements include Analog Devices, Dell Technologies, and Regeneron. Inclusion in this list reflects reported placement relationships, not a guarantee of a placement or job offer.
Stamp 1G after graduation: non-EEA graduates of a qualifying Irish degree can apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G). Multiple third-party summaries of the scheme state that a Level 8 honours bachelor's degree, which is what a standard Bachelor of Engineering is, carries 12 months of permission, while Level 9 and above carries up to 24 months. The official Irish Immigration Service page could not be read during research, so confirm the current rules at irishimmigration.ie before you plan around them.
FAQ
Does the University of Limerick publish an acceptance rate for Engineering? No. UL does not publish a programme-level acceptance rate for Engineering or for its international intake. Admission is based on meeting the academic entry criteria and the English requirement, subject to course capacity.
How much does a Bachelor of Engineering at UL cost for international students? For 2026/27, the non-EU annual fee is €22,700, which includes tuition and the €104 student levy. Fees are reviewed annually, so later years of the degree may cost more.
Do I need to take Mathematics to apply for engineering? Yes, strong mathematics is essential. UL's engineering entry criteria are subject-specific, and third-party summaries of the Leaving Certificate requirements cite a high-level mathematics grade. Confirm how your own maths qualification maps with UL's international office.
What IELTS score do I need for UL engineering? UL's reported undergraduate requirement is IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, using Academic IELTS. TOEFL iBT 90 and PTE Academic 61 are also reported as accepted. Confirm the current figures on UL's website before booking a test.
Is the co-op placement guaranteed? Most UL undergraduate engineering degrees include a paid placement as part of the programme structure, but you should confirm the exact requirements, timing, and placement support for your specific course, since arrangements can differ by track.
Can I work in Ireland after graduating with an engineering degree? A Level 8 honours bachelor's degree generally qualifies for Stamp 1G, which allows up to 12 months of work permission after graduation, according to third-party summaries of the scheme. Confirm the current permission length and eligibility with the Irish Immigration Service before you rely on it.