Freshman Abroad in Limerick

Frequently Asked Questions

How are students selected for the Freshman Abroad Program?
All first year students who have been accepted to Plymouth State University and who graduate from high school in 2008 are eligible to participate in the Program. Students must submit a Freshman Abroad Program application and participate in a phone interview. Enrollment is limited to 20 students and admission is on a rolling basis so apply early if you want to be considered.

Will the semester in Ireland follow the same dates as Plymouth’s fall semester?
The University of Limerick’s (UL) fall semester is quite similar to that of Plymouth State. Students will depart on a group flight from Boston to Ireland on September 1st in time to participate in UL’s two day orientation program on September 4th and 5th. UL fall semester exams end on December 20 and students will return to Boston on December 21.

Should I plan on attending the Plymouth State University orientation in June?
Yes. You and your accompanying family member(s) are required to participate in orientation activities with other first-year PSU students. Session D: Sunday, June 15 and Monday, June 16 has been selected for students participating in the Freshman Abroad Program. During this orientation session, you will have an opportunity to meet other students participating in the Program as well as your PSU professor and faculty advisor while you are in Limerick, Professor Ann McClellan.

Will the Program be offered in the spring as well?
The Program is only available in the fall semester for entering first year students.

What happens when I return to PSU in the spring?
Your preparation to return to PSU in the spring will begin in November. Working with your PSU faculty advisor in Limerick, Professor Ann McClellan, you will select your spring courses and register for them on-line at the same time as the rest of your first year classmates at Plymouth. On campus housing is guaranteed upon your return to Plymouth in the spring.

Will my University of Limerick courses count towards my Plymouth State degree?
Yes. We will be sure that the three courses you take at Limerick are approved for transfer to Plymouth. The only stipulation is that you pass the UL course with a grade of “C” or better.

When will I register for my UL courses?
While you will be enrolled automatically in your two PSU courses (English Composition and First Year Seminar) you will register for your UL courses in September after orientation in Limerick. You will be able to attend classes for two weeks before you are required to register. This means that you can test out a few different classes before making a final decision.

Will I be living with other Plymouth students? What are the UL resident halls like?
You will live in on-campus housing with Irish and other international students and, in some cases, one other Plymouth State student. Our students are assigned to Kilmurry Village, a complex of townhouse apartments on beautifully landscaped grounds close to the Sports Arena and all the sports facilities. These coed apartments include 6-8 private single study bedrooms with 2 shared bathrooms and a fully fitted kitchen/living room, cable television, prepaid card telephone facility and computer link to the Internet via UL network if you have your own PC. The Village also provides a laundromat, full maintenance service, regular security patrols at night, and a Residential Village Manager.

Do I need to bring a PC with me?
While we strongly encourage you to bring a PC with you, there are computer facilities on campus in the UL library. However, they would be available to you during library hours only and during busy periods, you would need to plan on longer wait lines to use them.

Is there a meal plan like that at Plymouth?
No, but students eat well at the University of Limerick. The University offers a choice of restaurants right on campus along with the many fine restaurants available a short distance away in the city centre. And, since apartments have fully functioning kitchens, most students prepare and eat many of their meals at home. There’s a small grocery store on-campus and a larger one within easy walking distance of the campus.

Can I get the same support services at the University of Limerick that I would at Plymouth State?
Yes, pretty much any service available to you as a student at Plymouth can be received at Limerick. For information about obtaining academic support services see Plymouth Academic Support Services (PASS). For a complete list of services at the University of Limerick, go to www.ul.ie/main/services/index.shtml.

How will I get around when I’m in Limerick?
The University of Limerick provides many services to students within easy walking distance right on campus, including 2 banks, 13 restaurants, a medical center, pharmacy, and grocery store. If you want to travel off-campus, you can take one of the buses that run every 20 minutes from the UL campus to downtown Limerick. Public transportation in Ireland is superb and you can easily get to any city or town in Ireland via bus or train.

Can I work when I am there? Travel?
While technically you are legally allowed to work in Ireland, in reality it is very difficult to find a job as most positions are filled by Irish citizens.

Many students have taken advantage of the proximity of other European countries and relatively inexpensive flights to travel on weekends during the semester. Past students have visited England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Norway. Of course, almost all students toured the rest of Ireland!

Are there any breaks during the semester?
There are three days in October when there are no classes scheduled at UL: Monday, October 27 (bank holiday) and two “Open Days” October 14/15. Remember, Ireland does not celebrate Thanksgiving, a U.S. holiday. You will be expected to attend classes on that day (and the next) which may be important to share with family and friends that may be planning to visit you around that time.

How much does the program cost?
Program costs for 2008 have not been determined yet (2008 tuition and fees for both Plymouth and Limerick have not been established) but we can give you a good estimate based on what students from last year paid:

Cost included tuition and fees for five courses, housing with kitchen facilities, round-trip airfare, academic transcript, field trips, sports arena membership and pre-departure and on-site orientations. Not included were meals, books and supplies, mandatory health insurance, Ireland immigration fee of $148 and a refundable housing/damage deposit of $338.

Please note that your financial aid awards will apply to the Program.

How much spending money should I plan on bringing with me?
It depends. Generally, your spending habits at home are a good predictor of what you will spend while you’re in Ireland. Past participants have suggested anywhere from $800-1,500 per month for food, books and supplies, clothes/laundry, entertainment and travel expenses. Where you fall in that range will depend on how often you eat out versus cook for yourself, how much traveling you do, etc.