University of Limerick in top 150 universities in Europe

UNIVERSITY of Limerick has ranked 145 in the latest Europe University Rankings by global higher education analysts Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

UL placed 30th in Europe and first in Ireland for Inbound Exchange Students.

In the second year of these rankings, the college has moved up seven places from last year’s rank of 152. The QS University Rankings for Europe 2025 ranked 684 institutions across the continent.

The ranking examined universities based on Research and Discovery, Employability and Outcomes, Learning Experiences, Global Engagement, and Sustainability.

UL was rated “highly across all indicators with strong showing for education exchange and for the university’s commitment to sustainability and its citations for paper”, according to a statement from the college.

Welcoming the announcement, Provost and Deputy President Professor Shane Kilcommins said: “I am immensely proud to see that University of Limerick has broken into the top 150 in the European QS Rankings. This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the areas of excellence measured in the rankings.”

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He went on to say that these rankings “are not just about numbers; they reflect the collective effort of our faculty, staff, and students”. 

Professor Kilcommins proudly stated that “enhanced global engagement and steadfast commitment to sustainability underscore UL's role as a forward-thinking research-intensive institution addressing the challenges of our time”.

UL Vice President Research Professor Norelee Kennedy added: “This is another hugely positive result for UL as we continue to improve in the global rankings against increasing competition.

“It reinforces the work that we are doing to ensure that UL remains the university of choice for the excellent researchers, educators and students who seek an institution to match their ambition.”

The university also placed well in the QS World University Rankings this year, with the rank of 421 positioning it in the top 3% of universities worldwide.

More recently, UL jumped 25 places to reach 61st place in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which measure the positive societal impact of universities in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).