Limerick is a proper student city where the University of Limerick's riverside campus, all boardwalks and its landmark Living Bridge, sets the tone. It is much cheaper than Dublin, mad about its sport, and sits at the gateway to the west, with the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren an hour away. The city has shaken off its old reputation and become a genuinely likeable, walkable base.

• University of Limerick (UL), on a striking campus straddling the Shannon at Castletroy
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) at Moylish for applied and technical degrees
• Mary Immaculate College (MIC), strong in education and the liberal arts

Sport is the heartbeat here, with match days at Thomond Park for Munster rugby and the Gaelic Grounds for Limerick's all-conquering hurlers unmissable. UL's clubs and societies are among the best-funded in the country, and the nightlife runs along O'Connell Street and the Georgian Quarter. Castletroy near campus has its own student pubs and a lively term-time buzz.

• Catch Munster rugby at Thomond Park; the atmosphere is genuinely special
• Join UL clubs and societies at the start of term; the sports facilities are superb
• Night out on O'Connell Street; the Stables Club on campus for cheap pints

Limerick is far gentler on the wallet than Dublin, so budget around EUR 1,000 to EUR 1,500 a month with rent. A room in a shared house near campus runs roughly EUR 500 to EUR 750, and a Student Leap Card keeps buses cheap. The weekend Milk Market and the discount supermarkets keep food costs down.

• Rooms run EUR 500 to 750 a month, cheaper the further from the UL campus you go
• A Student Leap Card halves bus fares around the city and to Dublin
• Shop the Saturday Milk Market and Lidl or Aldi for cheap, good food

Most students live in the purpose-built villages around the UL campus in Castletroy, such as Plassey and Thomond, or in shared houses in the city. Book campus accommodation through UL early, as it goes fast. Daft.ie and Facebook cover the private market.

• UL's on-campus villages (Plassey, Kilmurry, Thomond) if you want to be steps from lectures
• Daft.ie and Limerick student housing Facebook groups for shared houses in town
• Ask the Limerick group on Studcasa about rooms in Castletroy and Annacotty

Limerick is small enough to walk or cycle across, and UL runs frequent buses between campus and the city centre. Local TFI buses cover the rest on a Student Leap Card, and the campus itself is best crossed on foot over the Living Bridge. For trips further afield, the train and bus stations sit centrally at Colbert Station.

• Use UL's shuttle and city buses between Castletroy and town with a Student Leap Card
• Walk or cycle the campus and the Shannon riverside paths
• Colbert Station links trains and Bus Eireann coaches to Dublin, Cork and Galway

UL runs two semesters, roughly September to December and January to May, and is known for its cooperative education and hands-on, career-focused teaching. Expect a mix of lectures, tutorials and continuous assessment, with informal access to staff. The self-contained campus has everything from a 50-metre pool to the library, so student life revolves around it.

EU, EEA and Swiss students need no visa and can simply enrol and register locally if staying long term. Non-EU students should check whether their nationality needs an entry visa before travelling, as it varies; many do not for short stays but some always do. Whatever your passport, confirm the rules with your host university and Irish immigration early.

Any non-EU student staying more than 90 days must register with immigration and get an Irish Residence Permit card, booking an appointment through the ISD registration system and paying a fee. Bring proof of enrolment, funds and private health insurance. UK citizens travel and study freely under the Common Travel Area.

• EU/EEA/Swiss, no visa; register if staying long term
• Non-EU, check if you need an entry visa for your nationality
• Staying 90+ days, register for an IRP card via ISD
• UK citizens, no visa under the Common Travel Area

Limerick's food highlight is the Milk Market, a covered weekend market trading since the 19th century that fills with local producers and street food. The city is proud of its heritage, from King John's Castle to the medieval English Town on King's Island, and its sporting culture shapes daily life. A spice bag from the takeaway is a rite of passage.

• Graze the Milk Market on Saturday and Sunday for local cheese, bread and hot food
• Order a spice bag, Ireland's beloved Chinese-takeaway invention
• Visit King John's Castle and walk the medieval streets of English Town

Castletroy is the student suburb next to UL, packed with purpose-built housing and handy shops; Annacotty is a little further out but popular. The city centre splits between Georgian Newtown Pery around O'Connell Street and the medieval King's Island. Corbally and Dooradoyle are quieter residential options.

• Castletroy, right by UL and the default student base
• The Georgian Quarter around O'Connell Street for city-centre living and nightlife
• Annacotty, a short bus from campus with its own pubs and shops

Limerick's location is a gift for weekends. County Clare's Cliffs of Moher and the lunar limestone of the Burren are barely an hour away, Galway is a quick bus north, and Kerry's mountains and the Ring of Kerry lie to the south-west. The storybook village of Adare and Bunratty Castle are on the doorstep.

• Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in County Clare, about an hour by car or tour
• Galway city in an hour by bus; Killarney and Kerry around 90 minutes
• Adare, one of Ireland's prettiest villages, 30 minutes away, plus nearby Bunratty Castle

Grab campus or Castletroy housing and a Student Leap Card early, and you have sorted the two things that matter most. Bring waterproofs, because the west of Ireland is wetter than Dublin, and lean into the sport, as a Munster or Limerick match day will show you the city at its best. A cheap bike makes the campus and riverside a joy.

• Book UL or Castletroy accommodation as soon as you can; it fills quickly
• Pack proper rain gear; the Atlantic weather is wetter here than the east coast
• Get to a hurling or rugby match; it is the fastest way to feel local