International Student Handbook 2020/21 - www.lit.ie/international
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CONTENTS: 1. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION 4 7. PRACTICAL INFO 22 President’s Welcome 4 LIT Students’ Union 22 LIT Office of International Services (OIS) 7 LIT Learning Support Unit 22 Student Health Unit 22 2. ABOUT LIT 8 Student Counselling Services 22 OIS Welcome 8 LIT Chaplancy and Pastoral Care 23 LIT Campuses 10 Careers & Employability 23 Sports & Societies 23 3. NEXT STEPS 12 LIT International Society President Note 24 Accepting your Offer 12 Supporting Documents 12 8. IRELAND 26 How to Pay 13 9. LIMERICK 30 Rejecting your Offer, Deferring your Offer or Withdrawing 13 10. CLONMEL & THURLES 32 4. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE 14 11. USEFUL LINKS 36 Visa 14 Insurance 14 Estimated Cost of Living 14 Getting to Limerick 16 Accommodation 17 5. CHECKLIST & TIMELINES 18 Pre-Arrival Checklist 18 Timelines 19 6. AFTER YOU ARRIVE 20 GNIB 20 Bank 20 Phone 21 Leapcard 21 PPS Number 21 2 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 3
1. WELCOME & Our programmes are developed in partnership with industry, INTRODUCTION professional bodies and the community to give you the best possible employment and academic outcomes. Since 1852, our graduates have been very successful in every I am delighted that you are considering LIT for your future. field of endeavour, from business to the science, technology, public service, engineering, hospitality and tourism, fashion and Your future is very important to us and we believe the arts. The educational heritage we hold is always adapting that in coming here you will also future-proof your to the needs of our changing society. We are now on the verge professional and personal development. of the next transformation into a Technological University. Be part of that heritage, join us on an exciting journey. You’ll be joining LIT at a very exciting time. Already among the most vibrant and connected institutions in Ireland, we are rapidly moving towards designation as Ireland’s newest Technological University through our consortium with AIT. I expect that the class of 2021 will be the first cohort to join the new Technological University, so Prof. Vincent Cunnane, President, LIT you will play your own unique role in the story of the Technological University. Your new university will retain its commitment to small class sizes, to a supportive and friendly approach to education, and to practical learning. The university will be made up of campuses in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Westmeath, each one a community of learners, filled with a very broad diversity of programmes and people exploring new ideas, pursuing new knowledge, creating new art, and filling our workshops, studios and labs with the At LIT, we are vitality that comes from committing to discovery and creativity. committed to As a member of our community, you will know your classmates and providing you with your lecturers. You will get to know many other students through the best resources your involvement in our many sports and social clubs. That is why LIT scores at the very top of Irish student surveys for friendliness, and facilities to access to lecturers and diversity. This is something that we are very proud of and which we will always retain. LIT graduates have the enhance your highest employment rate in Ireland outside of Dublin (HEA, 2020). learning experience. 4 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 5
LIT Office of International Services: You will find The Office of International Services (OIS) is the first point of students from contact for all incoming international students and provides 83 nationalities information to students regarding visas, immigration, study abroad programmes and on campus services. Working together represented with the academic departments and support services across across LIT. the Institute, we seek to promote an intercultural environment and are committed to supporting all students of different nationalities and cultures. The OIS are here to help, providing graduate visa letters, re-entry visa letters and GNIB letters. You can contact the international office Graduates from LIT’s at international@lit.ie LSAD have worked on the set of Game Opening Hours: of Thrones, worked Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm | Saturday – Sunday: Closed with Marvel and some have even dressed Beyonce & Lady Gaga. Research students at LIT worked with NASA – and one of their projects was even sent to the International Space Station. 6 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 7
2. ABOUT LIT Congratulations! You have made a major step forward in your career by applying for a programme here at Limerick Institute of Technology. LIT offers the highest graduate employment rate outside of Dublin and the lowest cost of living for a major city in Ireland. We are a government funded, public Institute of Technology, soon to receive University status, located in the 3rd largest city in Ireland. A warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere awaits students in LIT with approachable and supportive staff to help all students reach their highest potential. LIT scores highly on Irish student surveys for friendliness, access to lecturers and diversity, compared to many other colleges. In LIT, students do not get lost in the crowd and are more than just a number, they are part of a connected community of learners. As a student of LIT Active learning is our philosophy – we ensure students get the practical you are eligible for skills needed to help them gain employment in the future. We work with industry on our course content so you can be assured everything you Erasmus funding are learning is relevant to the employment opportunities available in which allows you Ireland and internationally, once you graduate. We keep our class sizes small to ensure every student gets direct access to their lecturer, and to study a semester we have built in, mandatory work placements in most of our courses. abroad with one of our We focus on producing ‘Work Ready’ graduates and are very proud to have the highest employment rate of any European partners, Higher Education Institute outside of Dublin. or to complete your You, the class of 2021, are in a unique position. When you join us, you placement anywhere will be the first cohort to join Ireland’s newest Technological University. in Europe. You are the pathfinders at the start of a new decade and new era. The future is yours. Best Wishes, LIT Office of International Services 8 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 9
LIT Campuses: Moylish: Clonmel: The Moylish Campus is located on the outskirts of LIT Digital Campus Clonmel is situated in Co. Tipperary, Limerick city and is the largest of LIT’s campuses. 1 hour from Limerick City. A smaller campus, Clonmel More than 6,000 students study in the three faculties provides a relaxed and highly creative learning space for represented on campus. The campus offers a rich array of students interested in digital media. sporting, cultural and educational events and facilities, and has a proud record of achievement across all faculties. Thurles: Also located in Co Tipperary, LIT Thurles is a friendly, student- LSAD: centred campus environment, incorporating a 200-seater The Clare Street campus is based in Limerick’s city centre conference centre, lecture theatres, computer suites, science and home to our internationally renowned Limerick School laboratories and specialist games development labs. It also of Art & Design (LSAD). LSAD is one of the most significant boasts the cutting-edge LIT SportsLab, a world-standard providers of art and design education in Ireland. Students sports strength and conditioning facility. have access to excellent workshop, studio and exhibition facilities where they learn from leading art and design practitioners and where their education is informed by the latest developments in the wider world of art and design. 10 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 11
3. NEXT STEPS ACCEPTING YOUR OFFER: HOW TO PAY: Once you receive your offer from us you will need to accept LIT recommends using Flywire to make payments: » lit.flywire.com or decline your offer by emailing international@lit.ie When you use Flywire your payment can be tracked which means LIT can confirm receipt of your payment much quicker than through To secure your place on your course of choice you will have 30 other methods. Benefits of using Flywire can be found » here. days after receiving your offer to email international@lit.ie and accept your place and pay your €500 deposit. Your place on the We also accept payment through direct bank transfer. You can course is not secured until this deposit has been received. contact international@lit.ie for further details on this. This €500 will be deducted from your overall tuition fee and your balance Please ensure when making payment you quote your application should be paid in full before travelling to Ireland to begin your studies. reference number and your full name as used in your application. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: REJECTING AN OFFER, DEFERRING YOUR OFFER OR WITHDRAWING: If you have received a conditional offer letter this means you have been offered a place based on certain conditions being If you wish to reject your offer you should send confirmation to met, once these are met you will obtain your full offer letter: international@lit.ie. If you wish to defer your place a request can be sent to international@lit.ie – these requests will be approved • English Language Requirement: Evidence that you have met the on a case-by-case basis. required English Language level should be received by the LIT OIS no later than June 1st, 2021. LIT offers pre-sessional English courses to those LIT offers a full refund up until May 1st each year. Following this date who require it. your €500 deposit is non-refundable. • Academic Transcripts: Evidence of your High School results, foundation In the case of a visa refusal or a medical emergency LIT will refund programme results, degree results should be submitted students their full fee amount including deposit. In this case students as soon as received by you. must present their refusal letter or medical certificate. Please note – Students withdrawing from their programme 6 weeks after the programme start date will not be eligible for a refund. 12 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 13
4. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE VISA: Many non-EU students need to apply for a visa to the Embassy of Ireland or the Consulate in their home country. This can take 6-12 weeks, so it is important to allow plenty of time for this when planning for your admission date and to make visa applications well in advance of the start of your course. It is the responsibility of students to arrange their own visas. Students may not be able to start at LIT if their visa is delayed. For complete details of visa requirements and processes, please visit the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service website: » http://inis.gov.ie/ INSURANCE: All students studying in Ireland must acquire medical insurance. Please visit »here for details of Medical Insurance Suppliers in Ireland. ESTIMATED COST OF LIVING: • Accommodation: €550 per month (including utilities) • Immigration Registration (GNIB): €300 (paid once per year) • Health Insurance for first year: €75 - €150 • Health Insurance after first year: €190 - €686 (age dependant) • Food: €150 per month • Social Life: €80 per month • For a student studying for 12 months the average living cost is: €7,600. 14 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 15
GETTING TO LIMERICK: ACCOMMODATION: Ireland has 3 International airports – Shannon, Dublin & Cork. LIT does not offer on-campus accommodation. However, we do LIT offers a free pick-up service for students arriving to Shannon have a number of recommended student accommodation providers International Airport on any day and at any time. In order to that we work closely with: avail of this service students should complete the Arrival Form. This should be completed as early as possible and students Moylish Campus: should give at least 14 days’ notice of their arrival to LIT OIS. »Thomond Student Village Just a short walk from campus, buses run throughout LIT will also offer free transfer from Dublin airport on dedicated the day from the village to campus. days. These Dublin Pick Up days will be communicated to you »Cratloe Student Village at the beginning of the Summer so you can plan your flights Just a short walk from campus, buses run throughout to coincide if you wish. the day from the village to campus. LSAD Campus: »Grove Island Just a short walk from our LSAD campus. »Parkville Close by LSAD campus. Clonmel & Thurles: LIT work with a trusted network of landlords who provide high quality accommodation adjacent to our Tipperary campuses to our students each year. Please contact international@lit.ie for further information on available housing. House Shares: There are house share available for students who are studying at any of our campuses. You will find an accommodation section on our website » www.lit.ie/accomodation Please note: Students should exercise caution when booking accommodation. Do not hand over/send any money to landlords until you are sure it is legitimate. You should also make sure to get a receipt for any deposit/rent paid. 16 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 17
5. CHECKLIST & TIMELINES PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKLIST: TIMELINES: → Plan your journey – book your flights and plan transport to 30 days after offer: You should have paid your €500 deposit Limerick if not arriving on allocated pick-up days. to secure your place on this course, please note that there is no guarantee that your place will be secure until this is received. → Make sure to inform LIT of your arrival details & accommodation 14 days prior to travel! May 1st: Last date for full refund. → Confirm arrival time and date with your accommodation provider. May 31st: Ensure all outstanding documents have been received (Note: Move in times are generally between 9am – 5pm Monday to by LIT OIS e.g. English Language Test, Transcripts etc. Friday. If arriving outside these times you may be required to book alternative accommodation.) June 1st: If coming from a country where a visa is required to enter Ireland you should have your full fee paid by this date to ensure you → Don’t forget your Passport! have enough time for the visa process. You should also purchase → Personal Medical supplies & comfort foods from home your health insurance at this point. (some things may not be available in Ireland) June: Students from visa countries should begin their visa process → Unlocked Mobile Phone in June to ensure they have enough time for the full process → Printed Documentation: July: Source & finalise accommodation • LIT Offer Letter • Proof of medical insurance August: Book flights & Complete your arrival form. At this time you should also ensure you have checked everything off on your → Research the Irish Currency – get to know the exchange rate pre-arrival checklist so you will be familiar when you arrive. Before August 29th: Travel to Ireland to ensure you are here in → And don’t forget to pack a rain jacket! time to begin classes in September and attend Orientation on August 30th! September: Begin your future at LIT! 18 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 19
6. AFTER YOU ARRIVE GNIB: PHONE: All non-Irish nationals, who are not citizens of the EU/EEA must Be sure to unlock your phone before travelling to Ireland. register in person with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) 3 Mobile are the most popular Irish phone network for after arrival and after completion of registration at your third level students. They offer a €20 per month plan, for which you will institution. The GNIB will issue you with a residence permit/ IRP card. receive the ‘unlimited package’ - unlimited calls, texts and data. All International students will be given a GNIB letter and appointment from the OIS. You will be required to renew We advise students to get their phone ‘unblocked’ your GNIB/IRP each year you are studying in Ireland ahead of traveling to Ireland. For your GNIB appointment you will be required to bring: The Office of International Services will advise you on • Valid Passport how to register with 3 Mobile during Orientation. • Letter of Confirmation from LIT OIS • €300 fee (must be paid with a Debit/Credit card) • Evidence of Private Health Insurance LEAPCARD: • Evidence of Accommodation • Evidence of Financial Support (Bank Statement etc.) The Student Leap Card is the national student travel and discount card. The card saves students money on public transport services as well as selected retail brand partners. Students can apply online BANK: and collect their card from one of their nominated agents. To open a bank account with in Ireland, students will need to have proof of ID and proof of address. PPS NUMBER: A bank letter with a proof of address will be given to While in Ireland you can work part time during your studies & full time students in their registration pack during Orientation. during summer and Christmas Holidays. The PPS office will require a Job offer letter in order to issue you with a PPS number. LIT OIS can issue you The Office of International Services will then advise you with a support letter for your job search but please note that you will need on how to go about setting up a bank account. a letter from your prospective employer to apply for your PPS number. 20 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 21
7. PRACTICAL INFO LIT Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care LIT has a Pastoral Care Co-Ordinator based in LIT Limerick and a Chaplain based in LIT Tipperary, whose services are available to students of all religious denominations and of none. This service is LIT Students’ Union available to help any member of LIT and has four main areas of support: The Students’ Union acts as an additional support mechanism for Pastoral Care, Community, Spirituality and other general duties. students offering a wide variety of services and information such as accommodation, travel, and finance. The SU is a platform to allow you to have fun, develop as a student, have your voice heard and help Careers & Employability keep you safe by building awareness and support around welfare. The Careers and Employability Services Centre provides students and recent graduates of LIT with support and advice on Careers, Employability Skills and Work Placement LIT Learning Support Unit Our Learning Support Unit (LSU) is acknowledged nationally as a distinctive and valuable feature of LIT’s Teaching and Learning Strategy. Sports & Societies The LSU provides learning support on request from the student. The Alongside a vibrant academic environment, LIT boasts a lively LSU provides tuition in course subjects, Study Skills, Exam Techniques, sports, clubs and societies scene, ensuring that many interests are Academic Writing, Maths, Computing and English as a Second Language. catered for and all students are encouraged to get involved in the numerous extra-curricular activities across the campuses. Clubs and societies play an important role in college life, and we recognise the Student Health Unit positive impact that sport and activity has on physical and mental A free, confidential nursing service is available to all wellbeing. Included in these societies is LITs International Society. full-time registered students at LIT. Institute Doctors are available to students at specific times. Student Counselling Services LIT offers a free, confidential and professional counselling service to all registered students. The student counselling service is staffed by highly qualified and experienced psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors. 22 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 23
LIT International Society President Note: My name is Ian and I’m from Malaysia. I believe that comfort kills all kinds of creativity, therefore I think we should always try to seek discomfort and say yes to new adventures. I have always been the type of person to challenge the norm and be extraordinary. If I was a penguin, I would want to be that one penguin that could fly. I came to Ireland 4 years ago all on my own and I’ve learnt a lot and now I’m still striving to learn more. All international students coming to Ireland, you are already making an epic decision to seek discomfort and move to a different country to study. The International Society will act as a medium where all students from different countries of various cultures can connect and learn about one another. In my opinion, learning what makes us different and finding common ground among cultures that are located half-way across the world is such a gift. The International Society will be a bridge that unites us all. After all, what is a stranger? A stranger is merely a f riend we haven’t met yet! 24 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 25
8. IRELAND Ireland is widely known as one of the friendliest, and welcoming countries in the world! In fact, the Irish for Welcome is Cead Mile Failté (pronounced Kay-Ed Meela Fall-cha) which literally translates to ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’. We are a country seeped in history & tradition – a small island nation, WILD ATLANTIC WAY with a population of under 5 million people located on the western- most tip of Europe – and yet our culture is celebrated all over the world. Some of the world’s biggest Tech & Pharma companies have based their European Headquarters in Ireland - and one of the main reasons that they are attracted to Ireland is because they have access to a highly educated workforce due to Ireland’s world class education system! This IRELAND DUBLIN is fantastic news for our students because it means there are amazing AIRPORT graduate job opportunities available to them right on their doorstep. You will never be short of places to visit in Ireland from the extraordinary Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare right across the SHANNON AIRPORT country to Temple Bar in Ireland’s Capital City Dublin, there is a long list of places to tick off your bucket list. Whether you Thurles are looking for tourist spots, good food, nightlife, festivals, Limerick sporting events or Museums – Ireland will not disappoint. Clonmel Ireland is known as the gateway to Europe, studying in Ireland means you will have easy access to all the major cities in Europe – what better way to spend a long weekend than hopping on a flight and exploring Madrid or Berlin? 26 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 27
You can even earn some extra money to explore by working part time – International Students studying in Ireland can work 20 hours St. Patrick’s day is per week during term time and 40 hours during holidays! celebrated in over 50 countries every year - It Still not convinced? These Instagram accounts are guaranteed is celebrated in more to make you fall in love with the Emerald Isle: countries than any »Limerick.ie other national festival. »Wild Atlantic Way »Tourism Ireland »Discover Ireland The longest place name in the English Language is Muckanaghederdauhaulia – a small village in Connemara, Co Galway. The Cliffs of Moher can be seen in the movie Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and the Princess Bride Halloween originated in Ireland. 28 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 29
9. LIMERICK Limerick city Limerick is located in the Mid West of Ireland. It is a young, was founded warm, welcoming and vibrant city – and with 3 major colleges in 812 by the located here almost 50% of our population is under 30, with 1 in 5 of every person in Limerick being a student in Higher Vikings, making Education. It is a very student orientated city – and has even been it one of Ireland’s recognised by UNESCO as a centre for learning excellence. oldest cities. In 2017 Limerick was voted European City of the Future. We are the commercial capital of the mid-west region and are in the top 10 cities in ALL OF EUROPE for attracting investment, growth and opportunity! Think of all the cities across Europe – Paris, Limerick Rome, Berlin, London, Madrid – Limerick is among the top 10! city is the One of the most attractive points about Limerick city is our living birthplace of costs. We are 50% more affordable to live in than Dublin and 20% more affordable than Cork & Galway. It means students who choose Limerick The Cranberries. as their study destination do not need to give up anything – they will get a great city life, with part time job opportunities and all at an affordable price – and that’s not something that every city can offer! Limerick is perfectly located – we are very central and are just a short journey from Ireland’s other major cities (just an hour from Galway, over an hour from Cork and 2 hours from Dublin). We are all connected by bus and train services so students coming to study in Limerick have the opportunity to travel all across Ireland during their studies. Just an hours drive from our Moylish campus you will find the »Cliffs of Moher – one of Ireland’s most famous tourist destinations. In fact Limerick City is a the gateway city to the » Wild Atlantic Way, which was named as one of the worlds best roadtrips by Lonely Planet. 30 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 31
10. CLONMEL & THURLES Clonmel Clonmel is situated in the south of the county in the heart of the Golden Vale. With a population of almost 20,000, Clonmel town has numerous cafés, restaurants and lively pubs, and offers plenty of amenities for students living locally. It has excellent road and rail links with the cities of Limerick, Cork and Dublin and is home to a thriving industrial hub serving the beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries. If you enjoy the great outdoors, Clonmel is perfectly located in a valley surrounded by mountains and hills including the Comeraghs and Slievenamon. After a hard day’s work in college, clear the head and take in the beautiful Suir Blueway Tipperary, with 21km of the 53km route accessible by bike or foot. You can follow the towpath from Clonmel to Carrick on Suir and take in the superb scenery along the route. In addition, there are watersport activities at various points along the river. For more information on things to see and do in Clonmel, please visit the following website: » www.clonmel.ie 32 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 33
Thurles Located at the heart of Ireland’s famed Suir Valley, Thurles is a bustling and lively town surrounded by the mountains of the Silvermines and Slieveardagh. It enjoys transport links with Limerick City approximately 40 minutes to one hour away. The population of the town itself is around 10,000 but it serves a populous rural hinterland and is a key centre within the network of towns that make up Ireland’s Mid-West Region. The thriving centre of the town of Thurles has all of the retail and commercial facilities that a modern student requires. As the birthplace of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Thurles is at the very heart of the history of Irish sport. It’s GAA ground, Semple Stadium, is Ireland’s second largest sports arena with a capacity for 60,000 people, second only to Croke Park Stadium, Dublin. Thurles boasts many excellent cultural and recreational facilities including The Source Arts Centre, Tipperary’s most exciting cultural & entertainment venue presenting music, dance, comedy, film, children’s events, visual art & more. Horse racing, soccer, rugby, cycling, golf, angling, hockey and swimming are all catered for. Thurles’s place at the heart of Irelands’ sporting heritage is one of the key reasons that LIT located its dedicated Sports Campus here – along with its state-of-the-art sports and fitness facilities. For more information on things to see and do in Thurles, please visit the following website: » www.thurles.ie 34 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 35
11. USEFUL LINKS LIMERICK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: USEFUL APPS IN IRELAND: (search for these in your IOS or App Store) • LIT Official Website: » ww.lit.ie • LIT Health Unit: »www.lit.ie/student-health • UberEats – for all your takeaway needs • LIT Careers & Employability: » www.lit.ie/careers-employability • JustEat – another app to help with those pizza cravings • Met Eireann – Irelands weather app – always helpful to know if you LEARN MORE ABOUT LIMERICK & IRELAND: need to bring an umbrella or not • Limerick.ie: » www.limerick.ie • Discover Ireland: » www.discoverireland.ie • Free Now – Uber isn’t available in Ireland but FreeNow can be used for all your taxi needs • Ireland Travel Guide – Plan your adventures around Ireland INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONS STUDENTS: • Entertainment.ie – keep up to date with cinema listings, concerts • Irish Council for International Students: » www.internationalstudents.ie & events happening in your area • Education in Ireland: » www.educationinireland.com/en • Ryanair.ie – have a long weekend coming up? Why not book a last minute flight to Paris? TRAVEL: • Irish Rail: »www.irishrail.ie • Leapcard: »www.studentleapcard.ie • Bus Eireann: »www.buseireann.ie VISA & OTHER USEFUL LINKS: • INIS (Visa & Immigration): » www.inis.gov.ie • Embassies in Ireland: » www.dfa.ie/embassies/embassies-in-ireland • PPS: »www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a- personal-public-service-pps-number/#apply 36 | LIT International Student Handbook LIT International Student Handbook | 37
Moylish, Limerick T: +353 61 293000 E: international@lit.ie W: www.lit.ie/international-study LITInternational @LIT_IntOffice LimerickIT LITInternational
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