In an era of increasing globalization a graduate business qualification is prized by many employers and will significantly enhance career prospects and options.  Ireland, as one of the most open trading countries in the world and a long term member of the European Union is an ideal place to experience the different cultures, nationalities and business practices that are contributing to and determining the changing nature of globalization. As an English speaking country with strong historical links to the US the American student can expect a warm welcome in Ireland.  The Kemmy Business School (KBS) at the University of Limerick (UL) offers numerous programmes that will appeal to graduates of business courses and also welcomes those with a liberal arts qualification.

The University of Limerick (UL) is an independent, internationally focused university with over 11,000 students and 1,300 staff. The University has a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship.  With the River Shannon as a unifying focal point, the University is situated on a superb 133-hectare campus. The campus is adorned by unrivaled sports and cultural facilities, including Ireland’s first Olympic sized swimming pool, an indoor sports arena, a 1,100 seat University Concert Hall, the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the dynamic Irish World Academy of Music. The campus is located 3 miles from Limerick City and 15 miles from Shannon International Airport.  A good deal of the fantastic infrastructure at UL has been funded by the generosity of Irish American Philanthropists, most notably Charles (Chuck) Feeney of Atlantic Philanthropies. Indeed, the University has a constant and mutually enriching engagement with the United States and regularly hosts visits from US senior business and political figures. Just last week, President Bill Clinton visited the campus to present the J.P Mc Manus Scholarships.

UL is acutely aware of the importance of international education.  Attracting foreign students is a mark of esteem and competitiveness, which is crucially significant in a context where Universities are compared with their peers on a global basis. But the principal benefit lies in the enrichment of the University’s cultural fabric and the positive contribution to the experience of all students.
Home to the award winning MSc in Financial Services and MA in International Tourism programmes, the Kemmy Business School (KBS) at the University of Limerick offers a range of highly regarded postgraduate learning opportunities in economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources management, business management, marketing and tourism.  All of the programmes are one-year long, many are internationally accredited and feature international field trips, credited professional development modules and opportunities to gain professional certification.

The MSc programmes in Financial Services, Computational Finance, Economic Analysis and Risk Management & Insurance make extensive use of Europe’s first custom designed campus trading floor. It gives students access to multiple Bloomberg terminals that enables users to monitor and analyze real-time financial market data.  Furthermore students on these programmes have to opportunity to gain Bloomberg professional certification as part of their studies.

The suite of management postgraduate courses on offer at the KBS caters for both business and non-business graduates.  The new MSc in Project Management, a discipline that the Business School is noted to excel in provides a valuable gateway for students wishing to pursue a professional career in project management. The MSc in International Management & Global Business prepares graduates from business disciplines for managing internationally and cross-culturally.  For graduates from non-business disciplines who wish to develop an understanding of major business disciplines and pursue a business career the MA in Business Management is suitable.  For those interested in starting and managing their own business ventures there is the Masters in International Entrepreneurship Management.
 
One of the most popular and innovative courses is the MSc in Marketing, Consumption & Society.  It’s a one-year full time course designed to meet the needs of the ever-growing marketing industry, which represents a major source of employment in the 21st Century. The programme aims to equip candidates with a thorough grounding in marketing theory and research, provides a comprehensive understanding of consumer culture, and instils an appreciation of marketing's responsibilities to organizations and to society”.
 
The Kemmy Business School also has a long-running MA in International Tourism designed to provide students with an understanding of the international tourism industry and an appreciation of the key issues affecting its continued development.  It presents an opportunity to gain insights into the marketing and management issues impacting on the sector.  Students are also presented with opportunities to update their language and IT skills, their communication and presentation skills, and to interact with tourism industry practitioners with visiting international faculty.  Research skills are developed through dedicated methodology modules leading to the completion of a dissertation on a chosen topic in tourism. This programme is now ranked amongst the top 100 of its kind in the world.
 
It’s not a difficult process to apply; the University of Limerick is expert in dealing with International students and will guide you personally through your application. The University uses the GPA system familiar to US students  You need a GPA of 3.00 or higher in a four-year degree programme in a relevant discipline at a recognized third-level institution-do we need to say this now?  You do not require a visa to study in Ireland and the University of Limerick has been approved by the US Department of Education to certify loans that fall under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

Faculty from the Kemmy Business School will be in New York in December and the New Year to meet prospective applicants and parents and will be glad to deal with any queries.

For further information on all postgraduate offerings at KBS, visit: www.ul.ie/business/postgraduate.