Immersive Software Engineering · University of Limerick
Learn by building. Work with the best.
A four-year integrated MSc, with the option to exit after three years with a BSc, where you learn by doing and spend half your degree in paid residencies with leading software companies.
ISE is a computer science degree where you learn by doing, not in lecture halls, but in studios and inside real companies, shipping real software from first year.
Two ways in
Whether you want to study, or to partner
Future students
Join the next cohort
Learn by doing, get paid to work with leading companies, and graduate with a master's in four years.
Companies & partners
Host an ISE resident
Meet ambitious engineers early, host paid residents on your team, and build your hiring pipeline.
Teacher or guidance counsellor? For schools →
The Students
A small, highly selective cohort
ISE admits a small group each year, chosen for how they actually think and build. Students join partner engineering teams as paid contributors from early in the programme.
Selected on substance
A highly selective intake focused on genuine ability, not points alone, we look for real builders.
Learning by shipping
Studio-based, project-driven and continuously assessed. Students build from week one.
Ready for industry
Students contribute to real engineering work from their very first residency, not shadowing from the sidelines.
The Companies
You will work inside real engineering teams
Residencies are not shadowing. Students join leading engineering teams as paid contributors, from global platforms to Ireland's fastest-growing startups in fintech, medtech, robotics and quantum.
How it works
Four years. One master's. Five residencies.
Year 1
Foundations and Residency 1
Studio-based fundamentals in programming, systems and maths, then your first paid residency in the summer.
Year 2
Residencies 2 and 3
Human-centric computing and security alongside two more paid residencies inside partner engineering teams.
Year 3
Specialism and Residency 4
Scaling, reliability and a larger immersive software-project residency. Exit here with a BSc (Hons), or continue.
Year 4
Integrated MSc
AI and machine learning, advanced modules and a research-project residency, completing the integrated MSc.
Student stories
In their words
When I first arrived in Ireland, I couldn't speak English. A few years later, I am graduating with first-class honours through a course that completely changed the direction of my career.
I was the only one in my school year of 300 who went to UL. I feel so proud of the leap I took, and who I've become.
I'm adding 'researcher' to the list of things I never thought I'd achieve when I started ISE.
I completed four residencies at a diverse range of companies, which is my favourite aspect of the course. It helped me develop both as a programmer and a team member.
The programme gave me exactly what I was looking for: the opportunity to learn by building, solve real engineering problems alongside industry, and graduate ready to make an impact from day one.
We were taught the way students want to be taught: through assignments instead of big exams, with the freedom to build alongside companies and bring what we learned back to class.
Applications for 2027 are open
Apply through the CAO with code LM173, or talk to our team about residencies and partnerships.
Immersive Software Engineering, University of Limerick. A radically practical computer science degree.