Netherlands: Maastricht University - Undergraduate Coursework

Studying in Maastricht was a life changing experience. I got to visit so many new places, see so many new things, and meet really great people. Maastricht quickly became a second home to me and I can’t wait to go back again. The Center for European Studies at the university organized several trips for the study abroad students including Berlin, Paris, and Zaanse Schans, which created wonderful opportunities to learn about European culture and to explore. Maastricht is a beautiful medieval city in the heart of Europe that super easy to traverse. It takes about 15-30 minutes to walk anywhere or 10-15 minutes to bike. There’s also a great public transport within the city, and trains to basically any Dutch city. The train to Amsterdam is only about 3 hours.

I had the best time when studying abroad at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Not only did I gain cultural and worldly knowledge, but I did so in a beautiful place surrounded by great people. Maastricht is a gorgeous city located on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium with the River Maas running through it, almost at the center. The school is a central part of the city, however tourism isn't uncommon making Maastricht a multicultural hub. Maastricht is located about two hours away from Amsterdam which is not too far but not too close, making trips into the big city special. Traveling to other cities and countries was very easy as Maastricht has a reliable bus and train system. The city itself is not that big, it only takes about forty-five minutes to get from one side to the other, but it is packed with college life. The schools buildings are spread out all over the city, allowing students to explore unknown areas and truly get to know the region. The school system is set up into two parts, lectures and tutorials, which really helped me to understand and retain the information that I was learning. The study abroad program at the University took the students on trips to Berlin and Paris, where we were able to see art museums and historic sites. In all, to be able to travel and create new memories and experiences while also making friends and learning is an invaluable experience.

I would highly recommend studying abroad, you're able to be surrounded by open minded individuals who have a passion for traveling and educating themselves!

Studying abroad in Maastricht has opened my eyes to the beauty of the world and reignited my passion for my major. I have formed some of the most amazing connections with the most amazing people that I never would've crossed paths with had it not been for this program. These are memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Living in a student-dense town, with the majority being international, I felt comfortable knowing that we were all a bit nervous at first about starting a new chapter of our lives in this small town. I was able to learn about many other cultures and teach others about mine. I enjoyed all of my courses, and while some challenged me, all had shown me why I chose to follow psychology. I couldn't be more grateful for this experience.

I loved studying abroad in Maastricht. The town is picturesque, the classes were engaging, and the travel opportunities were countless. The PBL education system fit the classes I was taking perfectly, and I loved discussing literature and economics with my peers (who were mostly international students). I also traveled to 8 countries, both through my own planning and also through the CES official trips that are part of the programs. I saw the Eiffel tower in Paris, ate paella in Barcelona, and "saw" Nessie in Scotland. Despite traveling around Europe, I loved the small-town feel of Maastricht, and it definitely felt like home by the end of my trip.

Classes we good, loved both my professors. The area was incredible and close to so many other amazing places! Met a lot of amazing people and made lasting friendships. It was easy to see a lot of the city by biking and had a lot of great recommendations from locals from the school. Was able to travel to Switzerland and hike the alps which was unbelievable. I would definitely recommend this program to others and want to travel back at some point. I was also able to share my experience with my family when they came to visit.

Right in the heart of Europe, this beautiful little city is located in the southern Limburg region of the Netherlands. It is a bicycle ride away from the Belgian border and a quick bus trip to the Germany. This largely student city combines Dutch culture with the surrounding European countries with delightful architecture, plenty of shopping, and a great food and bar scene.
If your goal is to travel around Europe during your time here (which you absolutely should), Maastricht is about 1.5 hours bus ride from Brussels Airport in Belgium and Cologne/Bönn Airport. Also nearby is Eindhoven Airport and not too much farther is Brussels Charleroi Airport. So you have plenty of options for cheap flights all around the continent.
However, Maastricht is the perfect city to explore as well. There are plenty of student events and clubs that you can get involved in, several museums, and charming parks. You'll probably quickly become friends with your hallmates at the UM Guesthouse who will be from all over the US, Europe and around the world. My hall was made up of Americans, Spanish, Portuguese and Northern Irish people and throughout the semester we became like a little family to come home to after weekend adventures.
You'll also have plenty of opportunities in class to meet full-time and other international students. The classes here tend to be a bit more challenging as much of the university runs on the Problem-Based Learning approach where much of the learning is done in small groups with a tutor present to help guide the discussions. The upside to this is the small class size, but the downside is that it generally requires more independent study and time dedicated to class. It may take sometime to get used to, but don't worry, the staff at the Center for European Studies (CES) are a big resource! They are all extremely kind and willing to help you with anything during your time in Maastricht. They also organize study trips to different cities around Europe, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (Fall Semester), and so much more.
Maastricht became my second home during my time here and it was definitely the highlight of my university experience to study here through USAC. I hope it will be for you too!

Maastricht is a small town in the Southernmost province of the Netherlands, nestled just 2 hours from both Brussels and Cologne. You'll feel immediately at home in this quaint town. Meeting other people is easy as you live in an international guesthouse with not just other Americans, but students from all over the world. In classes, there is no separation between you and the traditional Maastricht University students. With a ton of faculties, it is possible to take courses in nearly every field of study with ease. Many of the American students complete their program through the Center for European Studies (CES), which is a great group of advisors who take you step by step through the application process, choosing and registering for classes, and organize trips with the whole group throughout the semester (Berlin, Paris, etc.). I could not have imagined a better program, for it was nice to have a smaller town to come back to every week after traveling, the immense help from the CES team, the people I got the chance to meet and the amazing courses I got the chance to take.

Maastricht was a great place to study, good location and lots of things to do around the city plus easy to get to multiple large airports for travel on weekends. Classes were challenging but not impossible. Very international environment, just in my corridor in the guesthouse I lived with 2 Canadians, 1 Spainiard, 1 Brazilian, 1 Belgian, 1 Austrian, and a Colombian. Maastricht has a lot of good nightlife as well, we never struggled to find something to do.