Netherlands: Maastricht University - Undergraduate Coursework

*TLDR* No close airport, darn Americans, lovely vibe.
I enjoyed many things about my study abroad to Maastricht, however, there were several misconceptions I had going in, several of which I did not think to be of note until *after* I arrived. One MASSIVE one, despite all the marketing, Maastricht is not the "heart of Europe." In the US, traveling between countries is a long, expensive affair, with travel tickets costing hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars. In Europe, this is not the same. I believed that the only way to feasibly get around was by train, and that any other method would have been far too expensive to be reasonable. This is WRONG, Ryanair is a budget airliner available in Europe which you can get tickets for as cheap as $35. I chose Maastricht partially because I thought I would need a train to get anywhere. However, Maastricht is not a major train station city, and the airport is not open to traveling to most locations until summer, meaning if you want to travel cross-country, getting a Ryan Air ticket is the best choice. However, again, because Maastricht is not a major city, you have to buy train tickets to travel several cities over to even begin your cross-country journey. Secondly, the WORST part of studying abroad, hands-down, were the other Americans. If you are used to living in a sorority/ fraternity setting, then you'll have no complaints, if you don't live in such a setting, buckle up. I had one night where the other Americans were blasting music until 4 AM, and then set off fireworks INSIDE the building, causing the fire alarms to wake everyone up. When I told the security who was responsible, those same frat guys claimed they did "nothing wrong" and that I snitched for "no reason." It could have been a bad bunch, but it was clear to me that many of the other attendants had never actually faced responsibility and consequences for their actions and acted entitled and therefore caused others grief. All of that being said, the city of Maastricht was utterly enchanting, and the few friends I did make, I will likely have for decades. The city was so easy to get lost in, and although I had become fairly familiar with the city by the end of my semester, it felt like I could have spent years there and still had more to find. Since Maastricht is smaller, the city has a much more intimate feel and people are more likely to be kind and warm. One example of this smaller city's warm and cozy setting was when I met an older woman named Betty. I helped carry her broken bike and she bought me bananas to share with her and taught me how to recycle properly and where to find the cheapest groceries. I will remember that interaction for the rest of my life, and I'm not sure I would have had that in a larger city. Overall, you have to make the most of your study abroad, and although the bus/ train ticket to the nearest airport is a bit of a hassle, Maastricht is a city that you can't help but love.

I spent my Spring 2024 semester in Maastricht, Netherlands. I picked Maastricht because of its European charm and outstanding Public Health program. My experience exceeded all of my expectations. The support I had at the university was superb. Maastricht is beautiful and bike-able and completely safe, it immediately felt like home. The community of friends and professors I met made my experience, and I still talk to many of them. Maastricht is in the heart of Europe, so traveling by train or plane was very accessible. The memories and things I learned will stay with me forever and I’m so thankful for the once-in-lifetime experience of studying abroad in Maastricht.

No experience can compare to my time studying abroad in Maastricht. I made life-long friends whose paths I would've never crossed without this experience. I learned a lot during our program field trips and immersed myself in new cultures during my free travel time. The USAC staff was invaluable and made us all feel safe and welcomed during our time in the Netherlands. One of my favorite experiences was Maastricht's Carnaval celebrations. I had never known this festival existed before my studies here and it gave me unforgettable memories that made me appreciate the diversity in every culture. I love looking back at memories and can't wait to make another trip back to Maastricht!

Studying at Maastricht University is a great experience everyone should consider. Maastricht is small and safe, and has a wonderful student atmosphere with an adequate social scene and beautiful architecture. Maastricht is also centrally located, making it easy to travel to all across Europe. The classes are small in size and the professors are knowledgeable and fair. There were not many negatives during my trip. The housing situation leaves room for improvement, but overall, my experience was very positive.

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!

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.