Maastricht University

About: 

The city was named after the Romans set up camp on the banks of the river Maas. Maastricht university was established in 1976,  making  it one of the youngest universities in the  Netherlands. Despite its short history, UM has approximately 19,000 students, of which 54% are foreign students - so you are sure to have a truly international experience!  

Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased materials (AMIBM) is a European, cross-border research institute focusing on the development of advanced biobased materials, and is located on the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen.

Highlights: 

The city prides itself for being at "the heart of Europe", as it is located centrally between major cities such as Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt and many others! Maastricht itself is full to the brim with museums and art institutions, and a very vibrant student life.  The city is described as the melting point between latin and germanic cultures and beyond Dutch, you are likely to be exposed to languages such as French and German. 

Location: 

Maastricht, The Netherlands  (University College Maastricht, Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences)

Geleen, The Netherlands (AMIBM)

Courses / Modules: 

Maastricht University is unique in that almost all the teaching across the faculties is based on the education principles of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The idea is that smaller tutorial groups of students lead on, and discuss practical problems facilitated by a tutor. Learn more about Problem-Based Learning (PBL). 

All of the programmes at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , Maastricht Science Programme and University College Maastricht are taught in English.

MChem students in their fourth year are based at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) and take the majority of credits as a Research Project and - you should discuss this with your departmental coordinator in York in the first instance.  You may be able to take some taught courses at the host university to complete your credit load. 

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  Maastricht University uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.  

Most courses at Maastricht University carry a load of 5 ECTS credits. 

MChem students in their fourth year take the majority of credits as a Research Project - you should discuss this with your departmental coordinator in York in the first instance.  You may be able to take some taught courses at the host university to complete your credit load. Please be aware that host organisations may class students taking a research project as being on a traineeship, rather than a study placement. Please contact the host organisation with any queries and note that if you are completing a traineeship, you may not be considered a registered exchange student.

Teaching Periods: 

Maastricht follows the semester system so there are two main teaching periods per academic year (the last two weeks of semester are exam + reflection week) 

 The following dates are subject to change. 

1st Semester: late August  - late January 

2nd Semester: early February - early July 

Language: 

There may be opportunities for exchange students to take part in Dutch classes - check with your department if you are able to take such courses for credit. 

Accommodation: 

Maastricht University, like most in the Netherlands, does not have on-campus housing. The University is affiliated with Maastricht Housing. The price is usually between €550 and €1000 per month and there is a registration fee of €35 in order to search for a room. 

Orientation / Welcome week:  

Universalis, UCM's study association, organises a pick-up service from the central railway station in Maastricht. 

The introduction programme comes in two parts for the fall semester. INKOM is the first one, and it is for all freshmen students in Maastricht, and is it is non-obligatory for UM students. However, the second one is organised by UM and is a compulsory 3-day program, usually in late August. The same 3-day program is held in the Spring term in late January. 

Support Services: 

The Student Services Centre (SSC) provides assistance on financial issues, studying at Maastricht, Career advice, psychological support, and studying with a disability. 

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in the Netherlands.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for the Netherlands and its Living in the Netherlands guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

Maastricht University also provide information on visas and residence permits

Health insurance: 

Maastricht University offers advice on compulsory health insurance for non-Dutch students  and the different requirements depending on personal circumstances.

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Travel insurance:  

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

For more information on student life as an exchange student, have a look at UMC's website. 

Jessica, Study Abroad at Maastricht University (2019/20)

"Overall, the experience was fantastic and such an eyeopener. My exchange has really showed me a new concept of “borders”, in the UK were surrounded by water so going away is a pretty big deal that takes preparation. However, in Maastricht we're 20 minutes away from the Belgium border or 30 minutes away from the Germany border. This made the whole experience even more exciting as there was so many opportunities and adventures."

Anna, Study Abroad in The Netherlands (2019/20)

"This year has been amazing. Studying at Utrecht has allowed me to be more flexible with the subjects I chose, which has completely changed my dissertation topic and opened new areas of interest to me. I've also met loads of incredible people and been able to visit quite a few places in Europe whilst on a low budget, which wouldn't have been possible if I had been in the UK. Having the freedom to hop on a train or bus and within a couple of hours be in a different country surrounded by a different language and culture was really rewarding."

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website! 

Please note: these tips have been provided by students who have studied abroad - Global Opportunities recommends that you use these as a guide only and do your own research on what is best for you.

Money and Banking: 

• It is advised to open a local bank account when you have arrived.

• On average, students spend between €928 - €1378 per month, it is also relatively easy to get a casual working job while in the city if you want to.

Staying Connected: 

• Make friends with international students and in particular, Dutch nationals, it will help you learn more about the culture and life in the Netherlands, which will help you settle in.

Accommodation 

• Plan your accommodation well in advance due to the high demand for housing in university cities in the Netherlands

What I wished I'd known...: 

• Get a bike - it's an easy form of transport and will cut down on transport costs.

• The Netherlands is an expensive city to live in so be prepared to manage your money.

• UM Exchange Website 

• Settling into the city 

• Maastricht housing 

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk