CES Maastricht

My special and memorable experience abroad at Maastricht University has been greatly shaped by the support and care the Center of European Studies (CES) team has provided for us. The team went above and beyond in ensuring we were accompanied by help in every way possible, and in every step of the way. I felt comfortable in approaching all of the advisors as they made efforts to establish that friendly and warm relationship with us students since day 1. Our cohort all became very close and appreciated the every activity, event and trip that the CES team had so kindly organized for us. This has been an incredible experience, beyond anything we could’ve ever expected and imagined. The people we’ve met here in Maastricht will never be forgotten! Thank you to the CES team for being the wonderful people they are, and I couldn’t imagine going abroad through any other program :)

My program experience was great. The program was set up so that half of my classes were only with students from my home university -- relatively small classes with 6-8 others--- and the other half were regular classes at the local university (which was more immersive and I preferred those classes). We had scheduled weekend trips to visit other countries and local areas around the host country, which accounted for about 1/4 of the total weekends. My favorite experience was visiting the shops and doing interviews with the local students for my cultural awareness final project. I was able to meet really cool people, which led me to dinners with strangers, book recommendations, free drinks, great conversations, artworks, and lifelong friends.

From a very young age I've always enjoyed new experiences, and as I grew up I knew I wanted to go far for school. However, due to familial situations I decided to stay close to my family for my undergraduate experience. As my family situation calmed down, CES Maastricht allowed me the opportunity of a lifetime to go and live not just in the Netherlands, but in the province my family originates from. With CES Maastricht, every step of the process was easy and help was readily available from the application stage to arrival and travel whilst on the program. The CES Program also offered a wide variety of classes to help students immerse into the culture of both the city and the Netherlands. One of my favorite parts of this program was the built-in travel that took students to Berlin Germany, Paris France, and a trip around several Dutch cities. I cannot recommend CES enough to friends curious about Europe, and I truly think that it is a perfect fit for anyone; whether you're focused on cultural immersion like I was with the Netherlands, or if you're curious about Europe in a broader sense. I was able to travel so much of Europe and even get to Africa on this program, and the experiences I had were downright life-changing.

I did the CES program in Fall 2022. I was nervous because I was coming there all on my own but everyone, from the program administrators to the students, made me feel so welcome. I had the opportunity to immersive myself in the Dutch culture through the program, and travel to many neighboring cities and countries. I met some of my closest friends through this program and for that, I’ll always be grateful!

I studied abroad Spring 2024 in Maastricht, Netherlands. And I really did have the time of my life. Studying in Maastricht, I was very challenged with academics. UM’s problem based learning strategy encourages students to lead class discussions, take an active role in choosing what to focus on, and collaborate with other students. Maastricht’s location in the heart of Europe allowed me to travel to other European countries by train with ease, making weekend travel easy. CES’s group trips and orientation helped me make friends immediately, whom I cooked dinner with, traveled with, and studied with, and who I still keep up with. If you have one choice - study abroad at Maastricht through CES!!!

I went to Maastricht to study in the summer of 2024. At first, I almost knew nothing about this city and I chose Maastricht as my destination simply because my major is Dutch Studies. But after arriving and studying for a while, I realized that I had made a best choice in my life. The teacher there were very nice and I made a lot of international friends. We hung out together and talked about our countries. If I had the chance, I would choose to go to Maastricht again and again.

The Psychology and Neuroscience program stood out to me because I knew I wanted to study abroad in western Europe and Maastricht had a perfect central location and the tailored coursework fit seamlessly with my major at UC San Diego as a Cognitive Neuroscience student. I knew all the classes would transfer and be relevant for my career goals. I can't even a choose a favorite memory from study abroad! Was it biking with my friends across town, rain or shine? Hiking down to the scenic Howth cliffs or trying to blend in with the kids at the Miffy museum or celebrating Halloween at Thuis with Riya in our horrendously bad costume? My study abroad experience was definitely the highlight of my college career and I recommend everyone to step out of their comfort zone and immerse themselves in a new culture and lifestyle for a few months when anything is possible at our age!

Maastricht is a beautiful, historical, and very safe city which I very much enjoyed living in. The CES program administrators organized some great introductory activities on our first few days there, such as a guided city walking tour, a limestone cave tour, a boat ride, and a few other activities outside of the city. The Maastricht University classes I took were super interesting and the instructors were both great, but they were very work-intensive with long sessions (3-4 hours) so expect to spend your weekdays very busy. However, most students get Fridays off, so you will probably have a long weekend to make travel plans easier! Maastricht is in a very convenient location for travelling around Europe, so I suggest you spend most of your weekends taking advantage of this. My room at the UM Guesthouse was very nice, I had a private “kitchen” (sink, hotplate, and fridge) because I chose a room in the P building. I would highly recommend this, because I heard from people in the C building that their shared kitchens got pretty gross- though obviously that depends on who’s staying there. Overall, I had a great time in Maastricht, and I would definitely recommend the program!

Attending Maastricht University felt like a dream come true! Not only was the city of Maastricht such a safe, beautiful, and fun community, the classes I took truly expanded on the field of Psychology in ways I had not experienced before. The people I met—from staff, fellow students, and community members—were all so welcoming and engaging. This place truly became my home away from home, and opened doors to so many new opportunities. From walks along the river, day trips to the nearby zoo, and nights at the summer concerts, the memories and friends I made here are unforgettable!

Spending this summer at Maastricht was a truly unforgettable experience. Being in a small but bustling town in the middle of Europe is breath of fresh air. I loved getting to learn about Dutch culture and the rich history of Maastricht. However, my favorite part was the opportunity in meeting others from around the world. Learning from them and learning from knowledgable professors made this program worth it.

Living in Maastricht for 6 months proved to be a unique cultural immersive experience. A cozy Dutch university city, the opportunities for unique and local experiences were endless. In the end, I felt as though I truly did live in another country, and have come to call Maastricht my home away from home.

Maastricht is a perfect place to call home while you explore Europe! A cozy and approachable Dutch city in the heart of Europe, you will feel comfortable calling it your home after even a short while. The juxtaposition of the beautiful rolling Limburg hills against the medieval fortresses scattered throughout the city, with a large international student population, makes it a wonderful place to study abroad.

I had such a good experience in the Public Health and Medicine in Europe program at Maastricht. I mainly took psychology and genetics courses (plus a lab), and I really enjoyed how these classes were taught, especially at UCM. Through the pbl-style learning, I developed better independent study skills and was able to learn and engage with the content rather than memorize it for a test. One of my favorite parts of this program was also how I was able to learn with local students at UCM. Through group projects and our in-class discussions, I made some really good friends who not only helped me with my initial adjustment to the pbl-style, but also showed me around local spots in Maastricht. Additionally, the Berlin, Paris, and Dutch Day trips were so fun and culturally enriching. They had the perfect amount of structure and a good agenda while still offering a lot of free time and recommendations to explore the cities on your own with friends. Maastricht was the cutest city with such fun things to do, such as the market every Friday, and had some really good cafes/food places and bars. It was easy and affordable to travel from and filled with such kind people. I came back with such good lifetime friends, and miss Maastricht (and biking) every day.

The CES program is so incredible! The staff is so kind and supportive, and willing to help with whatever you need. The pre-arranged activites and trips were such great opportunties and my favorite part of the program. I was able to experience so many different cultures and learn from a new perspective. Maastricht is a wonderful city with a lovely community!

My experience abroad was life-changing. My classes at Maastricht University were engaging and captivating, I've made lifelong friends, and the small-city environment is very welcoming to outsiders. Not only do you get the cultural immersion without too much tourism, but you are welcomed with open arms into the community.

In Maastricht, I met some of my closest friends and made some of my favorite memories without sacrificing my studies.I was able to travel to 8 different countries without falling behind on my schoolwork. I was so excited to find a program that had the classes I wanted to take in the summer, but I didn't think I was going to be able to travel and have as much fun as I did. Some of my favorite memories from Maastricht involve sitting in the park with my friends doing homework und chatting and laughing. I would totally recommend a summer in Maastricht b anyone who wants to both expand their studies and experience Europe in its entirety.

1. In this program, I not only took part in interesting but thought-provoking lessons, but also visited many places of interest as well as other cities and even countries. Besides my Dutch skill is promoted, which is very important for me since my major is Dutch language and culture. 2. The staff here are all very kind and friendly, especially the coordinator. I sent them emails when I encountered problems, and they always responded to me very quickly and offered me kind and helpful advice. 3. This is the first time for me to fully understand how to live by myself. Apart from that, I’ve made a lot of foreign friends in the university as well as in shops and bars. I will definitely encourage more students to go to Maastricht, and I am really happy with this experience!

It is a life-changing experience both physically and mentally. CES staff are really extraordinarily perfect. You can feel their concerns and care before, during and after the program. A thousand Thank you;) At first I was a bit hesitant to start a conversation with people I didn’t know about, but after taking the first step I just realized how kind they are. Adapting is also a journey of self discovery. From Maastricht, reach out the world!!!

I completed a summer program in Maastricht and while it was short, it was the best three weeks of my college career. I fell in love with the city of Maastricht, the culture, and the community I built during my program. I got to spend the three weeks learning about leadership from company visits, field trips, and locals. I spent time exploring nearby cities and countries too such as Germany, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. The balance between travel and academics was manageable due to the willingness of everyone to support and help us out. The entire staff at CES was so welcoming and caring to our group and I can say I would be the first person to recommend the program to any students who want to attend. Anyone who is looking to travel abroad and get a feel for Dutch learning styles, and cultures Maastricht University is for you.

Going on fields trips and studying politics and law from an international viewpoint has helped me broaden my perspective. I had a great time visiting the institutions of the European Union because it helped me get a hands-on experience!