USAC Maastricht Undergraduate Coursework

Studying in Maastricht is the best decision I have made. This experience was immersive and I met so many amazing people and made so many wonderful friends. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore Europe without this experience and to learn about the culture.

Overall, I would recommend Maastricht if you enjoy: smaller city vibes, nature, and the quiet lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, there are places to party and hangout, but if you want to go someplace to party, I would not recommend Maastricht. That being said, I am not a party-er and therefore loved the city and University of Maastricht. The university buildings were really cool, and classes are based on "problem-based learning." Be prepared to present multiple times throughout a semester and read a lot, however, I enjoyed this type of learning, I felt like I was far more engaged with the content than American-styled lecture classes. Additionally, I would NOT recommend Maastricht if you want to travel to other countries frequently. The hassle of getting to a nearby city that does have an airport can be quite stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. You might find it cheaper and easier in the long-run to just go Study Abroad in a different city than in Maastricht, but I still really enjoyed 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 abroad in Maastricht was an experience I'll never forget. I had the opportunity to immerse myself into Dutch culture which gave me a different perspective to view the world. During my days in Maastricht, the program organized trips to get to know more about Dutch culture and local history in Maastricht, along with other international students we got to see and learn about the windmills and different types of Dutch cheese. lt was also easy to move around since majority of Dutch people understand English. My favorite part was going to the market on Fridays to eat some olieballen. After finishing the program I feel more academically prepared and confident traveling by myself, if someone would ask me if I would like to study abroad again ,l would definitely say yes!

Maastricht University is a great place to study abroad. Maastricht is a wonderful city with an adequate social scene and beautiful atmosphere. The professors are knowledgeable and fair, with good course offerings. The only negative was housing, which was manageable.

Going abroad on my own was so far out of my comfort zone, but turned out to be an absolutely incredible experience that I will never forget! Enrolling through USAC made the process so easy and I felt supported by the staff in Maastricht every step of the way. I had so many learning moments, whether it was in the classroom or navigating a trip to a new country. I can’t think of a better way to first experience traveling solo abroad.

Studying abroad in Maastricht was a life changing experience. I traveled to so many new places, did so many new things, and met some really great people. Maastricht quickly became a second home and I can’t wait to go back!

Studying abroad changed my life for the better. The Netherlands is a beautiful place with a mix of modernity and longstanding culture, and it's easy to either find something to do or travel inside and outside of the country. Maastricht gave me independence that I was searching for on two wheels! My bike empowered me to seek out new places, relax, and rely on myself for my well-being. The UM Guesthouse was full of international students from across the world as well, so I got to expand my knowledge of the world and share my experiences with people from a variety of different backgrounds from the comfort of my dorm hall. My experiences with USAC in the Netherlands taught me how to be an adult on my own, trust my judgement, and remain organized in an entirely new country. I wouldn't change it for the world!

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!

Absolutely loved my Study Abroad experience in Maastricht. Met incredible people and made lifelong memories. It’s in the perfect location for exploring other countries, and the town itself quickly begins to feel like home. I felt truly immersed in Dutch culture, leaving the summer feeling more educated and fulfilled. The classes themselves were manageable, covered important topics, and I learned a lot. It was definitely hard to leave at the end of the semester and go back home, but I’m grateful for everything the experience Maastricht brought me.

This study abroad trip was so much fun and I learned a lot during my 6 weeks abroad. The classes were really fun and interesting and the food on campus was amazing and affordable. Maastricht is a perfect place to visit, it’s very walkable and you can also rent a bike :)

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 Maastricht. It is a very beautiful college town with lots of international students. I took business and literature classes and I thoroughly enjoyed them and felt like I learned and retained the information. Because Maastricht is so central, I also got to travel to multiple countries, such as France, Spain, Scotland, and Austria.

I know it sounds cliche... but words literally do not do justice to this experience. USAC was amazing helping us deal with covid when we first got there. They planned tons of activities for us to do to get to know one another. If you showed up to the activities and trips it was literally impossible not to make friends!! The housing situation was one of my favorite parts. The shared kitchen was set up in a way that made the hall feel like your own 15 person family. I got to know so many people from so many different cultures and countries and these were the people that I spent most of my time living and traveling with. The class offerings were amazing. You are able to do a mixture of CES courses with other students in your cohort and also take classes at the university with the full time Uni students. The collaborative learning style is so refreshing after coming from a big state university. I think I learned more at Maastricht in a semester then I have at my home university in the last three years. The city of Maastricht itself is also just so perfect for students. You can bike anywhere and it has amazing night life! It was truly the perfect college town and the locals were always so inviting. If you're thinking about this program, all I have to say is DO IT!!!

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 some time 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!

There were highs and lows, but overall I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The academics at UM weren’t the best in my opinion, and we lived in a hospital (neither of which were USAC caused), but I made amazing friends and had a wonderful experience traveling the world.

Throughout my four months in the Netherlands, I had both social and academic experiences that I will remember for a lifetime. With the help of USAC's events throughout the city, I formed friendships with people of all backgrounds; I now have connections with friends in Scotland, Ireland, Spain, France, and so on. One of my closest friends throughout the semester was from England, and another from across the country in California. In addition, the ease of travel throughout Europe was incredible considering our straightforward schedules and the direction we were given in maneuvering transportation. In just four short months, I visited Germany (Berlin and Frankfurt), France (Paris), Belgium (Liege and Brussels), Italy (Rome and Florence), Hungary (Budapest), and Spain (Palma de Mallorca), as well as two large cities in the Netherlands (The Hague and Amsterdam). Each trip was a unique experience that left me with incredible memories. However, the city of Maastricht itself was magical, particularly when the holiday season rolled around; lights hung over the shop-lined brick roads as bikers road through, and the coffee at my favorite local cafe, Pinky, tasted better than ever. Beyond the social and cultural wonders, Maastricht's education system was absolutely incredible. Classes are composed of small discussion groups in which a different academic task is discussed each week. At first, it was intimidating, considering that I was an American in classes with Dutch students, but I quickly became comfortable. The small-group setup helped me immensely in grasping information, and hearing other students' findings and perspectives spawned incredible discussions with my peers. Though some of the classes were challenging, I appreciated the need for balance between schoolwork and travel; looking back at my semester in Maastricht, I believe that I was more driven and accomplished than ever. That semester truly changed my life.

Maastricht is such an interesting and historic city with many interesting things to do. It's just a short bike or bus ride to Germany or Belgium and the train system was convenient. Maastricht University offered interesting and relevant courses and I feel that I learned a lot during my time studying there. I highly recommend the program!

I enjoyed Maastricht because it was a small enough city where I felt safe and could easily bike or walk where I needed to go. Even though I felt bad for not knowing more Dutch, everyone was pretty nice about speaking English to me. I was able to take weekend trips to different places (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, etc) but I still had a comfortable home base in Maastricht. I have a very limited diet so my study abroad experience wasn't as dependent on food as that of some people, but I ate so many frites (French fries) it was kind of crazy. If you can eat food though, Maastricht is home to many Michelin-Star rated restaurants. It is also big for fashion and shopping. I enjoyed the city and my time abroad. I think the living facilities could be renovated but they were still decent. My classes were very interesting and I enjoyed having an international layer to my coursework due to everyone being from different countries.