Program Reviews

The Humanities and Social Sciences program lets me take classes about culture, sociology, literature, world events, and more. I am exposed to lots of new ideas, beliefs, and concepts which help me better analyze my world.

The CES staff are your guides through UM and Maastricht. They will help you with everything from academics to travel advice, and are always available whenever you have questions.

Being able to travel, meet new people, and explore new places are some of the best parts of my study abroad experience. It’s amazing how much experience you can gain from being in a new place and studying among different people!

Even with Covid restrictions my study abroad experience was beyond my hopes and expectations for this kind of experience! I truly believe that I have left my study abroad exchange a changed person, Maastricht is an amazing city to live and learn in. The Netherlands in general is so diverse with different cultures and you meet so many students through Maastricht University who open your eyes to different views and ways of thinking. Classes are so interesting because everyone is from a different background or culture, and the classes themselves are very interactive and discussion-based at SBE, so hearing everyone's thoughts is very intriguing. I think CES throws an amazing study abroad experience that is great for learning about the Netherlands with day trips to different cities; like a trip to Zaandam to visit the Zaanse Schans area where you see how the Dutch lived hundreds of years ago, a trip to Eindhoven to check out the city's attractions, touring the caves by Maastricht. You also get to travel to cities like Paris for the weekend, and although our trip was canceled because of Covid the program also takes students to Berlin before classes in the fall. I just can't say enough about how much I loved this program and experience; everyone from the advisors for the program, the classes, the friendships I made, the cities I traveled to across Europe, and the memories I made I will cherish for a lifetime. You won't regret coming to Maastricht! You can check out my tiktok video to see what my experience looked like, https://www.tiktok.com/@mkyhl/video/7053158105475075375?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id7026481985536443909.

The Positive Psychology unit was incredibly insightful and important. I feel it's a unit everyone should undertake because it's one that has the potential to make life so much better. The learnings go far beyond academic, they're important for anyone wanting to feel better, have more purposeful goals and feel enriched and empowered to improve their mental health. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this course and have used many of the learnings in my personal and professional life already. Positive psychology is a powerful and real science that has the capacity to truly enhance happiness. I had no idea just how important this unit was going to be for me and my family.

Deciding to go abroad was the best decision I have made in my life. Exploring different countries and cultures has been such an eye-opening experience; it really makes you feel how big the world truly is. The program's schedule has been very accommodating to my thirst for travel, yet the classes are still academically fulfilling. Maastricht itself is a very clean, diverse, and friendly city; it's also close to Belgium and Germany making travel easy. I like that I can also feel safe enough to walk alone at night even if leaving a bar past 2am.

If you're someone whose looking to travel and study around Europe, I would definitely recommend CES Maastricht.

Maastricht is the perfect location to study abroad in. So many destinations are accessible by bus/train and there are multiple options for airports to fly out of. Because Maastricht is a smaller, student-centered city, it doesn’t take long to feel at home there!

The problem-based learning (PBL) method used at Maastricht University involves fewer hours in class, which allows for a more flexible travel schedule. Student-directed discussions foster more curiosity than traditional lectures, and being able to explain concepts to my classmates ensures my own understanding and retention.

I was only supposed to be abroad for one semester, but I decided to extend my time and finish my degree here. I am also strongly considering graduate programs in the US that use PBL.

With times of struggles, this was the first semester reopened for study abroad and the team of leaders/ organizers for Maastricht abroad program out did themselves. They gave us step by step instructions for everything we would need to do throughout the semester to ensure a safe stay. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to study abroad in Maastricht.
I also appreciated the scheduled events and trips included within the abroad program. Having group dinners with new friends, and heading to different countries along the way will be some of my best memories.

There are very few times in your life when you can truly say, "Yeah, I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."
Studying in Maastricht was one of these times. Not only did I get to travel the world from an excellent location in Europe, but I made so many friends and key memories. I grew as a person, and learned so much about myself and the world as a whole! I became more independent, confident, and relaxed in anxiety-inducing situations. An overall fantastic experience.
The only thing I didn't love were the living quarters -- the guesthouse was kind of gross, but that mostly had to do with the people I was living with.

I would have stayed LONGER. I only stayed one semester but would have wanted to stay for at least two. There is so much to do both in and around Maastricht that it feels like you can only scratch the surface in a few months.

The CES staff are amazing and supportive. If you have any questions or issues with classes, they will talk through the best ways to move forward. If you have issues beyond academics, they are also there for you.

Overall, for academics and travelers, this is an amazing option. If I could go back in time to when I was choosing a place to study abroad (knowing all I know now), I would confidently choose Maastricht.

From the constant support of the CES staff to the beautiful city of Maastricht to the wonderful facilities to the friends I made along the way, I am so thankful for my study abroad experience in the Netherlands at Maastricht University. You will love exploring the quaint riverside of the city, walking and biking to your favorite shop, learning more about your classmates and professors, and being close to numerous other cities you can visit. Choose Maastricht University, and you won't be disappointed.

My semester in Maastricht was my best semester of my life. The staff were all very helpful and answered all my questions before I arrived and during my time there. They were always willing to help which is great when entering a new country. The classes were also top notch and interesting. Just be aware that the used problem based learning for their class sessions (which I enjoyed). One nice aspect of the program is they take you on several trips in Europe which is included in your fees. Some classes also have built in trips (location depends on class). The location of the university is a plus since it is close to Germany and Belgium allowing for easy travel. I would recommend any student to spend a semester in Maastricht.