Program Reviews

On my study abroad experience I was able to gain a new perspective and appreciation for different cultures. The CES staff was amazing and continually encouraged students in their academics and exploration; they made sure to make you feel a part of a community and family. I got to experience many cultures and was pushed out of my comfort zone. My experience abroad was eye opening to say the least! I was able to participate on the Eastern Study Tour that was at times overwhelming, but worth every second! I was able to travel and see so many historical sites and watch my textbooks come to life! I was also able to experience the social scene with locals and this was a time in my life I will never forget!! I'm so glad I pushed myself to explore the world as I never have before!

Although not every moment of this experience has been as easy as I originally thought it would be, it was all both eye-opening and helped me grow as a person. I have made new friends, seen new places, and tried new things -- especially new food -- that would not be possible without study abroad. Intercultural communication taught me new things about different cultures that I was able to use every week as I visited a different city and country. Through the course, I communicated with people I otherwise would probably not have even met. The CES staff has always seemed incredibly approachable, throughout the entire process. I feel like they are a family and I felt welcomed into it.

For a long time I didn't think studying abroad was possible with my biochemistry major. I thought there were too many required courses & that labs could not be taken elsewhere. However, during the spring of my sophomore year I decided to really investigate. Studying abroad was something I wanted to do. Something I thought I would surely regret if I didn't at least try. Try I did, and I couldn't be happier. I studied abroad at Maastricht University during the fall of my junior year. With a lot of planning I was able to use all of my courses abroad to fulfill either major, minor, or liberal arts requirements. During the two blocks I took basic Dutch; European Public Health in a Globalizing World; Culture, Politics, and Society in Contemporary Asia; Biochemistry with lab; and Medical Ethics. In hindsight, having the opportunity to learn and engage with my coursework in a different way (Problem Based Learning) was incredibly rewarding. The different learning style certainly had its challenges, but it was something I likely would have never been exposed to without Maastricht University.
I cannot say enough about my experience abroad. Traveling was an obvious up. In approximately 4 months I went to 16 countries! I especially enjoyed the school's field trips where activities, transportation, and accommodations were all planned out for the students.
Maastricht itself is a lovely little city. It was a place that quickly began to feel like home. I really liked being in a smaller city. There were few tourists and it was easy to get around (by bike of course :] ). It was refreshing to be able to take a train to Amsterdam or fly to Rome on the weekend and then come back. It was also very easy to get around knowing only English in Maastricht.
The food was great. Two of my favorites were stroopwafel, a thin caramel like waffle cookie, and bitterballen, what I think fried gravy would taste like. The Guest House accommodations were within walking distance of a large grocery store, which made shopping relatively easy. I also appreciated how the program offered cell phones for rent. While I didn't use my international phone too frequently, it really came in handy when I needed it.
My four months in Maastricht were incredible and I would definitely recommend this program for students looking to study in an English-speaking country with great access to different corners of Europe.

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to study with CES Maastricht within the School of Business and Economics. The School of Business and Economics encourages students to take control of their learning through peer based learning. Within peer based learning, students lead and professors guide the discussion. This set up empowers student to self-discover, control their learning, and decide which areas to further explore. The student led conversations present multiple points of view on issue, because of the multi-national student body at the University. Within this class structure, students also give more formal presentations in groups to practice leading a discussion. It was an amazing experience to work in multi-cultural groups.

Outside of the classroom, Maastricht is amazing place to explore via bike. The town contains many picturesque churches and cafes and the amazing Bonnefantemmuseum. I really enjoyed all of the local events and festivals. While I was studying abroad, Maastricht celebrated Carnival with several parades and intricate costumes. Later on in the semesters, Vrijthof Square was converted into a polo stadium. It was a lot of fun to attend the polo matches for free.

Maastricht is also centrally located which makes it easy to explore Europe. I would regularly bike from the guesthouse dorms across the border to Belgium in about 5 minutes. The town is also very well connected through a bus system. Through the CES Maastricht program, I traveled to Berlin, Ghent, Bruge, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. The CES program planned every aspect of the trip and organized activity geared towards our program. For example, the Business and Economics program visited a BMW manufacture in Berlin to gain a greater understanding of the business.

Overall, studying abroad at Maastricht University was one of the best decisions of my life.