Program Reviews

I am glad to have chosen University of Maastricht CES for the study program and will strongly recommend it to my home university. The CES program will provide you with well-designed academic courses as well as the various after-school activities. The Dutch art history in the first session is my favourite. The excursion trip is definitely the highlight and really rewarding. The professor will bring you to the museums in Hague as well as the local ones. Professor de Groot is really interesting and patient. It was a wonderful experience to attend his classes. Besides that, the overall arrangement of the CES program is reasonable. You will be able to travel around Europe at weekends. That will be an experience you might not have in other summer programs.

This summer school program of Maastricht University gives students a chance to study subjects that are different from the home university and also give us a chance to get in touch with different people. they are group of people who are very kind and approachable, always there to help you out when you have any kinds of problems. They are also the group of people that you will meet first when you first arrive at this city. Studying abroad is much harder than I think and I have to spend a lot of time studying, but I have to say it’s really worth it. I met very friendly classmates who come from America, and lovely old people in this beautiful Maastricht city. At a sunny sunday afternoon, it's very relaxed to have a large cup of coffee at the central square.

Studying in UM is really fun! I’ve really learnt a lot. Working with my group mates, communicating, figuring out what we all are interested in, and finally finishing the task together is the best memory I have:D I attend the Western Europe Study Tour and the International Business course for the summer program.
CES staffs are all nice and sweet people. I have been to the Netherlands for the first time, and they are always ready to help me and talk to me whenever I have a problem. LOVE them!!!!
This program is really great and exciting. I love Maastricht, and it’s a unique chance to experience the different and wonderful culture. People here are so warm-hearted!!!!!
It is such a great time with everyone here and I wish can become an ambassador of UM one day and even come back for further study!!!

Being enrolled in International Business: Transatlantic Trade & Investments has opened my eyes to the complexity behind the goods we see and use everyday. It is a perfect picture of cultural exchange, international cooperation, globalization, and how markets behave across many borders. I’m so thankful for my time in this class!

The CES staff is so friendly, helpful, and always available for any question or need you may have. They truly care for your success and make Maastricht feel more like a home!

My experience on the Western Europe Study Tour and in Maastricht has taught me so much about myself while simultaneously teaching me about Dutch culture and European institutions. Thanks to my time at CES, I have become more flexible and culturally sensitive.

My academic program at CES Maastricht has consisted of laughs, engaging conversations from people from nations all across the globe, and wonderful friendships I will cherish forever. Here I have been pushed to consider the global impacts of the US economy and learn more about cultures much different than my own, thus allowing me to become a more well-rounded student and friend. My relationship with the CES staff has honestly been one of my favorite aspects of this program and something I truly believe sets CES apart from all other study abroad programs. They have answered my questions and spent valuable time getting to know the real me and for that I could not be more thankful. Overall, study abroad for me has been a season of stepping outside of my comfort zone to experience cultures, foods, and lifestyles very different from the life I know at home. Here at CES I was encouraged to explore on my own, ask questions, and fully indulge my curiosities which has made me a more confident person, traveler, and student.

One of the biggest things about the teaching style that has helped me in the CES program is learning and exchanging different philosophies between different cultures and ways of life through group projects, leisure time, and travel. Coming together, we learn to communicate and set aside our own cultural biases.

The CES staff is very accommodating and understanding. When things go wrong and it hits the fan, they will work with students to make sure they are okay and taken care of.

The biggest thing that I have learned through working with other students is to take your time and relax. Among other things, i’ve learned how to interact with complete strangers through a language barrier, how to (somewhat) live with many people in a shared space, and bond over a nice cold beer.

The History, Arts, and Culture program at Maastricht University has challenged me and the way I think. It has presented me with opportunities to go beyond the factual aspects of Art History and the skills to delve into art theory, allowing me to think deeper not only about the art itself, but also the artist as an individual.

In addition, CES is and has been nothing short of outstanding! In the time that I’ve been in Maastricht and even the time leading up to my departure, the CES staff have been responsive, supportive, and beyond helpful!

Overall, I cannot say enough positive things about my experiences here! I have had the chance to absorb not only the art in Europe, but I have also been able to experience cultures, gorgeous scenery, and meet incredible people.

Maastricht is a beautiful combination of vibrant urban life with laid-back scenery. It has abundant safe, clean parks and public green spaces and also busy shopping centers and historical monuments. Perhaps best of all, it's essentially located right in the center of Western Europe, which makes it straightforward to visit the entire continent while you're here.

The courses I've taken have required a uniquely high dose of self-discipline and comfortability with unclear expectations. They are radically different from what I'm used to, and I'm not convinced that they're super effective for traditional learning, but I've learned a lot nevertheless in other areas tangential to what's on the exam.

The CES staff are fabulous. They're a diverse group of motivated and engaging people dedicated to making our lives as exchange students fulfilling and uncomplicated.

Throwing myself at a brand new country, new continent, has been challenging in all the right ways. I've made worldwide friends, learned new skills, absorbed cultural experiences, and genuinely improved my life.

The Politics, Law, and International Relations in Europe program at CES Maastricht is a fantastic way to get to know the Netherlands and Europe as a whole. The classes on European politics, history, and law will give you practical information that affects the everyday lives of European citizens and you as well during your stay and travels to other countries. For academics, you will be in classes with only Americans in CES and with regular University of Maastricht students in your other ones, which strikes a good balance between adjusting with the help of other Americans and integrating into European university life. The courses are enough to challenge you but not enough to ever prevent you from doing what you want. And of course, Maastricht is a beautiful and centrally-located city in Europe that you'll love to call home.

I loved the Problem Based Learning (PBL) format of classes at Maastricht University. If you don't know what PBL is, it essentially means that instead of having class in big lecture halls, the classes are usually set up as small discussion groups with 15 or so students. By learning in more of a discussion-based environment, I retained far more information when compared to the classes I have taken in the past at my home university. In addition, I really appreciated the fact that there were so many options when it came to the international relations classes! The CES advisors were incredibly helpful in finding classes that not only fulfilled my home university credit requirements but also aligned with my academic interests. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing about my study abroad experience here at Maastricht University.