Summer Programme in European Studies

CES at Maastricht University is a great program for students who are looking to study abroad for many reasons! Here are just a few of the reasons why CES at Maastricht University is so great!

All of the CES staff members speak English and they do an amazing job coordinating and communicating pre-arrival details. The staff are supportive and they help with organizing many of the logistics that can be difficult (especially for first time travelers). My transition living abroad would not have been as easy if I did not have the CES staff members. A few of the wonderful things that the staff at CES did for me was that they helped me get set up with housing, helped me get to and from the airport, welcomed me upon arrival, provided me with really helpful information, helped me schedule a doctor’s appointment when I was sick, and they sponsored really fun events.

Maastricht is a great place to live. The Maastricht community is very welcoming and it is easy to travel to other countries from Maastricht. In addition, the stroopwafels are delicious!

My time abroad made me more independent, it increased my confidence levels, and it taught me how to be a better global citizen. One thing every participant should know before participating in the CES program at Maastricht University is that each participant will be a different person by the end of the program. In fact, every participant will grow and develop as a person, learn, and become a more confident traveler.

One thing that I wish I would have done differently while abroad was that I should have spent more time in nature and less time in big cities. After a while, the cities can begin to look the same but natural wonders are always beautiful and unique.

Wherever you go, always remember to have fun!

The instructors and student aids were helpful from the moment we arrived and made sure to tell us as much as possible about the school, town, and housing before and while we were there that it felt like home. The classes were small (which I normally do not like) which was really nice because I got to know my classmates better than in a big class back home which made it easier to make friends. Living in the dorms was a great experience to meet people from other universities and countries and gave everyone a place to hang out with friends. The academics were challenging but not overwhelming, and the teachers understood that while we were there for school, we would also be busy traveling and exploring during our free time. They struck a good balance and added to the experience and helped me get to know the city/country better.

this academic program was a life changing experience because it has opened new friends who challenged he way i thought about many political topics. it was also wonderful because it allowed me to have time and support to find the pathway i wanted to take inline, and now i am applying to law school in fall.

CES staff was incredible because they were always willing to help, whether that be answering many of my Facebook messages or joining us in the dorms for dinner. I loved getting to meet them and having the chance to see what they do.

I would not rate this experience for the world; it has not only changed my outlook on issues I care most about but it has allowed me to come into contact with people, who are now lifelong friends, that challenge me to think greater and be better. Traveling on the weekends opened up my world as well because immersing myself into the cultures of other countries has allowed me to look back at my country and want to make it a greater place.

I loved my course at Maastricht because it was very hands-on and engaging which made going to class a joy! The readings and lectures were very entertaining and helped me to grow both academically and as a person. From the very moment I checked into the Guesthouse in Maastricht, the CES staff was there to accommodate my every need and provide so much information on academics, living in Maastricht, and exploring the beautiful city. In fact, upon our arrival, a staff member escorted us to the grocery store which made Maastricht feel like home from the beginning. I would not trade the memories or experiences from my study abroad trip for the world. Maastricht is now my European home away from home and I am forever thankful for the time I got to spend in this quaint, adorable city!

You gain an international understanding of things that would only be touched on at home, even in such a short time. My professors were knowledgeable on the subjects and thoroughly enjoyed teaching-which has made learning so much fun.

Getting in contact with the CES staff was always easy and helpful when questions arose and my home university was unable to answer. They genuinely care about your well being while you're here, and it's a good feeling having people watch out for you while you're thousands miles from home.

The best thing about my study abroad experience was developing friendships that helped me become a better me in such a short amount of time. I'll forever be grateful for the people I met and the experience I was able to have in Maastricht.

The academic program at Maastricht University is a great one that cultivates independence and creative ideas. It provides a new learning style that really makes you a better all-around student. The CES staff are extremely open, friendly, and knowledgable. They are here to make the experience as problem-free and enjoyable as possible. Study abroad allows you to make amazing friendships and experience the world in a brand new way. It is the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had.

Studying abroad at Maastricht university gives you the chance to experience a totally new way of learning. Not only do you get to experience problem-based learning and how that can affect and benefit your learning in the future, you get to interact and discuss specific topics with people from around the world. International input and opinions of people from cultures other than your own is an extremely beneficial and enlightening way to learn. To return home with these skills is an unbelievable experience.

Studying abroad allows you the freedom to experience the world in completely different ways and forge international friendships. Exposure and contact to various people, cultures, and learning/communication styles ultimately makes you a better student, person, and global citizen.

The CES staff is the most welcoming, friendly, helpful staff that I have encountered in an academic setting. I came into this program feeling a little overwhelmed, and within the first two days I felt right at home, and I knew that if there was anything I needed, CES would help me find it.

I think that overall, the experience of studying abroad has made me a more independent, confident person, and has allowed me to build incredible friendships with people I probably never would have met otherwise. I feel like this experience allowed me to embrace myself and my love for travel, and gave me the confidence to continue traveling and exploring the world in the future.

My experience at Maastricht was a challenging and emotional experience. I learned about the world, how different political and economic institutions interact with one another, and about the people of these places live their lives on a historical and modern level.

The CES staff were an awesome group of people who challenged us to leave our own cultural ideas behind to embrace a new culture. They were challenging and demanding; in the end I became a better student, thinker, and citizen because of it.

The best part of my study abroad experience was learning about the people who live in these places, and how they interact with the world. It is easy to disregard the stories of everyday people learning about their history, seeing how they lived their lives through pictures, and watching people everyday made this experience one I will never forget.