Maastricht University - UM
speciality: Biological Sciences

The university is relativety small yet feels like an open international environment. Is located next to the hospital, convenient for (bio)medical programmes. Nice newly renovated library. Enough facilities.

Maastricht blurs the line between city and campus. What most students don’t mention is how the city itself becomes your classroom. I once had a tutorial on sustainable urban design, and our tutor took us on a walk through the city center, showing how the Maas River’s layout influenced the city’s growth. The cultural events here are underrated too—like TEFAF, where I volunteered and ended up discussing art curation with a dealer from New York. Even the cobblestone streets feel like part of the university experience. You’ll find students discussing EU law at a café in Markt square, and professors cycling beside you to class. Maastricht feels less like attending a university and more like becoming part of a living, learning ecosystem.

The board members at the university have a reputation for producing top-tier graduates and bring a wealth of knowledge gained from teaching at prestigious colleges. By tailoring the curriculum to cater to the varied interests and learning styles of students, the faculty ensures that each student receives a well-rounded education that meets their individual needs. In my experience, the feedback and grades I have received have always been fair and reflective of my performance, showcasing the faculty’s dedication to integrity and transparency in their assessment practices. This commitment to honesty and integrity by the faculty and professors resonates throughout the institution, enriching the overall educational experience for all students.

The university places a high importance on preserving its history, primarily to maintain a tradition of excellence. As new students commence their journey within the institution, there is a shared responsibility to uphold the esteemed reputation and adhere to the established academic standards and principles of orderliness that have been cultivated over time. The orientation process plays a crucial role in guiding individuals toward becoming thoughtful members of the university community. This emphasis on maintaining a sense of order on campus allows for the minimization of conflicts between various activities and ensures a well-structured timetable that benefits the overall student body. Through this systematic approach, students are able to effectively manage their daily responsibilities, fostering a conducive environment for academic growth and achievement.

The programme biomedical sciences at University Maastricht is a perfect mix of practical learning and theoretical learning. It allows students to study independently but also allows students to exchange results in smaller groups. The programme is fully taught in English which gives you more options when it comes to future career choices.

I performed my master of Biomedical Sciences in Maastricht University. UM is known for its international character and for its Problem-Based Learning system. I definitely agree with the second one but I have some objections about the first one. UM could be much more international than it is and much more helpful for international students. I am saying that because people that did their bachelor there, had no issue understanding and following the program since they already knew the system, but also they were more privileged in comparison with international students. Also, I was expecting from the coordinators and the professors of the specific program to be more supportive and lenient. On the other hand, from my point of view, this Problem-Based Learning system gave the opportunity to develop the critical thinking and to acquire scientific curiosity. Furthermore, the one and a half year practical training, in 2 different laboratories, gave a lot of theoretical and practical experience and the chance to improve the technical skills. I would recommend the Biomedical Sciences’ Master of Maastricht University.

I would say that Maastricht University didn’t provide me the best experience of university life. I conducted the Biomedical Sciences master program there. The study program by itself was quite good, even it was a more advanced repetition of the bachelor program with the same title, which is offered by the university. The program is based on PBL (problem-based learning), meaning that the students should be ready during the courses to prepare anytime a case relative to the lecture is given and present it immediately. This is a fact that anyway helps you to think and act very fast and learn how to present your thoughts in public (if you are willing to learn to do it correctly). I think it was one of the few good things of the program, even it was quite tough. Moreover, the modules of the study plan were quite well thematically organised. On the other hand, I expected to meet a more international environment as it was so much advertised, but I didn’t. Most of the people that had joined the program were people that had finished the similar bachelor program of the university. Nevertheless, the most unpleasant thing was that the majority of the professors was not the most kind and understandable persons. Thus, I am sorry to say that I am not a fan of this university and I would hardly recommend it, cause I think that are many universities that could offer similar programs without having too important cons, as the last one I mentioned.