Why this programme?
As an honours college, UCM is challenging and highly rewarding, by allowing you to compose your own personalised curriculum. UCM ensures that you develop a basic understanding of a wide variety of academic disciplines and become an expert in a specific academic field. You will learn to think academically, become a self-directed learner and work well in international teams.
Why University College Maastricht?
- Become part of a vibrant international academic community
- Get interactive and small-scale education through Problem-Based Learning
- Design your own curriculum by choosing from more than 150 different courses
- Spend a semester abroad at one of our renowned partner universities
- Join our active student association Universalis
- Apply for the MaRBLe honours programme and conduct your own research project
- Support services
'My name is Cata and I graduated from UCM in January 2021. I was born and raised in Spain, but my mother is German and my father is French. I attended the European School in Alicante (Spain) meaning that I graduated from high school with a European Baccalaureate. I'm looking forward to answering any questions you may have."
International academic community
University College Maastricht is a close-knit international academic community that fosters your desire to learn by creating an environment where it is easy to get to know your tutors and fellow students. UCM is not just a place where you go for your classes. It is a vibrant community in which students socialise, engage in extracurricular activities, and pursue shared passions. This means that you can develop yourself socially as well as academically and form long-lasting friendships.
The PBL format enables academic staff to really be there for students, both academically and socially. All PBL tutorials have a class size of approximately 12 students. These PBL discussions tend to spill over from the classroom into the common room, which is the social hub of UCM. The common room is also the scene of many extracurricular events and activities organised by Universalis, UCM’s student association.
- 250 - 275 students enrolled per year
- 73% of the student body has an international background
- 52 nationalities represented within student body
-
62% international academic core staff members
What is Problem-Based Learning?
Courses at UCM are taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). PBL gives you an academic problem and challenges you to solve it. Using a combination of small-group work and individual research, you seek possible solutions to the problem and get feedback to help you refine your answers.
You are in control of your own education, and the tutor is there to facilitate your learning. All teaching at UCM happens in small groups of approximately 12 students.
Advantages of Problem-Based Learning
- helps you retain information better
- teaches you to think about problems independently
- develops your interpersonal skills
- encourages you to be an active participant in class
- gives you space to develop your own ideas
- ensures that you receive personal attention from tutors
Seven steps of PBL
- Clarify concepts
- Define the problem
- Analyse the problem
- Classify the problem
- Formulate learning objectives
- Research independently
- Report your findings in the group
Choosing your courses
Throughout your three years at UCM, you will construct your own curriculum by choosing from more than 150 different courses within 3 concentrations:
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Sciences
An academic advisor helps you shape your own personalised curriculum by asking you question such as:
- What courses do you find interesting?
- What are your strengths?
- How to combine your interests into one meaningful curriculum?
- What kind of master’s programme would you like to pursue?
- Where do you see the needs and opportunities for improvement?
Academic advisor
An academic advisor works with you from the start of the programme until you graduate. He or she is an expert who teaches and conducts research in the fields you want to pursue and provides guidance and feedback.
Your academic advisor is there to help you define clear goals, explore your strengths and helps you plan your curriculum to meet your ambitions.
Because of the smaller groups, tutors can actively contribute to our growth, I feel like they want to see us succeed.
Spend a semester abroad
UCM has over 50 partner institutions all over the world, with universities in Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America, and also within Europe. Numerous students have gone on a semester abroad in their fourth or fifth semester and had the experience of a lifetime. They travelled the world, made lots of friends, developed an understanding of different cultures, and complemented their UCM curriculum by taking interesting courses.
Student involvement
Being an academic community also means that everyone takes responsibility for the quality of the programme. Students are involved with the running of UCM at every level. There are students on all the major boards and committees. They participate in evaluating and improving courses and advise on all matters that affect their experience at UCM. It is also easy to approach everyone involved in the administration to discuss student concerns.
Universalis
Universalis is an entirely student-run study association and contributes to both academic and social life at UCM. On top of overseeing the numerous committee events that happen throughout the year, Universalis also organises events such as Open Mic nights, guest lectures and parties. Universalis's main incentive is to make a UCM student’s life as fun as possible.
"Being a student in Maastricht has been a fantastic experience for me, because it is so easy to get involved in so many different activities. The university organised events are always great fun to join if you have been studying in the building and would like to take a break and chat to new people."
- Kate Robinson, 2nd year UCM student
MaRBLe excellence programme
Through the Maastricht Research Based Learning programme, MaRBLe, we offer talented third-year bachelor’s students the opportunity to conduct their own research project. Participants are guided by experienced academic staff who help you further develop your critical thinking and research skills. This will help prepare you for a career in scientific research or research positions in business.
Student research
As part of its curriculum, University College Maastricht offers a range of advanced-level projects and courses that are catered towards the integration and application of knowledge and skills and that focus on the development of crucial transferable skills and competencies. This is called Research-Based Learning (RBL).
The research that I am conducting for NATO as part of my Applied Research and Internship project have enhanced my learning experience at UCM and have furthered my confidence in my research skills.
- Silvia Tossatto (UCM alumna)
Support services
Methods lab
The Methods Lab is a research support centre for UCM students. You can make an appointment if you need help or advice related to research methodology, such as:
- writing your research question
- choice of methodology
- data analysis
This is especially helpful when you are writing your thesis, or doing your Applied Research Internship or Maastricht Research-Based Learning programme.
Student counselling
At UCM, we have two student counsellors available who may help you with personal matters such as:
- Student-life related matters
- Personal, family or situational issues
- And any other personal questions and concerns
Besides this service, our Student Services Centre offers: UM psychologists, UM Career Services, Student Deans, an International Student Desk and a Disability Support Office.
Writing Centre
UCM’s Writing Centre provides focused and encouraging one-to-one tutorials and group workshops. We can give you feedback on a draft or completed paper, or at any other point in your writing process. Our workshops focus on common issues encountered in academic writing.
The Writing Centre can help you with:
- Grammar/punctuation
- Paragraphing
- Referencing
- Paper structure
- Thesis statement
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