Your future
Once you have earned your internationally recognised Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, you will have exciting choices ahead. You can keep learning by applying for a master’s programme or jump into the world of work and start building your career.
Alumni facts
88% would choose to attend UCM again
92% pursued further education
81% were accepted into their first-choice programme
37% enrolled in a master’s programme at a top 100 university
Graduate programme possibilities
With a bit of smart planning, you can choose the right courses to get into most master’s programmes later. Don’t worry though, your academic advisor will support you in building a curriculum that fits the entry requirements of the master’s you have got your eye on.
91% of UCM graduates have enrolled in master’s programmes at a wide range of universities, including highly prestigious institutions such as:
- London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE)
- University of Oxford
- University College London
- Graduate Institute of International Development Studies Geneva
- University of Edinburgh
- Hertie School of Governance (Berlin)
- King’s College London
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- University of Cambridge
- Free University Berlin
- KU Leuven
You can download a full list below to find out more about which universities or which study programmes UCM graduates attended.
Most common fields of study after UCM
Top 10 fields of study of further education by UCM graduates:
- Psychology
- International relations
- Political science
- Law
- Business economics
- Neuroscience
- Economics
- Philosophy
- Environmental science
- Sociology
Career possibilities
Shaping your own curriculum means your career options are wide open. UCM graduates have gone on to do all sorts of exciting jobs, both in the Netherlands and around the world, including:
- Management consultant
- Researcher
- Government policy advisor
- Assistant to an EU Commissioner
- Think tank member
- Entrepreneur
- Industrial designer
- Pharmacologist
- Stock trader
- NGO project coordinator
- Forensic psychologist
- Theatre programmer
- Museum curator
- Education innovator
Just keep in mind that some options, like becoming a practicing lawyer or judge in court, a medical doctor or a clinical psychologist, will require extra qualifications. As such, a liberal arts degree like the one UCM offers is not the most efficient way to get there.
Top countries where graduates work after UCM
- Netherlands
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Belgium
- United States
Source: Alumni Survey UCM 2023 - Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)
Luminous alumni association
Even after graduation, you can stay part of the UCM family through our Luminous alumni network. Since 2005, Luminous has helped former students connect with each other and with current UCM students.
Luminous hosts social events like annual alumni dinners and meet-ups to keep those bonds strong.
Maastricht University also organises alumni activities, like the Ambassador Lecture Series and Alumni Circle Meetings across Europe and beyond, so, wherever you are, you can always stay connected.
Deputy Head, Specialised Programs & Crosscutting Themes Branch, NATO Mission Iraq
What I valued most at UCM was the academic rigour and the deep engagement between students and teaching staff, who were genuinely committed to supporting critical thinking and intellectual growth. UCM gave me the freedom to shape my own path and the tools to navigate complex policy environments. Tip for future students: Take ownership of your learning, UCM rewards curiosity, independence, and bold questions.
Maartje Hofs (UCM graduate 2015)
Consultant - UNFCCC (United Nations Climate Change Secretariat)
At UCM, I explored everything I loved, from international relations and psychology to sociology and political philosophy. UCM taught me the power of voice - how to carry it across contexts, shape it thoughtfully, and use it to build bridges. UCM remains a home. A spirit that lives in me. And I can truly and wholeheartedly say: Everything will be OK!
Nicolas Henriksson (UCM graduate 2019)
University of Bonn, Research Data Service Center
UCM was the perfect playground for my many interests. The freedom to explore (and eventually realise that law wasn’t for me), the close-knit, diverse community, and even the endless reflection sessions (which I truly dreaded at the time) all deeply shaped the way I study, work, and think today. I left with so much more than knowledge: I gained lifelong skills in navigating complexity, staying organised and resilient, and embracing new perspectives.
Annika Tensi (UCM graduate 2016)