Excellence and honours programmes
Maastricht University (UM) offers excellence and honours programmes for talented students seeking an extra challenge. These include three Honours Colleges with selective bachelor's programmes, faculty-specific programmes for bachelor's students, and university-wide programmes for bachelor's and master's students.
Each programme challenges you to excel academically and pursue your interests. You'll engage in fascinating lectures, workshops and research projects beyond the standard curriculum. You’ll also gain advanced knowledge, enhanced analytical skills and an impressive academic record that will make you stand out to employers.
Are you ready to take your academic journey to the next level? Check out our honours and excellence programmes below to see which one could be right for you.
Bachelor's programmes offered by Honours Colleges
University College Maastricht
- open curriculum: choose from 150+ courses in the humanities, social sciences and sciences
- a ‘top-rated programme’ in the Netherlands
- graduate with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts diploma
Maastricht Science Programme
- build your own profile combining natural sciences courses
- guidance from an academic advisor
- Problem-Based and Research-Based Learning
- lab access at Brightlands Chemelot Campus
University College Venlo
- combine courses in personal health, nutrition, business and sustainability
- emphasis on developing your academic and professional skills
- access to facilities at Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo
- graduate with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts diploma
Faculty-specific honours programmes for bachelor's students
Department of Advanced Computing Sciences
- 36 or 21 additional ECTS credits
gain work and/or research experience
- a special honours certificate
- participation and grade included in your transcript
Faculty of Law
- 25 additional ECTS credits
- project work you initiate yourself
- focus on personal leadership
- work with honours students from different faculties
School of Business and Economics
- 30 additional ECTS credits
personal academic advisor
- a special overview of all completed modules
- recommendation letter upon request
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
- broaden and deepen your knowledge
- develop your competencies and skills
- a special honours certificate
- recommendation letter upon request
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
- 18 additional ECTS credits
- a special honours certificate
- recommendation letter upon request
- only 20 students admitted each year
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- 25 additional ECTS credits
- a special honours certificate
- recommendation letter upon request
- only for the 5% best performing students
Common Core for faculty honours programmes
Honours+
Honours+ is the Common Core for all faculty honours programmes (except FSE). In your second year as a bachelor’s student, you will explore a complex current topic in a group of four to six students from different faculties. In addition to this Team Challenge, you will participate in a series of workshops to enhance your academic and personal skills. Through Honours+, you will learn to address global challenges in an interdisciplinary setting, under the professional guidance of UM staff.
University-wide excellence programme for bachelor's students
MaRBLe excellence programme
Through the Maastricht Research Based Learning programme, MaRBLe for short, we offer talented third-year bachelor’s students the opportunity to conduct their own research project. You will be guided by experienced academic staff who will 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.
University-wide honours programme for master's students
PREMIUM honours programme
PREMIUM is our Honours programme for high-performing master’s students. If selected, you will work in an interdisciplinary team on a project for a real client from the public or private sector (e.g. Cisco, DHL, EcoAct). Along with guidance from a project mentor, you will receive individual coaching focused on your personal and professional development. You will also attend several workshops and events designed to cultivate valuable knowledge and skills, as well as build a network that provides you with the best preparation possible for the job market. Are you up for the PREMIUM challenge?
