Law

Academic calendar

• Academic calendar 2025-2026 [Pdf]
• Academic calendar 2026-2027 [Pdf]

The academic year of the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University consists of two semesters: a fall semester and a spring semester. 

The fall semester starts in period 1 and ends at the end of period 2 or period 3 (It is up to students and their home universities to decide which end date of the fall semester they prefer. Taking into account the amount of credits students need to achieve during their exchange and when they need to return to their home universities to resume their studies. Keep in mind that in period 3 only bachelor courses are offered). 

The spring semester starts in period 3 or period 4 and ends at the end of period 5 (It is up students and their home universities to decide which start date of the spring semester they prefer. Taking into account the amount of credits they need to achieve during their exchange and when they are able to start their exchange, this in regards to their studies at their home universities. Keep in mind that in period 3 only bachelor courses are offered).

The academic calendar provides an outline of:

 education weeks
 exam weeks
 deadlines registration courses
 publication of education and exam timetables
 holidays

Arrival and introduction days

Introduction days

Each semester starts with the introduction days, which are in the week preceding the start of the semester; except for students who choose to start the spring semester in period 3 (these students will get the chance to join the introduction days of the spring semester, before the start of period 4). During the introduction day(s) you will receive your UM student card and certificate of enrolment. You will also receive information regarding the Problem Based Learning system, the Electronic learning systems of the Faculty (the student portal and Canvas), the University library and other practical matters. The introduction days are mandatory. It is free of charge.

Introduction fall semester
Will take place in the week of August 24, 2026 (exact dated will be announced soon).

Introduction spring semester
Will take place in the week of January 25, 2027 (exact dates will be announced soon).

You will receive an official invitation to the introduction days by e-mail from the marketing department of the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University. The introduction takes place at the Faculty of Law in Maastricht, Bouillonstraat 1-3, 6211 LH Maastricht.

Arrival

Expected date of Arrival
Please make sure that you arrive in Maastricht during weekdays between 10.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs, so that you can use the free ESN mentor service and so that you can check into the Guesthouse (checking in is not possible during the weekend or on holidays, nor after 17.00 hrs). In any case, you should plan to arrive before the introduction days (see first paragraph).

Nomination procedure

A nomination letter or an e-mail from the home university, with the names, study period, study level and e-mail addresses of the students that have been nominated for an exchange to the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University, has to be sent to the following e-mail address: iro-incoming-law@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Nomination deadlines
 15 April for the Fall semester and Full year
 15 September for the Spring semester

Application procedure

Students have to apply online. Information/instructions on how to apply online will be sent to each nominated student directly by e-mail.

The student needs to upload the following application documents:

• A copy of a valid passport (passport must be valid until at least one month after the end date of the student’s exchange at Maastricht University, Faculty of Law). EU citizens are allowed to upload a copy of their Identity (ID) Card, ID card must also be valid until at least one month after the end date of the student’s exchange at Maastricht University, Faculty of Law).
• Portrait picture (the same size as the one displayed on the passport or ID card).
• Latest Official list of grades/academic transcript from current study, signed and stamped by home university. If you are a master student at your home university and you are applying for the law master exchange program, make sure to upload your law Bachelor's degree and your bachelor official list of grades (in English) as well, indicating that you have obtained at least 180 ECTS in Law courses.
• English language certificate, only for students who are nominated to participate in the master exchange program.
  
  Application deadline for students
   15 May for the fall semester and Full year
   15 October for the spring semester

CIEL programme

Certificate in Comparative, International and European Law (CIEL)
Maastricht Law School participates in the CIEL network which comprises the universities mentioned below. The CIEL network cooperates in the field of European, International and Comparative Law. One of its aims is to encourage the mobility of master students studying comparative, international and European law.

Participating universities are

• Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
• Universität Mannheim (Germany)
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona (Spain)
• Université de Toulouse 1 Capitole (France)

• Zagreb University (Croatia)

   

These universities yearly select a small group of graduate students for the CIEL programme. Students who succesfully complete this programme are awarded the CIEL certificate of ‘European Master in Comparative, International and European Law’.

As a CIEL student, you will be at Maastricht University for one semester. During this semester you need to take 30 ECTS (24 ECTS from academic year 26-27 onwards) worth of courses offered at Master's level. You can find the courses that will be offered at the course offer section.

In addition you need to find a second supervisor for your master's thesis. Mind that you have to write the thesis under the rules of your home university. Your home supervisor is the first to address with questions; the supervisor from Maastricht will have limited time for supervision. Make sure that you start searching for a supervisor at an early stage. Not all Maastricht staff will be aware of the CIEL programme, but if extra information is needed you can refer to the international office.

Only students from the universities mentioned above qualify for the CIEL programme, provided they have been nominated as such. If you want know if you can participate, please contact your home faculty.
Once nominated, students will be contacted by Maastricht Law Faculty with application instructions.

Language requirements
Students who are nominated to participate in the CIEL program will have to provide proof of English language proficiency. More information regarding the language requirements can be found on the entry ‘English language requirements’ on this webpage.

Our general information for incoming exchange students applies to CIEL students as well. So information on issues such as housing, academic calendar, teaching method etc. can be found on the corresponding entries on this webpage.

Course offer

For exchange students

- Bachelor courses offered to exchange students 2026-2027 [Pdf] 

- Master courses offered to exchange students 2026-2027 [Pdf]

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!

For CIEL students

- Courses offered to CIEL students 2026-2027 [Pdf]

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!

For THEMIS students

- Courses offered to THEMIS students 2026-2027 [Pdf]

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!

For Dual Degree UAM students

- Courses offered to DDg UAM students 2026-2027 [Pdf]

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!

For Dual Degree Università Bocconi students

- Courses offered to DDg Bocconi students 2026-2027 [Pdf]

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!
 

Exchange students of the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University are only allowed to follow law courses at our faculty. They are not allowed to follow non-law courses at other faculties of Maastricht University. 

Study load
Exchange students are advised to follow a maximum of two courses of 6 credits, each, or one course of 11 ECTS per period. Keep in mind that if you take more than 2 courses per period, you will have to deal with a study load that is above average!

Course changes
It is possible to change from courses, only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

• The change in courses need to be approved, beforehand, by the home university of the student and need to be indicated on the learning agreement of the student, which also needs to be signed and stamped by the home university.
• Exchange students have time until the Thursday of the first week of education of a course, to change from course.
• Also, the student will only be changed from course, if there are still places available for the course.

Course descriptions

The descriptions of our courses are linked in each programme overview or can be accessed through our course finder. 

Keep in mind that the descriptions of the courses are subject to alterations and that sometimes the descriptions of the courses are not published yet. In case the description of a course has not been published, do not hesitate to contact the course coordinator for further information regarding the course. In case the course coordinator (and their contact information) is not stated, then you will have to wait until this information has been announced and published. 

ATTENTION: in the descriptions of some our law courses in English, there might be stated that the language of instruction is Dutch instead of English. This might be caused by an error in our system, please ignore this mistake! Alle the courses offered to our exchange students are offered exclusively in English!

English language requirements

English is the language of instruction in all programmes. As the Problem Based Learning method requires active participation of students in group meetings, it is of the utmost importance that you have a good working knowledge of English. This means that you must be able to read the required literature, to participate in tutorial group discussions, and to take written and oral examinations.

Students taking bachelor's courses
We do not require formal proof of fluency if a student will participate in the bachelor exchange programme (which allows them to take only law bachelor's courses). 

Students taking master’s courses
Students who are nominated to participate in the master exchange programme and will take law master's courses, will have to provide proof of sufficient English language proficiency.

We will accept certificates of level B2 (not older than two years) or C1 or higher (not older than three years) of the Common European Framework of Reference issued by: an official language institute (or language centre of the home university of the student). The level stated on the certificate needs to be based on a test regarding the reading, writing, listening and speaking English language skills of the student and not based on their English language proficiency skills during a certain course they followed completely in English.

Other certificates that suffice are:

• TOEFL internet-based with a score of 90 or more (not older than two years)
• IELTS with a total score of 6.5 or more (not older than two years)
• CPE (all grades, not older than two years)
• CAE (Cambridge Assessment English) of level C1 or higher (not older than three years) with the grades A, B, C or C+
• ITACE level B2 (not older than two years)
• TOEIC (score of 720 or more for listening and reading and score of 310 or more for speaking and writing, not older than two years).

We do not accept English language certificates or statements signed by an international Relations officer!  

Native speakers and students taking their degree programme entirely in English are exempted (be it that visa requirements with regard to language level may apply and cannot be exempted). Students taking their degree programme entirely in English at their home university need to upload proof of this. An official transcript of grades or statement from their home university, on which is clearly stated that the student is following their degree programme entirely in English, will suffice.

Housing

Maastrichthousing
You can arrange accommodation with Maastrichthousing. The faculty does not act as an intermediary, so you need to make your own reservation.

Maastrichthousing is a cooperation between two student housing organizations: Guesthouse UM and the Foundation for Student Housing in Maastricht. It’s their shared goal to service housing for students, employees and guests from Maastricht University, Hoge School Zuyd and Jan van Eijck Academie.

Reservations are made on a 'first come, first served' basis so you need to arrange your accommodation as soon as possible!! Please check the website for more information and reservations.

Please keep in mind that you have to pay a 35-euro subscription fee, to open an account on Maastrichthousing.

Please take the following dates into account when booking housing
Note that you need to make sure you arrive in Maastricht at least one day before the introduction days. The last day you have to be present at our school is the last day of the exams week. If you want to take a re-sit (=second chance to pass the exam) you have to be present in Maastricht. In this case, the last day you have to be present at our school is the last day of the re-sit week. Please consult the academic calendar for the corresponding dates.

Warning
It is up to you to try and find a room on the private market, but if you do then keep the following in mind:

• ALWAYS check whether the address of the room/apartment offered actually exists (via google maps, for example); only too often people try to make a fast buck by renting out rooms that do not, in fact, exist.
• NEVER transfer money in advance! There are a lot of crooks in the world, trying to swindle you out of your money. No matter how desperate you are, always check the credentials of the person subletting the room.
• Please note that the International Relations Office at Faculty of Law cannot and will not interfere on your behalf in case of problems, issues or even legal disputes, neither with the UM Guesthouse, Maastrichthousing, nor with housing agencies, landlords, local students subletting their rooms or apartments. 

Housing Helpdesk
For assistance with housing problems, click here for more information .

Problem Based Learning (PBL)

Maastricht University uses Problem Based Learning (PBL) as its key method of instruction. Students work together in small groups to tackle the subject matter, which is offered in the form of real life problems from the field of study.

PBL was adopted by Maastricht University in 1976. PBL tries to overcome the weaknesses of traditional education by giving the students a very active role. Students do not spend hours listening to lectures – although there are some, usually at the start of the study period - but instead, per course, attend two-hour tutorial group meetings twice a week. These meetings form the core part of the study programme and are the driving force for learning. Within the tutorial groups, problems are presented as cases and researched. The international classroom underlines the benefits in the learning process of students when they work in small tutorial groups with people from different cultural backgrounds. By approaching problems from a variety of perspectives students are acquainted with different ways of seeing things and that enhances the quality of discussions. In this way, the international classroom prepares students for the rapidly globalising labour market.

A tutorial group is composed of 18 to 20 students plus a tutor: a staff member who guides the group process but who does not automatically give answers to the problems. It is up to the students to discover where their knowledge falls short and to fill in the gaps. To do so, students will have to spend a lot of time between tutorial meetings to read articles and books, and to do research in the university library. After one or two days of individual studying you meet again with the group to discuss your findings.

More in-depth information about the Problem Based Learning can be found here.

Requirements bachelor's courses

Requirements for students taking bachelor's courses

 Exchange bachelor students participating in the bachelor exchange programme take courses form the bachelors programme only
 All the courses offered to exchange students are taught in English
 We do not require formal proof of English language fluency, if a student will participate in the bachelor exchange programme. 
 A minimum of 60 ECTS of a university law programme will give students access to bachelor courses
 The credits must be obtained before the application deadline
 Bachelor exchange students are advised to follow a maximum of two courses of 6 credits, each, or one course of 11 credits per period. Keep in mind that if you take more than 2 courses (or more that 12 credits) per period, you will have to deal with a study load that is above average!
 Please note that is not possible to write any papers/ thesis or do any research in addition to the courses
 Students have to follow classes right from the start of the block period. Only in exceptional cases students are admitted to course meetings until one week after courses have started. Students who arrive later will not be admitted to the course meetings of that particular block period - they will have to wait until the courses of the next period start

Requirements master's courses

Requirements for students taking master's courses
 Exchange master students participating in the master exchange programme can choose freely from both bachelor's and master's courses, depending on home requirements
 All the courses offered to exchange students are taught in English
 If your home university does not distinguish between bachelor and master, the following applies: a minimum of 180 ECTS of a university law programme will give you access to master courses
 The credits must be obtained before the application deadline
 Students from (post-)graduate law programmes have access to master's courses
 Master exchange students are advised to follow a maximum of two courses of 6 credits, each, or one course of 11 credits) per period. Keep in mind that if you take more than 2 courses (or more that 12 credits) per period, you will have to deal with a study load that is above average!
 Please note that it is not possible to write any papers/ thesis or do any research in addition to the courses
 Students have to follow classes right from the start of the block period. Only in exceptional cases students are admitted to course meetings until one week after courses have started. Students who arrive later will not be admitted to the course meetings of that particular block period - they will have to wait until the courses of the next period start

Students who are nominated to participate in the master exchange programme and will take law master's courses, will have to provide proof of sufficient English language proficiency.

We will accept certificates of level B2 (not older than two years) or C1 or higher (not older than three years) of the Common European Framework of Reference issued by: an official language institute (or language centre of the home university of the student). The level stated on the certificate needs to be based on a test regarding the reading, writing, listening and speaking English language skills of the student and not based on their English language proficiency skills during a certain course, they followed completely in English

Other certificates that suffice are:

• TOEFL internet-based with a score of 90 or more (not older than two years)
• IELTS with a total score of 6.5 or more (not older than two years)
• CPE (all grades, not older than two years)
• CAE (Cambridge Assessment English) of level C1 or higher (not older than three years) with the grades A, B, C or C+
• ITACE level B2 (not older than two years)
• TOEIC (score of 720 or more for listening and reading and score of 310 or more for speaking and writing, not older than two years).

We do not accept English language certificates or statements signed by an international Relations officer! 

Native speakers and students taking their degree program entirely in English are exempted (be it that visa requirements with regard to language level may apply and cannot be exempted). Students taking their degree program entirely in English at their home university need to upload proof of this. An official transcript of grades or statement from their home university, on which is clearly stated that the student is following their degree program entirely in English, will suffice.

THEMIS programme

THEMIS Law Network
Maastricht Law School participates in the THEMIS law network which comprises the universities mentioned below. The network aims at creating a new standard in business law in response to an ever-increasing demand for law professionals with international know-how and expertise. Participating universities are:
 

• Università Bocconi (Italy)
• Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
• ESADE Law School (Barcelona, Spain)
• Université Paris Est-Créteil Val de Marne (France)
• Singapore Management University (SMU Singapore)
• Wirtschafts-Universität Wien (Austria)
• Universität St. Gallen (Switzerland)
• Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
• Nova School of Law (Lisbon, Portugal)
• City University of Hong Kong (China)
• National Taiwan University (Taiwan)
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)

These universities yearly select a small group of graduate students for the THEMIS programme which comprises a semester abroad, internship and participation in a THEMIS seminar.  Students who succesfully complete the programme are awarded the THEMIS certificate.

As a THEMIS student, you will be at Maastricht University for the fall semester. During this semester you need to take 30 ECTS worth of courses offered at Master's level. You can find the courses that will be offered at the course offer section.

Only students from the universities mentioned above qualify for the THEMIS programme, provided they have been nominated as such. If you want know if you can participate, please contact your home faculty.
Once nominated, students will be contacted by Maastricht Law Faculty with application instructions.

Language requirements
Students who are nominated to participate in the THEMIS program will have to provide proof of English language proficiency. More information regarding the language requirements can be found on the entry ‘English language requirements’ on this webpage.

Our general information for incoming exchange students applies to THEMIS students as well. So information on issues such as housing, academic calendar, teaching method etc. can be found on the corresponding entries on this webpage.

Transcript, grades and credits

Transcript
Please keep in mind that once you have registered for a course it will always show up on your transcript at the end of your exchange, unless you deregister for the course before the course (de)registration deadline. 

If you take a language course during your exchange at the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University this will not be mentioned on your transcript, as these courses are not part of the curriculum of the Faculty of Law, but are taught at UM’s Language Centre, who will provide you with a separate Proof of Participation after you have completed the course. Before you enroll in a language course please contact your home university to find out whether or not they acknowledge the grade/credits earned for a language course.

When will I get my transcript?
Once all results have been processed in the system, the transcript can be created. Do note that this is time consuming. We kindly ask for your patience.

If you need to receive your transcript of records urgently, please inform us once you have received all your grades (by sending an e-mail to iro-incoming-law@maastrichtuniversity.nl). We will try to send your transcript as soon as possible.

If you failed a course and do not want to take part in the resit, make sure to deregister yourself for the resit via Student Portal to avoid a delay in processing your transcript. This can be done through ask law 

How will I get my transcript?
An electronic version of your grade transcript will be sent directly to both you and your home university. If for any reason, you or your home university, needs a hard copy then this will be issued on request.

Grading system of the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University
Every course has its own requirements students need to meet in order to pass the course. These requirements are mentioned in the course manual.

All courses are assessed with a whole grade on a scale from 0.0 to 10.0 or a no grade. It should be noted that a 10.0 is very rarely scored (fewer than 1% of students). A grade of 5.5 is considered a pass. The grading scale applied is to be interpreted as:

Credits
The Faculty of Law of Maastricht University uses the ECTS system. The transcripts of records will contain the names of the courses you took, plus the Dutch grade and the number of ECTS credits. We do not use ECTS grades.

Visa/Residence permit

Depending on your nationality, you may have to apply for a special entry visa and/or a residence permit. Once you have completed the online exchange application, the International Relations will check if you  need a visa/ residence permit. If so, your details will be forwarded to the Maastricht University’s Visa Office, who will get back to you via email. As soon as you hear from them, you should take action immediately and provide them with the necessary documents for you visa/ residence permit.

It is vital to respond quickly to the Visa Office, since you will otherwise seriously delay your visa application.  If your visa is not ready in time, before the introduction days and the start of the semester, do not travel to the Netherlands, and do never apply for a short-stay or tourist visa. If you do so anyway, the Dutch Immigration Law enforcement will force us to deregister you as law exchange student, which means that you will not be allowed to start your exchange at our Faculty anymore.

For more information regarding immigration requirements and procedures click here or contact the Maastricht University’s Visa Office (please mention your name, student ID number, nationality  and home university).

Student Portal, intranet and webmail

Student Portal
The Student Portal is your one-stop location for accessing and managing your personal university information. It has been designed to work on alldevices,so that you can access the information you need, wheneveryou need it, be it on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Use the Student Portal to sign up for courses, access your course material, answer your email, check your calendar, latest announcements, upcoming deadlines, grades, deregister for exams.

To access the portal go to Student Portal and login with your student ID number (i6*****) and password.

Intranet
Use intranet to find academic related information, information about procedures, rules and regulations (e.g. academic calendar, information on registration for education and exams, information concerning exams, examinations and results. To access the intranet first login to Student Portal.

Webmail
After registration you will receive an email containing your Student ID number and your password, which you need to login to your Maastricht University email.
The IRO will only send emails to this address after the start of the semester. Before that the time we will use the e-mail address that was provided to us by your home university, when you were nominated.

You can check your webmail on your student portal too.

Access remains possible until 60 days after your exchange has ended.

Erasmus+ and other documents

The Erasmus+ learning agreement, statement of stay, arrival and departure form are provided by your home university.

To get your Erasmus+ learning agreement, statement of stay, arrival or departure form signed you can send them by email to iro-incoming-law@maastrichtuniversity.nl

The learning agreement (Table A in the learning agreement) includes all the educational components (course code + title + number of ECTS) to be carried out by the student at the receiving institution.

The date of arrival or start date of the study abroad period is the first day the student has to be present at the law faculty (first introduction day). The date of departure or end date of the study abroad period is the last day the student has to be present at the law faculty. The last day could be the last day of the exam week. Please consult the academic calendar for the corresponding dates.

Information regarding the receiving institution
Name: Maastricht University
Faculty: Faculty of Law
Erasmus code: NL MAASTRI01
Department: International Relations Office (IRO)
Address: Bouillonstraat 1-3, 6211 LH Maastricht
Country: The Netherlands (NL)

Contact Person
Mr. Yvonne Jansen, Exchange officer Incoming students
Contact and responsible person for learning agreements and forms such as: statement of stay, arrival and departure forms
Contact email-address: iro-incoming-law@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Phone number: +31(0) 43-3882731

Studying with a disability

If you’re a student at Maastricht University (UM) and have a physical, psychological or sensory disability, a chronic illness or another condition such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism or Crohn's disease, we offer a variety of services and facilities you can apply for to support you in your studies.

We recommend that you apply for support as early as possible, even before you start your studies at UM, as it can take approximately six weeks to arrange services and facilities once you apply for them.

To access support, such as extra exam time, smaller exam rooms and assistive  technology, please contact Disability Support. A member of the Disability Support team will assess your needs and explore the best solutions for you. For more information click on how to apply for disability support, please click here 

How to get to Maastricht

Maastricht is located in the heart of Europe, in the Meuse/Rhine Euro region. The city is surrounded by Belgium and Germany and close to France. Maastricht is easily accessible by plane, public transport and car.

For general travel directions to  the Central Station of Maastricht, please click here.

For additional travel help upon arrival in Maastricht, you can either register for the Erasmus Student Network (ISN) pick-up service servicing UM Guesthouse students or take public transport to your new home. For more information please visit the website of ESN Maastricht .

Public transport
Maastricht has excellent public transport connections. You can easily reach your destination in town and the surrounding areas by train or bus. For more information please visit the website of Maastricht Bereikbaar.

In order to use the public transport in the Netherlands, you need an 'OV chipkaart'. For more information regarding this OV chipkaart and how to purchase one you can visit our public transportation section. 

By car
Do you plan on driving to UM (from abroad) every day? Do you live in Maastricht and own a car? Then UM and the Municipality of Maastricht have several parking options for you.
More information can be found here.

Public transportation

Travel information for public transport
To plan your journey by train, bus, metro or tram, or a combination of these transportation types please visit the website 9292. 

Payment method for public transport
The OV-chipkaart (smart card) is the main / only payment method for public transport (train, bus, metro, tram) in the Netherlands. You can buy your personal OV-chipkaart online. To charge your OV-chipkaart use the special loading docks, which you will find at the train stations.  Some grocery stores also have loading docks. More information about the OV-chipkaart can be found on the website of 9292.

Renting a bicycle
For a fixed monthly fee you get a Swapfiets (bicycle). Bicycle broken? Just get in touch with Swapfiets and within 12 hours they provide you with a working bicycle at the location chosen by you. Please note that Faculty of Law of Maastricht University is not affiliated with Swapfiets, and will not interfere in case of problems.

Buying a second-hand bicycle
You can also buy a second hand bicycle; prices vary greatly. Be sure to buy a good solid lock and fix your bicycle to an immovable object, in order to discourage bicycle thieves.

Traffic regulations when cycling
In the Netherlands cycling is an integral part of people's life. Traffic regulations when cycling are basically the same as for people driving a car. However, there are some things you need to be aware of  before jumping on your bike, as some of them will get you a hefty fine:

• if you cycle through a red traffic light
• if you cycle in a pedestrian area (or on the pavement…), which includes most of the shopping streets in the city centre
• if you ride against traffic in a one-way street
• if the lights on your bicycle do not work (or you do not use them at dusk/night)
• if you ride a stolen bicycle
• it is not allowed to use a smartphone while riding

Medical care in Maastricht

In the Netherlands, if you need medical assistance you always go to the General Practitioner (GP). If the GP thinks you need more specialised expertise, you will receive a referral for a specialist in the hospital. Without this referral you cannot see a specialist in the hospital. GP’s do not usually make house calls. If you are staying in the UM Guesthouse you can go to the reception desk for more information on how to find a General Practitioner in the area, or you can go to De Poort, which is around the corner from the UM Guesthouse.

If you need medical attention when the GP can no longer be reached (so after 17.00 hrs or before 08.00 hrs, in the weekend or on public holidays), call +31 (0)43-387 77 77 and make an appointment to go to the “Huisartsenpost” near the Emergency Room of the hospital, located P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht.

Only make an appointment with the Huisartsenpost if there is a real medical emergency. Otherwise, just contact a GP the next weekday.

For more information about medical care in Maastricht check the website of the GP Medical Post Maastricht & Heuvelland foundation or MyMaastricht.

Dutch bank account

More information can be found here.

Language course

The Language Centre of Maastricht University offers several language courses. If you are interested in courses we advise you to register as soon as possible as access is limited.

If you decide to take a language course, you will receive a separate Proof of Participation from the Language Centre itself. Before you enroll in a language course please contact your home university to find out whether or not they acknowledge the grade/credits earned for a language course. Also, keep in mind that a language course will not be covered by the Erasmus grant you receive from your home university; you will have to pay for the language course yourself.

For more information on available times, fees and to register please check UM Language Centre.

Registration with municipality

All exchange students who plan to stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, have to register as resident of the municipality in which they will be living.

More information can be found here.

UM Sports

University sport is challenging and fun and gets you in touch with fellow students. UM Sports offers a varied and affordable programme in an international setting. Take part in group classes, training sessions or walk-in activities, in a wide range of sports. You can also work on your health and relation in the gym. Are you looking for team spirit and competition? Then you should become a member of a student sports association.

The main location of UM Sports is the University Sport Centre (USC). The USC consists of a modern and well-equipped gym, a major sports hall, two sports studios, a spinning studio, a body and mind studio, 3 squash courts and a climbing wall. Moreover, Sports Council MUSST and Sports Café Rivazza are located in the sports centre. You will also find the Learning Spaces where you can study by yourself or with your study mates before or after a workout.

For a number of (outdoor) locations UM Sports uses sports accommodations in and around Maastricht and collaborates with local sport clubs.

For information on sports offer, opening times and timetables, costs and more, visit the website of UM Sports. 

Health Insurance

Healthcare
Medical costs can be very high in the Netherlands, especially if specialised help from a hospital is required. Therefore it is important to be properly insured. International students in the Netherlands are required by law to have adequate health and third party liability insurance. We strongly recommend you to take out travel insurance as well, especially if you plan to travel during your stay.

You are responsible for taking out insurance; Maastricht University will NOT do this for you. Please check if your insurance policy in your home country covers your stay in the Netherlands, otherwise you will have to take out private insurance. Maastricht University recommends Aon. Their insurance policies include health, liability and travel insurance. You are free to find your own, but it is always your responsibility to check whether coverage is sufficient.

Aon Student Insurance has developed a tailor made ICS Complete+ insurance for international students of Maastricht University. This ICS Complete+ insurance policy does not only meet the requirements for your visa application but also for the strict insurance requirements set by your university. For more information, go to Compulsory health insurance for international students.

Liability insurance and household contents insurance
Maastricht University cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during your stay in Maastricht.  Make sure you are sufficiently insured for liability and household contents. More information can be found via MyMaastricht or Study in Holland or the Nuffic website 

Living expenses

Being a university student comes with expenses, and it’s important to plan how you will cover them. There are the expected costs like books and tuition fees, but the general cost of living can add up, too: rent for your room, food and drinks, going out socially and insurance. Not to forget additional costs, such as your student association membership or streaming service subscriptions.  For more information about living expenses, please click here 

More about Maastricht

If you are looking for a one-stop information platform to help you find your way in the city of Maastricht, please visit my mymaastricht.nl. This platforms covers topics Health, Transport, Housing and Finances, as well as Sports, Events and Communities in Maastricht. It also features a map with a wide range of locations and organisations to help you orientate yourself in the city. 

More general information about Maastricht can also be found on the following website: www.vvvmaastricht.nl