Maria is a first year student European Studies from Spain
Why did you choose to study European Studies in Maastricht? “I took a gap year after high school, so I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to study. I love history, politics, and languages. I wanted something that combined all these things. And I wanted to study in a very international environment. That’s why I chose to study in Maastricht.
“In my programme there are many nationalities in class. That way, I get to know many perspectives and opinions. The PBL method at UM is new to me. In high school the teaching method focuses much on memorizing facts, and I want to develop interpersonal and communication skills. PBL is a great method to develop these skills. In the future I would like to work in one of the EU institutions, so being able to communicate with people from various background will be very important.
Rafael is a second year student Digital Society from Spain
Why did you choose to study Digital Society in Maastricht?
“When I made the decision about which bachelor’s degree I wanted to do, I first asked myself: “What is the job I want to do?” That’s where I started. Eventually, I want to be a UX designer. That job entails a lot of things I enjoy doing already. I have an urge to create things and I am obsessed with technology. I choose to study in Maastricht because of the central location in Europe and because it is very international. Coming from a small island, Fuerteventura, it was a big change!”
Why did you choose to study at UM? “I first visited Maastricht in 2018 with my parents and I immediately fell in love with the city. Later, I found out about the university and FASoS. Being able to follow courses in English was important for me, as I want to meet people from all over the world. The PBL learning system, teaches us how to work closely with others. It’s a strong contrast to the lecture-based teaching we know in Belgium. I believe that the combination of the international environment and this learning method is very enriching for my future life.”
