Students from the bachelor’s programme Sustainable Bioscience are not allowed to follow a minor.
While in Maastricht, you - as an international student - can encounter Dutch rules and regulations, that are confusing to you. We are happy to help you with that.
Then please make an appointment with the central contact person for refugees. He can help you with:
advice in whether you should apply for asylum in the Netherlands and when;
advice in how to continue your study programme;
finding ways to finance your stay in the Netherlands and your study programme.
Office hours
Wednesday morning by appointment.
To schedule an appointment send an email to: refugee@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Do you want help with Dutch letters from the municipality? Are you eligible for social benefits and would you like to have more information? Native Dutch professionals from the ISH offer international students direct assistance by helping with translations, calling institutions or the government on their behalf or helping them in any other way needed.
As long as you have a residence permit for study, you must meet certain requirements. In the event that your residence permit is lost or stolen, or you need to leave the Netherlands for a short period of time, the Visa Office can be of help.
Limburg is working towards a fundamental shift to a circular economy, in which resources are used more intelligently, waste is minimised, and cycles are closed as much as possible. This transition affects all sectors and calls for new ways of thinking, organising and collaborating. It requires not only technological innovation, but also in-depth insight into regional flows and a strong, shared knowledge base.
The Expertise Centre for Regional Circular Economy (ERCE) plays a connecting role in this process. By bringing together data, knowledge and regional partners, ERCE creates insight and overview, stimulates collaboration, and supports concrete steps towards a future-proof economy. In doing so, the centre actively contributes to accelerating and strengthening the circular transition in Limburg.
Limburg faces a major and urgent challenge: the transition to a circular economy. This shift goes to the heart of how we produce, consume and collaborate. Key questions include: which material, water, energy and food flows can we close, slow down or narrow? And how can this be put into practice? This requires not only technological solutions, but also new forms of collaboration and a rethinking of our economic system.
The circular transition is, above all, a knowledge-driven process. In policy plans and regional agreements, the ambition is widely endorsed, and inspiring initiatives are already visible in Limburg. At the same time, there is still a long way to go. There is a risk that efforts will remain fragmented into small-scale, stand-alone projects, preventing the broader potential of the transition from being fully realised. This is precisely why coherence, scale and a strong knowledge base are essential.
A solid starting point is insight: a clear understanding of the flows of materials, energy, water and food within Limburg, and how these relate to the regional economy. Only with this knowledge can targeted choices be made and the transition be effectively accelerated.
To address this need, the Expertise Centre for Regional Circular Economy (ERCE) has been established. This centre, initiated by researchers from Maastricht University following an intensive process with regional municipalities and stakeholders represents an important investment in the region’s knowledge infrastructure. ERCE aims to accelerate the circular transition in Limburg and fulfils three roles in doing so. With this integrated approach, ERCE contributes to a coherent, effective and future-proof circular transition in Limburg.
ERCE brings together relevant data and makes it accessible through reports, events and an online platform. This involves integrated insights into regional flows of materials, water, energy and food, combined with socio-economic dynamics.
The centre develops and shares knowledge in an inter- and transdisciplinary way. This is done in collaboration with experts within and beyond Maastricht University, as well as with regional partners who actively contribute to the circular economy and society.
ERCE strengthens and supports the (EU)regional network of circular stakeholders, including public authorities, businesses and civil society organisations. The centre does this by providing concrete tools, such as value chain analyses, citizen dialogues and co-creation processes for policy.
On 11 June 2026, the Expertise Centre for Regional Circular Economy (ERCE) at Maastricht University will host Captains of Circularity 2.0: an inspiring event for everyone actively contributing to the circular transition in Limburg.
During the afternoon, you will get to know ERCE and we will share key insights from recent explorations. Together, we will discuss the state of circularity in Limburg, the opportunities for the region, and the steps needed to accelerate the transition. We will also reflect on the role of residents and how we can collectively gain more control over this development.
Objective: to share knowledge, inspire, and collaboratively build a strategic agenda for the future.
Date: 11 June 2026
Time: 13:30 – 18:00
Location: Heerlen
On 24 February 2026, a citizen dialogue took place in Geleen on circular living and consumer behaviour. Around eighty residents discussed how circular their current lifestyles are, what is needed to make them more circular, and what role municipalities can play in this transition. The event was hosted at the sustainability hub Goede Morgen.
The dialogue is part of a research project by Maastricht University, carried out in collaboration with Studio Europa Maastricht and the Expert Centre for Regional Circular Economy (ERCE). The insights contribute to a better understanding of consumption patterns in Limburg and the opportunities to further support circular behaviour.
The full report is available here
