Maastricht is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the Netherlands and that is no wonder. The city surprises you constantly with its mixture of 17th century mansions and ultramodern architecture. The cobblestone streets, the impressive churches and wonderful squares.
This table shows the most important and most recent facts and figures of Maastricht University. Full and more detailed information can be found in the Annual Report 2024 (in Dutch only).
For the publication requirement related to the (Dutch) ANBI (public benefit organisation) status, please use this standard publication requirement form for educational institutions (PDF, in Dutch only).
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | |||||
| Enrolled students | 23,324 | 22,976 | 22,406 | 22,383 | 21,085 |
| Foreign students (%) | 61% | 59% | 57% | 56% | 55% |
| Student nationalities | TBA | 131 | 134 | 129 | 123 |
| Bachelor's programmes | TBA | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| Master's programmes | TBA | 99 | 100 | 106 | 107 |
| Research | |||||
| PhD degrees | 415 | 411 | 389 | 390 | 312 |
| Staff | |||||
| Professors, female | 85 | 79 | 136 | 135 | 132 |
| Professors, male | 145 | 148 | 332 | 335 | 378 |
| Professors, non-binary | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Academic staff (FTE) | 2,628 | 2,539 | 2,430 | 2,380 | 2,301 |
| Administrative and support staff (FTE) | 2,026 | 1,964 | 1,869 | 1,774 | 1,703 |
| International academic staff (%) | TBA | 48% | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| International administrative and support staff (%) | TBA | 13% | 12% | 10% | 10% |
| Finances | |||||
| Total revenue (millions) | €633 | €590 | € 559 | € 521 | € 477 |
| Government funding (millions) | €383 | €354 | € 350 | € 319 | € 281 |
| Contract revenue (millions) | €131 | €121 | € 120 | € 119 | €111 |
| Indirect government funding (millions) | €31 | €25 | € 24 | € 25 | € 22 |
| Third party funding (millions) | €76 | €71 | € 75 | € 75 | € 70 |
| Alumni | |||||
| Alumni living in the Netherlands | TBA | 60,932 | 56,023 | 53,491 | 50,653 |
| Alumni living elsewhere in Europe | TBA | 28,001 | 27,034 | 26,762 | 25,288 |
| Alumni living outside Europe | TBA | 5,028 | 3,479 | 3,229 | 3,086 |
UM Annual Reports from previous years (in Dutch only)
UM’s key initiatives
Our mission to make a positive impact through knowledge, innovation, and strategic partnerships is well reflected in three key programmes:
- Brightlands, a collaborative initiative that tackles global challenges
- Kennis-As, a ten-year programme aimed at strengthening Limburg’s social and economic structure
- Our focus on scientific disciplines, in particular on natural sciences and engineering
Our strategic programme
Would you like to know more about our ambitions, mission and vision?
Read ‘The European University of the Netherlands', our strategic programme for the period of 2022-2026.
European melting pot of Latin and Germanic cultures
The city constantly surprises you
4 million people in 3 countries
Ever since the Romains established the settlement Maastricht, over 2000 years ago, the town has been a melting pot of Germanic and Latin cultures. Now still, with its location in the heart of the Euregion where 4 million people live in 3 countries and speak 3 languages.
On your bike to 2 different language areas
From Maastricht you can bike to two different language areas. Every market salesman in Maastricht speaks sufficient French and German to serve customers from the neighbouring countries.
International student city
Over the past decades, Maastricht has changed from a quiet provincial capital to a vibrant, international student city. More than 10 percent of the inhabitants are students, and almost half of those are international. In total almost 20 percent of the Maastricht population (more than 122.000 inhabitants) are involved with higher education in the city – Zuyd Hogeschool and Maastricht University - as students or employees.
Since the Maastricht Treaty (1992) the city is known as the birthplace of the European Union and the ‘Schengen Treaty’. It is an international city that opens up to young and old, to people from all cultures and backgrounds, for students and working people. Maastricht counts over 100 international institutes and organisations. And of course numerous tourists visit the city each year.
Living in Maastricht
Student rooms
Most students live in a student room in the city centre, but there are quite a few who commute.
Housing is scarce for students, so be sure to start your search for a room as soon as possible. That means well before you come to Maastricht or Venlo. Make sure to read these tips and warnings.
Furnished room
Most rooms can be found on walking or biking distance from the university buildings and public transport is excellent. Maastricht Housing will help you find a suitable room.
Many exchange students rent a furnished room in one of the buildings of the UM Guesthouse, which are all located close to the centre. There are 350 rooms available for 1 or 2 students per room and 45 rooms/studios for master’s students.
Alternative housing
Maastricht also offers alternative housing, such as anti-squat houses or Het Landbouwbelang, a housing community of artists, musicians, designers, but also for (international) students.
It is an autonomous free zone, urban community and open living room with collective gardening and cooking, a give-away store, concert room and event hall.
Fresh fish on a Friday
Maastricht means good food
Maastricht offers several great biological stores, high-quality caterers, fantastic bakers, cheese stores and butchers. In the city centre, but also in the suburbs you will find shopping centres and supermarkets. There are also in several good night shops.
Market on Wednesday and Friday
Every Wednesday and Friday is market day on the Market square around the City Hall. On Wednesday morning the market is small but the offer is extensive. Do not miss the Friday market: a gigantic offer of vegetables, fruit, meat, and most importantly, a spectacular selection of fish.
Diversity and quality
Our German and Belgian neighbours especially come to Maastricht to buy fish on the Friday market. Nowhere in the region will you find fish of such good quality. And do try the many market (fish) stalls where you can grab a quick bite.
Couleur Locale
Take a look and discover all the delicious treats and beauty that Maastricht has to offer!
Mmmmmm Marres
At Marres, House for Contemporary Culture, you can not only find art in all forms, but also an exclusive lunch or dinner.
Two mangoes for one euro!
Fruit and vegetables, both native and exotic, you can buy on the market on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Perhaps the oldest pub in Maastricht
At the Vrijthof you'll find cafe ‘In den ouden Vogelstruys’. It’s a typical pub in an ancient corner building.
Worth waiting for
At the market you’ll find Reitz; it’s well known in Maastricht when it comes to good old fashioned fries in a paper cone. With a dollop of homemade mayonnaise of course.
Leisure at Tapijn
One of the nicer places to chill out is the site of the former Tapijnkazerne. Relax on a terrace….
Very chill
…or in the hammock. In the green surroundings with a babbling brook in the background, you can totally relax.
Daily bread
Scattered across the city are several artisan bakers who prepare the most delicious pies and other specialties. Follow your nose!
Lovely night
The city offers a wide variety of cafes and restaurants, from low budget and fast to exclusive and palate-indulging.
Everyday exotic
From Turkish supermarket to Indonesian Toko, with an international university in an international city, you rightly expect international shops.
Maastricht by night
Walking along the mystic Meuse, over the cobblestones, past the old city walls, also at night Maastricht is a picture!
No time to cook?
There’s always the university restaurants, or mensas, where you can eat a hot or cold meal, snacks, salads and more. One of the mensas is located in the School of Business and Economics on the Tongersestraat. The other is on the Randwyck campus. A hot meal costs about €4.
Healthy and quick food at a low price. Is your faculty in the city centre, then you can have lunch in one the many food corners, where you get a healthy inexpensive meal.
Do you love shopping? Then Maastricht is the place to be. The city has it all: luxury department stores, expensive boutiques with Italian, French or Scandinavian fashion design, and vintage shops. But of course also the well-known chain stores. Something for every taste. The city also has excellent book stores.
Bicycle, car-sharing, carpooling
(Almost) everyone rides a bike in and around Maastricht, so there is no lack of good bicycle shops. Whether you need a fixie, beach cruiser, carrier cycle or regular bike, new, second-hand or vintage, or your own bike needs repairing, you will always find the right shop!
In need of a car from time to time? In Maastricht you can use one of the eight Greenwheels cars at any time. How does it work: you become a member of Greenwheels, reserve one of the cars for the moment you need it and put it back in the same parking space after you used it. There are also many carpool initiatives (‘Who needs a ride to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris?’ etc.) via special Facebook pages.
Live life to the fullest
The combination of the lovely landscape with the modern infrastructure, the central location, the culture and the many modern facilities make South Limburg an area where you can live life to the fullest.
Highlights
- 15 museums
- 17 music venues
- 14 theatres
- Brussels at 1.5 hours (train), Amsterdam at 2 hours, Paris and Frankfurt 3 hours
- 8 airports (among which Brussels, Düsseldorf) within 1 hour (car)
- 220 km bordering on Germany and Belgium, 6 km on the Netherlands
More information on Maastricht and its surroundings: visitzuidlimburg.com.
Useful information
Uni-Life
Maastricht University partners with Uni-Life, an app which gives you an overview of all social activities all social activities in and around Maastricht. Uni-Life offers students instant access to all events organised by associations and organisations in the city. You can also find different communities on the app.
The app makes a selection based on the interests indicated when creating an account. You can become a member, add an activity or create your own community. This allows you to get even more out of your student life.
mymaastricht
mymaastricht.nl is the one-stop information platform to help international students find their way in the city.
Their content is all in English and covers Health, Transport, Housing and Finances as well as Sports, Media and Community in Maastricht.
Their website also features a map with a wide range of locations and organisations that are essential to orientate yourself in the city.
Name: Lisa Brüggen
Age: 38
Native country: Germany
Residence: Maastricht
Position: Associate Professor in Marketing at Maastricht University SBE.
Activities at UM: founder Elinor Ostrom Fund to boost the promotion of female scientists.
In my teaching I try to bring various parties together
Outside
Stadspark
We have the Stadspark, with its historic walls and bastions, where you can take a walk, lie on the meadows or feed the ducks. On sunny days, this park is full of students who sunbathe, study, make music or simply chill with a pizza and a bottle of wine.
Playground Fort Willem
Close to the Frontenpark is playground Fort Willem, a great place to visit with the kids for climbing, playing in the sand, and paddling in the water
Frontenpark
A totally different type of park is the Frontenpark: a spectacular nature reserve, bordering the city centre. The Frontenpark consists of the Lage Fronten with important historic fortifications and extraordinary animals and plants, and the Hoge Fronten, a slightly rougher area that will be incorporated in the Frontenpark. This is the only park so far up north in Europe where you will find the wall lizard; they live on the walls of the old fortifications and are a protected species. Besides the beautiful historic fortifications, the Frontenpark also offers modern art and culture in the industrial heritage buildings that surround it.
The city regularly invites organisations to present activities on this old industrial site, such as the former Gashouder (Gas holder) where the INKOM organised a huge party this year. That way, we are all actively involved in the further development and destination of the area.
Sint-Pietersberg
And then we have the Sint-Pietersberg, a unique nature reserve on the outskirts of Maastricht. There you can take long walks by the marl pit, admire an eagle owl valley, an old fortress, big woods and meadows. The Sint-Pietersberg has animals and plants that you would normally only find in southern regions, an enormous variety of butterflies and lovely orchids. Bring an impressive visit to the 80 km long caves, a subterranean network of 8000 corridors, under the Sint-Pietersberg. But only do that by taking a tour with an experienced guide.
Fortress Sint Pieter
The mountain has more to offer than nature, namely a wealth of monuments: Fortress Sint Pieter, the Lichtenberg Estate and the Zonneberg Estate. The Sint-Pietersberg marks the end of the cultural-historical walking route Pieterpad.
Beautiful nature
Green city
Maastricht is a green city and then we don’t even take into account the beautiful nature around the city. A quarter of an hour on your bike and you are in the middle of the hilly countryside with its impressive natural sites and beautiful villages.
Stadspark
Frontenpark
Speeltuin Fort Willem
Sint-Pietersberg
Maastricht Underground
St. Pietersberg Hill
Fortress St. Pieter
Underground
The hilly landscape of Limburg
Down by the river
Municipal park
Fronten park
Athletic Maastricht
Sports enthusiasts find what they’re looking for in Maastricht
First of all there is of course UM SPORTS which offers over 50 different sports to students and employees. You can choose from a wide range of classes, from zumba and ClubPower to frisbee and capoeira, and from muay Thai to yoga. UM SPORTS has a modern gym with cardio and strength equipment, where you can exercise on your own or with an instructor.
Through UM SPORTS, you can play hockey, swim, play soccer, rugby or tennis, do gymnastics, row or dance at one of the student sports associations.
UM SPORTS' brand new University Sports Centre has an ultramodern gym, several group class and spinning studios, a big sports hall, squash courts, a climbing wall, 175 Learning spaces and the sports café Time Out.
Arts and culture
Maastricht is much more than André Rieu
There are museums, theatres, cinemas, a film house, art galleries, a fine arts academy. And of course TEFAF, the largest art fair in the world. We have theatre and music companies, choirs, the Studium Generale of the UM with interesting lectures, TedX, Pecha Kucha and Sphinx Debate Centre. With Kumulus or other organisations in the city (and even across the border in Belgium and Germany) you can take art or music courses, or you can join one of the many amateur bands. Are you in to cooking, then visit one of the many cooking studios in Maastricht or learn to bake Limburg ‘vlaai’ in the Bisschopsmolen (mill) in the heart of the city.
For contemporary and ancient art you visit the Bonnefanten, beautiful museum in a striking building, designed by architect Aldo Rossi. Marres, House for Contemporary Culture, presents a wide programme on experimental art. Bureau Europa, platform for architecture, design and fashion shows you everything about design and architecture in a changing world. The Museum aan het Vrijthof presents the art and history of Maastricht. In the Natural History Museum you travel through time.
But there is much more to discover: our cinemas and film house, art fairs and FASHIONCLASH, and DocFest, a cross-border documentary festival.
Maastricht’s pride
Diverse offer
Maastricht has a very diverse offer of nightlife venues, but also of cultural institutes. With our new mayor, development plans have accelerated. She warmheartedly supports art and culture, but at the same time, thanks to her background, she has a realistic view on initiatives. Plans for a rich and varied cultural offer are therefore carried out step by step.
Musea en andere kunstinstellingen in Maastricht
Bonnefantenmuseum
Marres
Bureau Europa
Museum aan het Vrijthof
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht
TEFAF
Theaters in Maastricht
Theater aan het Vrijthof
Toneelgroep Maastricht
History becomes future
Maastricht was the first labour and industry city of the Netherlands. With the foundation of various large industries, from 1830 on the fortress town got a completely new identity. Especially the ceramics factories – founded by Petrus Regout – changed the character of the town into a true production city where many factories were established within the original city walls. Many of those factories are now closed or located outside the city walls, outside Maastricht or even the Netherlands.
The city has succeeded in maintaining the tracks of the former industrialisation. Particularly in the Belvédère area former factory buildings get a public-friendly reallocation – such as a student hotel, cinema, pop platform, FashionLab, presentation institute and studios for beginning designers; there are also plans for a Fashion House.
Kennis-As
Maastricht University, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and the Maastricht MUMC have taken the initiative for Kennis-As, a strategic ten-year programme to strengthen the social and economic structure in Limburg.
Central to Kennis-As is the reinforcement and connection of the four Limburg campuses that are generally regarded the current and future flywheels of the economic development. Kennis-As also stimulates a healthy and vital population.
Kennis-As dovetails with the nationwide programme Brainport 2020, aimed at transforming the south-eastern Netherlands into a knowledge economy of international stature in the fields of biomaterials, agri/food and health. The programme also fits in the European agenda, which explicitly incorporates ageing, health and sustainability.
Flywheels
The four Brightlands campuses serve as the flywheels of Kennis-As and generate much employment in the region. In the upcoming years, hundreds of millions of euros will be invested and there will be close cooperation with the nearby universities in Eindhoven, Liège, Leuven and Aachen. Limburg small and medium enterprises will also be involved in many initiatives.
Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus
Brightlands Chemelot Campus
Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo
Brightlands Smart Services Campus
Want to know more about these new initiatives?
Read more about Kennis-As
Read more about Brightlands
Read more about innovatieve Limburgse economie
Looking for a job in Limburg?
Find vacancies on
vacancies.maastrichtuniversity.nl, www.banenrijklimburg.nl or www.limburgvac.nl
Looking for a job besides your studies?
Find vacancies on http://www.interum.eu , the secondment agency of Maastricht University
Working in Maastricht as a researcher
At the UM, we conduct research on all levels. Some students already start in the bachelor phase, others during the master’s programme. If you work on your PhD, you hardly do anything else, and the same goes, of course, for the academics here at the UM. We are proud to say that our research receives international acclaim.
Almost each faculty has its own research institute. In these institutes you not only cooperate with UM colleagues, but also with colleagues from other institutes in the Netherlands and the world. There are also the graduate schools, where PhD students conduct their research and receive guidance in their field. Almost all faculties have a graduate school.
Read more about research institutes
Read more about Graduate schools
Working in Maastricht and surroundings
Besides Maastricht University you will find other interesting employers in Maastricht and its close surroundings. Large international organisations that are strongly rooted in the (Eu)region and offer an enormous variety in vacancies, with often international career opportunities.
Maastricht also has many start-ups (often affiliated with the university) and small companies, located in creative incubators and collective workspaces that offer very interesting job opportunities.
DSM / Chemelot
The European institutes of Maastricht
Hogeschool Zuyd
The Province of Limburg
Startups and creative hotspots
Municipality of Maastricht
Maastricht UMC+
Museums, art galleries, theatres etcetera...
Executive Board
Prof. dr. Rianne Letschert
President Maastricht University
Profile, additional positions & publications
Jan-Tjitte Meindersma
Vice-President Maastricht University
Profile, additional positions & publications
Prof. dr. Pamela Habibović
Rector Magnificus Maastricht University
Profile, additional positions & publications
Learning spaces
2,500+ learning spaces in the University Library
Almost half of them have computer workstations and in the ones that don't, you can work on your own laptop with free Wi-Fi.
The Inner City Library has over 950 study spaces. The Randwyck Library (including the LINK internet café and Computer Facilities) offers more than 1,050 learning spaces in total.
Studying in a former military barracks
In addition, the UM Student Services Centre in Bonnefantenstraat offers 138 spaces. Bring your own laptop and books.
The old Tapijnkazerne, a former military base close to the UM's city-centre faculties, offers another 150 learning spaces. Inside the faculty buildings and at UNU-Merit, you will also find spaces where you can work on your own or in groups.
Quiet please!
At most locations, you can choose between individual spaces or group spaces (for two to ten persons). You can also work in a large quiet room in one of our libraries, where you study individually in the presence of other students.
Study places in Maastricht University Library
Overview of informal study places
Studying in your favourite hang-out
Study cells: quiet spots to concentrate on your study
The city library, Centre Céramique, offers free access to Wi-Fi. Membership is required for borrowing books and media, and for access to the digital library.
On the second floor of Centre Céramique you can even study in a true work of art: the study cells designed by Atelier van Lieshout. They have been equipped with light, ventilation and small windows.
De Brandweerkantine
Studying over a coffee at Brandweer Kantine. From 8.30 you can work here quietly on your laptop, while you enjoy a sandwich and some nice music.
Koffie bij Joost en Maartje
'Koffie bij Joost en Maartje' is also a place where lots of students work with a wonderful latte, muffins or a healthy homemade soup.
Coffeelovers
Coffeelovers is located in the Student Services Centre of the UM and therefore an ideal place to meet or get a quick cappuccino to go.
Alley Cat
Bikes and books. At Alley Cat you not only find the coolest bikes, but you can also work there wonderfully undisturbed.
Tribunal
And of course Maastricht provides plenty of pubs with excellent Wi-Fi. Café Tribunal has always been the favourite lunch and drinks place for many UM students and staff members.
Questions?
Need help with your application?
Would you like to know more about housing in Maastricht?
Or about student life?
You’ll be able to talk to a diverse group of students from Germany, the US, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Lithuania, all studying at different faculties of Maastricht University. They can give you a first-hand account of what it is like to study and live in Maastricht.
study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 38 85388
Chat with us (Mon/Fri from 8.30 to 17.00 CET)
Chat met ons (ma/vrij van 8.30 tot 17.00)
Facebook (messenger)
Are you going to study in Maastricht?
Join the INKOM! The INKOM is the introduction week for all new bachelor's and master's students of Maastricht University and Zuyd University. During this week activities will take place where all student, study, and sport associations will present themselves to the new Maastricht students. Accompanied by two senior students you will get to know Maastricht in small groups, a mix of Dutch and international students. Moreover, there will be big parties every night with performances of well-known artists and dj’s. At the end of the INKOM you will feel completely integrated into Maastricht’s student life, and know exactly what the city has to offer!
INKOM is organised by students, for students. Visit the INKOM website for the complete programme or look at and like the INKOM Facebook page. The INKOM has limited places available, so be sure to sign up on time!
mymaastricht.nl
Having problems finding relevant information or don’t you know what to do in Maastricht? Visit mymaastricht.nl - the official information portal for Maastricht’s international student population. Backed by Maastricht University, Zuyd Hogeschool and the municipality, mymaastricht.nl provides you with reliable and up-to-date information about life in Maastricht. To sort out all the trivial things in life we cover information on housing, health, finances and public transport. To go explore Maastricht we keep you up to date on all events and news and show you were to get involved with sports or the local community. All the information you need in one place! Start making Maastricht yours, today.
Put your knowledge to practice
A study association, something for you?
You can join a study association in your faculty and participate in discussions, workshops, lectures and other gatherings about the field of study. Often these associations offer their members special study materials that were assembled on the basis of the experience of years from (former) students. Great support for your studies. Almost each faculty has its own study association.
Overview of study and student associations
Broaden your horizon
Maastricht also has many opportunities to develop yourself outside your field of study. Think of:
Unicef Student Team
AIMS, Amnesty International's student department
International student association AIESEC
Studium Generale
the Match project
Name: Brian Megens
Age: 26 jaar
Residence: Maastricht
Education: European Studies
Hobbies: photography and cycling
From where I live, I am out of Maastricht in less than ten minutes. I can run in the hills there and feel as I live right in the middle of nature instead of in a city.
