Ambre Derumier (France), University College Maastricht
My first semester at UCM confirmed that I made the right choice.

Being part of challenging discussions
The choice for Maastricht specifically had been driven by the use of the PBL system and the very broad course catalogue. Looking back into my high school years I noticed that being active in my learning process had been of the factor that allowed me to succeed and helped the acquisition of knowledge as well as keeping me interested in my studies.

The really good ranking of UCM also played a role and assured me that I was going to be taught with quality. My first semester at UCM confirmed that I made the right choice. PBL motivated me to do my readings and to be active in class, and I really enjoyed being part of challenging discussions with people from various backgrounds.

I personally really like PBL
I personally really like PBL because I need to be active in my learning process. Discussing my finding with others and the possibility to ask question and debate on the materials that we’ve been given really help me remember and understand the content of the course.

I am never bored
When integrating at UCM I was surprised by the real individual support we received from the staff members. I immediately perceived UCM as an open-minded and active community where it was easy to meet people and be involved in a lot of extracurricular activities and clubs.

Even though UCM is very demanding, my student life is also quite busy. I see friends a lot at uni, but also for dinners, lunches, parties. For me, it’s really important to not only focus on studying as you need to take care and enjoy yourself to release the stress. I am also part of a student association as well as the sport association, so I can say I am never bored!

Maastricht is totally different from what I was used to
I have never lived in a big city coming from a village in a rural part of France. So for me, Maastricht is totally different from what I was used to. One of my favourite things is the fact that you can use your bike to go everywhere and that once in the city centre everything is at walking distance. Maastricht has a wide range of shops and, by being a student city there is something to do every day. Something that I also really appreciate is its central position in Europe; there are many airports nearby, Belgium and Germany are even accessible by bike, and there is a good train and bus network.

Other testimonials

  • Sophie Dinh
    Sophie Dinh (Germany/Vietnam), University College Maastricht
    I remember my first impression of UCM – I came into the building and was greeted by the staff. The common room was filled with students speaking several languages while someone played guitar in the background – it felt like a scene from a movie.
  • Yago Hecht
    Yago Hecht (Spain/Germany), University College Maastricht
    I think the community is what makes UCM so special. You always feel like you are studying with a big family around you, ready to support you when you are in need, but also ready to share the most incredible experiences with you.
  • Kate Robinson
    Kate Robinson (South Africa), University College Maastricht
    I have always found the student community at UCM to be very welcoming. Whether it’s having a chat with a student while I wait for some tea or asking for help in a course, everyone is approachable and friendly.
  • Katja Hein
    Katja Hein (Germany/Ireland), University College Maastricht
    I never thought PBL could have such a positive impact on my motivation and willingness to invest more time into academia!
  • Liza Diane Gordin
    Liza Diane Gordin (Belgium), University College Maastricht
    The most valuable thing I’ve learned during UCM is that 'it isn’t always that deep'. Sometimes you need to let go of your extreme concernedness about certain things...
  • Paulina Raniecka
    Paulina Raniecka (Poland), University College Maastricht
    Joining UCM felt like joining a big family – I have never felt alone or bored.
  • Testimonial Julia König Maastricht University College
    Julia König (Germany), University College Maastricht
    It's for people who want to do more than one thing and want to be able to combine courses however they want