During the 2022 winter semester, I attended University College Maastricht (UCM) as part of the bilateral exchange program. Maastricht is located in the most southern province of the Netherlands, close to the Belgian border. Known for its rich history as a European hub, having a unique international culture, and architecture and terrain unlike other Dutch cities, Maastricht is really a city of its own!
Maastricht was founded during the Roman Empire and became a bustling city in medieval Europe. Living in Maastricht, I could feel this history, as most of the old medieval wall surrounding the city and fort are still standing today. The Netherlands as a whole has fantastic bike infrastructure which makes commuting within Maastricht, and to nearby towns very easy. In my 7 months living abroad I used a bike daily to commute, which was also a great way to stay in shape while on exchange.
The population in Maastricht is mostly comprised of international individuals. This means that the culture is very diverse and the opportunities to learn about cultures from all around the world are endless. In my experience there was a really strong community feeling, throughout the city, since many other people went through similar experiences of moving abroad. This made it very easy to settle into living there!
UCM implements a different style of education in comparison to Queens. Problem Based Learning (PBL) allows students to create their own curriculum. There were no lectures run, only small tutorial meetings supervised by a tutor. In each tutorial meeting, we would meet and engage in class discussions based on assigned readings. This style of learning was much more intimate and engaging since all students were given the opportunity to contribute to discussions. UCM also had many extra-curricular activities offered for students. I was a part of the art society which comprised of a group of other students also interested in art in visual arts. The society would host paint nights and trips to galleries throughout the Netherlands.
UCM offers a great accommodation for exchange students in the city of Maastricht called the guesthouse. It is a residence style building reserved for only exchange students. Living in this arrangement is where I met some of my closest friends on exchange! I was the only Canadian student on the floor, so this was a nice way to connect with students from around the world and share our cultures with one another.
Participating in the exchange program at UCM was an unforgettable experience that taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. One of the highlights of my exchange was having the opportunity to travel all across Europe! Maastricht is in such a central location, so it made travelling around the continent very easy. Some of my favorite trips taken include Croatia, Italy, Turkey, and The United Kingdom! Living in Maastricht, I was even able to take smaller scale trips such as walking to Belgium! Overall, I would highly recommend pursuing exchange at UCM!
