Maastricht

Application Deadlines: See this page

AACSB accredited

Language Requirement: None. Classes are taught in English.

Possible U.S. Credits: 12-15 semester credits (24-30 ECTS). ECTS = European Credit Transfer System. 2 ECTS = approximately 1 U.S. semester credit. Normal course load is 4-5 classes.

Final Transcript: Issued by Maastricht University

ACADEMIC TRACKS

Study abroad students will enroll in the Maastricht University Center for European Studies (CES) which offers several academic tracks and integrates study trips with your courses. Study trips are designed to give you real-world applications for what you’re learning in the classroom. Students will choose ONE of the following 5 CES academic tracks:

• Business & Economics in Europe

  • Recommended for these majors: Accounting, Business, Finance, Information Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Economics

• Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe

  • Recommended for these majors: Art History, Cultural Studies, Literature, Media Studies, European Studies, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, History, Philosophy & Ethics, Gender Studies, Globalization, Sociology, Religious Studies, Linguistics, Urban Studies

• Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe

  • Recommended for these majors: Public Policy, European Law, Legal Studies, Political Science, Human Rights, International Relations, International Law

• Psychology & Neuroscience in Europe

  • Recommended for these majors: Cognitive Psychology, Applied Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Work and Organizational Psychology

• Public Health & Medicine in Europe

  • Recommended for these majors: Human Biology, European Public Health, Chemistry, Genetics, Medicine, Nutrition, Physiology

MANDATORY ALTERNATE MODULES

You MUST have a total of 8 modules approved by your home institution. This will give you back-ups in case of changes in course availability or schedule conflicts. When you pre-register for classes (this happens after you’re accepted), you will have to list a total of 8 possible modules. Maastricht University will not process your academic enrollment unless you list the required number of courses on your registration form.

COURSE OFFERINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

HELPFUL TIPS

Maastricht University breaks up their academic year into “Block Periods”. The breakdown is as follows:

• Fall Semester: Period Blocks 1 and 2

• Spring Semester: Period Blocks 4 and 5

ASA students are NOT eligible to enroll in courses that run during periods 3 and/or 6.

Half of your courses will be taken during the first Period Block of your semester (Period 1 for fall and Period 4 for spring), and the other half will be taken during the second Period Block (Period 2 for fall and Period 5 for spring).

Please use the links below to view the courses offered within each academic program. Make sure to pay attention to the period the course runs in, to ensure it’s running during the semester you intend to study abroad. Prerequisite information and course descriptions are available for download and print at each course link directly from Maastricht University.

Students are expected to take 4-5 courses per semester. All module offerings are subject to change.

Please note that the credits listed next to each course on Maastricht’s website are in ECTS, NOT U.S. credits. For conversion, divide the number of ECTS credits by 2 to get the approximate U.S. credit value.

Since Maastricht University calculates credits using the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) system, your home institution will make the final decision about what the Maastricht courses will transfer to. A general rule is that courses worth 5-6.5 ECTS are 3 U.S. credits. Please check with your academic adviser or study abroad adviser at your home institution if you are looking at a course worth more than 6.5 ECTS.

Within your chosen academic program, your 4-5 class course load will consist of:

• 1 Mandatory Core Course within your Academic Program (required based on your academic program, typically there are 2-3 choices for you)

• 2 courses from your chosen Major within your Academic Program (it is suggested to choose 1 from each Period Block)

  • For example: Students in the Business & Economics in Europe program take 1 Core Course, plus 2 classes within the Accounting major

• 1-2 Elective courses (can be chosen from any major, regardless of academic program)

Founded by the Romans, controlled by the Spaniards, besieged by the French, and occupied by the Germans, picturesque 2000 year-old Maastricht, the Netherlands, personifies how European history has served as a prologue to the present. Final resting place of D’Artagnan and home to the world famous violinist André Rieu, the city is also host to the internationally acclaimed European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) and the region has an important presence on the international literary stage. At the crossroads of three borders and cultures, Maastricht is the perfect setting for students interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Western civilization and European culture.

The Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe program invites you to investigate Europe’s past, present and future by exploring artistic movements and social history, as well as philosophical and cultural ideas, from a European perspective.

To begin the course selection process, students must choose 1 of the following mandatory core courses within the Center of European Studies (CES) Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe program (below). The rest of your schedule will be selected from the major and electives of your choosing.

MANDATORY CORE COURSE (CHOOSE 1):

• Dutch Art History (Periods 2 or 5) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

• The Roaring Twenties, Nazi Terrors and the Cold War (Periods 1 or 4) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

MANDATORY MAJOR COURSES (CHOOSE 2 COURSES FROM 1 OF THE MAJORS BELOW):

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, scroll down to that major, and select the major to reveal the courses offered.

• Art (History)

• Cultural Studies

• Literature

• Media Studies

• European Studies

• Environmental & Sustainability Studies

• History

• Philosophy & Ethics

• Gender Studies

• Globalization

• Sociology

• Religious Studies

• Linguistics

• Urban Studies

To select courses for the remainder of your schedule, ASA students are welcome to choose from any courses EXCEPT those included within University College Maastricht. To check for this, open each course description at the following link. On the individual course description page, above the course title in the top-left corner, there will be a tag that either reads “Faculty of…”, “School of Business & Economics” or “University College Maastricht”.

ASA students choose 2 courses within the same major in the Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe program, and then will also choose 1-2 Elective courses. Electives are listed under their own header at the bottom of each academic program’s webpage.

To view the available courses within the Humanities & Social Sciences in Europe program for the upcoming year, click here.

The Netherlands holds an unparalleled position in the international legal universe and is at the forefront of civil liberties and human rights. Picture-perfect Maastricht is uniquely suited to study Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe, with its famous treaty establishing the European Union in 1992. The city is a stone’s throw away from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the ‘legal capital of the world’, as well as institutions such as the European Parliament in Brussels, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. At these institutions you can examine national agendas, opposition to political union and the roles of international actors such as NATO and the UN. The Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe program offers students a greater understanding of the contemporary European political and legal issues.

To begin the course selection process, students must choose 1 of the following mandatory core courses within the Center of European Studies (CES) Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe program (below). The rest of your schedule will be selected from the major and electives of your choosing.

MANDATORY COURSE (CHOOSE 1):

• Law and Politics: current topics in the EU (Periods 1 or 4) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

• Europe in Crisis: Quo vadis, Europa? (Periods 2 or 5) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

MANDATORY MAJOR COURSES (CHOOSE 2 COURSES FROM 1 OF THE MAJORS BELOW):

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, scroll down to that major, and select the major to reveal the courses offered.

• Public Policy

• European Law

• Legal Studies

• Political Science

• Human Rights

• International Relations

• International Law

To select courses for the remainder of your schedule, ASA students are welcome to choose from any courses EXCEPT those included within University College Maastricht. To check for this, open each course description at the following link. On the individual course description page, above the course title in the top-left corner, there will be a tag that either reads “Faculty of…”, “School of Business & Economics” or “University College Maastricht”.

ASA students choose 2 courses within the same major in the Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe program, and then will also choose 1-2 Elective courses. Electives are listed under their own header at the bottom of each academic program’s webpage.

To view the available courses within the Politics, Law & International Relations in Europe program for the upcoming year, click here.

Maastricht, the Netherlands, forms a unique environment for studying psychology and neuroscience. Maastricht University specializes in cognitive and biological psychology and its unique research infrastructure enables ground-breaking study of the brain and behavior. It is home to a European Centre of Excellence that combines state-of-the art technology (three MRI scanners of 9.4, 7 and 3 Tesla) with clinical know-how, access to patients and expert post-acquisition processing of data. Compare the scientific research methods of the Netherlands to those of your home country. Follow courses and seminars taught by leading experts.

To begin the course selection process, students must choose 1 of the following mandatory core courses within the Center of European Studies (CES) Psychology & Neuroscience in Europe program (below). The rest of your schedule will be selected from the major and electives of your choosing.

MANDATORY COURSE (CHOOSE 1):

• Positive Psychology (Periods 1 or 4) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

• Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Period 5) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

MANDATORY MAJOR COURSES (CHOOSE 2 COURSES FROM 1 OF THE MAJORS BELOW):

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, scroll down to that major, and select the major to reveal the courses offered.

• Cognitive Psychology

• Applied Social Psychology

• Clinical Psychology

• Developmental Psychology

• Forensic Psychology

• Cognitive Neuroscience

• Work and Organizational Psychology

 To select courses for the remainder of your schedule, ASA students are welcome to choose from any courses EXCEPT those included within University College Maastricht. To check for this, open each course description at the following link. On the individual course description page, above the course title in the top-left corner, there will be a tag that either reads “Faculty of…”, “School of Business & Economics” or “University College Maastricht”.

ASA students choose 2 courses within the same major in the Psychology & Neuroscience in Europe program, and then will also choose 1-2 Elective courses. Electives are listed under their own header at the bottom of each academic program’s webpage.

To view the available courses within the Psychology & Neuroscience in Europe program for the upcoming year, click here.

Maastricht, the Netherlands, is the perfect location to examine modern European health care research policies and challenges. With Germany and Belgium only a stone’s throw away, cross-border health options and differences in medical practices are a reality for every patient and health care provider in Maastricht. The Netherlands is consistently positioned at the top of the Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) and other global rankings and is known for controversial medical practices such as high rates of home births, medical marijuana and legalized euthanasia.

Gain a greater understanding of public health policies and medical achievements and practice in Europe. Discover projects and institutions engaged in promoting health locally in a globalized world. Examine the different attitudes to health in various European countries and compare their health care systems with the market driven system of the United States. Deepen your knowledge of genetics, immunology or biology, gain insight into contemporary European health issues, discuss medical case studies and develop practical medical skills.

To begin the course selection process, students must choose 1 of the following mandatory core courses within the Center of European Studies (CES) Psychology & Neuroscience in Europe program (below). The rest of your schedule will be selected from the major and electives of your choosing.

MANDATORY COURSE (CHOOSE 1):

• European Public Health in a Globalizing World – introducing policy, research and practice (Periods 1, 4, or 5) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

• Medical Ethics- Moral health care dilemmas from a European and comparative perspective (Periods 2 or 5) 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

• Social Psychology and Health 6 ECTS: 3 U.S. Semester Credits

MANDATORY MAJOR COURSES (CHOOSE 2 COURSES FROM 1 OF THE MAJORS BELOW):

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, scroll down to that major, and select the major to reveal the courses offered.

• Human Biology

• European Public Health

• Chemistry

• Genetics

• Medicine

• Nutrition

• Physiology
  
  

To select courses for the remainder of your schedule, ASA students are welcome to choose any 2 courses within the same major EXCEPT those included within University College Maastricht. To check for this, open each course description at the following link. On the individual course description page, above the course title in the top-left corner, there will be a tag that either reads “Faculty of…”, “School of Business & Economics” or “University College Maastricht”.

ASA students choose 2 courses within the same major in the Public Health & Medicine in Europe program, and then will also choose 1-2 Elective courses. Electives are listed under their own header at the bottom of each academic program’s webpage.

To view the available courses within the Public Health & Medicine in Europe program for the upcoming year, click here.

ELECTIVES

ASA students are welcome to choose from any electives EXCEPT those included within “University College Maastricht”. To check for this, open each course description at the following link. Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says “ELECTIVES”. Click on this to reveal all available electives. On the individual course description page, above the course title, there will be a tag that either reads “Faculty of…”, “School of Business & Economics” or “University College Maastricht”. As a reminder, ASA Students are NOT eligible to enroll in courses that run during periods 3 or 6!

Application Deadlines: See this page

AACSB accredited

Language Requirement: None. Classes are taught in English.

Possible U.S. Credits: 6 semester credits (12 ECTS). ECTS = European Credit Transfer System. 2 ECTS = approximately 1 U.S. semester credit. Students take 2 courses. Classes are taken with American and other international students.

Final Transcript: Issued by Maastricht University

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Students will take 2 courses through this program - 1 from each block. 

Each course you take comes with a 1-day field trip related to the course!

Course offerings are subject to change.

MANDATORY ALTERNATE COURSES

You MUST get a total of 4 courses approved by your home institution (2 from each block). This will give you back-ups in case of changes in course availability or schedule conflicts. When you pre-register for courses (this happens after you’re accepted), you will have to list a total of 4 possible courses (2 selections from each Block). 

Summer 2025 Course Syllabi

BLOCK I COURSES

Block I is the first half of the program.

3 SEMESTER CREDITS / 6 ECTS EACH COURSE

ART2003 - Dutch Art History

BUS3005 - Entrepreneurship, it'a all about creating value

BUS3014 - Business Strategy in the European Luxury Inustry

PNE2003 - Psychology in Our World

POL3004 - Law and Politics, Current Topics in the European Union

DMX2001 - Digital Mental Health

ICC2001 - Intercultural Communication

PHI2003 - Intercultural Philosophy and Communication

HIS2002 - Global Power Dynamics

BLOCK II COURSES

Block II is the first second of the program.

3 SEMESTER CREDITS / 6 ECTS EACH COURSE

BUS2001 - Leadership and Management in a Global World

BUS3002 - Economics of European Integration - Challenges, policies & practices in the European business environment

POS2002 - Positive Psychology

PNE20024 - Psychology in Our World

EVO2001 - Evolutionary Psychology

ART2004 - Dutch Art History

SUS2001 - Sustainable Development

POL2005 - The European Welfare System

MST2001 - Global Journalism: Searching for Truth in the Age of Fake News