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)

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

Academic Track Details

Business & Economics

RECOMMENDED FOR THESE MAJORS: Accounting, Business, Finance, Information Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Economics

The Business & Economics in Europe program is designed to give students a greater understanding of the international business practices in Europe and the economic policies of the European Union. What better place to study business and economics than in Maastricht, the Netherlands? Maastricht gained international fame as the birthplace of the European Union and the Euro, and is located between major centers of European economics, business and banking in Brussels, London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. International trade has long been a central aspect of the Dutch economy and its strong reputation continues today.

 

Students in the Business & Economics in Europe program are directly enrolled at Maastricht University and take classes at the School of Business and Economics, which is accredited by the European EQUIS, the American AASCB and the prestigious AMBA, a standard that fewer than 1% of business schools across the globe have achieved.

 

To begin the course selection process, students must choose 1 of the following mandatory core courses within the Center of European Studies (CES) Business & Economics 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):

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

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, expand the major (+), and expand (+) the subject to reveal the courses offered. Be sure to select options offered during the correct blocks.

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 Business & Economics in Europe program, and then will also choose 1-2 Elective courses. Electives are listed under this page (click + to expand by subject area).

 

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

 

Humanities & Social Sciences

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

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

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, expand the major (+), and expand (+) the subject to reveal the courses offered. Be sure to select options offered during the correct blocks.

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 this page (click + to expand by subject area).

 

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

 

Politics, Law & International Relations

RECOMMENDED FOR THESE MAJORS: Public Policy, European Law, Legal Studies, Political Science, Human Rights, International Relations, International Law.

 

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

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, expand the major (+), and expand (+) the subject to reveal the courses offered. Be sure to select options offered during the correct blocks.

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 this page (click + to expand by subject area).

 

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

 

Psychology & Neuroscience

RECOMMENDED FOR THESE MAJORS: Cognitive Psychology, Applied Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Work and Organizational Psychology.

 

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

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, expand the major (+), and expand (+) the subject to reveal the courses offered. Be sure to select options offered during the correct blocks.

 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 this page (click + to expand by subject area).

 

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

 

Public Health & Medicine

RECOMMENDED FOR THESE MAJORS: Human Biology, European Public Health, Chemistry, Genetics, Medicine, Nutrition, Physiology

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

To view the courses within each major click on the appropriate link, expand the major (+), and expand (+) the subject to reveal the courses offered. Be sure to select options offered during the correct blocks.

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 this page (click + to expand by subject area).

 

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