Universiteit Maastricht (UM)

The University is very well-equipped when it comes to directing student to potential job opportunities. In this context, it organizes several workshops and event aimed not only at fostering networking between students and companies/governmental organizations, but also in relation to CV creation and cover letters guidance.

The school had told me I would be allowed to attend, if I met the conditions. The conditions being a list of things I had to prove, grades and such. Among the conditions was that I had to take an english test, so I did. They had told me I needed to take a test, and had mentioned two institutions, and some specific tests, without giving me a complete list of accepted tests. I later found that list hidden behind a survey on their website, a survey I answered honestly, and thus did not get the list. I took a test that was not on that list, and I should have been more careful. But I sent them that test over two months before I left my country, and they did not tell me it was the wrong test until after schooling started. I had not recieved my schedule, and was told that it was too late to do anything about it, I could apply again next year they told me. I needed to attend school to get student funds, and what little money I brougt with me dried up quickly. They communicated with me during those two months, they just didn't tell me it was the wrong test. It was IELTS Indicator by the way, and they accepted the normal IELTS test, that I could not take, because it was not offered in my country, because of the pandemic. I could not take any in-person test, and so I opted for the online version of the test they accepted. I also know several of their faculties accept the test, mine did sadly not.

The university is nice, but as a City, Maastricht is very small and limited. The facilities are the smallest in the Netherlands, with regards to the academic hospital for example. The good thing is the influx of international students from the countries which border the Netherlands, being Germany and Belgium principally. A disadvantage is that it is far from the central government, and therefore real opportunities to continue your career within the country would be mitigated.

course is very broad: biological, political and social aspects included.