A perfect Program for New/ Anxious Travellers July 07, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The center for european studies program held the students to a very high degree of academic rigor while still allowing students free time to explore and develop their individual identity

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with the living arrangements. I lived in the P building, which allowed me to share a room with one other student. My roommate and I had a mini kitchen, which was very useful for cooking meals and keeping tidy.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Considering that I was only a student here for three weeks, I got to meet so many new friends and experience Dutch culture to the fullest. The program does a great job of integrating students and providing them with unique cultural experiences, no matter how long they are here.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was something I was very scared to consider during my time abroad. Coming from someone who needs to travel with multiple prescription medications, I was nervous to fly with my medications. The staff at Maastricht University told me everything I needed to do to prepare for TSA bag checks and what medicines may or may not get flagged. They prepared me very well for my landing, and in the end I had no trouble entering the country with my prescriptions. During my three weeks here i didnt ever have to go to the hospital but i knew the resources and information on how to get there if something was to happen. The living accommodation is located in the same building as a general practitioner. Those general practitioners are well accustomed to international students, and combined with the help of CES Staff, I knew that getting healthcare would be well within my reach.

Maastricht is a very safe city. As a first-time traveler, I was very nervous about my experience abroad. Luckily for me, Maastricht was the best place to study abroad. It is a small town with a perfect mix of downtown social life, beautiful old architecture, and stunning nature. I felt very safe exploring the city by myself and never once felt that my safety was at risk. The accommodations are also very safe, as multiple passcodes and physical keys are required to get into the dorms. You can't even get past the reception into the hallways without a code or key, so I felt extremely well taken care of.

Growing up, I never thought that I would be able to go abroad. I grew up as a very homesick child (and adult), and I was not sure if I was capable of living in a different country for three weeks. This program gave me everything I needed and more to not only feel comfortable, but to feel confident to travel in the future. The staff at CES taught me the basics of Dutch culture, international travel, and accommodations. The skills I learned in my three weeks here have prepared me for anything. I am back again in Europe this summer and feel fully prepared to solo travel, make new friends, and experience new ideas. I don't know if I would have had the confidence to come back to Europe if it wasn't for my experience at Maastricht University.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The location
• The accessibility

• It would be fun to intermix different study abroad groups so that the students can meet more people

The Outright Urbanite