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bachelor s programmes 2010 maastricht university the netherlands language of instruction english and/or dutch

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in maastricht everything revolves around you the student you learn in small groups receive special attention for your talents and academic attitude and enjoy personal contact with the academic staff you learn on the basis of challenging problems and objectives you get to grips with scientific issues allowing you to grasp the theory and apply your understanding of a subject to a wide range of topics you are trained in skills such as presenting debating writing and leading discussions this makes studying fun as well as effective you become part of an international environment where you encounter diverse cultures and languages many courses focus on international and european-based topics and more than half of the programmes are taught in english you can even carry out part of your studies abroad you live in one of europe s liveliest cities with bars and restaurants in abundance a wide variety of theatres and cinemas and a different café for every day of the year maastricht has it all and to top it off you will be within easy reach of cities such as brussels paris and amsterdam all programmes in this brochure are accredited by the accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao for more information on nvao please visit www.nvao.nl maastricht university is a signatory of the code of conduct with respect to international students in dutch higher education more information about this code of conduct is available at www.internationalstudy.nl 2 bachelor s programmes 2010

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contents maastricht the gateway to a new experience leading in learning fostering talent and innovation 4 5 problem-based learning a resourceful education your life as a student problem-based learning in action 11 8 10 student associations working towards your future overview of bachelor s programmes bachelor s programmes at maastricht university business economics economics and business economics fiscal economics econometrics and operations research international business behaviour society european studies psychology healthcare european public health medicine health sciences molecular life sciences liberal arts sciences university college maastricht sciences knowledge engineering law european law school tax law dutch law language culture arts and culture 16 30 39 55 61 66 76 what you also need to know admissions application and registration tuition fees and other practical information 82 3

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maastricht the gateway to a new experience historic yet forward-thinking and contemporary typically dutch yet multicultural and vibrant maastricht is a city of contrasts founded by the romans on the edge of their empire the city today is known for the maastricht treaty which officially created the european union maastricht is also home to a young dynamic university that has quickly established a reputation for its creative approach to learning and international outlook history beauty and diversity maastricht is set against a backdrop of hills trails and open countryside that is perfect for sports lovers and nature enthusiasts alike one of the most beautiful of dutch cities it contains all the hallmarks of its history from roman ruins to historic churches and market squares yet maastricht is also a modern and lively european city situated within an hour s drive of brussels liège and aachen and with easy access to amsterdam paris london and berlin numerous international institutions are based in maastricht and the cobbled streets are home to a range of different cultures and traditions with conversations drifting past in dutch french spanish german and english innovative and individual at the heart of this welcoming city is maastricht university one of the netherlands leading universities it is also one of the most international with students and teaching staff from over 70 different countries maastricht university offers you a wide choice of academic programmes all of which provide you with an innovative and individual approach to learning that is designed to bring out the best in you always different life in maastricht is always different it s a really old city with a lot of culture and tradition but it s also an exciting place to live maastricht is quite a small and friendly city so everything is doable by bike but it s still got plenty to do cinemas swimming pools fitness centres and lots of student associations living and studying in the city is a fantastic experience it s a elwin mommers the netherlands health sciences student chance to see a new place to enjoy independence and to learn a lot but most of all it s a place where you can have a lot of fun 4 bachelor s programmes 2010

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leading in learning founded in 1976 maastricht university is one of the youngest in the netherlands yet it is already one of the best building on problem-based learning we offer students a challenging and personal learning environment in an international setting with over 44 of our students and 30 of our academic staff coming from abroad we are one of europe s most international universities the majority of our bachelor s programmes and almost all of our master s and phd programmes are taught in english an offering unparalleled in continental europe all of our programmes leave you well prepared for your chosen career investing in talent as a university we recognise that our students are talented in different ways and our teaching staff work hard to bring out the best in all of our students · we not only value talent and hard work we reward it each year the top 3 of our students receive a scholarship that is equal to their tuition fees for that year this scholarship will offset your tuition fees during the next academic year · we offer a number of honours programmes that are open to the top students within each year group these programmes are designed to stretch you offering further insights deeper knowledge and brighter prospects for the future the liberal arts sciences programme offered by university college maastricht is central to this scheme · our proactive recruitment policy ensures that international students are able to come and study at maastricht university whatever their financial position we provide a number of merit-based scholarships for international students this includes 20 high potential scholarships for talented students who come from outside the european union high in the rankings · ranked first for education in the netherlands by keuzegids hoger · three of our five bachelor s programmes assessed were voted as best in the netherlands in a survey by elsevier magazine thema studeren 2008 onderwijs dutch guide to higher education 2008 · our programmes in european studies economics international in a german ranking placed in the top group of universities ment centrum für hochschulentwicklung 2008 business and psychology the first dutch programmes included assessed by the german centre for higher educational develop · awarded a prestigious triple crown accreditation for the maastricht university school of business and economics one · the international business programme ranked number 25 in europe by the financial times 2008 of only 28 european business schools to have this accreditation innovating in education at maastricht university we are proud that our teaching and our academic results have made us a leading university within the netherlands we follow current educational research and insights closely to ensure that we always offer you the most effective methods of teaching · we run the teachers academy which specialises in promoting new and more effective methods of teaching based on sound evidence and scientific research the academy offers a new master s programme in evidence based innovation in teaching it also provides the expertise to ensure that teaching staff at maastricht university are trained in the latest techniques so they can provide you with the best education · through the teachers academy we are directly involved with tier the top institute for evidence-based education research this inter-university institute conducts research in the field of evidence-based education and uses its findings to develop effective new teaching methods that can be employed to improve education standards · we offer an extensive portfolio of degree programmes and teach these using problem-based learning fostering talent and innovation at maastricht university we recognise that it is thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of both our staff and students that we have been able to establish ourselves as a leading university in order to continue offering highquality education and research maastricht university has adopted two key policies investing in talent and innovating in education 5

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problem-based learning bringing out the best in you think of a university and many people imagine large lecture theatres filled with students who struggle to keep pace with the lecturer as they make notes but at maastricht university we offer a different method of learning problembased learning it is small scale it is more personal and it is designed to help you perform to the best of your abilities problem-based learning has been at the core of maastricht university ever since it was founded though other universities have begun to adopt parts of this method here it is fully integrated into every aspect of our teaching and facilities and as the first university in europe to take up this innovative teaching method we have the experience to give you knowledge and skills that last you a lifetime making the most of your studies what s more academic studies show that problem-based learning is more effective for you the student than traditional teaching methods by actively using your knowledge for example in discussions or when carrying out independent research you are much more likely to remember new facts than your fellow students sitting in lecture halls an independent approach you are under the guidance of a tutor an expert in the field but it is ultimately you and your fellow students who carry out the work your tutor will guide you encourage you and inspire you but you are the one who has to make the decisions in doing so you not only get to understand and absorb new knowledge far more effectively but you also get the chance to study the areas of most interest to you in addition this style of learning enables you to develop new skills in debating leading discussions and writing academic papers working towards excellence problem-based learning has one extraordinary advantage over traditional teaching methods it places you directly at the heart of the learning process because it is closely linked to professional education problem-based learning gives you the chance to learn by studying real-life situations you tackle specific problems analysing them from a wide range of perspectives carrying out your own research and devising appropriate solutions it is a truly interactive approach to education learning together much of your work will take place in small tutorial groups where everybody has the chance to get involved and contribute the groups also change regularly allowing you to work alongside many different people many of our students are from international backgrounds so our debates show a wide range of perspectives and different cultural influences by working together as a group not only do you learn from these different backgrounds but you also come to understand and respect the opinions of others when you are trying to reach agreement on the best solution to a problem 6 bachelor s programmes 2010

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problem-based learning in action depth and variety at maastricht university the academic year is divided into two semesters during which you follow a number of short thematic `blocks in essence independent mini-programmes each block typically lasts between four and eight weeks and provides you with an opportunity for in-depth study of a particular field this enables you to gain knowledge across a range of subject areas during the year typically you take part in two different blocks at a time attending tutorials and lectures and studying both independently and with your fellow students almost every block will round off with an assessment of your knowledge this may take the form of an exam an essay or a skills test your participation in tutorial groups may also be taken into account the learning pyramid bales 1996 average degree of memorisation lecture reading listening and hearing demonstration discussion group do-it-yourself teach somebody else/use in practice 5 10 20 30 50 75 80 problem-based learning traditional methods of learning skills that last a lifetime we adapt our style of problem-based learning to suit your programme so we can always be sure that you get the maximum benefit this means that while an arts programme might place emphasis on independent library research a medical programme will more typically involve patient-orientated situations a study block is often accompanied by training in practical skills that you will require in your future career the content of your training varies depending on your programme and the current focus of your work during one block you might concentrate on statistics and data analysis while another block may provide training on how to plead a legal case or give guidance on the best way to examine a patient defining the problem a real-life problem is presented by academic staff and discussed in the group exchanging knowledge what do we know about the subject activate own knowledge what do we need to find out in order to solve the problem define learning objectives generating solutions did we find a good solution to the problem and did all group members understand everything is there anything else that we need to know studying independently read the appropriate literature find extra information meet learning objectives create new learning objectives 7

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a resourceful education maastricht university provides you with all the resources you need to help you achieve the best results all the facilities are carefully designed to support and reinforce the university s system of problem-based learning the university library holds an extensive international collection of books and journals as well as a comprehensive selection of digital journal databases our student online library resources are also available to you outside maastricht through desktop anywhere designed for study the university library houses several individual subjectrelated learning and resource centres here you can directly access the most relevant material for your programme as well as make use of our multimedia facilities and computers a number of study areas are also available suitable for individuals or for study groups who wish to discuss assignments or hold meetings alternatively if you prefer to work from the comfort of your room you can collaborate with fellow students and staff online through maastricht university s electronic learning environment eleum campus maastricht as maastricht university continues to grow we have invested in a major new university campus designed by the celebrated spanish architect santiago calatrava campus maastricht will contain up to 520 accommodations office space a new sports centre and a major new sports hall when the campus is completed likely towards the end of 2011 it will play an important role in the life of both our university and the city of maastricht itself language centre dutch for international students english for academic purposes french swedish polish turkish chinese arabic these are just a few of the possibilities on offer at the maastricht university language centre we take a communicative approach in small groups taught by professional and approachable tutors many of our courses range from beginner s to advanced level and focus on different skills from speaking to academic writing the language centre is dedicated to helping you gain the proficiency and confidence you need to excel in your studies increase your employability and broaden your horizons international city international education my decision to study in maastricht has been and still is a decision i have never regretted once i had made up my mind about the field in which i wanted to study it was easy to choose maastricht especially with respect to european law maastricht university offers a series of advantages first of all the treaty establishing the european union was concluded here then there is the fact that the programme is entirely in english which is obviously a great advantage in the light of future job opportunities and career but the most prominent advantage of maastricht is the international nature of both the ambitious and high-quality educational siavash shamskho germany/iran european law school student programmes and of the teaching staff and student population especially for getting to know different views on the respective fields of study and truly comparing law systems it is a great to work with students from a lot of different cultures and nations without exaggeration i can say that my experiences go beyond what i expected my study in maastricht has added great educational and cultural value to my personal and academic development 8 bachelor s programmes 2010

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active role maastricht university has a truly unique method of teaching problem-based learning means that you the student play a very active role in the learning process classes have a strongly international focus with students coming from all over the world it s a brilliant way to find out different points of view and understand different cultures the teaching is quite practical xanne root the netherlands/spain international business student so i feel that i am well prepared to solve real problems in my future working life studying at maastricht university really is an amazing experience and one i will never forget 9

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your life as a student life as a student is a learning curve you not only learn new facts and practise new skills during your time at university you also build self-confidence and find out more about the world you study with your fellow students but you also live with them play sports with them and hang out with them it s a whole new experience living in maastricht maastricht is small enough to feel welcoming yet large enough to be interesting it is one of the best places to shop in the netherlands and there are many festivals and activities that reflect maastricht s variety of cultural influences from the annual carnival festivities to experimental theatre comedy shows and concerts and from sophisticated wine bars to traditional pubs maastricht has something for everyone finding accommodation there is plenty of housing in maastricht and it is acknowledged as one of the safest places in the netherlands when you move to maastricht you are responsible for finding your own accommodation but it should not be too difficult to find affordable accommodation in a nice area what s more the city s size means you only ever live a few minutes bike ride away from friends or from the city centre even so you should start looking early so you can find a place that best suits you you can search online through the kamerburo student housing foundation at www.kamerburo.net inkom a helping hand student life can be exciting but for some the transition between home and university is not always easy at maastricht university we will do all that we can to help you settle in study well and enjoy your time as a student our student counselling service is always available to offer you support and guidance while our student deans are on hand to advise you if you run into legal or financial difficulties student life at maastricht university is special from the very beginwhy each august we hold an introductory week for first-year stu ning we want you to feel at home in your new environment that is dents called inkom this gives you a chance to familiarise yourself with new surroundings and new faces it is a week of great variety from watching movies and dancing the night away at parties to chatting over coffee and relaxing at a barbecue for many people it is an opportunity to spark new friendships that can last a lifetime an experience that shouldn t be missed `inkom is an experience that shouldn t be missed i went to parties and got to know people but i also got to learn about the city instead of being lost during my first few days my `inkom parents took my hand and made me feel welcome by the end of the week i d met mitch miller usa liberal arts and sciences student some of the people who are now my best friends and i was prepared for life as a student 10 bachelor s programmes 2010

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european feeling maastricht university offers a very international environment to students coming from abroad i have lived in brussels all my life and maastricht truly gave me the same `european feeling as brussels did it has occurred more than once that i ve walked around at the faculty and heard various different languages going from spanish to chinese i also joined a study association which offers internship possibilities and marja lubbers belgium european law school student visits to potential employers maastricht university is a well-known university and very future oriented if you are looking for a lovely city with an international heart maastricht really is the place to be student associations studying is important but so is getting a healthy work-life balance and the way you spend your free time may really help you to make the most of your time at university from sport to subject-related student societies and from music to international associations there is plenty to get involved in sport whether you compete on an international level or you merely want a bit of fun maastricht university provides activities as varied as running yachting and karate maastricht university s sports council musst coordinates the many different sports associations and also arranges participation in major national events social and academic many of maastricht university s student associations are designed to draw students together based on their interests and ideas in addition to social organisations such as circumflex one of the largest associations in maastricht you can also get involved in a subject-related group where students combine socialising with academic activities 11

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music and drama from a student association specialising in traditional spanish music to the more general university orchestra and university choir maastricht university offers a variety of music activities maastricht is also home to alles is drama the biggest student theatre association in the netherlands internationally orientated and friendly these student associations are always pleased to welcome new members such as isam the international students association of maastricht often form something of a `nationality cocktail drawing people together from around the world these associations celebrate differences while also helping you to integrate into life in the netherlands other organisations a range of other activities are on offer at maastricht university and there is an association to suit virtually every interest if you want to dance study your religion more closely or help raise money for charity the opportunity is there a complete list of student associations is available on the maastricht university website international several of our student associations cater for maastricht university s large international student population groups active student life maastricht has a very active student life there are all kinds of student associations sororities fraternities international associations sports clubs something for everyone i joined circumflex when i first came here and i quickly got involved in a year group a small group of students within circumflex we eat together every monday we ve been on trips around the netherlands merel van cruchten the netherlands international business student and we ve even been on holiday together it s also possible to join a committee and organise all kinds of activities being in a student association has given my student life a real edge a definite experience 12 bachelor s programmes 2010

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gaining valuable experience combining a part-time job with my studies has only been beneficial to me it gave me the possibility to look beyond the classroom environment and experience the dynamics of a workplace and the actual application of the skills i was taught during class working for unu-merit a joint research institute of maastricht university and the united nations university added the excitement of working with experienced scholars and professionals it taught me a great amount of matthias witt germany european studies student knowledge and skills complementary to my university curriculum i m convinced that taking up a job next to your studies will give you a head start in applying for jobs after college if that s not enough of an incentive the extra money is of course always welcomed by the average bachelor s student working towards your future living independently can be fun but it can also be expensive if you need some extra cash or if you simply want some work experience it is a good idea to look for a parttime job working in cafés local companies or for the university will give you more than money in the bank it will also give you life skills that future employers will appreciate skills such as responsibility and time management as well as experience in dealing with different people and new situations an entrepreneurial spirit alongside career services maastricht university opened a centre for entrepreneurship in 2008 experienced entrepreneurs and professionals associated with the centre can provide you with all the help support and advice that you may need if you wish to set up your own business the centre also runs a 20k business plan competition each year for female students competitors each draw up their own business plan and the author of the best plan receives 20,000 to turn the plan into reality looking ahead three years pass quickly and by the time you have your degree you will be ready to begin your new career as a graduate of maastricht university you will find that you are well equipped to analyse problems work alongside others and argue your case that is because our system of problem-based learning does not simply train you to pass exams but it helps you to develop valuable professional skills that you can draw on throughout your career life as an alum our alumni disperse across the entire world and they keep in touch with each other and the university via the alumninet and alumni circles through the alumninet alumni can log in to search for one another look for jobs and place vacancies for internships etc the alumni circles are where groups of alumni gather across the globe in countries as far away as aruba and china and in international cities such as new york and london wherever you go the alumni network is there to help support you socially and professionally career services where do you see yourself six months after you graduate we aim to offer you all the support you need as you explore the different options open to you after you graduate at the career and information centre we can provide you with a wide range of career information and we also maintain an extensive database of companies offering internships and job vacancies many of which are posted by um alumni from practice assessment tests to individual coaching sessions with one of our counsellors we are always available for advice 13

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discover your competencies i knew i wanted to do an internship during my programme but i had no idea what when i went to a workshop called `discover your competencies held by career services i had the chance to work out what i wanted from a future job after that i set up a meeting with a careers counsellor to find potential places for my internship and i attended another workshop on frauke claes germany european studies student writing a cv and application letter finally i got my cv checked it was a lot of effort but it more than paid off when i was offered an internship in asia 14 bachelor s programmes 2010

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overview of bachelor s programmes how people behave the quality of healthcare economic ups and downs legally sharing information cultural conflicts effects of new technology these are all issues that you might encounter on a regular basis they affect you as an individual and they affect all of us as a society by choosing to study at maastricht university you have the chance to come to grips with these issues you learn to push your boundaries and look at the world from a whole new perspective studying at maastricht university does more than increase your knowledge it brings out the very best in you degree programmes maastricht university offers 16 different bachelor s programmes most of which are taught in english all of our bachelor s programmes take three years to complete varied and multidisciplinary they prepare you for internationally orientated jobs across a range of sectors bachelor s programmes at maastricht university economics business language english english english dutch/english page no in this brochure 26 19 24 econometrics and operations research economics and business economics fiscale economie/fiscal economics international business behaviour society european studies psychology healthcare 28 english dutch 30 34 european public health geneeskunde medicine english dutch dutch 41 gezondheidswetenschappen health sciences 45 51 moleculaire levenswetenschappen molecular life sciences dutch liberal arts sciences 48 university college maastricht sciences english 55 knowledge engineering law english 61 european law school fiscaal recht tax law dutch or english dutch dutch 68 71 73 rechtsgeleerdheid dutch law language culture arts and culture dutch or english 76 the english-language programme at university college maastricht is aimed at highly motivated students with wide academic interests you compile your own tailor-made programme each semester this will make you eligible for a large number of master s programmes who are not yet ready to confine themselves to one field the college offers approximately 150 courses in nearly every academic discipline 15

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