My exchange semester at Maastricht University

Hoi Hoi! My name is Hayley, and I have spent my exchange semester at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

The city is a perfect size, with the charm of a small town but endless surprises, great restaurants and a vibrant student scene. The exchange program is well organised and living at the exchange dedicated accommodation, the UM guesthouse has been a great way to make lifelong friends from across the world. Maastricht has a great international student community, and the exchange orientation program had so many activities which made it so simple to find likeminded people.

I have been studying at the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University and through this journey I have been surprised by how much I have enjoyed learning whilst on exchange, as it is a great way to get insight into broader international contexts for topics and see how dedicated other students are across the world. Problem-based learning is a key focus at Maastricht University which involves small discussion based tutorial groups, with less lectures and more peer based facilitations which makes it a great environment to think deeper about subjects and challenge yourself.

Daily life in Maastricht is something I have also really loved, this city has so many wonderful spots, and cycling has become my daily commute and the best way to travel around and explore new places. There are always people around to do things with, and I have found so much joy in the simple things like running with friends, studying at coffeeshops, picnics, and eating at restaurants.

Located in the heart of Europe, Maastricht is an incredible place to travel from, with so many beautiful places to see and explore. So far, I have been all around the Netherlands, to France, Belgium, Copenhagen, Portugal and Germany and that is just the beginning of my travels around Europe.

Everything about exchange from the normal everyday tasks like grocery shopping, studying and cooking to the exciting travel and new friends has been something to cherish and certainly something I would recommend to anyone.

These have been the best months of my life in this beautiful and charming city! The people and experiences have truly enriched my stay, and I cannot recommend Maastricht highly enough as a perfect place for exchange.

Hayley Yeomans
Bachelor of Economics Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment
Maastricht University , Netherlands
Global Exchange Scholarship

For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.uts.edu.au/thinkglobal