Erasmus Experience in Maastricht, Netherlands by Devon

Why did you choose to go to Maastricht, Netherlands?

I came here to undertake a one year internship at Maastricht UMC+ as part of my sandwich placement for my BSc Biomedical Science degree at University of the West of England. Although the position was offered so I did not choose to come here per say, I am really happy I did as it is an amazing place to live, work and study.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I will be here for one year before I return to complete my course back in England. I am due to receive a grant of roughly €4000 in two instalments to help me with living costs.

What is the student lifestyle like in Maastricht?

The student lifestyle here is very good. It is a small town with a big university scene so there are plenty of people to meet and plenty of places to go all within short walking distance of one another.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Maastricht to other students?

I would indeed. The pplace has plenty of variety in terms of shops, bars and clubs so you shouldn't get bored. The people here are very friendly and there are students from all across Europe.

What is the food like?

The food is very nice here. The local food is always worth a go but there are places like McDonalds and KFC etc. also so there is plenty of choice.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Maastricht?

Personally no, there are ways around it e.g. Facebook pages, but there are some agencies that will make you pay a subscription fee to use their services.

How much does it cost to live in Maastricht?

The prices can range quite dramatically, from €300 for a room in a house to €600 for a studio or €1000 for a single person apartment. I currently share a 2 bedroom apartment that i pay €550 per month for.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

There are language courses available that I will seek to utilise once I get a bit more settled in. Although the primary language is Dutch, nearly everybody speaks English here and there are also many German and French speakers too.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Maastricht from your city?

Bicycle all the way, the roads are very safe to use and car drivers are very friendly and cautious about cyclists because there are so many of them.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Maastricht?

The town centre is very nice but you will need to make friends to find some of the more elusive bars around the town.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Maastricht?

Still yet to try a lot of the local restaurants but you will be spoilt for choice by what I've seen.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Still yet to visit these also, sorry. Must say though there are plenty of interesting buildings around.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Maastricht in the future?

Make sure you are prepared to fight tooth and nail to find a place to live. Although there is plenty of opportunity, there is also plenty of competition for spaces so be warned.