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International programs & student supports

Maastricht University

Location: Maastricht, Netherlands
Website: Maastricht Psychology Exchange Program
Language of instruction: English
Special requirements: Psychology majors only, must be 3rd year standing or greater
Terms: Fall semester (late August - January)* // Spring Semester (late January - July)*
*early exit is available, ending the term in December or June and receiving less credit

Highlights

  • Maastricht is the most international university in the Netherlands, with about half of students and one-third of staff coming from abroad.
  • Most of the courses are offered in English, giving exchange students many options to choose from.
  • The university performs well in international rankings. 
  • With its historic buildings, trendy design shops, beautiful churches and welcoming cafés, Maastricht is a popular destination for travellers from all over the world.

Accessibility

Areas of study

  • Psychology

Courses

  • UM exchange courses focused on cognitive and biological psychology from the 3rd year of the Bachelor in Psychology program.
  • Review the course catalogue for a list of all Psychology courses available for exchange students.
  • Check out the UM academic page for details about the teaching style, course scheduling, and exams.

Credits

Credits at Maastricht:

  • Full-time option (7.5 UVic units): 30 ECTS per term at Maastricht 

Course Evaluations at UVic: 

  • Before departure, UVic students will be able to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will indicate how many UVic units each exchange course is worth, as well as the course equivalency.
  • Students must use the evaluation results to ensure their exchange courses credits add up to the equivalent UVic units. The total number of units for each exchange term should be 4.5 UVic units for part-time exchange or 7.5 UVic units for full-time exchange.
  • This course evaluation process will be made available and explained in detail during the pre-departure session in early October for Spring exchange terms and in late March for Fall exchange terms. Evaluations take 2-6 weeks to complete and will be emailed to students. 
  • Course evaluations results are tentative until the end of the exchange term, when a second, final evaluation is conducted by OREM using the students’ exchange transcript, and the results are applied to their UVic record. 

Exchange credit history

  • Click here to check out the exchange credit history of courses that have been previously evaluated by UVic for this host university.
  • Students are not limited to this list when selecting courses for their upcoming exchange and should consult the host university’s course catalogue for a full list of offerings.
  • Important note: this document is a guide only and previously evaluated courses are not guaranteed to be evaluated in the same way in the future.
  • After being accepted into the ICS Exchange Program, students will have the chance to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will provide updated unit and credit equivalency information. 

Housing

On-campus housing: Unavailable

Off-campus housing: Available

  • The Guesthouse UM is the main source of housing for international students and offers several locations within the vicinity of UM's faculties.
  • Due to the tight rental market, exchange students should anticipate a challenging housing situation in the Netherlands and prepare to devote ample time/resources to securing accommodation. 
  • Check out some helpful housing tips from UM.

Medical insurance, immigration & arrival

Medical insurance:

  • All exchange students need comprehensive medical insurance to ensure they have adequate coverage and to avoid fines from the Dutch National Health Care Institute.
  • Read more about available insurance options, including private providers from Canada and UM's own recommendation of Aon Student Insurance. 

Immigration:

  • Exchange students are required to obtain a residence permit in order to study in the Netherlands. 
  • The residence permit application process will be completed via UM's Visa Office, who will reach out to accepted exchange students with further instructions.
  • Check out more information about resident permits, which varies based on a student's nationality and where they live. 
Arrival: 
  • Mandatory Introduction Days are hosted by UM's Faculty of Psychology and take place in the period before the start of the term.
  • Exchange students will meet new classmates and learn about the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system.

SDGs-in-Action

Add a United Nations CIFAL qualification to your international experience (and your CV!) by taking the SDGs-In-Action challenge.  Below are resources and some of the many ways to get involved at Maastricht University. 

  • Sustainability Team 
    • Maastricht University (UM) is home to the Sustainable UM2030 Programme, a team of researchers, teachers, and UM policy makers that liaise with students to support their sustainability initiatives. 
  • UM Green Network 
    • A sustainability web within the university. The network is comprised of student and staff Green Teams from every faculty. Each faculty is supported in developing their own sustainability initiatives. The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Green Team have previously  hosted clothing swaps and Sustainability Symposiums. 
  • UM Sustainability Hub 
    • A dedicated working space on campus for collaboration and knowledge exchange to support student sustainability initiatives. The Sustainability Hub is currently home to 22 organizations and projects like a Library of Things, a community garden, a SkillShare project and a Swap room. 
  • UM Sustainability Days 
    • A series of dedicated daylong campus sustainability festivals. Faculty, staff, companies and students come together to learn about sustainability in the form of mini-lectures, workshops, exhibitions and parties. 
SDGs-in-Action - Learn more!