Maastricht University facts for kids
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Universiteit Maastricht
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Former names
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Rijksuniversiteit Limburg |
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Motto in English
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Leading in Learning |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 9 January 1976 |
| Endowment | €521 million annual income |
| President | Rianne Letschert |
| Rector | Pamela Habibović |
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Academic staff
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2,380 |
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Administrative staff
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1,774 |
| Students | 22,383 |
| Location | , |
| Colours | Dark blue and white |
| Affiliations | EUA, VSNU, AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB, WUN, YERUN |
Maastricht University (often called UM) is a public research university located in Maastricht, Netherlands. It was started in 1976, making it one of the newer universities in the Netherlands.
In 2021, over 22,000 students attended Maastricht University. More than half of these students (56%) came from other countries! The university has over 4,000 staff members. Many of its study programs, especially master's and doctoral degrees, are taught in English. About half of the bachelor's programs are also in English, while others are in Dutch. UM is known for its special way of teaching called "Problem-Based Learning."
Maastricht University is often ranked as one of the best universities in Europe. It's usually in the top 300 universities worldwide. It's also known as one of the top "Young Universities" (under 50 years old). For example, its International Business program is ranked among the top 25 globally. The university's law program is also highly ranked in Europe and worldwide.
Contents
History of Maastricht University
Maastricht University officially opened in 1976. Before that, in the late 1960s, the Dutch government realized they needed more doctors. So, they decided to open a new medical school. Leaders in the Limburg province, especially Sjeng Tans, worked hard to have this new school built in Maastricht. They believed it would help the city and province grow, especially after the local coal mines closed.
The new school didn't wait for official approval. It started teaching in September 1974 with about 50 students. They used a new way of learning called problem-based learning. By the end of 1975, the Dutch Parliament officially recognized the university. It was first called Rijksuniversiteit Limburg (State University of Limburg). On January 9, 1976, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands signed the university's founding document. Sjeng Tans became its first president.
Soon, the university received more support and funding to add other study areas. The law faculty started in 1981, followed by economics in 1984. Later, faculties for arts, culture, and psychology were added. Today, Maastricht University has six main faculties. In 1996, the university changed its name to Universiteit Maastricht. In 2008, it also added its English name, Maastricht University.
Computer Attack in 2019
On December 23, 2019, Maastricht University faced a big computer attack. Hackers used a type of software called "ransomware" to lock almost all of the university's computer systems. This meant students and staff couldn't access online services during the Christmas break. The attackers demanded money to unlock the systems. Maastricht University paid about €200,000 in Bitcoin.
Lessons started again on January 6 without delays, and most online services were back. In 2020, the police found the digital account where the ransom was paid. The university was able to get back €500,000, which was more than double what they paid!
University Campuses
Maastricht University has buildings in two main areas in Maastricht. The arts, humanities, and social science departments are in old, historic buildings in the city center. The psychology, medical, and life sciences departments are in modern buildings at the Randwyck campus, which is on the edge of the city.
City Centre Campuses
The university's city center buildings are mostly old, beautiful buildings west of the Meuse river. Many of these buildings are officially protected because of their history. By using these old buildings, the university has helped keep Maastricht's historic city center lively and well-preserved.
Buildings in Jekerkwartier
The first building the university used was a former Jesuit monastery on Tongersestraat. This is where the medical school started in 1974. Later, the medical faculty moved, and this building became home to the Faculty of Economics, which is now the university's largest faculty.
The Faculty of Law is in a building called Oud Gouvernement on Bouillonstraat. It used to be a government building. Across the street is Slijpe Court, an old mansion from the 1600s, now used by the Department of Knowledge Engineering.
The main administrative office of the university is at Minderbroedersberg. This building was once a Franciscan monastery and later a courthouse and prison. It became the university's main office in 1999. Important ceremonies, like Ph.D. graduations, happen here.
Near the bottom of the hill is the former Bonnefanten convent, which is now the university's Student Service Center. This building was once home to nuns. The main university library is now in a building at Grote Looiersstraat, which used to be a poorhouse and military hospital.
University College Maastricht is in a 15th-century building called Nieuwenhof. The Maastricht Science Programme is in the renovated Hustinx Mansion. Since 2013, the university has also used several buildings at the former Tapijn barracks, which are now used for learning spaces and helping new businesses.
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Tongersestraat: former Jesuit Monastery, now School of Business and Economics
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Bouillonstraat: former provincial parliament, now Faculty of Law
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Minderbroedersberg: former Franciscan Church, now the administrative center
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Ezelmarkt: former Bonnefanten Monastery, now the Student Service Centre
Other City Centre Buildings
Other university departments are in different parts of the city center. The UM Language Centre is in an old house at Sint Servaasklooster. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) uses three buildings on Grote Gracht: Soiron Mansion, former Ursuline girls schools, and Tilly Court. These buildings are from the 1700s.
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Sint Servaasklooster: a canon's house, now the Language Centre
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Grote Gracht: Soiron Mansion, part of FASoS
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Grote Gracht: Ursuline schools, part of FASoS
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Grote Gracht: Tilly Mansion, part of FASoS
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Randwyck Campus
The Randwyck campus started in the 1970s. It is now the main place for the university's psychology, health, medicine, and life science studies. This campus is also home to the academic hospital (azM), which moved here in 1992. The university and the hospital work closely together in the Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+).
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Faculty of Medicine
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University hospital
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Peter Debyeplein 1
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Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1
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Satellite Campuses
Maastricht University also has smaller offices in other cities. These include Venlo in the Netherlands, Brussels in Belgium, and Bangalore, India. The Maastricht University, Campus Venlo offers master's and bachelor's programs.
How the University Works
The university is led by an Executive Board, which includes a president, a vice-president, and a rector. This board makes big decisions and hires professors.
The university's teaching and research are organized into different main departments called "faculties." Each faculty focuses on a specific area of study.
Faculties
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
This faculty (FHML) was created in 2007 by combining the health sciences and medicine faculties. The medicine faculty was actually the first one started at Maastricht University. This faculty is unique because it offers a wide range of studies in healthcare sciences. It has about 1,950 students and 1,200 staff members. Since 1992, they have been based in the Randwyck area, close to the university hospital (MUMC+).
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Started in 1995, this faculty (FPN) focuses on cognitive psychology (how we think) and biological psychology (how our brain works). It has about 1,500 students and 250 staff. The faculty offers bachelor's and master's programs in psychology. They have special equipment, like advanced MRI scanners, to study the brain and behavior. This helps them do amazing research.
School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) started in 1984. It is the largest faculty at UM with about 4,200 students. More than 60% of these students come from other countries. SBE is one of the few business schools worldwide to have a "Triple Crown accreditation," which means it meets very high standards.
SBE offers bachelor's programs in International Business, Economics, and more. It also has many master's and MBA programs.
Faculty of Law
Maastricht University's Faculty of Law (FL) was founded in 1981. It is highly ranked globally. It first offered a program in Dutch law using the university's problem-based learning method. In the 1990s, they added the European Law School (ELS), which focuses on European and international law. In 2007, a fully English-language ELS program was created, the first in the Netherlands.
The faculty has about 2,500 students and 150 staff. It offers several bachelor's and master's programs, mostly in English. The faculty also has research centers focusing on international and European law. The law faculty moved to its current building, the former provincial government seat, in 1990.
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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) was started in 1994. It has about 2,000 students and 240 staff. Over 70% of its students are from outside the Netherlands. All its programs are taught in English and have an international focus. The faculty is located in four buildings in the center of Maastricht.
FASoS offers bachelor's programs like Arts and Culture and European Studies. It also has many master's programs covering topics like Globalisation, Media Culture, and Politics. The faculty does research in areas like politics, culture, science, and technology.
Faculty of Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) includes:
- University College Maastricht (UCM)
- University College Venlo (UCV)
- Department of Advanced Computing Sciences (DACS)
- Maastricht Science Programme (MSP)
Tuition Fees and Help
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The cost to study at Maastricht University changes based on where a student is from and what program they choose. For students from the European Economic Area (which includes EU countries), the fees are set by law and are around €2,060 per year. Students from other countries pay more, usually from €7,500 to €10,000 for bachelor's programs and €13,000 or more for master's programs.
Students working on their Ph.D. (doctoral degrees) do not pay tuition. They are considered junior staff members and receive a salary and benefits. The Limburg University Fund also offers scholarships for students from developing countries.
Student Life
In 2013, almost half of the students at Maastricht University (47%) were from other countries. Students can join many different clubs and groups, including international associations and debating societies. New students can learn about these groups during the annual INKOM, which is an introduction week. Maastricht also offers many cultural and sports activities.
Student Housing
Maastricht University does not directly provide student housing like some universities. However, it works with a foundation that helps students find rooms and apartments. About 2,700 rooms are offered through this foundation by local housing groups. Many other places are rented by private landlords. Most student homes are in the historic city center or nearby. Many international exchange students stay at the UM Guesthouse for short periods.
Student Service Centre
The university's Student Service Centre is in the old Bonnefanten monastery. It helps students with money, legal advice, and other support. It also runs the Studium Generale program, which offers interesting lectures and cultural events for students and the public.
University News
The university has its own newspaper called Observant. It comes out weekly and shares news, stories, and information in Dutch and English for the university community. Since 2012, there's also a TV show called BreakingMaas that provides news and fun for students in English. You can watch it on local TV and online.
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Student Service Center, Ezelmarkt
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Home of Circumflex, a student association
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Premises of MSV Tragos, a student association
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Student fencing club Mas Incontro
Academic Life
Teaching Style
Maastricht University is famous for its unique teaching method called problem-based learning (PBL). It's the only university that uses PBL in all its study programs. The medical faculty was one of the first in the world to adopt PBL in 1974.
In PBL, students are responsible for their own learning. A typical course involves "tutorial groups" of 14 to 16 students. They meet once or twice a week to discuss problems based on real-life situations. Students lead the discussions, and the teacher (called a "tutor") guides them and helps them find information. Courses usually last seven weeks and end with an exam or assignments. Even though PBL focuses on self-guided learning, many programs also include some lectures to help students. The university's Language Centre helps international students understand the PBL method.
Rankings and Reputation
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 201-300 (2020) |
| CWTS World | 174 (2020) |
| QS World | 234 (2021) |
| QS Under 50 | 19 (2021) |
| THE World | 121 (2021) |
| THE Young Universities | 6 (2021) |
| USNWR Global | =189 (2021) |
Maastricht University is highly regarded worldwide. In 2021, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings placed it at 121st globally. The QS World University Rankings put it at 234th in 2021. The Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking) has included Maastricht among the top 300 universities since 2011.
For universities under 50 years old, UM ranked 19th in the QS Top 50 Under 50 in 2021. In a similar list by THE, THE 100 Under 50 universities 2021, Maastricht University was 6th in the world.
In specific study areas for 2022, THE ranked Maastricht University 23rd in "Law," 64th in "Clinical & health," and 72nd in "Business & Economics." The School of Business and Economics also has a "Triple accreditation" from important business school organizations.
Maastricht University is also known for its excellent psychology department. In biological psychology, it ranks 5th in the world. It has special MRI scanners, including one of only five 9.4 Tesla MRI scanners worldwide, which helps with amazing research on the brain. The university is also ranked 5th globally in education and educational research.
Research at UM
Research at Maastricht University focuses on three main areas: Quality of Life, Learning and Innovation, and Europe and a Globalizing World. Researchers study topics like healthy aging, climate change, and how technology affects our lives. Much of this research involves different study fields working together.
One special research facility is Scannexus, a lab with super-powerful MRI scanners. These include one of only four 9.4 Tesla scanners in the world. This allows for groundbreaking research into the brain. In 2011, the university had 213 Ph.D. graduates and published over 3,500 scientific papers.
Research and Graduate Schools
Many research projects and Ph.D. programs happen within special research units called "graduate schools" or linked institutes. Some examples include:
- Health, Medicine and Life Sciences: Schools for Public Health, Cardiovascular Diseases, Oncology, Nutrition, and Health Professions Education.
- Psychology and Neuroscience: Graduate School Psychology and Neuroscience, and School for Mental Health and Neuroscience.
- Business and Economics: Graduate School of Business and Economics, and centers for research in economics, finance, and accounting.
- Law: Maastricht Graduate School of Law, focusing on international, European, and comparative law.
- Arts and Social Sciences: Graduate school for Arts and Social Sciences, covering topics like politics, culture, science, and technology.
- Science and Engineering: Maastricht University graduate School of susTainability science, and Maastricht Graduate School of Governance.
Independent Research Institutes
Some research is done at independent institutes like:
- Maastricht Centre for Human Rights
- Maastricht European Institute for Transnational Law Research (METRO)
- Montesquieu Institute, focusing on European parliamentary history
- UNU-MERIT, which studies innovation and technology as part of the United Nations University.
Sharing Knowledge and Starting Businesses
Maastricht University works to turn its research into real-world products and solutions. It partners with businesses and organizations through various programs. UM Holding is a company that helps create new businesses based on university research.
The "Brainport 2020" program aims to develop special campuses in Limburg province, working with local governments, businesses, and knowledge institutions. These campuses focus on different areas:
- Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus: Health and wellbeing.
- Chemelot Campus: Chemistry and materials.
- Smart Services Hub: Finance and information services.
- Greenport Campus: Food, farming, and logistics.
Notable Professors
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Many talented professors teach and research at Maastricht University. Here are a few examples:
- Mark Post: He was the first in the world to show how to make cultured meat in 2013.
- Wiebe Bijker: A professor who helped create the idea of how technology and society influence each other.
- Luc Soete: A professor of Economics and director of UNU-MERIT, who advises on economic strategies.
- Geert Hofstede: An emeritus professor known for his work on how different cultures affect business.
- Theo van Boven: An emeritus professor of International Law who worked for the United Nations on human rights.
- Clemens van Blitterswijk: A professor of regenerative medicine, focusing on growing new tissues.
- Cees van der Vleuten: A professor of Medical Education, recognized for his research in how medical professionals are taught.
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Jan Dietz
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Wim Naudé
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Jan Smits
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Clemens van Blitterswijk
Images for kids
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Tongersestraat: former Jesuit Monastery, School of Economics
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Bouillonstraat: former provincial parliament, Faculty of Law
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Minderbroedersberg: former Franciscan Church, administrative seat
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Ezelmarkt: former Bonnefanten Monastery, Student Service Centre
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Sint Servaasklooster: canon's house, Language Centre
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Grote Gracht: Soiron Mansion, FASoS
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Grote Gracht: Ursuline schools, FASoS
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Grote Gracht: Tilly Mansion, FASoS
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Faculty of Medicine
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University hospital
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Peter Debyeplein 1
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Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1
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Jan Dietz
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Wim Naudé
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Jan Smits
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Clemens van Blitterswijk
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Maastricht para niños
