For most bachelor's programmes, Maastricht has relatively open admission if you meet the academic requirements: an accepted Baccalaureate, specific subjects (for example mathematics for business or science programmes) and the required English level. Unlike the United States, it is not a matter of a low, competitive admission rate for every programme.

The exception is Numerus Fixus programmes (limited places), such as certain medical and health specialisations, or very popular programmes. These have an additional selection and an earlier deadline (usually 15 January). For Romanians, a solid Baccalaureate plus IELTS 6.0-6.5 puts you in a good position for most English-taught programmes.

As an EU citizen, you pay the statutory EU fee set by the Dutch government, roughly €2,694 per year (the amount is updated annually). Compared with a non-European student, who pays from EUR 15,000 per year, that means over EUR 12,000 saved annually simply through your status as an EU citizen.

Total tuition over 3 years of bachelor's: roughly €8,082. Accommodation in Maastricht: EUR 450-EUR 750 per month. Food: EUR 250-EUR 350 per month. Transport, books and miscellaneous: EUR 100-EUR 150 per month. Total cost per year all-in: roughly EUR 12,000-EUR 15,000, drastically below the United Kingdom or the United States. Bachelor's degrees last 3 years, not 4 as in Spain.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is Maastricht's defining teaching method, applied since its founding in 1976. Instead of classic lectures in an auditorium, you learn in small groups of 10 to 15 students (tutorial groups), led by a tutor who facilitates rather than just teaches.

The typical process: you receive a real problem, analyse it as a group, identify what you need to find out, study individually between meetings, then come back and build the solution together. This develops critical thinking, teamwork and the ability to learn independently, exactly the skills demanded by the job market. For a Romanian student used to the classic system, PBL requires more proactive involvement, but many find it far more motivating.

Yes. Most of Maastricht's bachelor's programmes are taught entirely in English, which makes the university ideal for Romanian students who do not speak Dutch. English-taught programmes include European Studies, International Business, European Law School, Psychology, Econometrics, Business Analytics, University College Maastricht (liberal arts) and health and life sciences programmes.

For these programmes you need proof of English, typically IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80-90. You do not need to know Dutch in order to study, although learning the basics helps in everyday life and for a part-time job. WIB note: the Dutch Wet internationalisering in balans law, currently being phased in, aims to rebalance internationalisation and may gradually reduce some English-taught programmes; check the exact language of your programme when you apply.

Numerus Fixus means that a programme has a limited number of places and uses a selection procedure to choose candidates. In the Netherlands, Numerus Fixus programmes have a fixed and earlier deadline, usually 15 January, with no exceptions.

Selection may include criteria such as grades, motivation letters, tests or interviews, depending on the programme. Programmes without Numerus Fixus have a more relaxed deadline (generally up to 1 May for EU citizens) and admission based on meeting the requirements. Tip for Romanians: check early whether your programme has Numerus Fixus, because the 15 January deadline is not extended.

Studielink is the national platform of the Netherlands through which you apply to all public universities. The steps for a Romanian student: 1) You create an account on Studielink. 2) You choose the programme and Maastricht University. 3) UM opens its own application portal (My UM), where you upload your documents (translated Baccalaureate and transcript, proof of English, possibly a motivation letter).

Deadlines: Numerus Fixus programmes have a 15 January deadline; standard programmes generally have a deadline up to 1 May for EU citizens. You do not need a visa, being an EU citizen. Our recommendation: start the process in the autumn of your final year of high school, so you have time for translations and the English test.

Yes, as an EU citizen you have the automatic right to work in the Netherlands without a work permit, both during your studies (part-time) and after graduation. The Netherlands has a strong economy, with major hubs in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and the Maastricht region, plus many international companies that work in English.

Maastricht graduates are sought after especially in business, finance, consulting, European law, public health and data science. With English being the working language at many international firms, not speaking Dutch is not an obstacle to starting a career. With a degree recognised across the EU, you can later work anywhere in the Union without a visa.

The bachelor's at Maastricht lasts 3 years (180 ECTS), as in the United Kingdom, but with a much lower EU fee. After the bachelor's you can continue with a master's (usually 1-2 years), also with the statutory EU fee.

Maastricht is a compact and safe student city in the south of the Netherlands, on the border with Belgium and Germany. With almost 60 percent international students, the community is very cosmopolitan, and English is spoken everywhere. Many students get around by bike, the cost of living is lower than in Amsterdam, and student events, associations and the INKOM introduction week help freshers integrate quickly. Brussels, Cologne and Aachen are an hour away.