They are travelling to Maastricht University in the Netherlands for a
special undergraduate Open Day on Saturday March 12 where they will meet
other British students who are already studying there.
Maastricht was one of the first Dutch universities to attract students
from the UK by offering degrees taught in English for just £1,500 a year.
Ranked higher than many leading British universities in global league
tables, it has seen its number of UK students more than quadruple to
nearly 500 over the past five years.
Josie Cooper, 16, who currently attends Davenant Foundation School in
Loughton, Essex, hopes to study European Law at Maastricht and will attend
the Open Day with her parents.
She said: “Studying abroad provides new experiences and a real chance to
‘fly the nest’ and be independent.
“It will be interesting to experience, as a British citizen, different
cultures and languages. It would be nice to learn a different language, as
I am used to going anywhere in the world only to be spoken to in English.
“I am aware the Dutch have fantastic language skills but I hope to pick up
some Dutch if I were to be accepted into Maastricht.”
Josie admitted that the cost of courses is also a factor in her decision.
“To take a university course in England costs £9,000 a term, however in
Europe it costs considerably less.”
Samantha Landers, 21, from Tolworth, Surrey is studying for an Economics
and Business Economics degree at Maastricht University after being
impressed at an Open Day.
She said: “My mum first started looking into foreign universities after
hearing a story about them on the news. We then found a podcast in which a
Maastricht University student was interviewed.
“I liked the idea of Maastricht University due to its reputation, the ease
of getting here from the UK and the fact that it’s taught in English with
students from all over the world.”
Katie Grinyer attended the Maastricht University Open Day last November to
find more about the Bachelor’s degree in European Public Health. “It’s a
unique programme, the only one like it in Europe,” she says.
Katie, 19, from Clevedon near Bristol, is now on a gap year working in
France, Katie is due to start her course at Maastricht in September. With
grades AAB for her A-levels Katie could have taken her pick of UK
universities but decided she wanted a bigger challenge.
“Studying and living with people from lots of different cultures at a
really international university appealed to me and I also think that the
way they teach through problem based learning with research, presentations
and group work will be really character building and emulate the workplace
much more than just attending lectures.
“Also, of course, there is the fact that the tuition fees at Maastricht
are so much lower than those in the UK so I will be graduating with far
less debt than my friends back home.”
Izzy Bickerton was unsure about studying abroad until she attended the
Maastricht Open day last autumn and decided it was her number one choice.
“I already knew the city and loved it, but what clinched it for me was the
talk by the European Law professor about problem based learning. Students
learn in seminars by problem solving real life cases and it combines
independent learning and group work. It sounds very exciting and I think
it will be a very good preparation for the workplace, especially for
lawyers,” she says.
Izzy, 18, from Wolverhampton, has also applied to universities in the UK
through UCAS and was offered places by all of her five choices.
“My first choice in the UK is Law and French at Birmingham, but Maastricht
has always been my number one choice and the Open Day definitely cemented
it for me. It’s because of the problem based teaching, the course itself
and the international experience I will get, meeting people from many
different countries and cultures. Also Maastricht is higher on the global
rankings than many of our UK universities,” she says.
A spokeswoman for the University said: “It is clear that a growing number
of UK students are coming to realise that Europe has a great deal to offer
if they are looking for high quality education, a stimulating student
experience, and great career prospects. Financial support is also
available from the Dutch government, so together with competitive tuition
fees a Maastricht degree is very affordable as well as highly desirable.”
Travelling to Maastricht from London takes just 3 hours by train.
Bachelor’s Open Day visitors will be able to find out more about courses,
tuition fees, student grants, accommodation, and facilities, and explore
the attractive cobbled streets of the city.
