SBE

Selection

In your first year of the bachelor’s, the International Relations Office (IRO) will send you emails (UM account only) about the compulsory study abroad and the selection procedure. On the Intranet, you can find a timeline pertaining to the specific semesters. In the study abroad rules and regulations, you will find the requirements for going abroad.

If there are special circumstances (health issues, disabilities etc.) that need to be taken into account, make sure to contact the IRO before you start the procedure for your semester abroad.

The IRO determines who goes to what partner university based on a ranking of all students who sign up to take part in the selection; this ranking is based on the students’ average grade and number of ECTS credits obtained at the time of selection.

The students can send in a list of up to six partner universities they would like to spend their compulsory study abroad, after which the IRO will start matching students and partners. For more information on the selection procedure, tips on what to look for when picking out your six preferred partners, what to do if you do not get selected, and more, check here.

Even if you are selected, it sometimes happens you will not get to go to your allocated university after all. For example:

• You do not meet a certain admission requirement (e.g. required overall average grade at the start of the exchange, or certain level of language proficiency);
• You were not able to obtain the correct visa to enter your host country (check the visa requirements of the host country). Just so you know: it is always your own responsibility to obtain the required visa; the IRO cannot and will not be involved in the visa application process.
• If there is an (unforeseen) imbalance with respect to the number of incoming and outgoing students. Especially universities in the USA reserve the right to refuse SBE students if there is an imbalance.
• You fail to meet the deadline for submitting the required documents for application to your host university (please refer to the info under Partner Universities on Intranet to check the relevant application deadline);
• If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands issues a so-called negative travel advice for a particular country, the UM will not allow you to travel there. For detailed information, please check the guidelines for study trips to risk areas for Maastricht University students.

Visa

Depending on your destination and your nationality, you may have to apply for an entry visa and/or a residence permit. The host university will inform you about this, but we do also advise you to check the host country’s embassy and immigration pages. Please stick to their instructions in order not to delay any processes.

You do not need a visa for EU-countries if you have an EU nationality. However, if you do not possess a European nationality, you need a residence permit if you stay longer than three months within a European Union country. For details, check the information from the embassy of the host country.

If you have a Dutch residence permit, you are allowed to spend a period of a maximum of nine months abroad during your SBE studies without jeopardizing your Dutch residence permit. If your permit expires while abroad, make arrangements to have it renewed before you go on exchange. A Dutch residence permit does not automatically grant you a legal stay in the other EU countries; always check the relevant embassy.

For non-EU countries, a visa is always required. You should start the visa procedure as soon as you have received the required document(s) from your host university. For details, check the information from the embassy of the host country.

Insurances

Health insurance: If you have a Dutch insurance in the Netherlands, you have a private health insurance. Always check with your insurance company if it offers worldwide coverage. For some non-EU countries, you will need additional coverage because of the extremely high medical expenses (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia and Switzerland). Some host universities in fact have compulsory university health insurance. Please refer to the relevant entry under Partner Universities, as well as your host university’s website, for more information.

We strongly advise you to also take out liability insurance. Please consult your insurance agent for the appropriate coverage and have them translate your insurance policies or certificates into English or -even better- in the language of your host country. Make sure you take these (certified) translations with you when you travel.

Vaccinations

The host university’s information material will tell you if vaccinations are required and which ones. For up-to-date information, check the host country’s embassy or local health authority.

Note that if you take special medication, you should contact the embassy about the requirements to legally take this medication with you (you may need an official letter from your doctor).

Housing

Please check the information under Partner Universities to find out whether your host university offers accommodation and/or offers assistance in finding housing. Also, check the website of your host university for up-to-date information.

Emergency

Although we want nothing more than for you to have a great time when you are studying abroad, mishaps - or worse, calamities, do sometimes happen. For example, you get so homesick that all you want to do is crawl back home. Someone in your family becomes seriously ill, and you are needed back home. Or you break a wrist in the week before exams…

If something like this happens, and you need to break off your study abroad, or you cannot take your exams, please let IRO SBE know immediately. Also, make sure you contact the International Office of your host university, so that they know what is going on and can offer assistance where and if needed. Finally, make sure you reach out to SBE’s Student & Career Counselling office, so that they can help you set up a plan to make up for the credits you will be missing.

After your exchange

All students will receive an academic transcript of their host university. In most cases, your host university sends your transcript directly to SBE. The IRO will inform you once your transcript arrived. In some cases, you need to arrange receiving your transcript yourself. If this is the case you need to send the IRO the transcript yourself. Please read the 'recognition and registration of credits' section carefully in order to have your credits smootly transferred. 

International Relations Office

The International Relations Office (IRO) has an open office for incoming exchange students, every Tuesday and Thursday day from 10.00 to 11.00 at the Information Desk in the entrance hall of the SBE building at Tongersestraat 53. 

Contact us
iro-incoming-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Make an appointment

Academic calendar

SBE’s academic year consists of two semesters, a fall semester and a spring semester. Course periods 1, 2 and 3 compose the fall semester; 4, 5 and 6 the spring semester.

Each semester starts with a two-day compulsory introduction and consists of:

• two course periods of eight weeks, of which the last week is the exam period;
• one course period of two weeks, in which you’ll complete a specific (programme-related) skills training. This course period is not compulsory for exchange students.

The academic calendar 2024-2025 provides an outline of:

• education weeks
• exam weeks
• deadlines registration education + evening availability
• (de-)registration exams periods
• publication of education and exam timetables
• holidays

Course information

Study load
Exchange students can only register for a maximum of 2 courses per period (13 ECTS) with a minimum of 1 course per period (5/6,5 ECTS), and only 1 skills training per period (4 ECTS).  Skills trainings are not compulsory for exchange students. At SBE we consider a fulltime study load per semester to be 4 courses and 1 skills training.

• Period 1: maximum two courses (max. 13 ECTS credits), minimum one course (5/6.5 ECTS credits)
• Period 2: maximum two courses (max. 13 ECTS credits), minimum one course (5/6.5 ECTS credits)
• Period 3: maximum one skills training (max. 4 ECTS credits)
• Period 4: maximum two courses (max. 13 ECTS credits), minimum one course (5/6.5 ECTS credits)
• Period 5: maximum two courses (max. 13 ECTS credits), minimum one course (5/6.5 ECTS credits)
• Period 6: maximum one skills training (max. 4 ECTS credits)

Important note:
Most SBE courses (except for the skills trainings) are worth 6,5 ECTS. In some study programmes, however, the number of ECTS per course is different. One ECTS equals 28 hours of study. So one regular course at SBE equals 182 hours of study, of which 42 hours need to be considered as contact hours.

Information on courses
All courses are taught in English.
In the online exchange course database you can find all the information you need about SBE’s bachelor’s and master’s courses, such as the course coordinator(s), learning outcomes and competences, number of ECTS, literature and prerequisites.

Courses code explanation
EBC1...: 1^st year’s bachelor’s course
EBC2...: 2^nd and 3^rd year bachelor’s course
EBC4...: master’s course
EBS2...: Skills training bachelor’s level
EBS4...: Skills training master’s level 

Course level
All 2^nd and 3^rd year bachelor’s courses are either at introductory, intermediate or advanced level:

• introductory
  This course gives an introduction to the subject.
• intermediate
  You can only choose this course if you have prior knowledge about the subject via a course offered at SBE, or a comparable course at your home university.
• advanced
  Very high level; you can only choose this course if you have extensive prior knowledge about the subject via a course offered at SBE, or a comparable course at your home university.

Course selection
When you select your courses, you should note that some will assume knowledge of topics covered in other courses (“pre-requisites”). If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be allowed to register for the course. You are responsible for making sure you have the requisite knowledge to follow courses that state certain pre-requisites.   

As an exchange student you are expected to take second and third year courses. However, a selection of first year courses at SBE is also open to exchange students. If you want to select a second or third year course and combine it with a first year course in the same course period, you do have to keep in mind that some of your tutorials might take place at the same day and the same time. This could also happen with the exam schedule. Unfortunately, SBE will not be able to alter the course and exam schedule for you. Nor will  the tutor, the course coordinator, or the School be held responsible if you end up with a study delay as a result.

For master's students only
If you want to register for a mix of master's level and bachelor's level courses in the same study period you do have to keep in mind that some of your tutorials might take place at the same day and the same time. This could also happen with the exam schedule. Unfortunately, SBE will not be able to alter the course and exam schedule for you. Nor will the tutor, the course coordinator, or the School be held responsible if you end up with a study delay as a result.

Skills training
Focusing on the acquisition of knowledge is not sufficient if you are a student of Business and Economics. You have to be able to work in all kinds of organisations, which implies that you need to possess several social an communication skills. SBE offers you the opportunity to obtain these skills. SBE also pays attention to quantitive skills like accounting, financial arithmetic, operations research, statistics and mathematics. Computer proficiency and basic knowledge of information science are also regarded as essential elements of the curriculum.

For master’s level students, there are no skills trainings available in period 6. Master’s level students may register for bachelor’s level skills trainings when they have the approval of their home university.

Course (de)registration period and deadlines
You can only (de)register via Student Portal for courses during the (de)registration periods. As long as you register for courses before the course registration deadline, participation is guaranteed. For course (de)registration periods and deadlines please consult the Student Portal.

Course changes
Please be aware that all deadlines at SBE are extremely strict. Once the course (de)registration deadline has passed, the system closes automatically and you can no longer register or deregister for courses. Up until the deadlines, you can register/deregister and switch at will.

Maastricht University uses the Problem Based Learning Method, where the average group size is 15 students. We, therefore, need to do a lot of planning to find enough rooms and teachers/tutors, and to make sure there are about the same number of students in each tutorial group. Therefore, students are not allowed to switch courses after the course (de)registration deadline. 

Important note:
If you have to get advice on, or pre-approval for, your SBE courses, make sure to take care of this before the course registration deadline.

Course schedule
About two weeks before the beginning of each course period, your timetable will be published via Student Portal.

Course manual
About two weeks before the beginning of each course period course manuals will become available via Student Portal, but there have been occasions where they were posted only a day before the class started or handed out when class started.

The course manual includes a description of the course, an overview of the objectives, the literature used, clarification of assessment criteria used and an explanation of the way the final grade will be calculated.

Course attendance and participation
You have to attend your tutorial groups and are expected to participate actively. In fact, this will have an impact on your grade for that course. The majority of SBE courses have a 100% attendance requirement which means that you cannot miss one single lecture or tutorial. If you do not fulfil these requirements, you face the consequences. One of the consequences could be that you will no longer be able to pass the course successfully and thus will not receive any credits for the course even if you ace the exam.

Nomination and application

Eligibility
As exchange student, you must officially be nominated by your home university. You do not have to pay a tuition fee at SBE but you will continue to pay tuition fee to your home university.

We can only accept you if you major in Economics or Business (or related). If you are a bachelor's student, you have to have completed at least two semesters (one academic year) of relevant study before you start your exchange programme at SBE. If you want to take master’s level courses while at SBE, you have to have a valid and relevant bachelor’s degree/diploma when you start your exchange here.

English language requirement
Since the working language at our School is English and all courses are taught in English, all exchange students are required to have an advanced level of the English language - comparable to the level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference - to be able to successfully complete their courses. SBE does not require any proof of an English language test score, but do make sure your English is up to par when you start your exchange.

Our educational system - Problem Based Learning (PBL) - requires you to actively take part in the tutorial meetings. The PBL method is explicitly student-centred rather than teacher-centred, and the students are expected to take the initiative. Speaking up and actively taking part in discussions is a crucial part of the system and this will also influence your final grades. Therefore, it is extremely important that you have an excellent knowledge of both written and spoken English.

Nomination and application deadlines

• The nomination deadline for the spring 2025 semester is 15 September 2024.
• The application deadline for the spring 2025 semester is 1 October 2024.
   
• The nomination deadline for the fall 2025 semester is 15 April 2025.
• The application deadline for the fall 2025 semester is 1 May 2025.

Online registration and application
After the nominations have been submitted by our partner universities, we will provide them with instructions on online registration and application.

Required documents
Along with your application, you will need to upload a variety of documents.

To finish your application keep the following required documents at hand:

• Digital copy of valid passport or European ID card.
  EU: valid for the entire duration of the exchange semester plus one month.
  Non-EU: valid for the entire duration of the exchange semester plus three months.
• Digital copy of an official portrait picture
  (the kind you get taken and use for a passport, not a digital copy of the picture on the passport).
• Digital copy of the academic transcript of all semester from your current study. The transcript should be in English and certified as true copy by home university. Furthermore, it should clearly mention the name of the courses taken, the grade obtained for each course and the credits obtained per course.
• Digital copy of relevant bachelor’s degree/diploma in English and certified as true copy by university (only for master’s level exchange students).

Visa and residence permit

Depending on your nationality you may have to apply for a special entry visa and/or a residence permit. Once you have completed the online exchange application the IRO will check this and, if applicable, will forward your details to Maastricht University’s Visa Office, who will get back to you via email. As soon as you hear from them, you should take action immediately and provide them with the necessary documents as soon as possible.

If you are a student needing a special entry visa it is especially vital to respond quickly to the Visa Office, since you will otherwise seriously delay your visa application.  If your visa is not ready in time for the introduction days and the start of the semester do not travel to the Netherlands, and never apply for a short-stay or tourist visa. If you do so anyway, Dutch Immigration Laws will force us to deregister you as SBE student, which means you will not be allowed to follow courses.

For more information regarding immigration requirements and procedures click here or contact the Maastricht University's Visa Office (please mention your name, student ID number, nationality  and home university).

If the Visa Office has not contacted you 3 months before the start of your exchange semester at SBE please contact IRO (please mention your name, student ID number, nationality  and home university).

Exemption language test
If you have the Chinese nationality but study at one of our partner institutions in Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR), Taiwan (ROC) or any English-speaking country (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Singapore) where education is completely in English, you are exempted from the English language proficiency test. When you apply for the Nuffic Certificate you must provide a motivation that you request an exemption for the English language test (because you are currently studying at a university located in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau or in an English speaking country). The IRO at SBE will provide the Nuffic organization with a list of the names of the students who are eligible for the exemption. Do note that the exemption is only given for the English language test score. You will always need a Nuffic Certificate as validity of your diplomas and degrees  in order to be eligible for a visa for The Netherlands.

If you are Chinese and study at a mainland Chinese university, you will have to take the English language proficiency test. When in doubt, contact the IRO (please mention your name, Student ID number, nationality and home university).
The application for a Nuffic Certificate is part of the application for the visa, and does not replace the application as exchange student at SBE.

For the entire application procedure for the Nuffic Certificate please visit the website of Study in Holland.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL)

PBL was adopted by Maastricht University in 1976. PBL tries to overcome the weaknesses of traditional education by giving the students a very active role. Students do not spend hours listening to lectures – although there are some, usually at the start of the study period - but instead, per course, attend two-hour tutorial group meetings twice a week. These meetings form the core part of the study programme and are the driving force for learning. Within the tutorial groups, problems are presented as cases and researched. The international classroom underlines the benefits in the learning process of students when they work in small tutorial groups with people from different cultural backgrounds. By approaching problems from a variety of perspectives students are acquainted with different ways of seeing things and that enhances the quality of discussions. In this way, the international classroom prepares students for the rapidly globalising labour market.

A tutorial group is composed of 8 to 15 students plus a tutor: a staff member who guides the group process but who does not automatically give answers to the problems. It is up to the students to discover where their knowledge falls short and to fill in the gaps. To do so, students will have to spend a lot of time between tutorial meetings to read articles and books, and to do research in the university library.

More in-depth information about the Problem Based Learning can be found here.

Introduction activities

SBE compulsory introduction days
Each semester starts with a two-day compulsory introduction for incoming exchange students, which takes place in the main building of SBE (Tongersestraat 53, Maastricht).

• Fall semester 2024: Thursday 29 and Friday 30 August 2024
• Spring semester 2025: Thursday 30 and Friday 31 January 2025

First introduction day
The programme of the first introduction day starts with a registration session, followed by a plenary session, lunch, and social programme. During the first introduction day, you will get acquainted with our school, the city, the student life as well as with your fellow students.

Second introduction day
During the second introduction day, you will receive theoretical information about the problem based learning system (PBL) and take part in a practice session in which the different steps, roles, and expectations are explained and played out. Afterwards, you should have a good idea of what to expect when classes start. After the PBL session we will end the introduction days with a welcome drink.

INKOM
The INKOM is the general introduction week for all new students of Maastricht University and Zuyd Hogeschool. The INKOM only takes place once a year, two weeks before the fall semester starts.

During the INKOM you will meet many new people and you will learn all of the aspects of Maastricht. You will meet all cultural, sports, study, and student associations of Maastricht. There is also attention for music, dance, cabaret, the city, and many other aspects that are relevant for students. There are of course enough parties and other activities.

More information on the programme and registration can be found on the official website of  INKOM Maastricht.

ESN Maastricht Arrival Week
ESN Maastricht is a non-profit international student organization whose mission is to represent international students, under the motto of “Students helping Students.” It is part of a much bigger organization called ESN (Erasmus Student Network), which is a network recognised all over Europe, with hundreds of sections in different countries. ESN organises an abundance of events.

The Arrival Week is, a fun, week-long experience of what it is like to be a part of ESN Maastricht. You will meet with active members, along with other exchangers and international students. The Arrival Week takes place twice a year, one week before the semester starts. More information on ESN Maastricht, Arrival Week and registration can be found on the website of ESN Maastricht.

Please bear in mind that the INKOM and ESN's Arrival Week are not the same nor replace the SBE compulsory introduction days for incoming exchange students.

Student Portal, intranet and webmail

Student Portal
The Student Portal is your one-stop location for accessing and managing your personal university information. It has been designed to work on all devices, so that you can access the information you need, whenever you need it, be it on your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Use the Student Portal to sign up for courses, access your course material, answer your email, check your calendar, latest announcements, upcoming deadlines, grades, deregister for exams.

To access the portal go to Student Portal and login with your student ID number (i6******) and password.

Intranet
Use intranet to find academic related information, information about procedures, rules and regulations (e.g. academic calendar, information on registration for education and exams, information concerning exams, examinations and results. To access the intranet first login to Student Portal.

Webmail
After registration you will receive an email containing your Student ID number and your password, which you need to login to your Maastricht University email.
The IRO will only send emails to this address after the start of the semester. Before that time we will use the email address you provided in your online application form.

Check your Maastricht University email via Student Portal.

Access remains possible until 60 days after your registration as exchange student has ended.

Exams and resits

Exams
Once you have registered for a course/skills training, you are automatically registered for the first corresponding exam.

The assessment method differs widely per course. In most cases, you have to pass a written or oral examination at the end of the course. This will be mentioned in the online exchange course database as well as in the course manual. 

Resits
If you fail the course you will always get the opportunity to take a second exam, a so-called resit. NB:

• if you fail the first exam, you are automatically registered for the resit.
• if you decide not to take the resit, you must actively deregister via the Student Portal. 
• when you have not taken the first exam or you obtained none grade, you must actively register for the resit via the Student Portal.

You are not allowed to do a resit for a course you got a pass for, or a grade 5.5 or higher.

Important note:
If you want to take a resit you have to be present in Maastricht to take part. If you have already returned to your home country the resit will not be faxed, sent or e-mailed to your home institution.

Important note for all fall students:
If you decide to come back to Maastricht to take a resit for a course taken in period 2, you have to inform the IRO to keep access to the Student Portal.

(De)registration period and deadlines course examination
You can only (de)register via Student Portal for exams during the (de)registration periods.
For exam (de)registration periods and deadlines please consult the Student Portal.

Course examination schedule
The examination schedule is published via Student Portal about two weeks before the beginning of each course period. The schedule for resits is published via Student Portal in the week after the (de)registration period for course examination.

Keep in mind that the examination schedule is always subject to change at late notice. Although the exam week dates are given, the individual exam schedules are not, so when you pre-book your return flight take this into account.

Rules of Procedure for Examinations
As exchange student you are subject to the same Rules of Procedure for Examinations as the other students. Check them carefully via Student Portal.

Tips:

• check the week before for any changes in the exam day in the Student Portal.
• check the day before for any changes in the exam venue or time in the Student Portal.
• be on time. The doors close at the starting time of the examination – no matter how bad the weather conditions, traffic-jams or train delay might be. After the starting time of the examination you are not permitted to enter any more.
• bring your UM Student Card (or if you do not have one a passport or identity card with undamaged portrait picture to the venue. Students who cannot identify themselves are not allowed to take part in the examination.
• don’t bring your cell phone, smartphone, PDA or other electronic devices. Leave them – before the start of the exam – completely switched off and put them in your bag under your exam table, not on your desk or in your pocket.
• it is not permitted to wear a watch during the exam. Leave it (in your bag) under your exam table before the exam starts.
• for examinations that allow the use of a calculator, in general only the following types are permitted: Casio FX82 or Casio FX85. All other types are forbidden.

Results
Every course has its own requirements students need to meet in order to pass the course. These requirements are mentioned in the course manual.

All official examination results are published via Student Portal within 15 working days after the examination date. The coordinator will announce the date you can inspect your assessed work in the 'Course Details' on the Student Portal and/or the front page of the examination.

Do note that for Multiple Choice examinations you can request a copy of your answer sheet via Ask SBE. You can then assess the work with the published answer key yourself.

Transcript, grades, credits

Transcript
Please keep in mind that once you have registered for a course it will always show up on your transcript at the end of your exchange, unless you deregister for the course before the course (de)registration deadline. 

If you take a language course during your exchange at SBE this will not be mentioned on your transcript, as these courses are not part of SBE’s curriculum but are taught at UM’s Language Centre, who will provide you with a separate Proof of Participation after you have completed the course. Before you enroll in a language course please contact your home university to find out whether or not they acknowledge the grade/credits earned for a language course.

When will I get my transcript?
Once all results have been processed in the system, the transcript can be created. Do note that this is time consuming. We kindly ask for your patience.

If you need to receive your transcript of records urgently, please inform the IRO once you have received all your grades. We will try to send your transcript as soon as possible.

If you failed a course and do not want to take part in the resit, make sure to deregister yourself for the resit via Student Portal to avoid a delay in processing your transcript.

How will I get my transcript?
An electronic version of your grade transcript will be sent directly to both you and your home university. 

SBE’s grading system
Every course has its own requirements students need to meet in order to pass the course. These requirements are mentioned in the course manual.

All courses are assessed with a whole or half grade on a scale from 0.0 to 10.0 or a no grade. It should be noted that a 10.0 is very rarely scored (fewer than 1% of students). A grade of 5.5 is considered a pass. The grading scale applied by SBE, is to be interpreted as:

10.0                Exceptional
9.0-9.5            Excellent
8.0-8.5            Very Good
7.0-7.5            Good
6.0-6.5            Satisfactory
5.5                  Sufficient
≤ 5.0               Insufficient
Pass               Sufficient to exceptional, performance at least meets the minimum criteria
Fail                 Insufficient, performance below the minimum criteria
NG                 No Grade; due to unjustified absence

Important note:
Most skills trainings are assessed with pass or fail and not a grade. Only the pass or fail result will be shown on the grade transcript.

Credits
SBE uses the ECTS system. The grade transcripts will contain the names of the course you took, plus the Dutch grade and the number of ECTS credits. We do not use ECTS grades.

What is the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)?
ECTS, the European Credit Transfer System, was developed by the Commission of the European Communities in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition throughout the European Community and, as from the academic year 1992/93, between an EC Member State and any country belonging to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). ECTS provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements, and transferring them from one institution to another.

Suggested ECTS conversion table:

Dutch Grade             ECTS Grade              Explanation

8.5 – 10.0                   = A                              = Excellent
7.5 – 8.4                     = B                              = Very Good
7.0 – 7.4                     = C                              = Good
6.5 – 6.9                     = D                              = Satisfactory
5.5 – 6.4                     = E                              = Sufficient
1.0 – 5.4                     = F/FX                        = Insufficient

Erasmus+ and other documents

The Erasmus+ learning agreement and statement of stay are provided by your home university.

To get your Erasmus+ learning agreement or statement of stay signed you can send it to the  IRO or visit the open office hours of the IRO, on Tuesday and Thursday from 10.00 to 11.00 hrs at the Information Desk in the entrance hall of SBE.

Information regarding the receiving institution:

The learning agreement (Table A in the learning agreement) includes all the educational components (course code + title + number of ECTS) to be carried out by the student at the receiving institution.

The date of arrival or start date of the study abroad period is the first day the student has to be present at SBE (first introduction day). The date of departure or end date of the study abroad period is the last day the student has to be present at SBE. The last day could be the last day of the exam week, skills weeks or resit week. Please consult the academic calendar for the concerning dates.

Accommodation

Student housing in the Netherlands is not arranged by the university. Finding a room is your own responsibility. In Maastricht there is a shortage of student housing. Finding a suitable place to stay can be difficult and time-consuming. We advise you to start looking for accommodation as soon as your application has been (conditionally) approved.

Although Maastricht University cannot assist students in finding accommodation, we do want to offer you tips in your search for housing.

Maastrichthousing
Most exchange students end up staying in the UM Guesthouse (C or P building) via Maastrichthousing. Maastrichthousing is affiliated with Maastricht University. The UM Guesthouse offers furnished single and double rooms and studios at 13 locations in Maastricht. The main buildings are located in the vicinity of SBE and are easily accessible by bike or on foot. The minimum stay is 3 months, maximum of 12 months.

Services UM Guesthouse

• Own reception, helpdesk and technical services
• 24/7 on campus surveillance with direct contact to Guesthouse staff
• Cleaning of all common areas (kitchen, showers, toilets, etc.)
• On campus availability of a General Practice Center, Pharmacy and Travel Clinic
• Large outside area with lawns, tennis courts, basketball field and parking places on Annadal Campus
• ATLAS, the home of Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is located on campus
• The rental price includes electricity, heating, water, taxes, cleaning, etc. No additional bills.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all students who apply for a room in the UM Guesthouse actually get a room there. Applications are processed on a first-come-first served basis, and we have no influence on that process.

If you want a room in the UM Guesthouse, go to Maastrichthousing. To book a room you first need to register as user; registration costs are non-refundable.

If the UM Guesthouse is fully booked, or if you prefer to stay elsewhere, you can click on the option private market or housing corporations. You may also browse the internet yourself. Do note that most private landlords offer only contracts for a year. Most housing corporations mostly offer unfurnished housing.

Some students choose to live in Belgium, where accommodation may be cheaper and it is possible to commute by bike to Maastricht. However, this choice means that you will need to register yourself with the Belgian municipality, and may face additional bureaucratic steps that are not covered here. Bear in mind that if you are a non-EU student and you have a residence permit for the Netherlands, you cannot live in Belgium or any other EU country (bordering the Netherlands).

Legal aspects, regular and irregular housing expenses
We recommend you to acquaint yourself with the legal aspects of renting accommodation and with the regular and irregular housing expenses. That way you will know what to expect and will be able to avoid unnecessary bills or disagreements when you leave. For more information check MyMaastricht.

Avoid getting scammed
Here are some tips on avoiding scams in the Dutch rental market:

• Does the offer sound too good to be true? Then it probably is.
• Always check the address of a room that is on offer; e.g. via Google, Google Maps.
• Always check the credentials of the person offering a room; e.g. ask the person to provide a telephone number. Landline phone numbers in Maastricht start with 043 or +31-43 when the country code of the Netherlands is added. Google whether a name has been used before in a fraud scheme. Ask if you can register with the council at the address. If not, that's a red flag.
• Never trust people who claim not to be able to arrange a viewing; e.g. because they are not in the Netherlands.
• Never transfer money in advance
• Never transfer money to Western Union, PayPal accounts or to foreign accounts.

Please take the following dates into account when booking housing:
Note that you need to make sure you arrive in Maastricht at least one day before the compulsory introduction days. The last day you have to be present at our school is the last day of the exam week or skills weeks. If you want to take a resit (=second chance to pass the exam) you have to be present in Maastricht. In this case the last day you have to be present at our school is the last day of the resit week. Please consult the academic calendar for the concerning dates.

Warning:
Please note that the International Relations Office at SBE cannot and will not interfere on your behalf in case of problems, issues or even legal disputes, neither with the UM Guesthouse, Maastrichthousing, nor with housing agencies, landlords, local students subletting their room or apartment or otherwise. Instead, consult with your own lawyer or check the Housing Helpdesk.

Insurance

Healthcare insurance
By law, everyone in the Netherlands, even if you are here for only one or two semesters, must have healthcare insurance for medical expenses. Which type of healthcare insurance you need depends on your personal situation. Please check your current insurance to see if it covers your stay in the Netherlands and to what extent. More information can be found here.

Liability insurance and household contents insurance
Make sure you are sufficiently insured for liability and household contents.
More information can be found via MyMaastricht or Study in Holland.

How to get to Maastricht

Maastricht is located in the heart of Europe, in the Meuse/Rhine Euro region. The city is surrounded by Belgium and Germany and close to France. Maastricht is easily accessible by plane, public transport and car.

By plane
UM's Student Service Centre (SSC) offers the following services:

• Customised travel instructions to help guide you from the airport to your new home in Maastricht
• General travel directions by train to Maastricht Central Station from your arrival airport

More information about the Travel Instructions Service.

By public transport
Maastricht has excellent public transport connections. You can easily reach your destination in town and the surrounding areas by train or bus. For more information please visit the website of Maastricht Bereikbaar.

For more information, please see our public transportation webpage. 

By car

From the north (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven) > E25 / A2
From the west (Brussels, Hasselt) > E40 > E25 / A2 or E314 / A2
From the south (Paris, Liège) > E40 > E25 / A2
From the east (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Köln / Bonn) > A79

Do you plan on driving to UM (from abroad) every day? Do you live in Maastricht and own a car? Then UM and the Municipality of Maastricht have several parking options for you.
 

Public transportation

Travel information for public transport
To plan your journey by train, bus, metro or tram, or a combination of these transportation types please visit the website 9292. 

Payment method for public transport
The OV-chipkaart (smart card) is the main / only payment method for public transport (train, bus, metro, tram) in the Netherlands. You can buy your personal OV-chipkaart online. To top your OV-chipkaart use the special loading docks, one of which is available in the SBE building, and which you will also find at train or metro stations. Some grocery stores also have loading docks. More information about the OV-chipkaart can be found on the website of 9292.

Renting a bicycle
For a fixed monthly fee you get a Swapfiets (bicycle). Bicycle broken? Just get in touch with Swapfiets and within 12 hours they provide you with a working bicycle at the location chosen by you. Please note that SBE is not affiliated with Swapfiets, and will not interfere in case of problems.

Buying a second-hand bicycle
You can also buy a second hand bicycle; prices vary greatly. Be sure to buy a good solid lock and fix your bicycle to an immovable object, in order to discourage bicycle thieves.

Traffic regulations when cycling
In the Netherlands cycling is an integral part of people's life. Traffic regulations when cycling are basically the same as for people driving a car. However, there are some things you need to be aware of  before jumping on your bike, as some of them will get you a hefty fine:

• if you cycle through a red traffic light
• if you cycle in a pedestrian area (or on the pavement…), which includes most of the shopping streets in the city centre
• if you ride against traffic in a one-way street
• if the lights on your bicycle do not work (or you do not use them at dusk/night)
• if you ride a stolen bicycle

Medical Care in Maastricht

In the Netherlands, if you need medical assistance you always go to the General Practitioner (GP). If the GP thinks you need more specialised expertise, you will receive a referral for a specialist in the hospital. Without this referral you cannot see a specialist in the hospital. GP’s do not usually make house calls. If you are staying in the UM Guesthouse you can go to the reception desk for more information on how to find a General Practitioner in the area, or you can go to De Poort, which is around the corner from the UM Guesthouse.

If you need medical attention when the GP can no longer be reached (so after 17.00 hrs or before 08.00 hrs, in the weekend or on public holidays), call +31 (0)43-387 77 77 and make an appointment to go to the “Huisartsenpost” near the Emergency Room of the hospital, located P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht.

Only make an appointment with the Huisartsenpost if there is a real medical emergency. Otherwise, just contact a GP the next weekday.

For more information about medical care in Maastricht check the website of the GP Medical Post Maastricht & Heuvelland foundation or MyMaastricht.

Registration with municipality

All exchange students who plan to stay in the Netherlands for a whole semester (= more than 4 months) have to register as resident of the municipality in which they will be living.

More information can be found here.

Dutch bank account

Foreign students only need a Dutch bank account when they do not have a SEPA account in another EU country. SEPA stands for Single Euro Payments Area; a single common payment system within the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco and San Marino.

To have a Dutch bank account while you are studying at SBE might come in handy. Sometimes your own bank account from your home country won't suffice. Non-EU students that have made a deposit for their visa/residence permit procedure need a Dutch bank account to get the deposit back.

Students can open an account at any bank in the Netherlands. Each bank has its own requirements and features. More information can be found here.

Study and student association

SCOPE, SBE's study association
SCOPE is the official study association of SBE and with over 3000 members the largest in the South of the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. SCOPE's aim is to enrich the lives of students by organizing 50+ academic, career and social activities per academic year.

SCOPE has two sorts of members: active (approx. 130 students) and passive members. As a passive member, you pay a membership fee (€ 10 for half a year) and enjoy all the benefits SCOPE offers (e.g. 15% book discount). As an active member, you go one step further and help organising events and trips. For more information please visit the website of SCOPE.

Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
ESN Maastricht is part of a much bigger organisation called Erasmus Student Network (ESN), which is a network recognised all over Europe, with hundreds of sections in different countries. ESN Maastricht helps exchange students settle in Maastricht. Furthermore, they organise trips and social activities. For more information please visit the website of ESN Maastricht.

International Student Ambassador Programme (ISAP)
The International Student Ambassador Programme (also known as the UM Buddy Programme), run by the Student Services Centre of Maastricht University, attempts to help new students adapt to life in Maastricht by pairing you and a group of other new students, with a buddy (a current student at UM) during your first weeks in the city.

Your buddy will be there to guide you through the process, help you settle in and make the switch to university in the Netherlands easier for you. In addition, the ISAP team will organize various social activities for you and your buddy to take part in, giving you the opportunity to meet other new international students and get to discover Maastricht in a fun way. 
 

UM Sports

University sport is challenging and fun and gets you in touch with fellow students. UM Sports offers a varied and affordable programme in an international setting. Take part in group classes, training sessions or walk-in activities, in a wide range of sports. You can also work on your health and relation in the gym. Are you looking for team spirit and competition? Then you should become a member of a student sports association.

The main location of UM Sports is the University Sport Centre (USC). The USC consists of a modern and well-equipped gym, a major sports hall, two sports studios, a spinning studio, a body and mind studio, 3 squash courts and a climbing wall. Moreover, Sports Council MUSST and Sports Café Rivazza are located in the sports centre. You will also find the Learning Spaces where you can study by yourself or with your study mates before or after a workout.

For a number of (outdoor) locations UM Sports uses sports accommodations in and around Maastricht and collaborates with local sport clubs.

For information on sports offer, opening times and timetables, costs and loads more, visit the website of UM Sports.

Travelling

Maastricht is located in the heart of Europe, bordering Belgium (a brisk 47 minute walk or 11 minutes of vigorous bike riding away) and Germany (only 35 minutes by car), which means that Brussels is 1.5 hours away, Amsterdam 2 hours, Frankfurt 3 hours, Paris 4 hours and London 6 hours.

By train
For more information about international travelling by train check the website of NS International.

By plane
Maastricht Aachen Airport is served by several low cost carriers, which at the moment fly to several European destinations. Maastricht Aachen Airport can be reached by public transport in about 30 minutes from the train station.

Liège Airport also is served by low cost carriers to take you places, some of them even outside Europe. To get to Liège Airport take a train from Maastricht to Liège Guillemins station (about 30 minutes), then change to local transport. 

Finally, at one hour north of Maastricht by train, you will find Eindhoven Airport, where you can fly to 75 destinations in Europe, plus Morocco. 

Dutch language course

The official language at SBE (and the rest of Maastricht University) is English, but you might want to learn some Dutch. Learning Dutch will make your life as a student in Maastricht a lot easier.

The Language Centre at Maastricht University offers several Dutch classes, and for exchange students these are the most suitable:

• Social Dutch (the workload of this course is equivalent to 1 ECTS)
  Are you starting your studies at Maastricht University but don’t speak Dutch yet? Then this is the perfect course for you. In seven weeks, you will learn social Dutch on a basic level with a focus on speaking and listening skills. During these lessons we will also make use of an interactive, digital environment.
  There's also a separate social Dutch course for German speaking students. 
• Dutch Language Course NL-A1-NL-C1 (the workload of this course is equivalent to 3 ECTS)
  This course is offered at different levels, all of which focus on speaking, listening and reading skills, with some attention also paid to writing. You can decide on whether to do the course in 7 (class twice a week) or in 14 weeks (once a week).
  The Language Centre also offers Dutch language courses specially designed for German speaking students. 

These courses start in September, November, February and April. If you would like to follow these courses in September or February, you have to register yourself as soon as the online registration opens since places are limited. The registration form shows the actual available groups and if the group will be taught on campus or online.

If you decide to take a language course this will not be mentioned on your SBE exchange transcript, as it is not taught at SBE but the Language Centre. However, you will receive a separate Proof of Participation from the Language Centre itself. Before you enrol in a language course please contact your home university to find out whether or not they acknowledge the grade/credits earned for a language course.

For more information on the annual course schedule, available groups, fees and to register please check UM Language Centre.