Maastricht University

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About Maastricht University

Maastricht University was founded as Rijksuniversiteit Limburg and officially established in 1976. It was renamed Universiteit Maastricht in 1996 and added its English name in 2008.^[7] Wikipedia describes it as a public research university with six faculties and campus sites in the city centre, where the arts, humanities and social sciences are housed, and at Randwyck on the edge of the city, home to psychology, medicine and life sciences.^[7]

UM’s own figures show 22,933 enrolled students in 2025, of whom 61 percent were foreign students, from 128 nationalities.^[1] The same table lists 26 bachelor’s and 97 master’s programmes, 437 PhD degrees awarded and 2,728 academic staff (full-time equivalents), 48 percent of them international.^[1]

How is Maastricht University ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, Maastricht University is 254th in the world. In the list of all thirteen Dutch universities in that edition it is eleventh, behind the University of Twente (=223rd) and ahead of Radboud University (=283rd).^[2] Wikipedia lists 239th for the 2026 edition.^[7]

Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at Maastricht University?

UM has six faculties: Arts and Social Sciences, Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Law, Psychology and Neuroscience, Science and Engineering, and the School of Business and Economics.^[7] In 2025 it listed 26 bachelor’s and 97 master’s programmes.^[1] Examples from UM’s fee and admission pages:

• Bachelor’s: International Business (English language of instruction, numerus fixus), Psychology, Medicine, University College Maastricht, Arts and Culture, Digital Society, European Studies.^{[10][3][4][8][5]}
• Master’s: Global Health, Sustainability Science in Transforming Societies, and master’s programmes of the School of Business and Economics.^[11][9][6]

How much does Maastricht University cost in 2026/27?

UM uses two kinds of tuition. Statutory fees apply to students with EU/EEA, Swiss or Surinamese nationality; the government subsidises these students for one bachelor’s and one master’s programme if they do not already hold a Dutch degree at that level. Institutional fees apply to non-EU/EEA students, are set by the university, and come in three levels (low, high and top) according to the programme’s cost category.^[12] Some non-EU/EEA students with residence status in an EU/EEA country can qualify for the EU/EEA rate.^[12]

These are examples from the tuition-fee pages of the programmes, not a full price list.^{[3][8][4][9][13]} University College Maastricht carries a higher statutory fee than other Dutch bachelor’s programmes.^[8]

UM’s general fee page now shows the amounts for 2027/28: statutory €2,771; institutional bachelor’s €13,400 (low) or €18,700 (high); master’s €21,800 (low) or €25,500 (high); and €32,000 for the top level.^[12] Fees are set per academic year, so check the year that matches your start. For living costs, see our Netherlands guide and the Study in the Netherlands guide.

How do you apply to Maastricht University?

Both levels combine Studielink, the national application system, with UM’s own MyApplication portal.^[10][11]

• Bachelor’s (International Business as an example): International Business is a numerus fixus programme with selection by the School of Business and Economics. You apply in Studielink, then complete the admission tasks in MyApplication, including the International Classroom Essay and your documents. Ranking is based on your certified grades and your CV. If you receive a place you confirm it in Studielink within two weeks.^[10] Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma need a diploma equivalent to Dutch VWO, with additional subject requirements including mathematics.^[10]
• Master’s (Global Health as an example): apply in Studielink, then complete admission tasks in MyApplication: passport photo, ID, certified transcripts and diplomas, CV, and a preference form if you apply to more than one programme. The Board of Admissions decides within six weeks, may ask for an academic skills checklist or a GRE General test report, and proof of English is an enrolment task. Deadlines for non-EU/EEA applicants are earlier than for EU/EEA applicants.^[11]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme and nationality. Check your programme page before you start.

Which English level do you need?

Requirements are set by faculty and programme, so use your programme’s page. Two UM documents show the range:

• Bachelor’s (Arts and Culture, Digital Society, European Studies; regulations for 2025/26): applicants with a non-Dutch diploma need a level equal to academic IELTS 6.0. They meet it if, for example, their secondary school or bachelor’s or master’s programme was taught in English, or if they hold an International or European Baccalaureate, a US high school diploma or UK A-levels. Otherwise a test is recommended: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 (internet-based) or 550 (paper), TOEIC 670 (listening and reading) and 290 (speaking and writing), or a Cambridge First certificate.^[5]
• School of Business and Economics master’s: if your bachelor’s or master’s was taught entirely in English you meet the requirement with a certified statement from your university. Otherwise: academic IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90, TOEIC 720 (listening and reading) with 310 (speaking and writing), or Cambridge C1 Advanced grade C. UM may reject an application or set extra requirements if there are doubts about your English.^[6]

More about studying in Netherlands

• Netherlands: best universities
• Study in Netherlands: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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