Summer Programme in European Studies

During a regular course (5-6.5 ECTS credits), students spend an average of 4-6 hours (240-360 minutes) in class per week. For every hour in class students are expected to spend an additional 2-3 hours on study. The total workload for two regular courses or one intensive course is around 40 hours per week.

High Academic Standard

CES programmes are designed for enthusiastic and intellectually curious students dedicated to expanding their academic horizons while abroad. To ensure that students do well, CES offers extensive academic advising, workshops and regular monitoring. Maastricht University uses Problem-Based Learning (PBL), a student-centered teaching approach. Small groups of students (12-15) work on academic or practical cases prepared by their professors. Faculty act as guides to students who are in charge of their own learning and are expected to be committed, active and self-motivated.

Acceptance to the open enrolment programmes is competitive and early application is recommended. While most students participating in our open enrolment programmes are undergraduates at the junior or senior level, applications by motivated students at the sophomore and/or freshman level with a good GPA will be considered too.

You should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to apply for a CES Open Enrolment Programme. If you have a lower GPA you can request to be considered if you can show a recommendation from a professor or academic advisor at your home university or college with specific details about your academic development so far.

Applicants must be proficient in English (comparable to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference). Non-native speakers are required to demonstrate proof of English language proficiency.

EU-nationals and students with an International or European Baccalaureate diploma are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency. International students who are enrolled as full-time students at a university or college in a country where English is the official language or where English is the language of education are also exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

All other prospective students must present a current TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Testing System) score before they can be admitted. When registering for the TOEFL, please make sure to use the code of Maastricht University which is 7102.

Your TOEFL test score has to be at least:

• 575 points (paper-based version)
• 230 points (computer-based version)
• 90 (internet-based version)

In addition, you need to have a minimum score of 20 out of 30 for the following components:

• Listening
• Speaking

Your IELTS test score must be at least 6.5. You also need to have a minimum score of 7 out of 10 for the following two components:

• Listening
• Speaking