Hello! My name is Caroline Collins. I am from Scotland, but have lived in Sweden, Thailand, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and, now, the Netherlands.

Embarking on a new career
At 48, I am quite a bit older than the average Master’s Student. I had a stimulating first career working in aviation and in teaching, then, when my children were very small, I decided to embark on a new career. I became fascinated by the way that mathematics can enable us to reason and shape our thoughts beyond intuition, so I set to work and gained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, during which I opted for extra subjects like natural and artificial intelligence, biological psychology and complex systems.

Make a contribution to medical research
When I saw that Maastricht University offered a master’s in Systems Biology, this field where mathematics and biology meet, I was really excited by the idea that I might be able to make a contribution to medical research. This is a dream shared by others on the programme, though our small group of master’s students are just starting out. We have recently completed our first two courses: for me, an opportunity to get to grips with biology and physiology, and learn some laboratory skills for the first time. For others, a time to brush up on their high school math.

Learning with others is a beautiful experience
The Problem-Based Learning method employed here at Maastricht University gives us the opportunity to really get to know each other in the group, working together to improve our understanding of the topics under discussion. Learning with others is a beautiful experience and Maastricht is a great place to live. The city is just the right size and you can get around easily. The best way to travel is by bicycle: safe, fast, easy…and free.