Seeing new places and experiencing diverse cultures always intrigued Sara Briggs. This semester, she’s combining her passion for travel with her studies in health sciences in an exchange program at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
Briggs is considering a career as a nurse practitioner or anesthesiologist. She’s on a Biology & Health track at Maastricht University Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, and her courses there complement her health sciences studies at UVM and count toward the required courses for her major.
She takes classes in nutrition and musculoskeletal health. She also takes a problem-based learning class for which she is formulating a narrative review about preoperative prehabilitation for abdominal surgery in high-risk patients. This different style of learning has been especially interesting and effective for acquiring knowledge, she said.
“Each week we have a meeting called a tutorial in which we’re given a “case.” Our small group comes up with learning goals and what information is needed to solve the problem of the case. Later in the week, we meet again after individually researching the learning goals and go over what everyone found,” Briggs explained. “The students and classes are incredibly enriching and push me to be better in every way."
In Partnership With the World
The University of Vermont’s alliance with Maastricht University originated 20 years ago with collaborations in medical research and exchange of students. With a population of 16,000 students, 50% of whom are studying abroad, most courses at Maastricht University are taught in English with a focus on student-centered, problem-based learning.
UVM’s established study abroad network attracted Briggs and cemented her decision to attend college here.
“It is great UVM has a study abroad program specifically for my major like this one here in Maastricht,” she said. “I’ve learned so much the subjects I’m studying and about the world in general. I’m in some classes with people who got their degrees 10 years ago. They have real experience with working in the medical field and are now going back to school for post-graduate studies.
The exchange program with Maastricht University is an excellent match for students majoring in health sciences, said Paula Deming, Endowed Professor of Health Sciences and Chair of the Department Biomedical and Health Sciences.
“Several programs at the Maastricht University Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences are complementary to the UVM Health Sciences program,” Deming said. “Our students can study European Public Health, Biology and Health, Mental Health Science or Policy, Management and Evaluation of Care. Students can take a full semester of courses that would count for required courses in the health science major.”
Exchange programs like this one allow for UVM students to study at an international university and for an international student to take their place at UVM for a semester or year. Exchange programs are often the most affordable study abroad options because students pay the UVM exchange tuition rate, which is equivalent to in-state tuition for in-state students or a 40% reduction in tuition for out-of-state students. Federal aid, including UVM grants and scholarships, can apply to exchange programs.
Thinking Globally
Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with lively squares, narrow streets, historical buildings and remnants of medieval city walls against a backdrop of hills, open country side and rivers. It’s location in the southeast region of the country makes for easy excursions to Belgium, Germany and France. Residents live an active lifestyle, with ample opportunities for bicycling, hiking and cross-country skiing. The city is a thriving cultural and regional hub with a large international student population.
“Maastricht is absolutely stunning, straight out of a storybook. It has the smaller city, homey feel of Burlington along with the ability to be in nearly any country in Europe with an inexpensive train ride or flight,” Briggs said. “I have found such a love for the Dutch culture. I bike nearly six miles a day and I have met an endless amount of people from all over the world who’ve also come here to study.”
For Briggs, spending an entire semester at a university in a different country has been an invaluable experience that will shape her career.
“It has really helped me feel secure in being on my own and has changed my overall perspective on relationships, happiness and personal growth. I definitely have developed a very clear sense of what it means to be a student and what I may want to do later in life,” she said.“I would like to do a few years of travel nursing.”
The UVM exchange with the Maastricht University Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences takes place each spring semester, from late January to late June/early July. Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to speak with their advisors about opportunities and start planning with the Office of International Education.