With five very distinct universities and numerous colleges – the Euregio Meuse-Rhine is among the most diverse and multi-lingual educational locations for international students and researchers. Read our summary of the university profiles below.
Courses taught in English
English is gaining momentum in each part of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and you find a multitude of programmes and degrees across the universities taught in English. Acquiring professional or at very least basic knowledge and learning the languages will contribute to a great advantage in the labour market.
For regular studies, Dutch universities offer a rich variety of courses in English with a distinctive international or European focus, and all their programmes include international issues and perspectives.Maastricht University and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences offer nearly a hundred study programmes in English in Maastricht, Sittard and Heerlen – with a tuition fee approximately €2,000 per year. Head to Study in Holland for an overview of Hogeschool Zuyd and Maastricht University as compared to the rest of the Netherlands.
At Liège University (and Wallonian universities) and Hasselt University, English is used in some master’s courses.
The Study in Germany website offers an overview of courses available at RWTH Aachen and FH Aachen where especially technical subjects have an international focus and courses are offered in English on mostly on a Master-level and in double degrees.
RWTH Aachen University
One of Germany's largest and most famous technical universities, winner of "Exzellenzinitiative 2019"
- 47,000 students
- 12,500 international students from 138 countries
- 3 campuses: Mitte, West, Melaten)
- Winner "Exzellenzinitiative 2019"
- 150 study programmes (30 in English)
- Website
Maastricht University
The youngest and most international university in the Netherlands relative to its student population.
- 20,000 students
- 10,000 international students from 100+ countries
- 4 campuses: Maastricht, Brussels, Venlo, Geleen
- 80 study programmes (69 in English)
- Website
ULiège
Two centuries of renowned teaching and academic research, as well as an intellectual tradition which has put Liège on the map since the Middle Ages.
- 25,000 students
- Nearly 6,000 international students
- 4 campuses: Liège, Arlon, Gembloux)
- 247 study programmes (81 in English)
- Website
FH Aachen
FH Aachen aims to be one of the strongest research Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany. Its competencies lie primarily in the future fields of energy, mobility and life sciences. Current research results flow directly into teaching.
- 14,500 students
- 600 international students
- 2 campuses: Aachen, Jülich
- About 90 study programmes
- Website
UC Leuven-Limburg
A regional collaboration with the largest, most renowned and research-intensive Belgian university.
- 8,000 students
- 800 international students
- 7 campuses: Hasselt, Diepenbeek)
- 25 study programmes
- Website
PXL Hasselt
PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts is a young, dynamic and vibrant organisation; a centre of expertise for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
- 14,500 students
- International students:
- 3 campuses in Belgian Limburg: Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Genk
- 32 study programmes (3 in English)
- Website
Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
Zuyd is an ambitious University of Applied Sciences focussing on three core activities: education for students, research for companies and institutes, and training courses and study programmes for professionals.
- 14,000 students
- 1,200 international students
- 3 campuses: Heerlen, Sittard, Maastricht)
- 50 study programmes (10 in English)
- Website
Hasselt University
At this young and entrepreneurial university, you find 42% internationals among more than 500 doctoral students.
- 6,500 students
- Nearly 1,000 international students
- 2 campuses: Hasselt, Diepenbeek
- 47 study programmes (8 in English)
- Website
Other higher education institutions in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine
Alongside the more traditional theory-led and research-focussed universities in Europe, there are also Universities of Applied Sciences. Across Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, Universities of Applied Sciences are more practice-oriented with the goal of educating students for professional work life. In the Euregio Meuse-Rhine these universities are called Fachhochschule in German, Hogeschool in Dutch or Haute École in French.
Open universities – distance education
For distance education, the Netherlands’ Open University based in Heerlen (Zuid-Limburg) offers a multitude of courses. Its German equivalent is FernUni, operating from Hagen (Northrhine-Westphalia, with study centres all around Germany).
