Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

All you need to know and more!

General Questions about UWC Maastricht

Who can apply to be a student at UWC Maastricht?

  • Residential students (16-19 years old) who apply via the UWC International office or National Committees. Read more.
  • Day students (4-19 years old) who live in the Maastricht region with their parent(s)/guardian(s). According to the Dutch rule of law, day students need to qualify under one of the following conditions:
    • The student is a non-Dutch passport holder and one of the parents/guardian is temporarily employed in the Netherlands or border region.
    • The student holds Dutch nationality but has been educated outside of the Netherlands for two years or longer.
    • The student holds Dutch nationality but one of the parents/guardians will be employed outside of the Netherlands within the next two years and the student will accompany him/her. Proof to be provided.
    • The student holds Dutch nationality and has attended Dutch schools but would like to undertake the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The student has a HAVO diploma or a certificate of promotion to year 5 of VWO.
      Read more

What are the school fees for UWC Maastricht?

The fees for year 2024-2025 are:

  • Primary school: €7.480
  • Middle Years Programme: €11.070
  • Career-related Programme (day students): €11.460
  • Diploma Programme (day students): €11.460

If you are looking to become a residential Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme student, please go to UWC International for more information. There are scholarships available for this route (depending on need and allocated based on a financial assessment).

Read more about the fees for UWC Maastricht.

Are there scholarships available to attend UWC Maastricht?

  • For Residential Students (16-19 years old) we have (partial) scholarships available. Read more.
  • For Day Students there are no scholarships available.
  • We do not offer a discount for families with multiple children enrolled in our school.

Read more about school fees and payments.

How can I apply to UWC Maastricht?

Please visit our Admissions Page for more information.

Is UWC Maastricht a boarding school?

No, UWC Maastricht is not a typical boarding school.  The majority of our students live with their families in the Maastricht area. However, UWC Maastricht does have a Residential Programme for students aged 16-19 years who are admitted to the IB Diploma Programme to live on our school campus.  These students undergo a rigorous selection procedure, coordinated by the UWC International Office. Read more

We live just across the Dutch border. Are my children eligible to join UWC Maastricht in the Netherlands?

Yes, provided your children meet one or more of the eligibility criteria. However, we would advise you to check with the local educational authorities. Especially in Germany, there is special ruling around this.

I want to work at UWC Maastricht. Do you have any vacancies?

UWC Maastricht recruits qualified and experienced staff from around the world who are committed to our school’s mission and vision. We list vacancies on our webpage.

Is the application fee refundable if my child is not offered a place because of Special Educational Needs that cannot be met?

The Application Fee is a non-refundable fee that enables us to cover the administrative costs of the application process.

School life

What is the school schedule?

  • Primary Students: 8:10h – 15:00h
    • For Kindergarten and Years 1, 2, 3 on Fridays half-day (8:10h – 11:45h)
  • Secondary (MYP/CP/DP) Students: 8:10h – 15:15h
  • All students have a morning break (including snack) and a lunch break
  • Primary & MYP have optional Community Club activities: 15:20h – 16:00h
  • CP and DP students have mandatory CAS activities: 15:30h – 17:00h

What subjects do you offer?

Check the curriculum pages of our Primary School, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme or Career-Related Programme to find out more about the subjects we offer.

When are school holidays?

Do students wear a school uniform?

 At UWC Maastricht we celebrate our diversity and inclusiveness and therefore we do not have a school uniform.

What & where do students eat?

  • Primary Students bring food from home. Please pack a healthy snack and a water bottle. Students eat in their classroom with teacher supervision. 
  • MYP/DP Students either bring food from home or have an option to buy food at school: there are vending machines and students can purchase a voucher for lunch in the Mensa (cafeteria). There is also a weekly food truck where students can buy lunch. There is a microwave for student use.

What do students need to bring to school?

  • Healthy snack, lunch, water bottle.
  • A sturdy backpack, no trolleys for books.
  • Writing materials (pens, pencils, notebook) on the first day. All other books are provided by school.
  • Physical Education (PE) Kit: Students should wear clear indoor sports shoes (non-marking), a white t-shirt, dark blue or black sports shorts or training pants. Students are expected to remove all jewelry (including earrings, watches, etc.) and tie back long hair for safety reasons. Students must have a note from the doctor if they are ill or unable to participate in the PE lessons.
  • Primary students: Appropriate weather clothes for outdoor playtime; students play outside daily during morning and lunch break.
  • Secondary students must wear a UWC Maastricht lanyard (to be provided on first day of school).
  • Secondary students must also bring a laptop (see next question).

  

Do students need to bring a laptop?

As part of our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy all secondary school students (MYP/DP/CP) are expected to bring their own laptop or tablet to use at school. A cell phone does not count as an educational device. 

Students are expected to bring a Windows or Mac laptop to school, which meets the following minimum system requirements:

Windows:
Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 CPU or better
8GB RAM or more
13-inch screen or larger
120GB storage or larger

Mac:
Intel Core i5 / Apple M1 CPU or better
8GB RAM or more
13-inch screen or larger
120GB storage or larger

What is the school policy on cell phones?

Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during the school day, including lessons and school breaks. If you need to contact your child in case of an emergency, parents can call the school’s reception.

What age do students have in a certain class or level?

Are all classes in English?

English is the language of instruction for all classes at UWC Maastricht. Additionally, Primary and MYP students are required to learn Dutch as part of their school curriculum. At MYP, CP and DP level, additional languages are offered in the curriculum.

Read more about the:

What support is in place for students who don't speak English?

Many of our students join the school with little or no previous English language experience. These students are provided with small group English Language lessons. In the IB Career-related and Diploma Programme, students need to already have a basic English language ability to participate.

What additional support is offered for students?

UWC Maastricht offers additional English language support. Our Student Services team also provides support for students who have additional learning or socio-emotional needs. Read more.

Providing relevant documentation during the admissions process is required in order for our Admissions- and Special Educational Needs Teams to review and assess whether we can meet the student’s needs.

How many students are in a class?

In Primary and MYP,  the average class size is 20 students. In CP and DP, class size depends on the number of students enrolled in the specific subject, with a maximum of 25 students in a class.

Do the students have breaks?

Yes! All students have breaks.

Primary students have outdoor playtime in the morning and during the lunch break.  Please dress appropriately for rainy/cold weather! MYP/CP/DP students also have breaks in their learning day, and may choose to work in the library, socialise in the Atrium, or enjoy the outdoor campus courtyard during this time.

Is there a bus service to UWC Maastricht?

UWC Maastricht does not provide any transportation for students. There is a good public transit connection between Maastricht train station via bus to our campus (Arriva Line 6 to Amby, bus stop ‘Geusseltbad’). You can plan your journey via 9292.

Some parents who live far from campus have organized group transportation, you can contact the Parent Support Group (PSG) for more information.

After school life

What after school activities does UWCM offer?

UWC Maastricht offers a range of activities through our Community Clubs, such as dance, arts & crafts, sports, and language lessons. Additionally, the UWCM Music School offers private and small group lessons for an additional fee.  

Does the school organise competitive and/or team sports?

UWC Maastricht offers activities for students to enjoy sports in a non-competitive setting.  Students who are interested in competitive/team sports are encouraged to explore options in the local community.  See, for example, Maastricht Sport (in Dutch).

Is there childcare outside of school hours?

No, there is no childcare at our school. Families can contact local childcare providers who pick up students from our campus at the end of the school day. Please see English Childcare Maastricht or MIK Amby (information in Dutch).

Extra information for parents

Can I get in contact with other parents at UWC Maastricht?

To make all parents feel welcome into the UWC Maastricht community and to give them some extra support when needed, we have a Parents Association (PA). The PA provides a social network and organizes events for the community throughout the school year. You can contact the Parent Assiociation for more information.

We are relocating to the Maastricht area from abroad. Are there any local agencies to help us?

The expert team at Expat Centre Maastricht Region are highly skilled in providing guidance to individuals making their way to the Maastricht region. Their staff are able to assist throughout the entire relocation process, in dealings with local authorities as well as neighbouring countries and most importantly connecting people while they are settling into their new city.

Should you have any other questions, please reach out to admissions@uwcmaastricht.nl