University College Venlo

Madlyn/20/bachelor’s student/life sciences

“I was born in Brussels but at the age of one, my parents and my uncle decided to start a new life in Alicante, in the south of Spain. So, I went to a Spanish school until my fourteenth when I joined the French liceum. I did my last year of high school in the French liceum of Hamburg. This period of my life was not easy but I learned that if there is a will, there is a way! And somehow, it brought me here, to UCV! But before hearing about UCV I had in mind to study design in Berlin. Everything changed when Augustin, one of my parents’ friends and also an alumnus, came to our house for spending the summer with us. He explained how flexible the programme was. My mother and I directly got excited and I decided to apply for the February intake!

Up until then I did not know that I had interest in health but the programme seemed just too cool! Now I guess I took all nutrition courses available at UCV, such as “Nutrition and metabolism” and “Physiology”. After finishing my bachelor next January, I would like to follow the master in Global Health at Maastricht. It is crazy how university can change your personality! UCV opened my mind so much and encouraged me to become more confident and outgoing.

I grew up in the mountains so I am someone very active. I regularly go to the gym, see friends and remember to keep some time for other hobbies like painting and reading.”

Carole Fievetz/20/UCV Bachelor’s student

“I come from Belgium but I’ve also lived in Finland, where I did my “second-last year” of high school, as we call it in Belgium. Going to a place where you don’t know anything, the people, the language, the culture..., is very exciting! Everything is new! Finish people speak English very well, and this also helped me practice my English before coming to the Netherlands.

I always had interest in nutrition and biology. Some while ago, I was working at a festival and I met a student from UCM. She told me about the university colleges and the fact that you can choose your own courses. I decided to have a look myself and I checked out UCM, but also UCV just below UCM on the website, and I thought, “okay, this one is actually even better”.

I found the “questions” on the UCV website most interesting, for instance “Does eating fatty fish make you smarter?” or “Do you wonder why chocolate can cheer you up? And I thought to myself: “Hey, yes! I do ask myself such questions”!

At UCV I concentrate now more on Psychology of Eating and Sustainability. Studying is not easy. You need to commit to it and I truly study a lot to gain knowledge and have the grades that I have. But I know that this is going to allow me to go abroad next semester, so it is worth it! No pain, no gain!

I am an active member of the International Study Association BEET in the Green Committee, and also the leader of the Green Impact Programme. I really like these initiatives and I am very surprised by the enthusiasm and willingness of the people here to make a change.

Every week I take yoga classes at the campus with Selma Reinhold and I love it! The way she talks, it just brings you somewhere else..., and you don't want to come back. If you have the chance to take a class here, you should try it!

Ameen Almaghraby/22 years old/Social Sciences

“I am half Egyptian and half Saudi Arabian, but I consider myself Egyptian. I am a professional horse-back rider specialising in show jumping, and I am planning to partake in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Part of the reason why I chose UCV is because the programme and the staff are very accommodating to my heavy training schedule, which is a huge help. I have little free time next to training, but I do like to play golf 2x/week, and I used to love driving very fast. After I graduate, I hope to be selected for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and if that goes well then pursue a career in horseback riding. Otherwise, I plan on working with my father in his agricultural business exporting citrus fruits in the Middle-East.”

Ingri Olsen / UCV alumna

"I was one of the first bachelor students at UCV, together with a small group of international students. One of the things I liked most about UCV was the ability to explore our interests by creating our own curriculum. At first I wanted to study business and economics, but I soon explored my interest in public health and social psychology. UCV made it possible for me to make this transition because it is a university college with an open curriculum. Moreover, I really enjoyed the small-scale education provided at UCV. The students and the staff knew each other well and it was more of a familiar atmosphere at the campus. We also received extra attention and guidance from the teachers throughout the study that helped us to develop both as academics and individuals.

After the bachelor at UCV, I chose to do the master’s Health Education & Promotion at Maastricht University. It was first when I studied the master that I realized how much I have profited from studying at UCV. UCV has supported my development of academic skills and valuable knowledge in my field of interest, namely health promotion. I would definitely recommend UCV to all prospective bachelor students!"

Valentina, 20, UCV student, Semester abroad at @waikatouniversity, Hamilton, New Zealand

“I decided to spend my semester abroad in New Zealand to discover more about the nation’s relation to environmental conservation and equality. Dealing with new settings and cultures encouraged me to question myself and learn.

NZ is very inspiring, mostly Kiwi’s philosophy and way of life. Respect is key in relationships with people and the environment. This mindset inspired me to take part in the @beet.green.committee to encourage pro-environmental behaviour at UCV. New Zealand was a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. I recommend anyone who goes there to take the time to talk to Kiwi’s and learn more about their philosophy of living. Fun fact: Aotearoa (New Zealand in Maori) means ‘land of the long white clouds’. ”

Janine Faessen/UCV alumna

"I really enjoyed studying at UCV. Campus Venlo has a very nice and warm atmosphere in which I felt comfortable. The small-scale education provided for intensive education and therefore motivated me to work hard. I also enjoyed having my freedom to pick my own courses.

I am glad that through the open curriculum I studied different topics, from biology and physiology, to public health and epidemiology courses. I also feel that the freedom to choose your courses motivates students to more intensively engage in their bachelor's programme and future career path.

I am now pursuing a master within a direction I would initially not have thought about. I am currently doing the master in Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University with the specialisation Epidemiology and Public Health. Furthermore, I feel that UCV prepared me for this master and a further career by providing many skills trainings and projects, where I could practise and improve my critical thinking and writing skills. My favourite part about studying at UCV was the open, tolerable atmosphere and the nice and easy-going contacts with teachers, staff and students."

Ninza Mwenesongole/23/Bachelor's student

“I am a Zambian born, South African bred girl. I am interested in neuroscience, cognition and epidemiology, and I am planning on choosing a masters programme in this field after UCV. I am also a board member of BEET, the Campus Venlo study association. We made BEET 6 months ago because we saw a genuine lack in extra-curricular activities for UCV students in Venlo. With BEET, we organize new programs like workshops, student trips, movie nights and other cultural and sports activities. As a matter of fact, we are planning on taking the students for hiking soon! For my personal hobbies, I love art and doing non-profit work. Also, I am obsessed with olives! I buy a jar of green organic olives every day and go crazy if I don’t have them!”

Clémence Schumacker/20/Bachelor's student

"I grew up in Belgium and after high school I spent one year abroad in Australia and then Germany as an exchange student. My first experience of UCV was a Student for a Day session in Venlo, where I got the opportunity to see how it feels like to be a student here. The campus is small and everyone is friendly, so in the end I was convinced that this was the right environment for me! A year ago, I joined the student-rowing club of Venlo where I made some close friends. I am also the treasurer of the study association BEET and I inspire to organize fun events so that our Campus Venlo students can get the chance to socialize and party together, which is an important aspect of the student lifestyle!"

Mark/23/Bachelor’s student.

“I was born in Germany but I have also lived in variety of different countries such as Equator, India, the USA, Bangladesh and Myanmar. I am someone who likes diversity and this is something that UCV provides me, either by it’s diversity in courses or its international nature. I enjoy reading about various subjects whether it’s politics, history, or even the weather. My current academic passion is centred on the life science that are offered at UCV at this moment. Yet, my ambitions can always change In that regard! Furthermore, I am actively involved in the study association @beetucv, at first I began in logistics but now I am more involved in communication and organisation. Due to my German roots, I can say that I am a real beer lover. Wherever I go I hope to find great people and a nice couple of beers to share with them. I always try to keep in mind to “live long and prosper”.

Sura/Bachelor's student

"I am half Egyptian half Palestinian and I have lived in the Netherlands for almost five years now. I enjoy my bachelor's studies here mainly because UCV is simply not predetermined for you. You have the choice to pick your own courses and study things that really interest you. I appreciate having this freedom and yes, sometimes, studying gets hard. However, I really feel in the right place at UCV! I am also a member of Deli Scene in Venlo and I am working on getting students in Venlo closer and making this a welcoming student city."

“Ik koos voor University College Venlo omdat mijn passie bij voeding ligt. Het probleemgeoriënteerde onderwijs van de Universiteit Maastricht speelde een grote rol bij mijn keuze. Je docenten vertellen je bijvoorbeeld niet hoeveel gram eiwit een mens per dag moet eten, maar vragen je waarom je lichaam zoveel eiwit nodig heeft, zodat je over dit onderwerp moet nadenken.”

Voor Alexia staat begrip van voeding gelijk aan een gezonde leefstijl. “Als je weet welke voeding je lichaam nodig heeft, begrijp je ook hoe je goed voor je lichaam kunt zorgen. Ik verbaas me regelmatig over de manier waarop de voedingsindustrie misbruik maakt van mensen die niet begrijpen hoe belangrijk gezonde voeding is.”

Alexia woonde twee jaar in Venlo. “Tijdens mijn eerste jaar woonde ik op de campus in één van de appartementen op de bovenste verdieping van het universiteitsgebouw. Hier leerde ik mijn medestudenten snel kennen en maakte ik nieuwe vrienden. Studeren in zo’n hechte groep stimuleert alle studenten om elkaar te helpen en omdat UCV zo’n kleine gemeenschap is, helpen ook je docenten je zo veel mogelijk.”

Onlangs verhuisde Alexia naar Maastricht, waar ze haar bacheloropleiding afrondt. “Met de trein ben je binnen het uur in Venlo. Misschien klinkt dat lang voor mensen die niet gewend zijn te reizen, maar voor anderen is een uurtje reizen kort en Venlo dus dichtbij.”