Universitiet Maastricht (UM) is considering not issuing the addition of 'cum laude' to medical students degrees in the future. This was reported in the Trouw national newspaper.

Currently, students receive the notation 'cum laude' when they finish the programme with very high marks.

However, medical students face considerable performance pressure. According to Trouw, research by interest group De Geneeskundestudent (in Dutch) shows that a quarter of bachelor students and interns are at risk of burnout. By not awarding 'cum laudes', the University is of the opinion that is at least removing mutual competition among students.

Read the original article in Dutch