University of Twente – Frequently Asked Questions From International Masters Students

The University of Twente have provided the most common questions they receive from prospective International Master’s students, along with answers that can help you to begin your own studies. The University of Twente is based in the Netherlands and for more information you can view their StudyLink profile.

1.     Which programmes does the University of Twente offer in English?

We offer degree programmes in fields ranging from behavioural and management sciences to engineering and natural sciences. Research spearheads include nanotechnology, biomedical technology, information technology, governance studies, and learning and cognition. On 1^st of January 2010 the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) became the sixth faculty of the University of Twente. At the heart of this new faculty lies education and research in geo-information sciences.

The University of Twente offers the following MSc programmes:

MSc Business Administration

MSc Public Administration

MSc Business Information Technology

MSc Health Sciences

MSc Industrial Engineering and Management

MSc European Studies

MSc Environmental and Energy Management

MSc Civil Engineering and Management

MSc Construction Management and Engineering

MSc Industrial Design Engineering

MSc Mechanical Engineering

MSc Sustainable Energy Technology

MSc Applied Mathematics

MSc Computer Science

MSc Electrical Engineering

MSc Embedded Systems

MSc Human Media Interaction

MSc Systems and Controls

MSc Telematics

MSc Communication Studies

MSc Educational Science and Technology

MSc Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society

MSc Applied Physics

MSc Biomedical Engineering

MSc Chemical Engineering

MSc Nanotechnology

MSc Geo-information Science and Earth Observation

Master Geo-information Science and Earth Observation 

The University of Twente offers four BSc programmes taught in English:

BSc European Studies

BSc International Bussines Administration

BSc Advanced Technology

BSc Creative Technology

2.     Does your university offer a MBA?

No, UT offers no MBA programmes. We offer a MSc programme in Bussiness Administration. The requirement for this full time programme is a finished BSc in a relevant field, so no work experience.

3.     What are the tuition fees (EU/Non EU)

• EEA[1] nationals, Suriname nationalsand non-EAA students who are entitled to Dutch government study grants (= dutch “studiefinanciering” from the IB-Groep), a tuition fee of € 1713,- per year.
• Non-EAA nationals recognized by UAF as student refugees, a tuition fee app. € 1713,- per year.
• Non-EAA nationals, € 12500,- per year for the following Master degrees:

- Applied Mathematics

- Applied Physics

- Biomedical Engineering

- Business Information Technology

- Chemical Engineering

- Civil Engineering & Management

- Computer Science

- Construction Management & Engineering

- Electrical Engineering

- Embedded Systems

- Human Media Interaction

- Industrial Design Engineering

- Industrial Engineering & Management

- Mechanical Engineering

- Nanotechnology

- Science Education & Communication

- Sustainable Energy Technology

- Technical Medicine

- Telematics

•  Non-EAA nationals € 10000,- per year for the following Master degrees:

- Business Administration

- Communication Studies

- Educational Science and Technology

- European Studies

- Healthcare-management

- Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society

- Psychology

- Public Administration

Tuition fees are increasing each year. Check our website (www.utwente.nl/master/international/) for up-to-date figures. Also note that ITC and Postgraduate Executive Programme participants are required to pay different fees (see specific programme websites for details).

4.     Where is UT located?

The University of Twente is located close to Enschede, a modern and lively university town with a rich industrial heritage revealed through many well-preserved historic buildings. The most notable monuments are the lovely town hall, several beautiful churches and a unique synagogue. The old market place, the historical heart of the city, is particularly well worth a visit. Large-scale urban renewal has also given Enschede a new skyline, which includes eye-catching contemporary architecture.

5.     When does the programme start?

All programmes start in September and there are few of them which also start in February. Please see www.utwente.nl/master/international/ for specific information.

6.     What is the application deadline?

	Start September	Start February
Dutch students and international students not requiring entry visa or already residing in the Netherlands	July 1	December 1
International students requiring entry visa	May 1	October 1
International students intending to apply for a scholarship and requiring confirmation of admission for scholarship application	Two months beforescholarship programmeapplication deadline	Two months beforescholarship programmeapplication deadline

 

Submit your application for admission as soon as possible, especially in the following circumstances:

- You need acceptance letters to apply for a scholarship (information on scholarship is available at http://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants/).

- You would like to apply for a University of Twente Scholarship (UTS). Clearly state to your faculty contact person that you want to apply for this scholarship (for detailed information: www.graduate.utwente.nl/).

- You have been awarded a scholarship in your country before.

- You have been admitted to a University of Twente educational programme.

7.     What are the application requirements for programme x?

Each programme has its own specific requirements. More information is to be found on www.utwente.nl/master/international/

8.     How does an application work?

To apply for admission to the MSc programme, please submit the following:

1. application form (available online at www.graduate.utwente.nl)
2. certified copy of your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification)
3. certified copy of your academic transcript, including marks and grade point average
4. certified English translation of all documents that are not in English, German or Dutch
5. clear copy of your passport
6. English language proficiency test results (if required)
7. motivation letter
8. curriculum vitae (CV)
9. two letters of recommendation.

Specific requirements and documents for individual programmes are described in the online application form. Ensure that all requirements are met and all additional documents are submitted.

Please send all the documents by post to:

University of Twente

Admission Office

Vrijhof, Building 47

PO Box 217

7500 AE Enschede

The Netherlands

No application fee is charged.

9.     How does the application form work?

All the information about our master’s programs, admission requirements and procedures can be found online at: www.utwente.nl/master/international/.

• To help you find the program you are interested in click on “Masters’’. For detailed information browse either by faculty, specializations or alphabetically, then click on the name of a program.
• To get information about scholarships, tuition fees, visa, housing and other practical information click on “Finance’’.
• When you have decided which master program you want to apply for, please use the online application found by clicking “Application’’.
• Click on “Study’’ to get more information about campus facilities, study facilities, health care facilities, graduation support and the educational system.

 10.  How long does the application process take?

After your complete application package has been received by the Admission Office, your application will be evaluated by one of the University’s Master Admission Committees, and you will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible, within a maximum of eight weeks. You will receive confirmation of your admission by email and post, and any conditional requirements will be clearly stated.

11.  What are the language requirements? Do you accept…

The University of Twente expects the applicants to have a sufficient mastery of the English language

a. academic IELTS, overall band score of at least 6.5

b. TOEFL, internet-based (TOEFL iBT) score of at least 90

c. University of Cambridge ‘Certificate of Proficiency in English’ (CPE) or

University of   Cambridge ‘Certificate in Advanced English’ (CAE) (min. score C)

You are exempt from the English language requirements if:

- you are a native English speaker from one of the following countries: Australia, Bhutan, Botswana, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua, New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

-  you have completed your secondary and tertiary education entirely in English, and you can prove this with a statement from your secondary school and university confirming that the language of instruction was English.

Individual MSc programmes may require a score higher than the general minimum. Check the programme websites at www.graduate.utwente.nl.

12.  I submitted the application form and sent my documents by mail but I wasn’t informed about my status. When will I get new information about my status?

As soon as the admission Office has received your (certified) documents it will generally take a few days before your application is processed. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Admission Office, stating that we have received your application and that we will start admission procedures. These procedures can take up to eight weeks if all the requested documents are in order. Then you will receive an official reply informing you whether you have been granted admission to the University of Twente.  

13.  Do I need a GRE or GMat test result for programme x?

GRE or GMat is not one of the required documents. Individual MSc. Programmes may ask for it if they find it necessary.

14.  Can I change from study direction (e.g. engineering to business)?

In general the requirement is that you need a finished bachelor in a relevant field.  It is hard to change to a different direction. Please start up the application procedure for the programme you would like to follow. After 6 to 8 weeks you will informed about you admission and about possibilities for doing a bridging programme.

15.  Do you have scholarships?

The University of Twente has several scholarships for students wishing to participate in its postgraduate programmes. These scholarships vary from government grants and funding by organizations to grants donated by individuals. The University’s admission application procedures must be fully completed before applying for a scholarship. Because of strict deadlines, please apply for admission at least two months before the scholarship deadline.

Once you have received a letter confirming admission, you may apply for a scholarship. Please note that some scholarships are for specific nationalities or specific educational programmes. The University offers a limited number of scholarships for outstanding students; these are awarded by the faculties and sponsored by the University of Twente Scholarship Programme Foundation. Further information about financial support can be found on our scholarship website http://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants .

Next to it there is another possibility to get financial help: more information is to be found on http://www.grantfinder.nl/content/index.asp .

16.  What is included in the scholarships?

It differs per scholarship. Some scholarships cover all costs and some cover only tuition fees for example. For more information look at http://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants/

17.  What are the criteria for obtaining a scholarship?

It differs per scholarship. For more information look at http://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants/

18.  How can I obtain a scholarship, procedure?

It differs per scholarship. For more information look at http://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants/

19.  What is the deadline for obtaining a scholarship?

It differs per scholarship. For more information look at ttp://www.utwente.nl/internationalstudents/scholarshipsandgrants/ in general they deadlines are in February so it is important that you start your application in November since the application process takes 6-8 weeks. If you would like to obtain a scholarship you will need a letter of acceptance from the university first.

20.  Could I have a job in Holland during my study?

Working while studying is possible in the Netherlands. Foreign students that would like to take paid work alongside their studies are allowed to do so. Depending on your nationality you can only do so for a limited amount of hours per week and if the employer has applied for a work permit for you. Please visit the Nuffic website for more information www.nuffic.nl/international-students/living-in-holland/working-while-studying

Please note that it could be hard to find an appropriate job in Enschede and Twente because most companies require Dutch speaking skills. There is a limited amount of student assistant positions at UT which might be suitable and available for you.

21.  Is it possible to work in the Netherlands after graduation?

It is possible. However it all depends on the available vacancies. The Dutch government allows graduate students to search for a job during one year after finishing their programme. Please visit:  www.werk.nl/portal/page/portal/werk_nl/werknemer/working_in_the_netherlands_wn

Or www.labourmobility.com/

22.  Is it possible to do my PhD after my master’s at your university?

In the Netherlands, doctoral-candidates are generally recruited and appointed as staff. There is no formalized admissions procedure for phd-programmes, nor an annual deadline for admission.

The University of Twente launched the Twente Graduate School in September 2009. This School offers an increasing number of high-quality programmes on master’s and PhD level. Please visit www.utwente.nl/education/tgs/ for admission procedures and more information.

If you are accepted for a Promovendus position, you are offered a contract for a period of four years, during which you complete programmes and conduct research. You may also have teaching and other departmental duties. Your doctorate is granted after successfully completing and defending your thesis. Positions are posted on our website at www.utwente.nl/vacatures/en.

Also, read the web pages of University of Twente’s Research Institutes and Centers at www.utwente.nl/research. If you are interested in an integrated MSc and PhD trajectory take a glance of the possibilities in the Twente Graduate School www.utwente.nl/education/tgs/.

However, being appointed as a Promovendus is not the only way to obtain a PhD. If you have a research proposal that you have already secured funding for and it matches the research aims of the University of Twente, we would be interested in hearing from you. If you do not yet have approved funding, contact us as we maybe be able to help you find appropriate funding.

23.  Can I bring my family with me? (MSC and/or PhD)

Office Foreign Employees will help you to manage these arrangements. It will also help you to finance the legal dues. Therefore it is wise to contact this office.

24.  How much are the costs of living?

A single student will need on average €700 to €900 per month for accommodation, study materials, and general living expenses.

25.  Is accommodation guaranteed?

The University of Twente has a variety of accommodation available on campus for international students. The International Office manages the administration for some 260 furnished rooms on campus and about 40 rooms near Enschede’s city centre. Prices range from approximately €300 to €600 per month for furnished housing, including wireless internet. Applicants are guaranteed an accommodation offer from the International Office on condition that the University’s admission procedure and the housing online application are completed at least four months before arrival.

26.  How far is Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is 2 hours by train away from Enschede. By car the distance can be covered within 1.5 hours.

27.  Do you have prayer rooms?

The University offers a room for praying (for all religions) in Vrijhof (central building at Campus).

28.  If I am accepted for a master’s programme, do I have to request for a visa myself?

The UT will request a visa for you and will quide you throught the process of obtaining the visa. Please check www.utwente.nl/master/international/practicalinformation/ for more details about visa and practical information.

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