Mechanical Engineering

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• Admission requirements

  International diploma
  Students from outside the Netherlands should have a pre-university secondary education comparable to the Dutch vwo-diploma, with high passing grades in Mathematics and Physics as required subjects. As the programme is taught entirely in English, a high level of English proficiency (CEFR, B2/C1 level; minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or equivalent) is required as well.
  
  Dutch vwo-diploma
  You will be directly admitted to the Bachelor’s programme in Mechanical Engineering if you possess a Dutch vwo-diploma with a profile in 'Natuur & Techniek'. You may also be eligible to start the programme with a profile in 'Natuur & Gezondheid', but only with the subjects 'Wiskunde B' and 'Natuurkunde'. Furthermore, you may be eligible to start the programme with another profile, but only with the subjects 'Wiskunde B' and 'Natuurkunde'.
  
  Mandatory matching
  For Mechanical Engineering applicants matching activities are obligatory. You will have to apply for the programme before 1 May (completed application with all the required uploads submitted via Osiris). This deadline applies to all students, Dutch and non-Dutch. Students that apply after 1 May will not be admitted to the programme. 

  More information
  Read more about how to enrol and please do not hesitate to contact the University of Twente for more information.
  

• Application

  You can arrange your application via University of Twente.

• Mandatory matching

  Why mandatory matching?
  At Mechanical Engineering we think it is important for you to choose a programme that meets your expectations and is a good match with your interests and your talents. A good match between you and the study programme you choose increases your chances to successfully complete the programme and obtain a diploma. To improve this match, we use ‘Mandatory Matching’. That means that all our Mechanical Engineering applicants need to take part in a series of obligated matching activities. With these activities we aim to investigate together if your expectations, talents and intentions ‘match’ with the content and setup of the programme. The goal of the matching day is that you have an impression of what to expect and that you get an advice if our programme would be a good fit for you.

  What is a matching day?
  Once you have signed up for Mechanical Engineering you will receive an invitation for a matching day. This is a great opportunity to see what the study programme is about and to meet potential fellow students. During this half day you will attend short example lectures and participate in a group assignment which will give you an overview of the programme and the various fields of Mechanical Engineering (mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, energy, systems and control, dynamic systems, design and construction). The matching day is a great way to get a taste of the atmosphere, to meet the students and staff of the Mechanical Engineering programme. It is also possible to have a (online) meeting with a staff member during or after this day in case of further questions. Besides focusing on the study choice, we also aim to prepare you (and us) as well as possible for the coming academic year.

  How does matching work?
  The mandatory matching process consists of several steps:

  1. After you sign up for the Mechanical Engineering programme, you will receive a questionnaire about your expectancies, skills and interest.
  2. Once you have filled in and sent the questionnaire, you will receive an invitation for a matching day. The matching day will take place several times a year on campus (either at VU or UT). For students that are not able to come to the campus 2 online options will be offered. The dates for this year are mentioned below. It is obligatory to join one of these matching days to be admitted to the programme.
  3. During the matching day you will participate in several activities (lecture, group assignment, etc.) and meet with staff and students.
  4. Depending on the outcomes of the questionnaire and the results of the matching day, you might be approached for a meeting with a staff member or senior student. You may also request an additional meeting yourself.
  5. When you have finished the entire matching procedure, we will send you a recommendation. This recommendation will indicate whether we think you are a match with our programme. The advice that you are given as a result of the matching procedure is not binding - you can choose to follow up your admission or not. Students who do not finish the matching procedure however, will not be admitted to the programme. The Admission Office will inform you whether or not you are admissible. Note that mandatory matching is also obligatory for students that have been enrolled in our bachelor programme before and re-enroll for the coming academic year.

  Note: if you do not register for Mechanical Engineering before 1 May and do not participate in the matching activity you will not be admitted to the programme.

  Contact
  If you have any questions about our mandatory matching process, you can send an email to: matching-me@utwente.nl

  Dates matching days
  We prefer to meet our prospective students face to face. For those who are not able to come to one of our on-campus meetings, online alternatives are available. You can let us know your preference in the questionnaire that you will receive.

  On campus (VU, Amsterdam): 

  • 13 December 2024
  • 7 March 2025
  • 9 May 2025
  • 6 June 2025

  Online (Dates subject to change).

  • 2 May 2025
  • 12 June 2025

• Signing up for Mechanical Engineering: always UT first

  Whichever location you choose, you indicate in the application platform Studielink that you are applying to the University of Twente. Why? You will eventually receive your degree from the University of Twente, even if you choose the Amsterdam location. After the first step, you get to choose your location: VU Amsterdam or UT Enschede.

  Start your application for the Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. First, you need to sign up for Mechanical Engineering at University of Twente via Studielink and provide all the required documents. After you have signed up you will receive information from the admission office about the requirements for starting the study.

  The University of Twente works with different enrolment deadlines, according to the programme, your nationality and your previous education diploma. You can register from October if you want to start the course the following year in September.

  Arrange you application via Studielink

  Apply now
  at Mechanical Engineering UT - choice to study at VU Amsterdam is step 2

  You can sign up between October and May 1st.

  Sign up and required documents

  The University of Twente works with different enrolment deadlines, according to the programme, your nationality and your previous education diploma. You can register from October if you want to start the course the following year in September. 

  Go to Studielink

  Enrolment

  Once all the required documents have been submitted (including a copy of the diploma that enables you to be admitted to the programme), you have taken part in the matching procedure and you have met other (including financial) obligations, you will be informed of the decision regarding your admission to the Mechanical Engineering programme at the University of Twente. More information 

  Please note: For international students, slightly different arrangements may apply and the documents required and deadlines may also differ. The information will be sent by email from the Admission Office and the International Office.

  IMPORTANT

  It’s important to complete the mandatory matching event procedure. 

• What does this collaboration between VU and UT mean for me?

  As a Mechanical Engineering student you will have the best of both worlds. Studying most of your time at VU, you will experience the student life, the mix of cultures, and everything else that Amsterdam and the VU have to offer. As almost all engineering related programmes in the Netherlands are located far away from Amsterdam, this is a unique opportunity. At the same time you will also spend some time at the University of Twente. Where you will have access to all their facilities, their beautiful campus, and where you will experience the hospitality of Twente.

  How much time do I spend at the University of Twente
  Anually the average is between 15% and 20%. This comes down to roughly 20 - 25 nights a year. Please note that this is an annual average, the amount you need to attend the University of Twente per month may vary. Some periods you will be there more often than other periods. We always strive to plan multiple consecutive lecturing days in Enschede, so you can stay the night and profit optimally from your stay and the facilities in Enschede.

  Travelling to the University of Twente
  In addition to the on-campus education at the VU, you travel to the University of Twente a few times a month, mainly to follow practicals. From the train station next to the VU, you only have to switch trains once before arriving in Hengelo. From Hengelo it is a 10-minute bus ride to the University of Twente campus. 

  Accommodation
  Because you will stay consecutive days at the UT, we advise you to stay there overnight. At the UT campus there are cabins available at cost price, specifically allocated to the Mechanical Engineering students. These cabins are group accommodation on the UT campus. You can expect to spend about 350 - 450 euro for the overnight stays in the cabins per academic year. 

  You can find more information about accommodation here:

  • Overnight stays in Enschede for Mechanical Engineering
  • Overnight stays FAQ

  Diploma
  At graduation, you will receive a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from the University of Twente.