Frequently asked questions
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A degree programme at TU Delft is challenging, so make sure you give it your all, right from the start. You can always slow down a little later on, but if you drop points right away, it will be difficult to catch up later in the year. Bear in mind that the pace of study at university level is considerably faster than in pre-university education (VWO).
Most students experience Mechanical Engineering as being a difficult degree programme, which they have to work for. The programme contains a lot of mathematics and mechanical engineering, and it helps if you are good in these subjects. Making calculations is necessary in the majority of courses, so this is really something that requires a lot of time. In general, you will not be asked whether you have actually done the work, but ultimately you will obviously want to pass the tests. This is why it is important that you are able to work independently and in a disciplined manner.
On average, the study load for Mechanical Engineering is 42 hours per week. About half of them are scheduled hours and the other half is self-study. Mathematics is an important barometer and you will need to achieve a mark of around seven. You will need to attain at least 45 ECTS (75%) in your first year in order to continue with the degree programme. It is therefore important to invest the necessary time in your degree programme.
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This degree programme is also offered at Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente. The major difference from Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft is that the other two universities are smaller in scale. We recommend you to visit the other universities of technology as well in order to experience what it is like there. Their tutorials are smaller, for instance. The educational level is the same.
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A University of Applied Sciences does not deal with the subject matter quite as thoroughly because it is more focused on the application and less on the empirical theory behind it. The material is also presented at a slower rate than at TU Delft. At a University of Applied Sciences you are also often assigned to smaller groups, making it similar to secondary school.
A University of Applied Sciences does not deal with the subject matter quite as thoroughly because it is more focused on the application and less on the empirical theory behind it. The material is also presented at a slower rate than at TU Delft. At a University of Applied Sciences you are also often assigned to smaller groups, making it similar to secondary school.
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That would be difficult due to the number of contact hours at TU Delft. During the first year of the Bachelor’s programme in particular, the week is very full with lectures, laboratory courses and tutorials, which would leave little room for a second degree programme. However, some students are able to combine two Master’s programmes. The academic counsellor or central student counsellor can advise you in this respect. We do not recommend combining Mechanical Engineering with another degree programme in the first year. The study load is at least 40 hours per week. In the first year, there is a binding study recommendation on the continuation of studies, meaning that you will have to attain at least 45 ECTS to continue with the degree programme. If you are taking another degree programme in addition to Mechanical Engineering, the risk is great that you will not attain the necessary credits. Mechanical Engineering is not offered part-time.
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The male/female ratio in Mechanical Engineering is 90/10.
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Overviews of the courses during the Bachelor’s degree programmes can be found on the website of the degree programme. All of the individual courses of our degree programmes can be found in the online prospectus. Are you curious about the first-year lectures? Then visit OpenCourseWare, where you can view lectures of the courses.
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1st hour 08:45 hrs - 09:30 hrs
2nd hour 09:45 hrs - 10:30 hrs
3rd hour 10:45 hrs - 11:30 hrs
4th hour 11:45 hrs - 12:30 hrs
Break
5th hour 13:45 hrs - 14:30 hrs
6th hour 14:45 hrs - 15:30 hrs
7th hour 15:45 hrs - 16:30 hrs
8th hour 16:45 hrs - 17:30 hrs
9th hour 17.45 hrs - 18.30 hrs
10th hour 18:45 hrs - 19:30 hrsThis does not mean you have 10 hours of lectures a day: you can find your timetable at www.roosters.tudelft.nl
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You will have a lot to deal with at the start of your degree programme. You will have to make a lot of choices. Do you want to rent a room or continue living at home? How are you planning to finance your degree programme? You will have your first lectures, examinations and assignments. Are you planning to join a sports club or other association? The website welkom.tudelft.nl is a useful resource, containing information, links and an introductory film. At the beginning there is an introduction week and an introduction weekend. Your first study week is primarily filled with introductions to the courses and projects. You will also have an opportunity to ensure that you are registered everywhere you need to be and to get your books. You will start work immediately with mathematics in your first study week. A senior student (student mentor) will familiarise you with everything at the start of the degree programme.
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Yes, every student should really have a computer. TU Delft has various rooms with computers that you can use, but we recommend that you purchase your own laptop. Students can purchase a laptop at a discount through the laptop project. Mechanical Engineering has a number of computers that you can work on, but they are often in use. It is useful to have your own laptop for project work. Apple or Windows? All the necessary programs run on Windows. The program SolidWorks does not run on Apple. The program is however installed on the computers in the faculty.
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Examinations at TU Delft are taken both in writing and digitally. This can vary according to the course. You can find this in the digital prospectus.
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We work with student mentors at Mechanical Engineering. The student mentor will show you around the faculty in the first weeks and is your first point of contact. You can also always contact an academic counsellor. If there are issues that may affect your studies (such as a functional impairment like dyslexia or ADHD, or family circumstances), we would advise you to discuss this with an academic counsellor as soon as possible. Click here for the contact details of the academic counsellors for Mechanical Engineering.
TU Delft also organises various workshops and training courses on study skills, such as for stress management, constructive thinking and studying with dyslexia.
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The holiday days can be found (in green) in the academic calendar. No examinations or lectures will take place on these days. You have approximately ten weeks of holidays and a number of public holidays. Many students use some of these days to prepare for examinations or resits or to work on written assignments. So a period of real holiday does not really exist at university.
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The Delft Honours Programme is for students who are looking for a challenge over and above what their curriculum offers. This is in addition to the regular study programme. It gives you the opportunity to acquire additional knowledge in or outside your field of specialisation, to work on your personal development and to collaborate with students on other programmes.
