Orientation
Explore universities
Interested in an exchange semester? Decide which university you wish to apply for and provide us with a second to fifth choice, as it is not always possible to honour your first choice.
- Click on the country tiles on our homepage for more information on our partner universities. The most up-to-date information can be found in our partner overview, which can be found under Forms & Downloads. The information can be updated or changed during the year;
- Read student Travel Reports (database: partneruniversities.tudelft.nl);
- Check the websites of the different partner universities;
- Go to the information sessions (Study Abroad Week);
- Check the semester dates;
- Learn the language;
- Enrol for the Brightspace group "Study Abroad BK" for the latest updates.
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First of all, it is important that you are motivated to go abroad! Things will be different in a foreign country and this requires a proactive, flexible and creative attitude. We are not only looking for the top of the bill students, so no worries if your grades are not that great. Grades are just part of the selection. Motivation and language plan are also very important in the selection process! Read more about the selection here.
Before you leave, you must have a sufficient command of the language in which the courses are taught. For more information on language requirements, please check the website of the partner university. Some universities ask for a language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, ...) at the moment of application at the partner university already. Make sure your learn the language in time and apply for a language exam as soon as you know where you will go! For more information about language courses to be taken before your exchange period please go to Languages.As an exchange student you are an ambassador for your home university and are expected to represent TU Delft and the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in the best possible way.
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- A practical requirement is that students who would like to study abroad should be enrolled as a full-time student from the moment of application until all administrative tasks are completed after return from the exchange period.
- Your bachelor GPA ('gewogen cijfergemiddelde) should be 6.5 or higher.
- More specific requirements for BSc and MSc students can be found below.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not mean that students are automatically selected. The final selection will be made by the Faculty’s selection committee. This committee will assess all factors in each file as submitted to them.
Minor – Bachelor 5
At the moment of application: you must be a second year student at least with a bachelor GPA of 6.5 or higher.
At the moment of departure: you must have completed 90 EC from the first two years of the Bachelor’s degree programme.Master of Science Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences and Geomatics
At the moment of application: you must be a TU Delft student with a bachelor GPA of at least 6.5.
At the moment of departure: you must have fully completed your Bachelor’s degree programme. You can go on exchange during the semester which fits your track best. -
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BSc students can choose to go abroad in Autumn or Spring, depending on which semester fits better. You can swop your BSc 5 and 6 if necessary.
One remark: please do realize that during Spring semester, no minors are offered at TU Delft. This means that if you choose to go abroad during the Spring semester and your exchange cannot take place - due to unforeseen or personal circumstances -, there is no alternative programme available for you at the TU Delft. -
If you take the exchange semester as an additional semester, you are free to choose if you like to go in Autumn or Spring semester. It is however not possible to interrupt your graduation year for an exchange semester, neither is it possible to do an exchange after graduation!
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We advise Architecture track students to go on exchange during the Spring semester. Then you can follow the regular programme. You start with your MSc1 in Delft in Autumn semester, followed by your MSc2 abroad in Spring semester. You can follow your MSc design studio equivalent to at least 10 EC and your electives abroad. The requirements for the studio can be found on our website. Your thesis is a mandatory course at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. You should write it while being abroad or before or after your stay abroad. If you intend to write the thesis while being abroad, contact the coordinator of the course before you leave to make appointments how to receive feedback while being abroad. And of course, don’t forget to deliver your thesis in time (end of 3rd quarter)!
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If you wish to study in the Architecture track without facing study delay, we advise against going on exchange during the Autumn semester! However, it is possible, but at your own responsibility. There are some consequences if you go abroad during the 1st semester of the academic year.
If you go on exchange during the 1st semester of the academic year you should gain 20 to 30 EC at the host university. You should choose at least one design studio equivalent to at least 10 EC. The requirements for the studio can be found on our website. There are some mandatory MSc1 courses which need to be followed at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment:- During your exchange: AR1A061 and AR1A066 – both 5 EC: You should try to 'follow' both lecture courses while being abroad. If lectures are taught online or made available afterwards (recorded), you can follow the courses easily, but be aware that in principle the lectures are taught on campus. It cannot be guaranteed that the lectures are taught online / recorded. It is your own responsibility to catch up with the courses in any way. You will have to deliver the papers in time. AR1A061 is a preparation for the graduation year and AR1A066 is a preparation for the thesis. Please contact the coordinators of the courses before you leave, download the readers, find the relevant information on BrightSpace and don't forget to deliver the papers in time.
- During the semester following the exchange: Upon return you should follow the Building Engineering Studios course (AR1A080) – 10 EC. The credits from this course can be used as elective points in your MSc2. Please mind that this Building Engineering Studios course during the 2nd semester Q3 is only open to students who went abroad during the 1st semester of the same academic year!
Again, it is your own responsibility to register for and follow the right courses, to contact the coordinators and to prepare and deliver the assessments.
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You should have a look at the study programme which semester fits your track best.
Which semester you choose has no influence on your chances of being selected.
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Bachelor’s students may only visit universities where at least subjects are taught at Bachelor’s level. Master’s students may only visit universities where at least subjects are taught at Master’s level. You can find the level of the courses offered by the different universities on the website and list of partner universities.
Please also have a look at the section Course selection under Procedures and Deadlines.
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For information regarding grants and allowances, please check the preparations page.