For students that will start the Master programme Aerospace Engineering in 2023-2024: there have been maximum capacities established for each track.
Why are we doing this
In recent years we have seen a large increase in applications for different tracks. This has led us to increase the amount of staff members in different departments and adapt our education (such as installing a new profile), but for certain tracks the number of prospective students is higher than can be accommodated. As this situation was not sustainable anymore, this measure is imposed to ensure the continuation of the high quality of our education.
What is the capacity for each track
Students that are eligible for our Master programme, will still be allowed to study in the Master programme Aerospace Engineering. However, each track has a maximum capacity, indicated in the table below. This means that some students will not be able to follow the track of their first choice.
Track | Capacity | Indication for track capacity |
Track Aerospace Structures & Materials | 110 | ++ |
Track Aerodynamics & Wind Energy | 90 | ++ |
Track Control & Operations | 130 | +/- |
Track Flight Performance & Propulsion | 60 | -- |
Track Space | 120 | -- |
The colours above indicate the expectation that a placement procedure will need to be executed. Green (++) indicates that the outlook is that there is sufficient capacity for next academic year, orange (+/-) indicates that it could be that there are more students than capacity, and red (--) indicates a high probability that a placement procedure will need to be done.
Procedure
The Master admission procedure for Aerospace Engineering 2023-2024 consists of three phases, as illustrated in below flowchart. Additional information per phase can be found below the flowchart.

Phase 1 Eligibility
All applicants will be assessed on their eligibility for the master programme Aerospace Engineering. More information about the admission requirements, registration procedure and required documents can be found on this webpage.
* Important note for applicants with EU/EFTA citizenship and an international BSc degree and applicants with a BSc degree from a Dutch university: These applicants may already have to participate in a placement procedure while their admission decision is still pending. The fact that you must first participate in a placement procedure is not a guarantee that you are eligible for the Master's programme. In other words, no rights can be derived from this.
Phase 2 Preferences
We are in the process of setting up a system for indicating your track preferences. More information will be available on this webpage early March.
Phase 3 Placement procedure
In case the capacity for a track is exceeded, applicants who have indicated this track to be their first preference must participate in a placement procedure on in order to determine who will be allocated a spot.
This procedure will take place on May 11th 2023, 11:00 - 13:00 (CET). It will take place online and will be proctored!
The placement procedure will be based upon the following conditions:
- An applicant is only allowed to take part in a placement procedure once.
- The placement procedure on will consist of two elements: element A and element B. Both elements will be tested consecutively on the 11th of May.
- Element A is a general knowledge test based on the final qualifications of the Bachelor programme Aerospace Engineering (i.e. not track specific). The questions will be multiple-choice. The maximum duration of this test is 1 hour.
- Element B is an essay with a 500-words maximum. This essay has to be written within 1 hour. The topic of the essay will be specific for the track of the first preference of the applicant.
- The combined scores for elements A and B will result into a final score. Element A will have a 60% weight in the final score and element B a 40% weight. Applicants with the highest final scores in the placement procedure will be placed in the track of their first preference until the track capacity is reached.
- Every applicant who has expressed a first preference for a track with an exceeded capacity must take part in both elements A and B of the placement procedure for that specific track. Failing to participate in both elements will lead to placement in the first possible next preferred track where the maximum capacity has not been reached. This reallocation will only take place after the placement procedure(s) has/have been completed for all other applicants.
- Applicants whose final scores in the placement procedure do not result in placement in their first-choice track will be placed in their next preferred track where the maximum capacity has not yet been reached. If the allocation of remaining places in a particular track now leads to this track exceeding its maximum capacity, the applicants who scored highest on the final qualifications most relevant for this specific track in element A of the placement procedure will be given priority. Applicants having scored lower in these final qualifications will be placed in the next available track of their preference. This will continue until all applicants have been placed.
Frequently asked questions
-
Yes, you can choose any of the profiles of the track you are placed in.
-
We are in the process of setting up a system for indicating your track preferences. More information will be available on this webpage early March.
-
No, that is not possible.
-
This will be clarified in the Regulations, which will be published at a later date.
-
The placement procedure will take place on May 11th 2023, 11:00 - 13:00 (CET). It will be online and proctored!
-
No, the date of application does not influence your placement. Do make sure, however, to submit your application before the admission deadline that applies to you (more information here).
-
By the end of May 2023.
-
More information about preparation for the placement procedure will become available at a later time and will be published on this webpage.
-
No, a placement procedure will only be organized for a track where the number of interested applicants exceeds the maximum capacity of that specific track. An indication of the likeliness of a placement procedure for any of the tracks can be seen above.
If you have any further questions regarding the procedure, you can send an email to: msctrackplacement-ae@tudelft.nl
What are your alternatives
We know that certain tracks have recently increased in interest amongst prospective students. You can also look at other programmes within the TU Delft. For students interested in Space, please see below a few examples of alternatives:
Some examples of Aerospace Engineering tracks that offer space related assignments.
Examples of other Master programmes at TU Delft that might be of interest to you