Delft University of Technology
trusts
HousingAnywhere
with accommodation for their students since 2013

• Founded in 1842

• Ranking: QS World Universities 2017 - 62/900

• 1, 000 students

• 1,600 international students

• 2,200 staff members

• 65 International Degree Programmes

• Has partnered with Housing Anywhere since 2013

When it comes to engineering and technology, TU Delft is one of the most well-known and widely respected universities for students wishing to pursue higher knowledge in these fields. It is currently in 6th place, right behind Oxford University, Cambridge University and Imperial College London in the UK, and ETHZ and EPFL in Switzerland, in the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

TU Delft is also highly acknowledged in the field of architecture, holding third place amongst European Engineering Universities in Continental Europe. It also scores very high in engineering rankings, with a strong profile for research in both applied sciences and engineering.

Located in Delft, Netherlands, Delft University of technology is the oldest and largest public technological university in the country. It also draws worldwide accolades from both its technology and engineering courses, with rankings in the top 20. It is known by many organizations and associations to be the best technology university in all of the Netherlands.

Beginning in 2006, all of the university’s buildings are situated just outside the historically preserved city of Delft. In 2007, the building of the Material Sciences department was sold and demolished, giving way to the new Haagse Hogeschool. Plus, as several institutes began to work alongside TU Delft, they moved closer to the campus at Delft. In fact, in 2009, some institutions of applied sciences from the Hague and the Institute of Applied Sciences in Rijswijk all relocated to Delft in the square, nestled between Rotterdamseweg and Leeghwaterstraat.

For more information on other helpful information for international students in Delft, be sure to check out our Delft City Guide.

Campus facilities

In the beginning, all of Delft’s university buildings were located within its city centre. However, in the latter half of the 20th century, the buildings were moved to a mostly university neighborhood. The final university building to be relocated from the city centre was the library, which was moved to its new location in 1997.

In September of 2006, the university neighborhood, which was to be called Mekelpark, was completely approved in its design and construction. When this occurred, the area centered around the main road through the university, the Mekelweg, became a vibrant, bustling locale. The main road was then replaced with a park with lovely green spaces, and the traffic was redirected, making the bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways much safer for students and the local inhabitants of the area.

Aula

Started by Jo van den Broek and Jaap Bakema, two TU Delft alumni, the Van den Broek en Bakema Architecture Bureau completely designed the university and its public spaces in what can be described as classic examples utilizing the Brutalist architectural style. On 6 January 1966, Dutch Prime Minister Jo Cals officially decreed the university open to students.

TU Delft Aula holds all doctoral promotions, and it is host to academic senate meetings and honoris causa ceremonies. It also is home to the Mekelpark, which includes the university store, its main restaurant, administrative offices, lecture halls and the auditoria.

Library

Built in 1997, the TU Delft Library was designed and constructed by Mecanoo Architectural Bureau, which is located in Delft. It is situated just behind Aula, and it boasts a very unique look. Its roof is covered with grass, providing a natural insulation, and one side lifts, allowing visitors to walk up to the building’s peak, which is topped off with a steel cone. Its walls are all completely made of glass. It’s so unique, in fact, that in the category of "buildings of steel and hybrid constructions", the library was the recipient of Dutch’s National Steel Prize in 1998.

Cultural and Sports Center

On the very edge of the Mekelpark at Mekelweg 10, the TU Delft Cultural Center (Cultureel Centrum) can be found just across from the Aula. Designed by architect Vera Yanovshtchinsky, it opened in 1985 to both TU Delft students and its staff.

For more information on activities around Delft, don’t forget to read more in our Delft City Guide.

Courses

TU Delft is made up of eight different faculties. These faculties include: TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment (Bouwkunde (BK)), Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG), Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE), Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), Aerospace Engineering (AE), Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), Technology, Policy and Management (TPM) and Applied Sciences (AS).

Beginning in 2004, TU Delft and its educational departments have been divided into three different tiers. These include Bachelor, Master and Doctorate. The academic year is then separated into two different semesters. The initial semester runs from September on through January of the following year, and the second semester begins in January and ends in July. Plus, for their convenience, students can find a majority of the lectures from their professors in OpenCourseWare.

Bachelor-level Studies

TU Delft offers students a choice between 16 BSc programmes, as of 2016, which can be achieved after three total years of study and the passing of a final exam. There are three programs that are offered completely in the English language, including Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering and Applied Earth Science. All other programs are presented entirely in the Dutch language.

Master-level Studies

TU Delft offers around 40 MSc programmes. The MSc studies take two years to complete.

International dimension

Each year, the number of students enrolled in the university increases. Within this ever-growing number of international students, over half are European. As of 2009, 340 students came from Belgium, with 100 each from Germany, Italy and Greece, Considering the international students who are not native Europeans, 340 came from China, 150 from Iran, 140 from India, 100 from Suriname, and 80 students from both Turkey and Indonesia.

Interestingly, due to TU Delft presence, the city of Delft has one of the biggest population of Iranians in the whole Netherlands.

The biggest number of international students studies at Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science departments.

As an incoming international student, be sure to read on in our Delft City Guide to find plenty of helpful tips and suggestions.

How to get to the university

By car

Easily accessible by car, travel to the campus via the A13:

• Take exit 9 for Delft

• Take exit 10 for Delft Zuid/TU-wijk

There are five large parking areas, along with a parking building on campus.

Aula / Library (van der Waalsweg)

Faculty of 3ME (Leeghwaterstraat)

Faculty of EEMCS (Feldmannweg)

Sports & Culture (Van Den Broekweg)

Faculty of AE (Anthony Fokkerweg)

Parking building TNW Zuid (Van der Maasweg)

Once you are traveling on the campus ring, the large parking lots on campus are easy to find. However, keep in mind that you may only park in the intended parking spaces. It is important to understand that the city of Delft actively regulates the parking areas on the TU Delft Campus, so always park within the lines of a dedicated parking space. Once there, you can easily walk to anywhere on the campus. There are even e-charge points available for both staff members and students.

By public transport

The Delft Central Station runs to TU by bus lines 69, 55, 174 and 40, stopping at several areas throughout the campus. If you’d like to find more information and route your journey, you can do so on 9292.nl.

To learn how to travel around Delft like a local, definitely check out our transportation section in our Delft City Guide.

On TU’s campus, there are no accommodations available for students.

Therefore, it can be difficult searching for a room in Delft, especially if you’re looking for something in particular. This is why it is extremely important to start your search early, as that there will be many other students also looking for housing.

Also, if you are not able to locate a room for rent right within Delft, there are several close cities that may have housing available. You can try:

• Rijswijk, which is accessible by train, tram line 1, bus or bike, is only about 4 to 10 kilometers from Delft, depending on the route and method taken.

• Delfsgauw, only about 2 kilometers via bicycle from TU, is a small city close to campus.

• Den Hoorn is another option, especially if you like small towns, and it is about 4 kilometers from campus.

• Ypenburg is located in The Hague, and it is only 5 kilometers from TU Delft. You can take tram 19 in to Leidschenveen, Leidschedam.

• Rotterdam is accessible by train or bicycle, with North Rotterdam connected by a bicycle road to Delft, at just 10 kilometers from campus.

Student Neighbourhoods

City Centre

Delft is the ideal university city, full of students who make up a very lively, vibrant city centre. Plus, there are plenty of student associations with regular events for people to mingle.

There is also a wonderful mix of shopping outlets, lovely cafes and an adventurous open-market that is set up two times a week. You’ll never be without something to do or somewhere to go.

With so many attractions and amenities, people of all ages flock to Delft. Real estate in the city centre is always on the rise, with many different types of housing, like beautifully maintained historical properties.

The residents in the city centre are proud of their address, so many opt to participate in a variety of neighborhood improvement associations and individual projects. There are approximately 12,000 residents in the Delft city centre, with an average age of 36.

Buitenhof

This neighborhood has wide streets and plenty of open spaces, with an abundance of room for housing. The most popular is a flat, with several high-rise buildings. You will also find many luxurious, single-residence houses. There are approximately 7,200 residents in Buitenhof, with over 80% of its properties utilized for rentals. There are about 14,000 permanent residents, with 33% below the age of 24.

People love the area’s wide open spaces and cycling paths. The area is very colorful and diverse, with many residents of different cultures and nationalities.

Another positive is that Buitenhof can be easily accessed by car or public transportation. Providing service to the city centre of Delft as well as The Hague, there are two tram lines and several bus routes.

Hof van Delft

This neighborhood boasts a population of 13,000, with many of Western origin. Many residents are in their 20s with young families. A majority of the housing was constructed prior to 1940.

Getting around Hof van Delft is simple, with many major roads leading directly to the principle motorways. There is also the main railway station, along with bus routes and trams.

Voorhof

This highly populated area, with 12,500 residents (9,800 residents per square kilometer) has twice the population of Delft. Voorhof was built as a modern, model city. It was designed with buildings of different heights and green spaces for relaxation, perfectly capable of providing enough public areas for its large number of residents.

With a slew of different cultures and nationalities, Voorhof makes for a bustling, colorful neighborhood. Plus, there are tons of shops, with a large centre in de Hoven. If you love open-air markets, expect one each Tuesday, right next to the car park of the shopping centre.

Common housing practices

What you may know as a "hospiteeravond" in some other university cities is actually called an “instemmingsavond” by the students of Delft. There is what is called an “instemmingsavond”, which is set up by the students residing in the house to look for a new roommate.

There are typically quite a few candidates, so be prepared to have another plan to search for a room, just in case you are not chosen. Keep the following in mind:

• There is a one-month period.

• Be sure to find out what exactly is included in the rental price. Utilities like electricity, gas, water, Internet and taxes are only included in the price if it is stated in your rental agreement.

• Be sure to take special note of the tenancy agreement’s effective date. Sometimes the rent payment might be double for the first few weeks.

• The annual rent can sometimes increase on 1 July, which is also the date for the yearly payment of any service costs.

If you’re looking for a room in Delft, be sure to check out Housing Anywhere and the accommodation section of our Deflt City Guide.

Tu Delft is just bursting with a wide variety of student associations and organizations. These groups are often categorized by whether they are designed for sports, social activities or to achieve professional goals. These societies are so popular that over half of the students at TU Delft belong to one or more organizations.

The Erasmus Student Network Delft (ESN Delft) is a non-profit organization on the TU Delft campus. It is organized by student volunteers, who set up events and activities, providing services and support to the large international population on campus.

About the Students

TU Delft is known for its high male population. In fact, in 2009, there was only a 20% female student population at MSc and BSc levels. This large imbalance between the two sexes is most prevalent in the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering faculties. However, the numbers are the closest to being equal in the departments of Industrial Design and Architecture. While the university has made efforts to rectify this imbalance, the numbers typically have stayed relatively steady over the years.

From 2002 onward, TU Delft experienced a large spike in enrollment, from approximately 2,200 students in 2002 to an enrollment of nearly 3,700 in 2009. This also affected the overall student population, with nearly 13,250 in 2002 to almost 16,500 in 2009.

Remember that student associations and events are only a part of what is offered. Be sure to get out and explore the city of Delft and immerse yourself in its culture. Read more in our Delft City Guide!