Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering programme at the University of Twente (UT) and Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam! We cannot wait to see you in September 2024. We are currently preparing all the information you will need to get started. In the meantime, the following information may answer some of the questions you have right now. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Not starting in September 2024?
The information on this webpage is for students who are starting their studies in September 2024. If you are still orienting, please visit this webpage for more general information.
What your education in September 2023 will look like
If you choose to study Mechanical Engineering at UT and VU, you will study most of the time in Amsterdam and several days a month in Enschede. That means you regularly will spend consecutive days in Enschede for practicals and tutorials.
Education at VU Amsterdam
Our education will mostly be on campus. You will meet your fellow project group members and our staff members at least several days a week at the campus. We will not offer online alternatives for on-campus activities.
Education at University of Twente
On top of the on-campus education at VU you will also visit the University of Twente (UT) regularly (for several consecutive days) to join practicals, group work and/or exams. Your first visit to UT will be during the first week of the academic year. Your first practicals at the UT will most likely be in the beginning of October. You will be informed later about how and when this will be organised exactly. We will not offer online alternatives for the practicals. The cost for your overnight stay in Twente is for your own account. Extra information and different options for housing can be found here.
Two universities, two sources of information
While the Mechanical Engineering programme is offered by two universities, UT and VU, you might also get information regarding your studies from both universities. Despite the fact that we try to limit this to one sender as much as possible, it is not always possible. On this page, we will let you know what information you can expect from what sender (or on which website you can find the information).
In addition, VU Amsterdam has a special Pre-student environment with lots of nice-to-know information about studying in Amsterdam and about the university. Once you are fully enrolled at UT, you will also be enrolled at VU and receive a VU-net ID. Be aware; the transfer of your enrolment to VU may take some time.
Information overview
In the overview below you will find what types of information you can expect when and from which source. We divided the information into three categories. It also contains links to webpages where you can find more detailed information. In case you still have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Admission | To finalise your application make sure you have completed all the steps. You are going to study at VU Amsterdam most of the time, but you will receive a degree of the University of Twente. That is why the application process goes through UT. Please note that 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. |
VISA (international students only) | UT will help international students to get a VISA. You will receive an e-mail about this via UT. |
Topic | Description |
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. |
The 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. |
The matching process | 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 2024 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. |
Matching days 2023 | 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
28 November 2023 (VU, Amsterdam)
28 February 2024 (VU, Amsterdam)
28 May 2024 (VU, Amsterdam) Online
7 June 2024
12 July 2024 |
Contact | If you have any questions about our mandatory matching process, you can send an email to: matching-me@utwente.nl |
Student card | You will receive a student card from both UT and VU. The VU ID card will be sent later than the UT student card but do not worry if you have not received the VU ID card at the start of the academic year. You do not need it to follow courses.
More about the UT student card
More about the VU ID card |
Housing Amsterdam | The VU offers accommodation to international students (no guaranteed accommodation). International students will receive an e-mail of the VU International Office about this. |
Housing for the UT visits | You will travel to Enschede from time to time, to follow courses at UT (more about this under "During your studies" > "Commuting between Amsterdam and Enschede"). We offer you the possibility to stay overnight in a log cabin on the campus of UT. In due time you will receive a link to an online preference form, in which you can submit your preferences for this stay and have to pay the costs. |
Study association | M.E.S.A ‘s Gravensande is the Mechanical Engineering study association at the VU.
M.E.S.A is the VU counterpart of study association W.S.G. Isaac Newton from the BSc programme Mechanical Engineering at the UT. |
Introduction period | Before the start of the academic year you will be invited to participate in two introduction programmes VU and UT. Introduction at the VU
You will enjoy the VU general introduction to become acquainted with the VU campus and Amsterdam City. Kick-in introduction UT
You also have the possibility to get to know your fellow students by participating in the UT Kick-In introduction which will take place on the UT campus. You will receive more information about the exact programme via e-mail by the UT Kick-in committee in collaboration with study associations Isaac Newton and M.E.S.A ‘s Gravensande. More information can also be found on the Kick-in website. During the introduction, you will also receive a useful checklist and help from current Mechanical Engineering students to arrange the last things to get started with your studies, like registering for courses, checking your ICT account etc. Arrival days VU for international students
VU will welcome all new international exchange students on campus in August. You can find more information and the latest updates about the Arrival Days on the website of the VU. |
Study books | Once you have registered for the Kick-In and became a member of study associations W.S.G. Isaac Newton and M.E.S.A ‘s Gravensande, you can purchase your study books with a discount. You will get more information about this during the introduction days. The books will be delivered to your home address. During the first week of the academic year, no books are needed. Your study material for this week is available online. |
Notebook | For the study programme Mechanical Engineering you need a notebook with high graphic performance and a powerful processor in the first week of your study. You can bring your own device or purchase a new high-end notebook via the annual notebook project of the University of Twente. In this project, we offer selected notebooks for a competitive price, of which we can guarantee that they conform to the requirements of your study programme. The notebook can be delivered to your home address. |
Course registration | For Semester 1 you can register up until 31 August through Osiris Student. You can register for the whole semester and are then automatically enrolled for all courses in that semester. |
Timetable | You can find your timetable via rooster.vu.nl and rooster.utwente.nl two weeks before the start of the academic year. |
Educational/ICT systems | Because you are a student at both UT and VU, you will make use of different ICT systems. In the first week of your studies, there will be a presentation about these systems. In case you need help on one of the systems, we have student assistants available to you. |
Commuting between Amsterdam
and Enschede | During your studies you will spend about 20% at UT in Enschede and 80% in Amsterdam. The frequency varies, sometimes you will go twice a month for 2 or 3 days, and sometimes you will only go once or twice in a whole semester. If you go to Enschede for 2 or 3 days, you can stay overnight at UT campus. |
Sport activities at the UT
| A kind of 'Gentlemen's agreement' has been concluded between all universities in the Netherlands concerning sports for a student. This means that if you purchase a sports card at the VU in Amsterdam, you are also entitled to a free sports card at another university in the Netherlands (for example, the UT). |
Personal circumstances
| In case you encounter personal circumstances which can limit you from studying or performing during your study, please know we have a study adviser available for you. You can contact study adviser Janine de Schutter or Anne Hendriks by sending them an e-mail or making an appointment. |
