Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), founded in 1842, is the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 48th in the world and the highest-ranked university in the Netherlands. It’s known for aerospace engineering, civil engineering, architecture, computer science and industrial design, and its campus is in the small city of Delft, between Rotterdam and The Hague.
Most TU Delft bachelor’s degrees are taught in Dutch, and its two most popular English-taught programmes have limited places, so international students need to plan early. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on TU Delft’s own guidance and official Dutch government information.
1. Choose an English-taught bachelor’s
TU Delft has four English-taught bachelor’s (BSc) programmes: Aerospace Engineering (English track), Computer Science and Engineering (English track), Earth, Climate and Technology, and Nanobiology, which is run jointly with Erasmus University Rotterdam. Its other bachelor’s degrees, such as Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering, are taught in Dutch, while most of its master’s (MSc) programmes are taught in English.
2. Apply through Studielink and Osiaan
You start by registering for your programme in Studielink, the national application system, and then complete your application in TU Delft’s own portal, Osiaan. You can apply for one bachelor’s programme a year, plus one backup if your first choice has limited places, and every applicant pays a non-refundable €100 application fee. TU Delft application procedure for international diplomas.
3. Know your deadline
For 2027 entry, applications open on 15 October 2026. The deadline is 15 January 2027 (23:59 CET) for Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering, and 1 April 2027 for other programmes, such as Nanobiology, if you have an international diploma. TU Delft won’t consider your application without your English test results, so book your test early.
4. Prepare for selection (numerus clausus)
Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering are numerus clausus programmes, which means places are limited and applicants are ranked through a selection procedure that runs from 15 January to 15 April. You’ll receive your ranking number on 15 April. Applicants from outside the EU/EFTA can take part in the placement procedure until 15 June, because after that there usually isn’t enough time for a residence permit. TU Delft numerus clausus programmes.
5. Meet the mathematics and science requirements
Your school diploma must be equivalent to the Dutch pre-university (VWO) diploma, and most TU Delft programmes require mathematics at a high level. If you’re missing a subject, TU Delft accepts exams from Boswell-Bèta, which can be taken online, or from the Central Committees for Entrance Exams (CCVX) in Utrecht. TU Delft doesn’t run a foundation year, and it doesn’t accept foundation programmes from private providers such as Holland ISC.
6. Meet the English requirement
For English-taught bachelor’s programmes, TU Delft asks for IELTS Academic of at least 6.5 overall, a TOEFL iBT of 90 (or 5 on the new scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026), or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Your certificate must be less than two years old, and IELTS Online isn’t accepted. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. TU Delft admission requirements.
7. Understand the fees
Students from the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname pay the statutory fee, which is €2,771 for 2027-28. Other international students pay TU Delft’s institutional fee, which for bachelor’s programmes is €20,563 for 2027-28, up from €19,906 in 2026-27. TU Delft tuition fees and finances.
8. Look for funding and housing early
TU Delft’s main scholarships, such as the Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship, are for master’s students, so most international bachelor’s students need to fund their studies themselves or find a scholarship in their home country. Housing in Delft is scarce and universities don’t own student rooms, so start looking for a room as soon as you apply.
9. Let TU Delft apply for your residence permit
If you’re not from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you’ll need a residence permit for study, and many nationalities also need an entry visa (MVV). You don’t apply to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) yourself: once you’ve been admitted, TU Delft applies for you as a recognised sponsor, and you pay the fee to the university. You must show that you can cover your living costs, which the IND sets at €1,130.77 a month for university students in 2026 (about €13,570 a year), on top of your tuition. This is why the deadline for non-EU applicants is usually earlier than for EU students. The permit lasts for the length of your programme plus three months, and to keep it you must earn at least 50% of your credits each year. IND required amounts.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
With a student residence permit you can work up to 16 hours a week during the academic year, or full time in June, July and August, but your employer needs a work permit (TWV) for you from the UWV. After you graduate, you can apply for the orientation year (zoekjaar) residence permit, which lets you stay for 12 months to look for a job or start a business, and during it you can work without a work permit. You can apply for it up to three years after you graduate. IND: international students.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at TU Delft?
Most TU Delft master’s programmes are taught in English, and for 2027-28 the institutional fee for MSc programmes is €26,479. Admission is based mainly on your bachelor’s degree, grades and subject background, and each programme sets its own requirements. For a PhD, you usually apply for an advertised position, which is a paid job. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
TU Delft’s capped programmes are very competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Leiden University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Our guide to studying in the Netherlands explains how the Dutch system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from TU Delft’s official admissions and tuition fee pages, official Dutch government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on TU Delft’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with TU Delft.