I joined TU Delft in August, 2018 so this review is from the point of view of someone who hasn’t been there for long and is from a far away land called, India.
The culture and work ethics at TU Delft can be best described as “open”. Located conveniently in a quiet but not-so-empty city, it’s proximal to all utility stores, a theatre, the city centre and a 15 minute bike ride from most accommodations (in Delft).
The first step is arrival. If you are an incoming student I would highly recommend using the university services for finding a place to live in (you will be charged but it’s worth it; due to the sudden surge in international students in the EU, availability has reduced).
Post arrival, travelling to the campus (or the key pickup location) is really not hard. There was a shuttle service provided by the uni but it was discontinued in our year. Hence, things are pretty dynamic and you should be as flexible as possible.

I’m a Masters student in Biomedical Engineering at 3mE so our work started the day the Introduction Programme (IP) ended. It’s a university where you always have to be on your toes. Prior to starting your classes you make an individual study programme (which might or might not need approval depending on your faculty), so make sure you sit down with your friends and professors and plan a masterpiece (pun intended; not my own sadly).

*Start from Day 0*. This is not a place where you can study one week before the exams and still pass. Grading is a bit stringent but at the same time not really accounted for (since the level is highly standardised) when you apply for internships and projects (there motivation letters and interviews have higher priorities). The subjects are oriented towards the tracks you have chosen but there’s no limit (except for maybe the sky). You can take as many courses in as many faculties as you want (which is the best part about the university *and* it’s not pay-per-credit, so no catch there). The catch is finishing on time. Most international students (non-EU) have an additional burden of graduating within two years since post that you have to still continue paying the fees, and it’s a..lot..comparatively speaking. So when you do take courses, make sure they align with your research interests/maybe even your thesis.

Then come projects. I managed to land a project of interest within two weeks of entering the college. This goes to show how enthusiastic the professors are. They will put you in touch with whoever you need to/want to work with and after that you’ll find yourself applying your courses in the real world (or the lab world).

From a social point of view, the campus is very vibrant. You can join a committee in your student association, a sports team, start your own company, and if you get the time… join a Dream Team (Dutch students usually take a year off to work in a Dream team which reflects the amount of work and time you need to put in). There are plenty activities in the Sports and Culture centre, so you’re covered well and it’s almost never cloudy with a chance of boredom it’s just…cloudy.

All in all, it’s a good university and you will definitely get your money’s worth (almost every student gets a job within three months of graduation), and a bonus point is access to an excellent library that you never really want to leave (they have legos !!!)

Proost!

I enrolled in a master program in biomedical engineering at TU Delft after completing my bachelor’s degree elsewhere. The reason for the change was the good status of this school, research topics and facilities, and the possibilities it seemed to offer.

It is not an easy school. The courses are very challenging and students are asked to apply their problem-solving skills at every step they take in the courses through participating in projects and completing assignments throughout the quarters; overall they are encouraged to think and work out problems independently. I sensed in every lecturer I’ve had so far a sincere enthusiasm and excitement about their profession and an effort to pass it on us, their students. The courses aim to give practical insight into the respective field of expertise also by inviting professionals from companies and other facilities to give a lecture or have a discussion with students.

As for my program (BME), I really appreciate that TU Delft has very extensive collaborations with other universities, companies and medical research centers. By creating an individual study program (choosing individually a significant number of subjects) each of us can prepare for the obligatory internship in a field of our choice, and through that get a better idea of prospective career options.
The university has also a very friendly and international student culture with many student organizations, faculty pubs and a sports & culture center where students can take their mind off of studying, grab a beer and have a chat with their peers.

And Delft is a lovely town – quiet but close to bigger cities (if you need them) and also close to the beach (easily reachable by bike). So, what more do you need?