Delft University of Technology - TU Delft vs Wageningen University vs TIAS School for Business and Society vs Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences vs Arnhem Business School
Side-by-side comparison from 129 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted
- +Engineering focus and advanced technical content
- +Practical learning approach and creative expression
- +Supportive community and inspiring peers/lecturers
- +Passionate, knowledgeable, and caring teachers
- +Relevant courses with career focus and internship opportunities
- +Inclusive, multicultural environment with modern facilities and green spaces
- +Personal assistance and welcoming atmosphere
- +Engaging professors and insightful discussions
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- +Exceptional professors and engaging teaching
- +Valued friendships and strong community
- +Emphasis on empathy and ethical leadership
- +Practical, hands-on learning with immediate application
- +Experienced, professional instructors with industry expertise
- +Engaging hybrid learning format
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- -Poor teaching quality and lack of pedagogical understanding.
- -Unhelpful and pushy academic and administrative staff.
- -Students feel ignored and not supported in their learning.
- -Administrative and management issues cause significant problems.
- -Conflict of interest among professors detracts from the academic experience.
- -The value for tuition fees is questioned.
- -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
- -Outdated facilities and technology impede learning and comfort.
- -Lack of clear communication and support from staff is a recurring problem.
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- -Outdated facilities and inadequate resources are a significant concern.
- -The administrative and management systems are perceived as inefficient and unsupportive.
- -Communication and transparency from the institution are consistently lacking.
- -Administrative and management issues.
- -Perceived lack of value for money.
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This institution garners impressive scores in several key areas, with Facilities and Internationality standing out as particularly strong at over 4.4. Location and Value also receive high marks, reflecting positively on the student experience. Conversely, Accomodation presents a significant area for improvement, scoring considerably lower than other categories. Student Life, while decent, also falls slightly behind the higher-rated aspects.
This institution receives excellent scores across the board, with its **Facilities** standing out as a particular strength at 4.69. **Student Life** and **Value** are also highly rated, both achieving 4.08. The **Location** received the lowest score at 3.77, though overall satisfaction remains high.
Across the surveyed categories, this institution excels in its **facilities, professors, location, internationality, and perceived value**, all receiving perfect scores. In contrast, areas for development appear to be **student life and accommodation**, with significantly lower ratings in these aspects.
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This institution presents a strong overall profile, excelling particularly in **Value** with a rating of 4.33. Facilities, Professors, and Student Life also received favorable scores of 4. The university's weakest area appears to be its **Location**, rated at 3.33. Accomodation and Internationality received solid mid-range scores, indicating good but not outstanding performance in these aspects.
With exceptional marks in Facilities and Location, this institution clearly excels in its physical environment and accessibility. Student Life also receives top scores, suggesting a vibrant campus experience. Conversely, the university's weakest areas lie in its Professors and Internationality, both rated a moderate three. Value also sits at this mid-tier rating, indicating areas for potential improvement.
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The university receives strong positive feedback, with ~90% of reviews praising learning materials, practical approaches, and supportive communities. A small minority (~3%) express concerns about specific program content and pedagogical approaches.
~80% of reviews are positive, praising knowledgeable teachers, relevant courses, and a multicultural environment. A smaller ~20% express concerns regarding supervision and specific management departments.
With one review, the average rating is 5/5. This suggests a highly positive experience, with feedback praising personal assistance and engaging professors. No negative feedback was reported.
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With an average rating of 4/5 from 3 reviews, ~67% are positive. Students praise exceptional professors and the development of strong friendships, emphasizing empathy in business education. No negative feedback was provided.
With an average rating of 3/5, feedback is evenly split, with ~50% positive and ~50% negative. Positive comments highlight practical, hands-on learning and professional instructors. Negative reviews express dissatisfaction with program value and staff.
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Hello, [Skip to "Conclusion" for a brief summary] In this post, I’ll share my experience with the TU Delft Industrial Design Engineering bachelor's program as a graduate, so that future students can make a more informed decision. I chose this bachelor’s program because I expected it to involve a lot of engineering and technical content, which would help me understand how most products are made, think production techniques, appropriate material use, product manufacturing, and the integration of technology and mathematics that’s common in modern products. However, I ended up learning very little about these topics during my time in the program. The study mainly consisted of filling out Miro (an online platform) templates, coming up with systems, and focusing on sustainability (which, to be fair, isn't necessarily a bad thing). But I never felt like I was learning anything new; I was just repeatedly filling in the same kinds of templates for the DP/PO (Design Project/Project Organisatie) courses throughout the full three years. Each year, you follow two DP/PO courses. The only courses I personally found useful in terms of learning product design were the drawing classes and a first-year SolidWorks course (3D modeling). Normally, I find math courses boring and difficult, but thanks to this bachelor’s, I actually really enjoyed the two math/physics courses (Product Dynamics and Product Statics). For the first time in a while, I felt like I was doing something meaningful, had to put in effort, and was actually learning something new. Another thing I really disliked about this program is how “school-like” it’s structured. You're required to be on campus every day from 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM, working in a so-called “studio” (classroom) with your fellow students, supposedly to learn from each other. This might work for some people, but for me (and I think for others too), it didn’t. I can’t focus well in noisy, crowded spaces, and I rarely connected with my fellow students. The social atmosphere was always centered around the typical student lifestyle (like student associations), and I wasn’t involved in that kind of life at all. The strict scheduling was probably the worst part. It made me feel like I was still in high school, instead of being a responsible adult who should be allowed to structure their own time. In many courses, you’re also penalized if you’re absent or not actively participating in class. Your final grade often drops as a result, especially since there’s always a rubric item about “communication and presence” of the student. Now on to a very different, but important point I want to share. I’m a guy with a Turkish background/ethnicity. This has, in my experience, had a significant impact on how I was treated and assessed during my studies. Because of my appearance, I stood out a lot in this predominantly Dutch/white bachelor’s program. I was one of the very few students with a migration background (I could count them on one hand, out of 300+ students in my year). In group projects and reports, I often felt like I wasn’t taken seriously by the lecturers. I never really felt welcome at the faculty or in the studios, I often felt like an outsider. The assessments for reports/projects were always subjective. Yes, there’s a so-called “rubric,” but it’s completely vague and can be interpreted in many ways, so you never know whether you’ve actually met the expectations. In my opinion, grading was purely based on the teacher’s personal opinion, and this was even confirmed by one of the teachers, who admitted the rubrics were “kind of nonsense” and that they just decide the grade based on how they feel about you and your work. As a result, I rarely received high marks for assignments, even though I consistently scored 8s on exams, which are graded objectively. I even went to the study advisor once because I had been unfairly graded. But even the study advisor couldn’t care less. He flat-out said “NO” to my face when I expressed my concerns emotionally. I didn’t even get a fake “that’s unfortunate” or a polite smile. That showed me that basic empathy is not standard for everyone. In my view, these are the bare minimum responses you’d expect when a student is struggling. That’s why I want to clearly state in this post that, in my experience, there’s a significant amount of racism within the IDE bachelor’s program at TU Delft. You might be wondering, after reading all this, “Why didn’t you just quit the program?” I started this program during the COVID outbreak, which meant my entire first year was online (with mandatory Zoom attendance from 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM). So at first, I thought my negative experience was due to the pandemic. When I finally got to campus in my second year, I realized too late that this program just wasn’t the right fit for me. But I’m someone who always sees things through and doesn’t quit halfway. Since I had already completed more than a year, I was determined to finish. Conclusion All in all, I strongly advise against choosing this bachelor’s program if your goal is to pursue a real engineering-focused, challenging, and educational degree, because IDE at TU Delft is certainly not that. To future students with a migrant background: only consider this program if you’re planning to do it with a friend. You’re unlikely to make many friends here, and you’ll probably end up feeling lonely and like an outsider, especially if your values or cultural background differ from the average “IDE” student. I’m now studying something else at a different university, and I’m much happier. I’m achieving great results and feel appreciated. Just to be clear: my review is not about TU Delft as a whole, it is specifically about the Industrial Design Engineering bachelor’s program. If you have any questions after reading my “mini-book,” feel free to send me a private message on Reddit or leave a comment under this post. I’m happy to help you make a better-informed study decision, something I, unfortunately, didn’t have.
I have overall had a great experience at WUR. As an international student, I felt very much included very fast, because there as so many internationals, and the Dutch also practically all speak English there. The courses being offered in English also helped with this. The teachers speak very clearly during lectures overall and are of great help during tutorials, where you are in smaller groups of students to put into practice the theory learned in class. Also, the campus is very modern, the classrooms and library are well taken care of and even have adjustable tables and chairs, to help avoid back/neck/arm pain when studying. The university also allows each student to have a study advisor for academic orientation or personal questions, guiding the students through the process to make sure they achieve their academic goals in the most adequate way for them. The manner of learning is also very multidisciplinary, which I really enjoy because it helps to get an overview of the world’s problems from each side of the story, taking all into consideration. The student life in Wageningen is quite in a cozy atmosphere I must say, because the city is so small, everyone is connected somehow and it is very easy to make friends. Lots of parties are house parties or some casual pot-luck dinners with friends. But there are also some nice pubs or bars and restaurants in the cute city centre where you can enjoy a drink or meal on a terrace. You can get from any point A to point B within 15-20min maximum in Wageningen with your bike, so it’s really practical for going out, groceries, or not having to wake up too early for classes! Many extra-curricular activities are offered by associations, where you can get accustomed to Dutch culture, sustainability projects, sports, and parties! I recommend this university to anyone looking for a nice balance between social and study life.
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