Delft University of Technology is the oldest public technical university in Delft, Netherlands. It was established in 1842. It is popular as TU Delft. The Motto of this university in English is Challenge the Future.
Delft University of Technology History
Royal Academy
This university was established on January 8, 1842, by William II of the Netherlands as a Royal Academy for the Education of Civil Engineers. One of the purposes of its establishment was to educate the civil servants for the colonies of the Dutch East India Company.
Antoine Lipkens was the first director of this academy. The first building of this academy was situated at Oude Delft 95 in Delft. On May 23, 1863, an Act was imposing regulations on technical education in the Netherlands and bringing it under the rules of Secondary Education.
Polytechnic School
On June 20, 1864, the Royal Academy in Delft was scattered by a Royal Decree which gave way to a Polytechnic School of Delft. The newly formed school educated engineers of different fields and architects so much was needed during the rapid industrialization period in the 19th century.
Institute of Technology
On May 22, 1905, another Act was passed and changed the name of the Polytechnic School to the Technical College focusing on the academic quality of the education. Polytechnic was approved university rights and it was allowed to award academic degrees.
On June 7, 1956, corporate rights were given to the college. During that time, many of the university buildings were situated in Delft city center with some of the buildings set on the side of the river Schie in the Wippolder district.
Student organizations of this institute grew together with the university. In 1917, Proof Garden for Technical Plantation was founded by Gerrit van Iterson, which is known as the Botanical Garden of TU Delft today.
Delft University of Technology
This university increased its rapid academic extension after the end of World War II. Studium Generale was founded at all universities of the Netherlands involving this university to promote free and reachable knowledge related to technology, culture, society, and science.
Officially, the Delft Institute of Technology was renamed to Delft University of Technology on September 1, 1986. Delft Top Tech Institute was founded in 1987 in the course of further expansion which provided a professional master’s education in management for people working in technology-related companies.
Almost 13 faculties of the TU Delft were merged into 9 to improve the management efficiency of the growing university in September 1, 1997. Because the enormous majority of the students of the university were male. So, in the early 1990s, a proposal to raise the number of female students resulted in founding a separate emancipation commission.
As a result, Girls Study Technology Days was founded. The three Dutch technical universities founded in 2007 called 3TU which are:
- TU Delft
- TU Eindhoven
- University of Twente
Former Names of the Delft University of Technology
- Royal Academy
- Polytechnic School
- Institute of Technology
President of the Delft University of Technology
Tim Van der Hagen is the President of this university.
Student Enrolled at Delft University of Technology
In the academic year 2022, this university enrolled a total of 27,079 students out of which 13,779 were Undergraduate students, 12,876 were Postgraduate students and 3,154 were Doctoral Students. This university has 2,556 academic staff in 2022.
Admission Requirements/Criteria at Delft University of Technology
For Graduate Admissions
Application Fee: 120 EUR
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelors Degree
- GPA: Grade B or 75%
- English Language Proficiency
- TOFEL IBT: 100
- IELTS: 6.5
- Proof of Identity
- Essay of 1000 to 1500 Words
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Motivation Letter
- Portfolio for Certain Programs
For Undergraduate Admissions
Application Fee: None
Admission Requirements;
- Standard XII
- GPA: 75% in Top Five Subjects Each
- English Language Proficiency:
- TOFEL IBT: 100
- IELTS: 6.5
- Mathematics is Mandatory for All B. Sc. Programs
- Dutch Language Requirements for Dutch-Taught Subjects
Delft University of Technology Campus
All buildings of TU Delft have been situated outside of the historical city center of Delft since 2006. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, this changed with relocations to a separate university.
The University Library is the last university building in the historic center of the Delft. In 1997, this building was relocated to a new building.
On July 5, 2009, the new university neighborhood called Mekelpark was opened. In the late 1950s, it replaced its bike lanes, old parking structures, and filling stations in construction among faculty buildings of the university.
Its 832-meter-long path eased the travel between faculty buildings. Both sides of the path are covered by stone benches which are 1547 meters long in total. Some of the university buildings in the Mekelpark deserve definite attention.
Aula
Delft University of Technology Aulawas designed by the Van den Broek en Bakema Architecture Bureau established by two TU Delft alumni Jo van den Broek and Jaap Bakema. Officially, it was opened on January 6, 1966, by Jo Cals who was the Dutch Prime Minister.
It is a traditional example of a structure in Brutalist style. TU Delft Aula symbolically opens Mekelpark, which houses the main university restaurant and store as well as lecture halls, congress center, auditoria, and administrative offices of the university.
Delft University of Technology Ranking
Globally, this university is ranked # 109th by CWTS World Rankings and # 263rd by College and University World Rankings in 2023. Also, it is rank as 151-200 by Academic Ranking of World Universities and as # 169th by U.S. News & World Report Ranking in 2023. In 2024, this university ranks as #48th by Times Higher Education.
Delft University of Technology Library
In 1997, TU Delft Library was establish and design by architecture bureau Mecanoo. It is after university Aula. The roof of this library is covered with grass which works as a natural insulation.
The structure lifts from the ground on one side allowing walking to the top of the building. The library is topped by a steel cone which gives it its unique shape. All the walls of this library are filled with glass. Also, this library is the host of the 4TU.
Delft University of Technology Cultural and Sports Center
The Cultural and Sports Center of this university was renamed as X recently. It is at Mekelweg 10 at the edge of the Mekelpark. It was designed by architect Vera Yanovshtchinsky. In 1995, it opened to students and staff of the university. Since then, it has undergone renovations and expansions.
Delft University of Technology Museum
Almost 3 of the museum joined with the university which is:
- Science Centre Delft
- Mineralogy Geology Museum
- Beijerinck En Kluyver Archive
In September 2010, Science Center Delft was opened. It is at Mijnbouwstraat 120 in Delft. It is a successor of the Technical Exhibition Center.
Technical Exhibition Center was formed by a group of university professors to present the current advances in technology to a wider audience. Mineralogy Geology Museum is a part of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences of the university.
It comprises almost 200,000 Geological, Mineralogical, and Crystallographic items divided into many sub-collections. The oldest items date back to 1842. Beijerinck En Kluyver Archive hosts a collection of Exhibits, Documents, and Memorabilia of two scientists historically associated with the university.
Delft University of Technology Botanical Garden
The creation of the botanical garden at the university was a result of the rising need for systematized expansion of tropical agriculture in the Dutch colony of the Dutch East Indies. More than 7000 different species of plants including tropical and subtropical plants, herbs, and ornamental plants cover an area of 2.5 ha.
Moreover, over 2000 unique species are in the greenhouses of the university. All the facilities of the botanical garden are open to the public.
Delft University of Technology Faculties
This university has 8 faculties which are:
- Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering
- Architecture and the Built Environment
- Civil Engineering and Geosciences
- Aerospace Engineering
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science
- Applied Science
- Technology, Policy & Management
Delft University of Technology Research
The researchers of this university invented numerous new technologies that are used today including Glare, a Fibre Metal Laminate used in Airbus A380 skin, and Vision in the Product Design method. In 1998, the Cees Dekker lab at the university was established. This university is famous for its Traditionalist School in Dutch Architecture.
TU Delft was a home to many well-known microbiologists including Martinus Beijerinck, who in 1898 discovered viruses while working at TU Delft, and Albert Kluyver who was the father of comparative microbiology which resulted in the formation of so so-called Delft School of Microbiology. Some projects recently at TU Delft involve:
- Flame
- Superbus
- Kitepower
- Nuna
- DUT Racing
- Nova Electric Racing
- Quantum Computing & Topological Insulators
- The Ocean Cleanup
- Tribler
Research Institutes at Delft University of Technology
Officially, this university has 3 recognized research institutes which are:
- Research Institute for the Built Environment
- International Research Centre for Telecommunications
- Reactor Institute Delft
Further, this university hosts many smaller research institutes involving:
- Delft Institute of Microelectronics and Submicron Technology
- Kavli Institute of Nanoscience
- Materials Innovation Institute
- Astrodynamics and Space Missions
- Delft University Wind Energy Research Institute
- TU Delft Safety and Security Institute
- Delft Space Institute
Contact Us
Address
Mekelweg 5, Delft 2628 CD, Netherlands
Phone No
+31 15 278 9111
Official Website
tudelft.nl/en/
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What GPA is required to get admission into this university?
The GPA required at this university is 3.2.
What is the acceptance rate of this university?
The acceptance rate of Delft is around about 60% to 70%.
What are the core values of this university?
- Respect
- Diversity
- Integrity
- Engagement
- Courage
- Trust
What is the language of Instruction at Delft?
The language of instruction at this university is Dutch.