Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) offers Aerospace Engineering at both the BSc and MSc level through its dedicated Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, one of eight faculties at the Netherlands' oldest and largest technical university. Founded in 1842, TU Delft is consistently grouped alongside ETH Zurich and Imperial College London among Europe's leading technical institutions, and it ranks strongly in QS's subject-specific tables for Engineering & Technology. Unlike many continental European technical universities, TU Delft delivers both its Aerospace Engineering degrees entirely in English, making it unusually accessible to international applicants who don't speak Dutch, and it sits within a dense Dutch and pan-European aerospace and engineering employer network.
This guide covers what matters for TU Delft's Aerospace Engineering programs: acceptance realities, tuition and living costs, admission requirements, how to get in, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
TU Delft does not publish a single official acceptance rate for Aerospace Engineering, or for any of its programs. Admission works differently from a US-style competitive cycle:
- BSc Aerospace Engineering is one of TU Delft's most in-demand English-taught Bachelor's programmes and, like several of TU Delft's Bachelor's degrees, may be subject to the Netherlands' numerus fixus intake cap in a given cycle; check the specific programme's current status on Studielink, since numerus fixus status can change year to year
- MSc Aerospace Engineering is assessed against defined, programme-specific academic prerequisites (particular prior coursework in areas like mechanics, thermodynamics, or mathematics) rather than a fixed admission quota, so admission functions more like a prerequisites check than a ranked competitive process
Bottom line: treat TU Delft Aerospace Engineering as competitive but not quantifiable via a single published rate. TU Delft's strong QS subject ranking for Engineering & Technology (13th globally as of 2024) reflects real prestige and applicant demand in this field even without a published admit percentage.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
TU Delft does not publish one official tuition figure specific to Aerospace Engineering; the figures below are TU Delft's representative non-EU/EEA rates, converted from EUR:
| Degree | Tuition (USD/year, approx.) | Living Expenses (USD/year, approx.) | Total (USD/year, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSc Aerospace Engineering | ~$24,150 | ~$18,630 | ~$42,780 |
| MSc Aerospace Engineering | ~$26,450 | ~$18,630 | ~$45,080 |
These are representative estimates (converted at approximately 1 EUR = 1.15 USD) rather than a figure confirmed specifically for Aerospace Engineering on TU Delft's own program page, so confirm the exact current fee directly with TU Delft before budgeting precisely. TU Delft's Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships, its flagship award for outstanding international students, are aimed primarily at Master's applicants and can cover a substantial tuition contribution plus a living stipend for the most competitive recipients.
Admission Requirements
Aerospace Engineering admission requirements differ by degree level:
BSc Aerospace Engineering:
- Studielink national application (the Netherlands' centralised university application portal)
- Secondary school-leaving diploma/transcript, assessed against the program's required subjects and grades, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and physics given the program's technical intensity
- Motivation letter
- English language proficiency test score or an approved English-medium-instruction waiver
- Additional selection procedure materials, if the program is capped as numerus fixus in a given cycle
MSc Aerospace Engineering:
- Studielink national application
- Bachelor's degree transcript, assessed against MSc Aerospace Engineering's specific prior-coursework requirements (typically mechanics, thermodynamics, and applied mathematics coursework)
- Motivation letter
- CV/resume
- English language proficiency test score or an approved waiver
- Reference letter(s), required by some programmes
Non-EU/EEA applicants generally face an April 1 deadline for a September start. TU Delft does not require the GRE or GMAT for Aerospace Engineering admission at either level.
How to Get Into TU Delft's Aerospace Engineering Programs
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Build a strong mathematics and physics foundation before applying, since Aerospace Engineering at both BSc and MSc level assesses applicants heavily against prior quantitative coursework rather than a general academic average.
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Write a motivation letter that names a specific aerospace subfield, whether aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, or space systems; TU Delft's admissions committees weigh the motivation letter for a clear, programme-specific rationale over a generic "wanting to work in aviation" statement.
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Check the program's current numerus fixus status early in your application cycle. Because intake caps can apply to BSc Aerospace Engineering and shift year to year, confirm the specific cycle's status on Studielink rather than assuming the prior year's rules still apply.
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Clear the English requirement comfortably, then prepare separately for lab-report and group-project English. TU Delft's IELTS threshold (6.5-7.0) is comparatively moderate, but Aerospace Engineering coursework leans heavily on group-project collaboration and technical report-writing, which the entry test doesn't fully capture.
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Apply through Studielink well ahead of the April 1 deadline, budgeting extra time for the national system's registration steps before your application reaches TU Delft's own faculty-level review.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
TU Delft does not set one single university-wide English threshold; Aerospace Engineering follows TU Delft's standard tiers by degree level:
- BSc Aerospace Engineering: IELTS Academic minimum 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT commonly 90-100 overall
- MSc Aerospace Engineering: IELTS Academic 6.5-7.0 overall with no band below 6.0, varying by specific track; TOEFL iBT commonly 90-100 overall
- Cambridge English (C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency) is also accepted at both levels
- Waiver: applicants who completed prior education entirely in English may qualify for an English-medium-instruction waiver, subject to programme-level approval
- Bridging option (MSc only): TU Delft's pre-master's bridging programmes are available for applicants who don't yet meet a specific MSc programme's academic or English-language prerequisites, though these typically require a higher IELTS 7.0/TOEFL 100 threshold rather than a discount off the standard requirement
For general context on TU Delft as a university, see the TU Delft guide.
Career Outcomes
TU Delft does not publish employment or salary data specific to Aerospace Engineering graduates, so the figures below are TU Delft's best available university-wide proxy:
- Top recruiters (undergraduate and graduate, university-wide): ASML, Shell, Philips, Booking.com, and ING at the undergraduate level; ASML, Shell, Philips, Boston Consulting Group, and McKinsey & Company at the graduate level
- TU Delft's Faculty of Aerospace Engineering has strong direct ties to the Dutch and pan-European aerospace sector (including national and ESA-adjacent research collaborations), and graduates also benefit from TU Delft's Orientation Year (zoekjaar) residence permit, giving them a full year after graduation to search for qualifying employment in the Netherlands without needing a separate work permit immediately
FAQ
Does TU Delft publish an acceptance rate for Aerospace Engineering? No. TU Delft doesn't publish a single official acceptance rate. BSc Aerospace Engineering may be subject to the Netherlands' numerus fixus intake cap depending on the cycle, while MSc Aerospace Engineering is assessed against defined academic prerequisites rather than a fixed admission quota.
How much does TU Delft's Aerospace Engineering program cost? Representative non-EU/EEA estimates are approximately $24,150/year tuition for BSc (total cost of attendance ~$42,780/year) and approximately $26,450/year tuition for MSc (total cost of attendance ~$45,080/year), though these are representative figures, not officially confirmed program-specific rates; always verify the current fee with TU Delft directly.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for TU Delft Aerospace Engineering? BSc Aerospace Engineering generally requires IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 90-100. MSc Aerospace Engineering requires IELTS 6.5-7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 90-100, varying by specific track.
Is TU Delft good for Aerospace Engineering specifically? Yes. TU Delft ranks 13th globally in QS's 2024 subject rankings for Engineering & Technology, and its dedicated Faculty of Aerospace Engineering is one of the largest and most established in Europe, with strong ties to the Dutch and pan-European aerospace industry.
Is the GRE or GMAT required for TU Delft's MSc Aerospace Engineering? No. TU Delft does not require the GRE or GMAT for Aerospace Engineering admission at either the BSc or MSc level.
Can I study Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft entirely in English? Yes. Both BSc Aerospace Engineering and MSc Aerospace Engineering are fully English-taught programmes, unlike many continental European technical universities where Bachelor's programmes are primarily taught in the local language.