The University of Twente (UT) is a technical university on a green campus in Enschede, in the east of the Netherlands, with around 12,000 students from more than 100 countries and 19 bachelor’s programmes.[1] It is ranked 223rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
For 2026/27 the statutory fee is €2,694 for bachelor’s and full-time master’s programmes. Students who do not qualify for it pay the institutional fee: bachelor’s €12,300 or €16,400 depending on the programme, master’s €18,200 or €21,700.[3][4] Bachelor’s applicants need IELTS 6.0 or an equivalent test.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universiteit Twente (University of Twente); founded as Technische Hogeschool Twente, renamed in 1986[6] |
| Location | Enschede, on a green campus in the east of the Netherlands (Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede)[7] |
| Type | Public technical university[6] |
| Founded | 1961, as Technische Hogeschool Twente[6] |
| Students | Around 12,000, from more than 100 countries[1] |
| Bachelor’s programmes | 19, taught in Dutch or English, three years each[1] |
| Campus | Built on the former Drienerlo country estate (140 hectares) between Hengelo and Enschede[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 223rd of about 1,500 universities[2] |
| Other rankings listed by UT | THE World University Rankings 2027: 201st; ARWU 2026: 501-600[2] |
| Statutory fee 2026/27 | €2,694 (bachelor’s, September master’s); University College Twente (no longer available) €5,388[3] |
| Institutional fee 2026/27, bachelor’s | €12,300 (lower rate) or €16,400 (higher rate) per year[3] |
| Institutional fee 2026/27, master’s (September) | €18,200 (lower rate) or €21,700 (higher rate) per year[4] |
| English test, bachelor’s | IELTS Academic 6.0 overall (5.5 per section), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or 4.5 (new scale), unless exempt[5] |
| Official website | utwente.nl |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Twente
The University of Twente was founded in 1961 as Technische Hogeschool Twente and was renamed Universiteit Twente in 1986.[6] Wikipedia describes it as a public technical university.[6]
The campus lies in Enschede, with the city centre about a 15-minute bike ride away; UT calls it a green campus.[1] It was built on the former Drienerlo country estate, 140 hectares between Hengelo and Enschede.[6] UT says it has around 12,000 students from more than 100 countries.[1]
How is the University of Twente ranked?
UT’s own rankings page, last updated on 1 October 2026, lists three results: QS World University Rankings 2027, 223rd of roughly 1,500 universities; Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, 201st of 2,297; and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026, 501-600.[2]
Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Twente?
UT offers 19 bachelor’s programmes.[1] Its fee page sorts them into two price groups:[3]
- Lower rate: Communication Science, International Business Administration, Psychology, Public Administration.
- Higher rate: Advanced Technology, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Biomedical Technology, Business Information Technology, Chemical Science & Engineering, Civil Engineering, Creative Technology, Electrical Engineering, Health Sciences, Industrial Design Engineering, Industrial Engineering & Management, Mechanical Engineering, Technical Computer Science, Technical Medicine.
UT names Advanced Technology, Applied Mathematics and Communication Science as fully English-taught; Biomedical Technology, Technical Medicine and the Dutch track of Psychology are taught in Dutch.[1] Master’s programmes on the fee page include Computer Science, Business Administration, Applied Mathematics, Robotics, Embedded Systems, Sustainable Energy Technology, Spatial Systems & Society, Psychology and Technical Medicine.[4]
How much does the University of Twente cost in 2026/27?
| Level (2026/27, per year) | Statutory fee | Institutional fee, lower rate | Institutional fee, higher rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | €2,694 | €12,300 | €16,400 |
| Master’s, full-time, September start | €2,694 | €18,200 | €21,700 |
The statutory fee is for students who are enrolling in a Dutch higher-education programme, hold EU/EEA, Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian, Liechtenstein or Surinamese nationality (or a qualifying Dutch residence permit) and do not already hold a comparable degree. Everyone else pays the institutional fee.[8] Part-time September master’s students pay a statutory €1,971.[4]
The programme lists above show which price group each programme falls in. UT notes that the statutory fee may change each academic year.[3]
February master’s start
For a master’s starting on 1 February 2027, UT’s overview page lists a statutory fee of €1,571.50 (full-time), €1,149.75 (part-time) and institutional fees of €12,658.33 (the “Bèta” rate) or €10,616.67 (the “Alfa-Gamma” rate). The page says the February fee is 7/12 of the annual fee and does not name the programmes in each group.[8]
Other costs
International applicants with a non-Dutch degree pay an application fee of €100 for a master’s.[9] For living costs, see our Netherlands guide and the Study in the Netherlands guide.
How do you apply to the University of Twente?
Bachelor’s. You need a diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university level (VWO). For some countries UT says the level is not equivalent, for others it reviews case by case without guaranteeing admission.[10] UT states that “the only way to determine admissibility is by submitting an official application for enrolment via Studielink”, the national application system. You supply documents in Osiris and are told about admissibility by email.[10]
Master’s. The Computer Science master’s page shows the route: complete a mandatory eligibility check, then start the application in Studielink using the code you receive by email. You can start in September or February.[9] Entry requirements differ by programme; Computer Science, for instance, asks for a bachelor’s in a related field with at least 60 ECTS in Computer Science, 20 in Mathematics and 15 in research projects.[9]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Check UT’s deadlines page before you apply.
Which English level do you need?
Bachelor’s. UT accepts these tests, which must not be older than two years:[5]
- IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall and at least 5.5 in each section.
- TOEFL iBT: 90 overall with at least 21 per section (scores before January 2026), or 4.5 overall with at least 4.5 in reading, listening and writing and 4 in speaking (new scale).
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: 169 overall, 162 per section; Pearson PTE Academic: 61 overall, 56 per section; LanguageCert Academic: 65 overall.
IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator, IELTS General Training, TOEFL MyBest scores and PTE Core are not accepted. Exemptions exist, for example for applicants with English as an exam subject in secondary schooling in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA. Native speakers must still meet the requirement. Without a valid certificate UT cannot process your application.[5]
Master’s. Scores are set per programme. For the Computer Science master’s in the February 2027 intake they are IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 per section, or TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 21 per section (old scale). For the September 2027 intake the TOEFL minimum rises to 100 with at least 25 per section.[9]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Twente cost for international students?
How is the University of Twente ranked?
It is 223rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and 201st in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, according to UT’s rankings page.[2]
What is the statutory tuition fee at the University of Twente?
Which English test do I need for a bachelor’s at the University of Twente?
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 per section, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT or Cambridge C1, unless you are exempt.[5]
More about studying in Netherlands
- Netherlands: best universities
- Study in Netherlands: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Netherlands
- Amsterdam Business School (University of Amsterdam)
- Amsterdam University College
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Leiden University College The Hague
- Leiden University
- Maastricht University
- Nyenrode Business University
- Open Universiteit (Open University of the Netherlands)
- Radboud University
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)
- Tilburg University
- University College Utrecht
- University of Amsterdam (UvA)
- University of Groningen
- Utrecht University
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Wageningen University & Research
Sources
[1] University of Twente: Bachelor education (page updated 26 Oct 2026)
[2] University of Twente: Rankings (page (Dutch) updated 1 Oct 2026)
[3] University of Twente: Tuition fees bachelor’s (page updated 12 Aug 2026)
[4] University of Twente: Tuition fees master’s (page updated 12 Aug 2026)
[5] University of Twente: Language requirements for bachelor’s programmes (page updated 4 Nov 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: University of Twente (history and campus; the article lists QS 203 for the 2026 edition)
[7] University of Twente: Contact (page without a date)
[8] University of Twente: Tuition fees overview, bachelor and master (page updated 4 Nov 2026)
[9] University of Twente: Computer Science master’s, admission for international students (page updated 20 Oct 2026; one programme as an example)
[10] University of Twente: Diploma requirements (bachelor’s) (page without a date; read in part)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.