Global E3: University of Twente-The Netherlands

 

Overview: 

Live and study in the European city of Enschede, The Netherlands!

The University of Twente  while relatively small-scale, is one of the world’s leading universities which is reflected in the university’s top 200 ranking. Its tagline, ‘High Tech, Human Touch’, reflects how students and faculty members engage not only in developing pioneering technologies, but also in combining them with behavioral research, social sciences and economics. Twente is the only true campus university in the Netherlands and hosts the largest nanotechnology laboratory in Europe.

This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Twente and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).  For more information about the university, see the Global E3 Twente specifc page and the University of Twente website   

Twente accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year

Language of instruction is both English and Dutch

 

Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in the Netherlands.

 

Partner Information: 

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
International Office – Exchange Students (CES)   |   exchangestudents@utwente.nl

Location Description: 

The city of Enschede lies in the eastern part of the Netherlands, a few kilometers from the Dutch-German border, 170 km (100 miles) away from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. With about 160,000 inhabitants, Enschede is the largest city of the eastern Netherlands.
 
Enschede just wouldn’t be the same without its students. The city is home to University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, a conservatory, a pop academy and an art academy. The diversity of students from different fields creates a vibrating and energetic group, organizing a wide variety of events throughout the year.
 
Enschede offers also a wide range of interesting cultural events, as well as shopping opportunities with shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs centered around de Oude Markt (Old Market Square).
 
Enschede is also one of the greenest cities in the Netherlands. Sun seekers, watersport fans, nature lovers and anyone who wants to escape his/her daily routine can head for Lake Rutbeek or one of the many parks for recreation. For rainy Sundays, the amusement park Go Planet offers many different indoor leisure time activities, like bowling, go-cart racing or diving, to enjoy.

Housing Description: 

Global E3 exchange students apply for furnished on-and off campus accommodation as a regular step in the application procedure at the Student Affairs & Services Department of the University of Twente. Students may also choose to live in one of the countless shared student houses or apartments all over the city.

Academic Description: 

 

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  We suggest you review courses available with your academic advisor prior to applying to the program. 

 
Academic Departments: 

Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings for exchange students check the Global E3 Twente specific website for general course information. The following disciplines are available: 

  • Advanced Technology
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Physics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Business Information Technology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Communication Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Creative Technology
  • Educational Science and Technology
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Embedded Systems
  • Health Sciences
  • Human Media Interaction
  • Industrial Design Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering and Management
  • Internet Science & Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Systems and Control

Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • SSoE engineering students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA & be of sophomore standing or higher 
  • For the University of Twente, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale & be in their third or forth year of studies. 

Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office. 
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   
  • Courses taken atTwente will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 
  • Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.      

 
 
 

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
University Course Catalog: 
recent exchange student course listings
Grading: 

For information about the grading scale at Twente, please see the website.  

Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. 

Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

 

Experiential Learning Description: 

N/A

Program Fees: 

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.

Items Billed by Pitt
 
 
Tuition: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs:https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Program Fee: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 

 

Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees

 

How Much To Budget: 
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
 
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000 
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000 
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000 
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the program's page, as well as our budgeting page for more information. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.  
 

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

 

 
Program Dates: 

Pitt students enroll at TWENTE for either spring or a full academic year (two full semesters). TWENTE’s calendar may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, TWENTE’s academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Typically, TWENTE’s Fall: 1 September - 31 January and Spring: 1 February - 30 June. The dates listed above are estimated and therefore subject to change according to the host university’s schedule.

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

E-mail: 
a.olalde@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

Application Instructions: 

Pitt sends a limited number of students per semester to Twente through the Global E3 exchange. You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. (Typically SSoE application deadlines are late September for Spring and early February for Fall.) A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives  is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student at Twente. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to Twente's requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.) 

Each university might have an additional application.  Please refer to the Global E3 Twente specific website for details.  

Please contact Dr. Kristine Lalley for more information on Full Year 2020 openings for this program.
Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • SSoE engineering students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA & be of sophomore standing or higher 
  • For the University of Twente, students must have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale & be in their third or forth year of studies. 

 

 

Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website. 

 

Academic Calendar:

  • Fall: September-Jan. 31
  • Spring: Feb 1-June 30
Insurance Requirements: 

The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.  
 

In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)

 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Netherlands. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!