As a 'technical doctor', you will fulfil a new, indispensable role in 21st-century medicine.
The use of technology is increasing and new innovations are everywhere. Current developments in healthcare require specialists with knowledge and skills in both medicine and technology, which they can use to improve healthcare for individual patients. The Dutch-taught Bachelor's in Technical Medicine will help you become such a professional. You will combine medicine and technology, merging knowledge of the human body with in-depth technical expertise to help patients independently.
You will follow this programme entirely in Dutch. On this page, the study programme is briefly summarised in English. Would you like more information? Then go to the Dutch website.
Why study Technical Medicine?
At the University of Twente, you are trained to become a Technical Doctor. You will be a clinician with a strong technical background. Unlike a biomedical technologist or medical engineer, you work much more closely with patients. After completing the corresponding Master’s in Technical Medicine, you can register as a Clinical Technologist in the Dutch BIG register, which authorises you to perform certain medical procedures independently in Dutch healthcare.
The programme is also known as Clinical Technology, but we believe that Technical Medicine better reflects its focus and character. That’s why the University of Twente continues to use this original name.
Everything around Technical Medicine is concentrated in one place at the University of Twente. You will be taught in the TechMed Centre on our campus: a leading research institute that aims to improve healthcare with innovative, personalised technology. You will work together with fellow students, researchers, medical professionals and external partners on technical-medical innovations.
The Simulation and Training Centre is at the heart of the Techmed Centre. In this simulated, safe learning environment, there's plenty of opportunity for you as a student to experiment, make mistakes and learn! In addition, you’ll gain hands-on experience through several internships, made possible by our extensive network of more than thirty hospitals and over 150 departments across the Netherlands.
In this Bachelor's, you’ll work extensively on team projects, applying your newly gained knowledge directly to real-life medical cases. This is how the Twente Education Model works - a unique approach to learning you will only find at UT.
You’ll start by building a solid foundation in technical and clinical reasoning, and then gradually deepen your understanding of the body’s different systems and their disorders. Along the way, you’ll explore how technology contributes to diagnosis and treatment - from the use of light, electricity, sound, and radiation to the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare.
By applying your knowledge to real-world problems and team projects throughout the programme, you’ll learn not only to think, but also to act like a Clinical Technologist.
Education at the University of Twente is known to be personal and informal, and Technical Medicine is no exception. Healthcare is, by nature, a people-oriented field, so it’s no surprise that there is a strong focus on both your professional and personal development. In addition to acquiring in-depth knowledge, you learn to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues, critically reflect on your own actions, communicate scientifically, and collaborate closely with others.
All of this takes place in a supportive, small-scale learning environment, characterised by the informal and approachable atmosphere between teachers and students. You can always turn to someone with your questions! Furthermore, together with our study association Paradoks, we continuously improve the programme and organise a wide range of study-related activities to help you grow both personally and professionally.
After your studies in Technical Medicine, you will have excellent job opportunities. Although most graduates build careers as technical physicians within a hospital, you will also have excellent career opportunities outside clinical practice. For example, you could join a company focused on developing medical technology, pursue a career as a consultant, or continue as a researcher. To give you an idea, we've listed some of the positions you may end up in as a graduate below.
Technical Physician within a variety of hospital departments:
