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AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, WE ARE PIONEERS IN combining TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WITH SOCIAL SCIENCES TO IMPACT THE WORLD AROUND US. OUR DRIVING FORCE AS STUDENTS, SCIENTISTS AND EDUCATORS IS A DEEP SENSE OF CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARE A CURIOUS, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

All of our research and education is aimed at making a difference in today’s society while setting up the next generation for the future. How can we contribute to the development of a digital, fair, and sustainable society between now and 2030? In this pursuit, the entrepreneurial mindset and global awareness of our many talented scientists, educators and students lead us to move beyond differences, disciplines, borders. The cross-disciplinary way of working that characterises our university opens up unexpected possibilities - especially in combination with creativity and excellence in scientific disciplines. Our distinctive educational model, engineering approach and open culture generate new ideas, new energy, new ways forward.

Please note, this Facts & Figures page is updated annually. Last update: June 2021

Our Mindset

Entrepreneurial: courage over comfort

Inspiring a new generation by pushing our renowned entrepreneurial attitude to new levels to inspire and guide our technological society.

Inclusive: student over system

Everyone in our community is learning and is therefore a student. This thriving, talented community of unique individuals is our most crucial asset in serving society.

Open: community over campus

Collaboration is essential and we will be trusted partners in our connections. The campus remains our hub, but we reach out far beyond it.

A living, smart campus where change begins

The University of Twente is a multicultural community of talented, ambitious people that offers students, scientists and educators from around the world the best possible conditions:

An innovative and vibrant campus with world-class facilities for crossing boundaries and solving complex problems – including state-of-the-art facilities, such as our world-renowned NanoLab, our newly formed Designlab and a new TechMed Centre.
An engineering approach to societal challenges, merging fundamental technological and social science research with systematic solution designing.
Core technologies, among the world’s best, in fields such as nanotechnology and biomedical engineering, IT, robotics and geo-information science.
Highly personal education, applying student-driven learning and project-based teamwork to foster synergy, (self-)discovery and out of the box problem-solving.
An outstanding track record in value creation, starting up and spinning off new businesses (with some 1,000 successful ventures to date) and giving shape to new expressions of social and industrial engagement.

Our featured stories

'Best technical university in The Netherlands'

According to the ‘best study programmes 2020’, the University of Twente ended at the second place of all universities in The Netherlands and the first place of the technical universities. No less than 18 medals, six of which gold ones, were awarded to the 47 UT study programmes that were compared in the survey.

University of Twente appointed Tom Veldkamp the new Rector Magnificus

In 2020, Professor A. (Tom) Veldkamp has been appointed the new Rector Magnificus of the University of Twente by the Supervisory Board. During the Dies Natalis, on Friday 27 November 2020, Professor T.T.M. Palstra has bestowed his responsibility as rector to Professor Veldkamp. Thom Palstra has held the position since November 2016.

UT adapts diving masks to combat corona

In 2020, our society was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers at the University of Twente worked hard to design and test a new type of ventilator mask. This full-face mask, based in part on an Italian example, could be used in the treatment of approximately 20 to 30 per cent of corona patients in hospitals.

DriveUThrough: unique campus tour

Due to the pandemic, we couldn't organise an open day like we used to. The University of Twente offered study seekers a unique and COVID-proof campus experience: the DriveUThrough. Just like the Online Open Days, this physical outing on the one and a half square kilometre campus was an alternative to the open days that couldn't take place.

Technical physicians legally authorised to treat patients

In 2020, the law ('wet BIG') has officially acknowledged and registered Technical Physicians (the legal term is Clinical Technologist) as healthcare professionals, to treat individual patients. Heleen Miedema points out that “This is a first for the medical world – never before have technical university graduates been granted positions in individual patient care.”

^{Photo: Nathalie Schram Fotografie}

Key figures

This digital brochure aims to give an overview of the University of Twente's facts and figures: it provides key figures and facts in the field of education, research, the way we work together with our partners, our organization and our unique campus facilities. All figures and facts are up to date until 31 December 2020, unless stated otherwise.

Education

With 85 nationalities present at the University of Twente, we provide education for over 12,000 students from all over the world. Our Twente Educational Model is a unique concept, fully fitted for the needs of today's students. Learn more.

Students enrolled in 2020

Total

12,544

Bachelor

7,114

Master

4,660

Other programme types

770

Research

More than 1000 researchers work on a daily basis on relevant societal challenges in a variety of disciplines. They deliver over 2,800 publications a year, providing valuable input for scientific excellence and laying the foundations for new knowledge-based spin-offs. Learn more.

our focus areas

IMPROVING HEALTHCARE BY PERSONALISED TECHNOLOGIES

CREATING INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

SHAPING OUR WORLD WITH SMART MATERIALS

ENGINEERING OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY

ENGINEERING FOR A RESILIENT WORLD

Scientific output in 2020

Doctoral degrees
funded

184

Number of publications

2,811

Total number of start-ups
Approx. since 1984

1,000

Partnerships

We are based in the Netherlands, but our agenda is global. We work with partners, both public and private, from all over the world on scientific breakthroughs and research applications that make a difference in society. We encourage staff and students to connect with bright minds all over the world, as synergy is the result of excellent and sometimes surprising combinations. Learn more.

Organisation

The University of Twente is a research university where technical developments and their importance to individuals and society are at the forefront. The education (Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes) and research are organised within our five faculties: Learn more about our organisation.

Staff complement

Academic
(including PhD-students)

1,884

Support

1,300

Total

3,184

Budget (M€)

	Direct government funding	237.4
	Tuition fees	33.1
	Contract-based research	79.8
	Other	14.8
	Total (M€)	365.1

Campus

The University of Twente has an innovative and vibrant campus with world-class facilities for crossing boundaries and solving complex problems – including state-of-the-art facilities, such as our world-renowned NanoLab, our newly formed Designlab and a new TechMed Centre opened in 2019. Learn more.

Campus overview

Area in hectares
360 acres

146

Student apartments on campus

2,631

Staff housing

Cultural associations

Sports associations

Grants and prizes

Personal grants and prizes (since the year of foundation)

ERC starting and consolidator grants

ERC advanced grants

Spinoza awards

Memberships of the Netherlands academy of arts and sciences (KNAW)

Veni grants

Vidi grants

Vici grants

For a current overview of all UT researchers who have won a prize or who have been awarded a grant please visit the Awards & grants page.