First things first: what is a minor? A minor is a coherent package of courses worth 15 or 30 EC, allowing you to deepen or broaden your knowledge and competencies. During the elective space of your bachelor's (usually in the third year), you can take one or two minors. The UT offers programme-specific minors, but there are also multidisciplinary minors. These are called High Tech Human Touch minors, where you work on broader societal issues.
With a minor, you can specialise in a specific subject or field, but you can also choose to expand your knowledge beyond your own programme. Do you already know that you might want to pursue a master's that does not directly align with your bachelor's? In that case, you can also opt for a transfer minor, where you essentially follow your pre-master’s during your bachelor's already. Read more about the transfer minor on our website.
Time for some inspiration! Maybe one of the following UT minors will interest you. Curious about the full range of minors offered at the University of Twente? Check out the course catalogue.
Esports
Gaming has grown into one of the largest entertainment industries in the world, and Esports is playing an increasingly important role. Esports stands for ‘electronic sports’, where participants play online games competitively. Think of games like League of Legends or FIFA. Did you know there’s a whole science behind this?
In this minor, you’ll learn how players can optimise their performance and perform under pressure, how data from games is analysed, and how esports organisations operate in a rapidly changing, digital, and international environment. You’ll also discover how insights from esports can be applied to other domains, such as health, team dynamics, and technology.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Education minor (Leren lesgeven)
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand in front of a classroom? During the Dutch-taught education minor (Leren lesgeven in Dutch), you can learn the finer things of the profession and explore whether it’s something that suits you! Perfect if you have a passion for a science subject, such as mathematics, chemistry, physics or informatics, and are considering becoming a teacher in Dutch secondary education.
In this minor, you’ll learn about didactics, pedagogy, and even do a practical course, where you’ll eventually stand in front of a class and teach your own lessons. The best part? After completing this educational minor, you’ll already have a second-degree teaching qualification, which allows you to work as a teacher within Dutch high schools (vmbo and the lower levels of havo/vwo). After completing this minor, you can also enter the Master’s in Science Education at the University of Twente to earn your first-degree teaching qualification, which allows you to teach the senior levels of havo/vwo as well. You’ll even get exemption for part of this programme, as you’ll have already completed some of it during the minor.
- Credits: 30 ECTS
- Language: Dutch
Roller Coaster Engineering
Have you always wanted to build a rollercoaster? Look no further… Okay, disclaimer: you won’t be building an actual rollercoaster, at least not during this minor, but it will bring you a step closer!
In this minor, you’ll simulate the design process of a new rollercoaster for an amusement park, examining both the technical and economic aspects. You’ll learn how to design a rollercoaster that meets the park’s requirements and safety standards. You’ll perform calculations to determine the forces and accelerations on passengers and the track, ensuring the structure is safe and strong enough. You’ll also collaborate with industry partners, such as amusement parks and rollercoaster manufacturers, and gain insight into different rollercoaster systems.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Technology for Women’s Health in a Life Span Perspective
Medical research and medical technologies are still insufficiently adapted to the female body. Think of mammography, where breasts are painfully compressed to detect breast cancer, or the uncomfortable speculum that gynaecologists use. Do you want to improve healthcare specifically for women using technology, psychology, data, and more? Then this minor is for you!
In this minor, you’ll work on technologies that improve healthcare for women, covering the entire life span. You’ll learn about specific health needs, research methods, and technology development, such as machine learning and virtual reality. You’ll explore how sex and gender differences affect medical technologies and apply this in a project on endometriosis.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Smart Solutions for Sustainable Cities
Sustainability plays a central role in the future of our cities. Are you curious about how to make a city smarter and more sustainable, and do you want to actively contribute to this? Then this minor is just what you need!
In this minor, you’ll learn how to carry out sustainability projects as efficiently and effectively as possible, taking various interests into account. You’ll work with innovative technologies that can contribute to sustainable urban development, such as ICT, sensors, and artificial intelligence.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Do you have a passion for entrepreneurship? Are you thinking about building your own start-up one day? Then the Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor is a must. By the way, even if you don’t have ambitions to start your own company, this is still a valuable minor!
This minor gives you a great insight into the dynamics of business, including the roles of investors, researchers, consultants, accountants, and others. You’ll work in multidisciplinary teams on real-world business concepts, and learn how to turn ideas into successful enterprises. You’ll not only gain theoretical knowledge but also learn how to apply it in practice, for example, by conducting market research and developing a solid business plan. At the end of the minor, you’ll be able to pitch your business idea convincingly to potential investors and other stakeholders.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Aircraft Engineering
Are you fascinated by aviation and do you want to understand how airplanes work? In this minor, you’ll learn how airplanes are designed, how aerodynamic forces work, and how specific materials are used in the aviation industry. In the past, early aircraft were made from steel, wood, and linen. Later, aluminium became the main material. Today, there are many advanced high-tech materials.
You’ll learn all about this in the minor, where you’ll apply your knowledge by working in a team to design an aircraft concept. If you’re studying a technical subject and want to take your design skills to the next level (both in aviation and beyond), this minor is for you.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Fundamentals of Humanitarian Engineering
Across the world, people are affected by crises that threaten their safety and well-being. Do you feel called to tackle complex humanitarian challenges worldwide? For example, by contributing to disaster-resilient housing, clean drinking water solutions, or sustainable power solutions for refugee camps? Then you should consider the field of Humanitarian Engineering.
This minor prepares you for the new Master's in Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Twente. You’ll learn how to address humanitarian crises by developing (technical) solutions while considering cultural, social, and economic factors in the design process.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Cybersecurity & Cybercrime
Our daily lives are becoming increasingly intertwined with the digital world, which makes online security more important and complex than ever. How can you find countermeasures against hacks, data breaches, digital fraud, and cybercrime? That’s what this minor is all about.
You’ll gain insights into how cybercriminals operate and learn techniques to protect systems and networks. You’ll not only study the technical side of cybersecurity but also its social and legal aspects.
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Interactive Media
Have you always wanted to develop your own game? Then the Interactive Media minor is for you! In this minor, you’ll learn what it takes to animate films and games.
You’ll work with concepts such as sound analysis and synthesis, game theory, and 3D visualisations and animations. You’ll also get hands-on experience with virtual reality and augmented reality. If you’re thinking of a career as a game developer or UX designer, this minor is a great start!
- Credits: 15 ECTS
- Language: English
Crossing Borders
Do you want to use your minor to cross borders, both literally and figuratively? In the Crossing Borders minor, you’ll look beyond the borders of your own study field while gaining international experience!
In this minor, you’ll tackle a challenge related to the international Sustainable Development Goals. You can do this through a virtual project from home, or you can conduct a field study and carry out your own research project abroad, at an NGO, charity, company, or research institute, for example. If you want to learn about intercultural cooperation, global issues, and social impact, this is the minor for you.
- Credits: 15 or 30 ECTS
- Language: English
