Pien Spanjaard

The final stage of your studies can be intense. The finishing touches on your thesis weigh heavy, and in the meantime, you’re likely already thinking about what you’ll do after graduation. For instance, finding your first "real" job. Perhaps you’ve already managed to secure a great position, or you’re currently applying: either way, your life is going to look very different after obtaining that degree. Here are six things you should know before you start your first job!

The University of Twente (UT) is a technical university. That doesn’t mean you can only find engineers walking around campus, though. With a broad selection of bachelor’s and master’s programmes in social sciences as well, studying at UT gives you the best of both worlds. It’s a place where you can build bridges between technology and society – whether you want to dive deep into the world of tech or prefer to explore the human side of it all. Here are three reasons why collaboration between these (what seem to be) polar opposites is actually a great idea!

Internships: in most Dutch universities, they are not compulsory. Nevertheless, more and more students are choosing to do an internship during their studies. And with good reason: internships can be a very valuable experience. Are you wondering whether doing an internship during your studies might be a good option for you? Let’s dive into some of the advantages and disadvantages.

Don’t we all love rollercoasters? Whether you actually enjoy going on rides or prefer to admire them from afar, at least most people agree that they’re a pretty cool feat of engineering. But how do you build one? And what’s the physics behind it? Exchange student Mauricio from Mexico came to Enschede to learn just that, during his minor in rollercoaster engineering.

Sustainable and safe cooking is far from a given everywhere in the world. In Madagascar, for example, the vast majority of the population cooks using wood or charcoal, which can cause lung problems, among other health issues. During his graduation project, Gabe-Jan, now an alumnus of the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, helped develop an alternative. He designed a sustainable and safe solution based on solar energy and thermal storage.

We’ve all been there: you head out the door, leaving your raincoat and umbrella behind, only to get caught in a downpour. But ending up soaked? That may soon be a thing of the past thanks to Nathalie, a master’s student in Industrial Design Engineering and Industrial Engineering & Management. Together with Miguel, a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering, she founded PLU – a start-up developing machines that provide access to shared umbrellas.

Student life can be quite overwhelming sometimes. You have to juggle many responsibilities, you may be living on your own for the first time, or you may be experiencing academic pressure. Or perhaps you are struggling with personal circumstances, making it more difficult to go about your student life. Fortunately, you are not alone. In this article, you will find out where to go for support during your studies at the University of Twente.

Do you want to study in the Netherlands? Then you will get to choose between two types of universities: university of applied sciences (in Dutch: hbo) or research university (in Dutch: wo/universiteit). But which one is the best fit for you? Whether you're in secondary school and looking for a bachelor’s degree, or a university of applied sciences student considering a switch to a research university, it’s useful to understand both types of higher education so you can make an informed choice on what suits you best. To make things a bit easier, we’ve outlined the main differences for you.

We’ve all been there: it’s one week before exam week, you have just opened your syllabus for the first time this module, and you realise… you screwed up. You could have easily made a proper planning and started early on your studying, but instead, you decided to just roll with it and wing your exams under pressure. Pretty effective sometimes, but stressful too. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to make a proper planning that you’ll actually, for once, stick to.

The Gisèle Pelicot case, the new Netflix series Adolescence, and the harmful effects of misogynistic influencers like Andrew Tate – violence against women is getting more traction in traditional media than ever before. Sadly, though, this increased awareness does not automatically translate into progress; globally, almost one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lives*. That’s why, as part of their project, Communication Science students Carly, Ioanna, Leonie, and Nancy dove into the complex problem of violence against women in modern society.

Have you ever opened your lecture notes the day after to revise, and thought: what on earth did we discuss again…? Chances are you have, because writing crappy notes is a universal student experience, especially when you have one of those super ambitious professors that you just can’t keep up with. Luckily, we have some tips and tricks that help you write good notes, even during the most challenging lectures. Let’s get into it!

Going to a network event as a student can be just as daunting as it is valuable. While some are born natural networkers, a lot of people tend to be a bit nervous before going to a network event, especially the first time. Luckily, networking is a skill, meaning that you can train yourself to become a better networker – and proper preparations are a big part of that. Read on for nine tips on how to prepare for a network event, so you can get the most out of it!

Are you almost graduating secondary school and looking to find out where and what you want to continue studying? Then you will probably visit plenty of Open Days, fairs and other study choice activities. To get the most out of these events, it can be very helpful to prepare a list of important questions to ask during conversations with students, teachers and study advisers. In this article, you will find some inspiration for smart questions to ask during an Open Day or fair!

Traditionally, games for the visually impaired include mostly playing cards with braille – fun, but not nearly as immersive and engaging as a game can be. That’s what Industrial Design Engineering students Jonathan, Kara, Leire, Martina, Marcello and Nuria thought when they first started developing BRIGHT, an inclusive collaboration and communication game. Now, about one and a half years later, they have presented their game at Dutch Design Week 2024.

Expansive sports fields, bustling lecture halls, cozy cafes and bars, and students as far as the eye can see – we’re all familiar with the classic American-style campus from movies and TV shows. Studying at a campus university is a lot of fun and convenient, with everything you need close at hand. And, you don’t have to study in the U.S. to experience it! The University of Twente offers you that very same campus vibe. Here’s why it’s the ultimate place to study.

Most people know that spending too much time on your phone can negatively affect your mental health. Yet here we are – often chronically online and spending most of our (free) time on screens, with all its consequences. That’s why student Creative Technology Nina and her project group decided to create an interactive installation for people to reflect on their screen time and happiness. In this article, she talks all about their work and its importance in today’s society.

That the job market is changing drastically due to technological advances is no secret. The dystopian scenario that robots and artificial intelligence will take over all our jobs seems closer than ever. Fortunately, more and more new - perhaps still a little futuristic - professions are also emerging, which you may well end up practising as a graduate!

Whether you’re going to discuss your salary, close a deal with a client as an entrepreneur or simply want to bargain while on holiday: negotiation is a valuable skill. Why not work on it during your time as a student? In this article, student negotiator Richard will tell us all about why and how you can level up your negotiation skills before starting your professional career.

Have you decided to study abroad in the Netherlands? Congratulations! An exciting adventure is ahead of you. But first, it’s time to arrange the practical matters like applying for university: a time-consuming task that you want to start with early on. But how? In this article, you’ll find all you need to know about applying to the University of Twente. Are you Dutch? Then check out our Dutch article on applying for university.

We're fresh into the new year, and that can only mean one thing... failed New Year's Resolutions. Where on the 1st of January, exercising more seemed such a good prospect, motivation is now nowhere to be found. Do you also dread making yet another trip to the gym or the football pitch? Then try one of the rather unconventional sports the University of Twente has to offer instead!

Student life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Let's face it - especially regarding finances, there's often room for improvement... In this article, you'll find eight money-saving tips for students, so you won’t have to survive on instant noodles for the rest of the month (yes, we've been there).

Whether you've known what you want to study ever since you were 14 or you’re about to graduate secondary school and still have no idea: one thing is for sure, sometimes choosing a study feels like the most important decision of your life. Fortunately, it's not that bad, but with so many options for study programmes and universities all over the world, you need to make it as easy as possible for yourself. In this article, we discuss five key questions you should ask yourself while searching for a study!

Our world is changing rapidly: by the time you graduate, the world may look very different! All the more important it is to not only earn your credits during your studies, but also to invest in yourself and your skills. Therefore, in this article, we discuss the 6 most important 21st-century skills you can start learning during your studies!

When you think of a technical university, you probably think of studies such as Civil Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering. But did you know that at the University of Twente - a technical university - you can also study social sciences?