Description

Contents

Programme structure and description of the basic constituents

The master programme Aerospace Engineering has a common outline for all Tracks. Each Track is composed of Core, Profile and Elective courses, a Master Orientation Project or Literature Study, an Internship and the Thesis project, all with a fixed size.

The Core courses enable you to develop a broad view over an identifiable field of aerospace engineering that spans across the expertises of the Track and are essential for the Profiles in the Track. All Tracks contain the common course Ethics for Aerospace Engineers which is a nontechnical course about the awareness of the technical and social implications of aerospace engineering. The Core courses form a solid package of appx. 15 EC without a choice.

The Profile courses are essential for the field of expertise of the Section and enable you to develop a thorough and detailed knowledge of that field. Profile courses can also be produced by other Sections or faculties. The courses have a study load of appx. 17 EC and leave you no choice. The sum total of Core and Profile courses has a study load of appx. 32 EC.

The Elective courses provide the flexibility for you to meet specific interest in a specialisation in (sub)field of expertise or add multi-disciplinary elements, repair your deficiencies, or add a personal interest. The Elective courses are selected by you in consultation with the professor. The minimum study load of the Electives is 14 or 20 EC, depending on the choice of a Master Orientation Project or Literature Study. You can also fill part of the Elective space by courses abroad (Exchange programme).

A Profile contains a Master Orientation Project or a Literature Study, or offers both possibilities so that you have the freedom of choice. The Master Orientation Project is primarily for those of you who do not want to develop into a researcher, but who want to be an engineer. The project objectives are the development and application of research skills, and familiarization in a field of expertise to get a sneak preview of what it means to perform independent research on a day to day basis in one specific field of expertise.

The project assignment practices the theory on research methodologies, taught in the course Research Methodologies. The deliverable report of the project is assessed by the project supervisor (content) and the instructor of the course Research Methodologies (method). The project is supervised and coached by PhD students. The deliverable and assessment criteria are equal for all students, no matter in which Profile the project is done. The Master Orientation Project prepares you for the choice of the subject of his master thesis. It has a fixed study load of 6 EC.

The Literature Study is a preparatory research in relation with the Thesis project, with the aim to achieve maximum depth in the thesis in the second year. You practice the theory on research methodologies, taught in the course Research Methodologies. The Literature Study in the first year has a fixed study load of 12 EC. The deliverable is a Literature Study report that is assessed by the supervisor (content) and the instructor of the course Research Methodologies (method).

The study is supervised, coached and assessed by the future Thesis supervisor. For those of you who follow a Master Orientation Project in the first year, the Literature Study forms part of the Thesis project in the second year. In that case, the planning, deliverable, assessment and study load (typically 7 EC) are variable and subject to the agreement between the student and the Thesis supervisor.

The course Research Methodologies is obligatory for all students and focuses on the key questions what research is and how to systematically perform scientifically correct research; which research methods exist and what can be the differences and similarities in research projects? The theory is directly applied in the Master Orientation Project or Literature Study. The deliverable output of this course is contained in the Master Orientation Project resp. Literature Study report. You can also deepen in research methodologies in an elective practical.

The Internship exposes you to a real work environment for a period of 12 weeks on a fulltime basis (nominal study load of 18 EC). It is a 'learn and explore' kind of internship, enabling you to acquire professional skills different from those taught in the programme and has three main elements:

1. Company assignment (as usual)
2. Dedicated assignment about the Engineering Profession
3. Personal reflection on performance in the internship

The master is concluded by a Thesis project (42 EC). The Thesis is always an individual indepth research or expert design project in the field of expertise of the Profile. For those of you, who did not take a Literature Study in the first year, can take it as part of your Thesis project. In this case the outcome of the literature study is assessed as part of the Thesis project. The Thesis includes a workshop about Thesis Research Planning where you learn how to design and plan the MSc thesis project. This workshop of two half days is compulsory and scheduled four times a year for all students enrolled in the MSc Aerospace Engineering.

You can choose to take an in-depth mono disciplinary thesis project or link your thesis to a multidisciplinary project that runs with contributions and support from various sections. In that case the thesis project has its main point in one specialisation but it crosses over with another one. The thesis work is supervised by the chair who is owns the specialisation, and the project coordinator.

Requirements

What is required to be considered for admission to an MSc programme? Please note: if you do not meet all the formal requirements, it is no use applying.

1)A. A good university Bachelor's degree in a main subject closely related to the MSc programme to which you are applying, with good grades on the key courses.
orB. A proof that you have nearly completed a Bachelor's programme in a main subject which is closely related to the MSc programme to which you are applying, with good grades on the key courses.

Exceptions: Management of Technology, Engineering and Policy Analysis and Science Education & Communication, to which all students holding any Bachelors of technology or science / engineering degree may be admitted.

2)A Bachelor's Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 75% of the scale maximum, unless specific requirements are defined for the country in which you obtained your Bachelors degree:

• Countries A - H
• Countries I - P
• Countries Q - Z

Please note: if you have not graduated yet your CGPA must meet the requirements at the time of application.

3)Proof of English language proficiency:

• A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 90 (internet-based test). Please note that we only accept the TOEFL internet-based test.
• or IELTS (academic version) overall Band score of at least 6.5.
• or proof that you have passed the University of Cambridge 'Certificate of Proficiency in English' or the University of Cambridge 'Certificate in Advanced English'

Only nationals from the USA, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are exempt from the proof of English language proficiency requirement. Applicants who obtained a bachelors degree in one of the mentioned countries, are also exempt from the proof of English language proficiency requirement.

Certificates older than two years are not accepted. As the whole process of collecting information, registering for the tests and receiving the test results may take several months, we advise you to register for the IELTS or TOEFL several months before starting your application.

It is allowed to send us a copy of your test results, please check the application documents for detailed information.

• For EU/EFTA nationals, the English language certificate may be submitted until 1 July provided that all other required hard copy documents are received before the application deadline of 1 April.
• Nationals of the Peoples Republic of China only: for visa purposes you need a Nuffic certificate as proof of your English language proficiency. In order to obtain the Nuffic certificate you will need to take the IELTS or TOEFL internet-based test.

4)A clear and relevant essay in English (1,000 - 2,000 words) addressing the following:Your motivation for taking the MSc programme of your choice.

• Your motivation for taking the MSc programme of your choice.
• Why you wish to pursue this programme abroad and/or in the Netherlands in particular.
• Why you are interested in TU Delft and what you expect to find here
• If there are optional specialisations in the Masters programme of your choice: which specialisation(s) interest you most, and why?
• Describe your hypothetical thesis project; what kind of a projectwould you prefer if you were free to make a choice? Also briefly explain what you would want to explore in your thesis project. Provide a maximum of three hypothetical thesis topics and elaborate on your particular interests in them.
• A brief summary (maximum 250 words) of the thesis work or the final assignment (to be) done for your Bachelors programme, including information on the credits earned, grade, and full workload.

5)Two reference letters in English, French, German or Dutch:

1. one from from a professor or an assistant professor from the faculty from which you graduated.
2. one from your employer, if you already have work experience.

If you have not yet graduated or do not have work experience, you need to provide two letters from professors or assistant professors from the faculty at which you are studying.

6)An extensive résumé (curriculum vitae) written in English.

7)Proof of identity

8)Please note:Applicants for Architecture Urbanism & Building Sciences, Design for Interaction, Integrated Product Design and Strategic Product Design are required to upload a digital portfolio. Please note that only uploaded portfolios will be processed. The programme specific portfolio requirements are described on the following pages:

• portfolio requirements for Architecture Urbanism & Building Sciences (and its five tracks)
• portfolio requirements for Design for Interaction
• portfolio requirements for Integrated Product Design
• Portfolio requirements for Strategic Product Design

English Language Requirements

Funding

Numerous scholarships are awarded to admitted students with exceptional promise and outstanding academic achievement by the university, its faculties, departments and industry partners. Consideration for these scholarships requires students to have been admitted to their MSc Programme. Make sure you submit your application as early as possible to be in time for all the scholarship deadlines. More information: www.scholarships.tudelft.nl.