Hannah – Delft University of Technology
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Design
Bricks, Bikes and Being Perpetually Damp
My 2024/25 architecture exchange semester at TU Delft was (honestly) disappointing academically but I had an amazing experience being an expat in Amsterdam!
Why I Chose TU Delft
TU Delft is one of the most highly regarded architecture schools globally, and that reputation was a major factor in my decision to apply for an exchange semester there. I expected to learn about designing and building in a completely different climate compared to Brisbane. The Netherlands’ unique environmental challenges—such as cold weather, heavy rainfall, canals, and movable bridges—seemed like the perfect context for expanding my architectural knowledge. Additionally, I had already planned to move to Amsterdam for a year or so, so the exchange was a great opportunity to familiarize myself with life in the Netherlands.
Academic Experience: Not What I Expected
The biggest challenge I faced was the in-person time commitment required across all subjects. Despite the assignments being relatively easy, students were expected to come to every class whether it was a lecture, tutorial or studio. Students were not able to pick the class times, as there is only one class per subject. All of my classes were on different days of the week and most went for 4 hours which I was definitely not used to. TU Delft does not record any of the classes either, and some of the tutors took attendance and sent out strongly worded emails to those who didn’t attend (oops guilty!). This meant that I found it quite difficult to do much travelling, or find a job during the semester.
The subject selection form did not guarantee you a spot in any of those subjets during the semester. I had 6 options and I was only placed in 1 of the classes. The others I was randomly placed in, and they all ended up being urban design subjects. This was disappointing as I was really hoping to learn architecture specific content. On top of this, four out of my six assignments were group-based. This became frustrating because the minor/exchange was open to non-design students, meaning my groups often included people with no experience in any kind of design work.
The most interesting subject I took involved redesigning an industrial area in Delft. However, the group dynamic once again limited the design input and output, as we had to accommodate the skill levels of non-design students. While it was nice that the workload was significantly lighter what I am used to at QUT (probably about half the effort), I’m disapointed that I don’t feel like I gained much academically from my semester at TU Delft. This may not be a true representation of the Architecture bachelor at TU Delft, however it seems to be a common experience for those who do a minor/exchange.
Living in the Netherlands: Better than Expected!
Despite my academic frustrations, I really enjoyed living in the Netherlands. Biking is the main mode of transport, and the flat streets make it incredibly easy to get around. It’s a lifestyle I absolutely loved—so different from car-dependent cities like Brisbane. The weather is quite cold most of the year, and it rains a lot but the rain is usually very light or misty and the Dutchies don’t take any notice of it. Everything is perpetually damp though so invest in some good waterproof boots and a rain jacket!
I joined a local netball club and run club in Amsterdam, which is where I met most of my friends. Socially, it was a bit difficult to connect with Dutch students, as they tend to speak Dutch amongst themselves, however, the international student community was very friendly, and I made some great connections on campus!
I planned to live in Amsterdam for at least 6 months after uni ended, so I chose to find my own accommodation. This proved very difficult. The Netherlands has a severe housing and job crisis with too many people looking for accommodation and work. I ended up finding a sublet in Amsterdam (super expensive), but the commute was almost 2 hours each way to Delft (also very expensive – $24 for a one-way trip). If I could do it again, I would definitely try to find student accommodation in Delft or Rotterdam and then look for something else after uni finished.
Travel
The Netherlands is beautiful, and I traveled to several cities during my semester. However Amsterdam is still my favourite! It’s so lively, there’s always community events happening and it’s super easy to meet other expats when you get involved in things like run clubs, sports clubs, or follow FB pages for expats.
Beyond the Netherlands, I took advantage of the country’s central location in Europe. I visited the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Croatia and more! The ease of train travel to nearby countries was fantastic, I particularly loved my short trip to Croatia, where I found warm, sunny weather for a couple of days at an incredibly affordable price.
If you are keen to do some travel, I would recommend spending a few weeks before or after the semester, or over the 2 week Christmas break doing some uninterupted travelling.
Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend TU Delft?
If you’re passionate about urban planning, the TU Delft exchange minor might be a great fit. But if you’re more interested in architecture and design, I would be cautious about choosing it for an exchange, especially considering the lack of control over subject selection.
I had hoped to gain insights into the specifics of Dutch architecture—how they deal with cold weather, frequent rain, snow, extensive waterways, and their iconic brick-built structures. Unfortunately, the coursework didn’t cover these aspects at all, likely because the minor was open to non-design students. It was frustrating that my expectations didn’t align with my experience.
That said, living in the Netherlands was an incredible experience, and I wouldn’t trade that part of my exchange for anything. The biking culture, the ease of travel, and the international friendships I made were definite highlights. Overall, my time in Delft was a mix of challenges and rewards but it gave me a fresh perspective on what I want to do after graduation, and it was an amazing and easy introduction to living abroad!
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange.
