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| July 2025 |
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| Hi there! Welcome to the last newsletter for all new Master students in EPA! |
You have registered for the master's program Engineering and Policy Analysis (EPA)! You may still have doubts about whether you are going to follow this program or what studying at TU Delft actually entails. To help you make this choice, this final newsletter provides some glimpses into the EPA life and crucial logistics for moving to the Netherlands.
Thanks!
Thank you for reading our newsletter this past academic year! We hope that they were helpful to you in everything you need to before you come here. If not, feel free to reach out to any one of the volunteering students. Now comes the fun part, have a great summer, and hope to see you on campus this upcoming fall in Delft! |
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| Welcome by Director of Studies MSc EPA, Haiko van der Voort |
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EPA is like the Dutch weather at the moment. Some showers, some sunshine, some deadlines, some free time. Some day summer will kick in. After the deadlines life at Wijnhaven will be much quieter. There is plenty of space for second year students to work on their thesis. Dentatus board is organizing for some outdoor activities and already for some meetings in September.
Foremost, we are anticipating on the start of the 2025-2026 season. That’s when you will join in! We will unite farewell and welcome on the upcoming “Grand Challenge Accepted” conference (August 21), this year with the title “Living policy”. Here EPA graduates will present their thesis work and alumni tell how EPA still inspires them in their daily work. That is along with a key note by Marit Maij, member of the European Parlament, a panel with EPA alumni and a not-to-miss beach party at night.
The good news is: you are welcome to join and get a taste of your future 2 years. You can enlist via link. It is free of charges. For the beach party (including food) we ask for a small fee.
Haiko van der Voort
Director of Studies Engineering & Policy Analysis
Please note: Receiving this newsletter does not imply admission to the EPA programme. |
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| Özge Okur: EPA program manager |
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One of the most exciting things about being EPA program manager is meeting the new EPA cohort at the beginning of the academic year. It gives me energy to interact with diverse and ambitious students, and to be part of their university experience.
You will also see me as one of the lecturers in the programming for data science course. I have been really enjoying teaching this course for the past few years. I find EPA students very eager to learn, enthusiastic about approaching complex problems analytically.
I hope to facilitate a wonderful learning experience for EPA students, working as a team with the Director of Studies, Haiko van der Voort, and the office manager, Lilian Hellemons. Looking forward to meeting you in the Hague in September!
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| In this Newsletter |
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- EPA conference: Grand Challenge Accepted 2025
- Timeline
- Finding Accommodation in the Netherlands
- Online Beginners Course Dutch
- Helpful Phone Applications
- Things you need when you arrive
- Summer in the Netherlands
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| Grand Challenge Accepted 2025! |
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| SAVE the 21st of AUGUST!! Because we have our annual EPA celebration called “Grand Challenge Accepted” on that Thursday in The Hague. It is a meeting with upcoming EPA students, current EPA students, EPA graduates, EPA alumni and EPA teachers. It starts feeling like a conference, with a key note, break outs with presentations by EPA graduates and a roundtable with EPA alumni. It ends feeling like a party, as we have photoshoots, volleyball and drinks on the beach. If you feel like EPA, you are more than welcome to enlist here. |
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| About Housing: Finding a Room |
Once you've decided to attend TU Delft, you should start looking for housing. Before arriving in the Netherlands, all students are strongly encouraged to guarantee their housing. You could use this link as a guide to learn more about housing in the Netherlands.
Finding a room in the Netherlands can be challenging. We hope the tips and advice will assist you in finding one if you haven't already. |
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| More Practical information |
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We have listed some practical information you might want to know after deciding to join TU Delft:
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| Online beginners course Dutch |
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| How do you order your coffee in Dutch? What is life like in a typical Dutch city? The Delft Dutch Course for Beginners will help you in your first steps learning Dutch and give you a head start getting around in the Netherlands. You are going to learn the language by following the daily life of Maria, an Argentinian student who lives in Delft. |
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| Helpful Phone Applications |
There are many phone applications that will help assist your daily life in the Netherlands. Here we listed some of them that we think are the most necessary for you to download on your phone.
- 9292: to check the public transportation schedule and plan your journey.
- DigiD: an online identity platform to access many services and government websites in the Netherlands.
- My TU Delft: to access personal information related to schedule, study progress, and exam registrations.
- Pulse: to access Brightspace, a TU Delft's learning platform, to get the course information.
- Outlook: to access email accounts and calendars.
- Buienradar: to check the weather forecast.
- Google Translate: to translate languages.
- Bank Account Application: to access online banking features from your phone. The application depends on which bank account you have.
- NS: to access personal information related to your journey with NS, the train in the Netherlands.
- Online stores: Bol.com (a webshop similar to Amazon), Zalando (an online retailer of clothes), Marktplaats (to buy and sell secondhand goods).
- Tikkie: to ask for your money back and pay back other people.
Note: Some applications will only be available to download if you have changed the region of your play store or app store to the Netherlands. |
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| Summer Fun in the Netherlands! |
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Summer has arrived, and as a student in the Netherlands, a world of adventure awaits you beyond campus. Here are some top activities and destinations to make your summer unforgettable:
Explore Cities & Nature: Make the most of your time in the Netherlands by exploring its vibrant cities and beautiful landscapes. Stroll along the canals of Delft, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, admire their iconic architecture, and indulge in local cuisine. When you’re ready to escape the city buzz, head to Hoge Veluwe National Park for a peaceful cycling trip, or enjoy the summer sun at the beaches of Scheveningen, Zandvoort, or Texel.
Festivals, Museums & Local Culture
Dive into the energy of world-class music festivals like Pinkpop and Lowlands, or soak up arts and culture at events like the Uitmarkt and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Spend a quiet afternoon exploring top museums like the Rijksmuseum, or enjoy warm evenings with open-air concerts and Dutch barbecues. Don't forget to check out the Museumkaart for great deals on museum access!
Stay Active & Try Something new: Consider paddleboarding, cycling through the countryside, or enjoying canal boating—it’s a delightful way to experience the country from a fresh perspective. Whether you prefer solo adventures or group activities, there’s something suited for every pace.
Thinking About EU Travel? Planning to visit other European countries? Great idea! Just keep in mind that the UK and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area — you may need a visa depending on your nationality.
Always check the latest regulations and recommendations from official sources before organizing your summer activities. We wish you a fantastic summer exploring the Netherlands and creating unforgettable memories!
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| Colophon |
Third edition Delft, the Netherlands, June 2024
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management
Master programme EPA
The 1st and 2nd edition of the EPA newsletter is still available online |
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| Contact |
| If you have any questions about this newsletter or suggestions for possible new items or events, please contact the editorial office at internationaloffice‑tbm@tudelft.nl. |
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