TU Delft Aerospace Engineering is a numerus fixus Bachelor’s programme with 440 places.

That means meeting the academic entry requirements is not enough on its own. Applicants also complete a separate selection procedure and receive a ranking number.

If you are applying for the 2027 intake, here is what you need to know.

Key Dates

• 15 January 2027, 23:59 CET — application deadline through Studielink

• Late January — TU Delft selection platform normally opens

• January–March — matching and selection activities

• March — selection exam

• 15 April 2027 — ranking numbers are released

• Within 14 days of an offer — deadline to accept your place

• 1 September 2027 — start of the academic year

The exact dates for the 2027 selection activities have not yet all been published.

For reference, in the 2026 selection cycle, the Digital Learning Environment opened on 23 January and the selection exam took place on 11 March.

What Does TU Delft Give You for the Selection?

After applications close, TU Delft gives candidates access to its Digital Learning Environment (DLE).

This normally includes:

• Mathematics preparation material

• Physics preparation material

• practice questions

• a Math & Physics level test

• programme and matching information

• self-reflection activities

• First-Year Aerospace Engineering study material

• the syllabus showing which First-Year topics are examinable

The most important distinction is that Math and Physics are relatively predictable, while the First-Year Aerospace material can change between years.

The Three Main Academic Areas

1. Mathematics

The Mathematics section is based largely on the level expected before entering university.

Typical topics include:

• algebra

• functions

• logarithms and exponentials

• trigonometry

• vectors

• differentiation

• integration

• graphs and geometry

The individual questions change each year, but the underlying syllabus stays relatively stable.

That means there is little reason to wait until January before preparing Mathematics.

2. Physics

Physics works in much the same way.

Important topics typically include:

• kinematics

• Newton’s laws

• forces

• work and energy

• momentum

• circular motion

• oscillations and waves

• electricity

• magnetism

Again, the exact questions change, but the fundamental Physics knowledge expected from applicants does not change dramatically from one year to the next.

This makes Math and Physics the best subjects to prepare well in advance.

3. First-Year Aerospace Engineering Material

This is the less predictable part of the selection.

TU Delft releases specific First-Year Aerospace Engineering material relatively close to the selection period.

Recent selections have included topics from areas such as:

• aerodynamics

• flight mechanics

• aircraft performance

• structures and materials

• launch vehicles

• orbital mechanics

The material may include selected textbook chapters, TU Delft material and video lectures.

However, the exact chapters and topics can change each year.

So preparing only from an old syllabus is not a good strategy.

The better approach is to understand the core first-year aerospace concepts early, then switch your focus to the official 2027 material as soon as TU Delft releases it.

What Changes From Year to Year?

A useful way to think about the selection is:

Mathematics — mostly stable

The questions change, but the expected knowledge remains broadly similar.

Physics — mostly stable

The same applies here: question style and emphasis may vary, but the fundamentals remain consistent.

First-Year Aerospace Material — more variable

TU Delft may change:

• selected chapters

• lectures

• topics

• emphasis between aerospace disciplines

This is also why DelftPractice updates its Aerospace selection material once the new TU Delft syllabus becomes available.

Before that point, we focus on high-probability core topics and recurring first-year concepts, rather than pretending that last year’s syllabus will automatically be identical.

What Was the Recent Exam Format?

The exact 2027 format will be confirmed by TU Delft.

For reference, the 2026 selection exam contained three multiple-choice sections:

• Mathematics — 30 minutes

• Physics — 30 minutes

• First-Year Aerospace Engineering — 30 minutes

That makes time management an important part of preparation.

Knowing how to solve a problem is not always enough. You also need to recognise the right approach quickly.

What Should You Prepare Before January?

Before TU Delft releases the new material, focus mainly on:

Mathematics

Strengthen algebra, trigonometry, vectors, calculus and equation manipulation.

Physics

Make sure mechanics, energy, electricity and general problem solving are solid.

Core Aerospace Concepts

Build familiarity with recurring topics such as:

• lift and drag

• aerodynamic coefficients

• basic flight mechanics

• aircraft performance

• structures

• orbital mechanics

The goal is not to memorise last year’s material.

It is to make sure you are not starting from zero when the official syllabus arrives.

What Should You Do Once the 2027 Material Is Released?

Once TU Delft publishes the First-Year syllabus, that should become your main reference.

At that point:

1. Read the official syllabus carefully.

2. Identify what has changed from previous years.

3. Study the required material.

4. Practise questions specifically on those topics.

5. Move toward timed mixed practice before the exam.

DelftPractice follows the same process.

We keep Mathematics and Physics preparation available throughout the year because those foundations remain relatively stable, and we update the Aerospace section when TU Delft releases the new selection syllabus.

Don’t Ignore the Matching Activities

The selection process also contains matching activities designed to introduce you to the programme and help you assess whether Aerospace Engineering is a good fit.

These can include:

• programme information

• first-year course information

• Math and Physics level testing

• self-reflection activities

These activities are compulsory parts of the selection process, even when they do not directly determine your final ranking.

How Does the Ranking Work?

The selection is not simply pass or fail.

Applicants are ranked against each other.

On 15 April 2027, you receive your ranking number through Studielink.

If your ranking falls within the available places, you can receive an offer.

If you are initially outside the cutoff, you may still receive an offer later if other applicants:

• choose another university

• decline their offer

• fail to accept within the deadline

• do not complete enrolment

So a ranking slightly above the initial capacity does not automatically mean you are out. 

How Is the Selection Scored?

Your ranking number is based on two components:

Component	Weight
Academic Aptitude Assessment	40%
Selection Exam	60%

The Academic Aptitude Assessment consists of a Study Motivation Test (SMT) and the MPT-Study, a personality assessment focused on behaviour in study situations. Together, these determine the Academic Aptitude part of your score.

The Selection Exam determines your Academic Performance score. In the recent selection format, it is divided into:

Selection Exam Section	Weight within Exam	Effective Weight in Final Score
Mathematics	30%	18%
Physics	30%	18%
First-Year Aerospace Topics	40%	24%

Because the Selection Exam itself represents 60% of the final score, the First-Year Aerospace section effectively has the largest individual academic weight.

There Is No Fixed Passing Grade

TU Delft does not use a simple rule such as “70% means you pass.”

Your scores are compared with those of the other applicants, and your combined selection score determines your ranking number. In the recent procedure, incorrect answers did not receive a penalty, so answering every question was advantageous.

Also note that the compulsory matching activities and Math & Physics level test do not directly count toward your ranking, although they must be completed to continue in the selection procedure.

What Does This Mean for Your Preparation?

The weighting is worth keeping in mind:

• Academic Aptitude matters significantly at 40%, even though it is not something you prepare for in the same way as an exam.

• Math and Physics together account for around 36% of the final score under the recent format.

• First-Year Aerospace alone accounts for around 24%, making it particularly important once TU Delft releases the official material.

For 2027 applicants, the exact weighting and format should be checked again once TU Delft publishes the new selection regulations. DelftPractice will update this guide if the scoring system changes.

You Can Apply to More Than Just TU Delft

In the Netherlands, you can generally have up to four active programme applications, of which a maximum of two can be numerus fixus programmes.

One relevant alternative is Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

For the 2027 intake, TU/e Mechanical Engineering is also numerus fixus.

It is broader than Aerospace Engineering, but there is significant overlap in:

• Mathematics

• Mechanics

• Physics

• Dynamics

• Engineering problem solving

Because of that overlap, the Mathematics and Physics material on DelftPractice can also be useful for students preparing for TU/e Mechanical Engineering.

TU Delft remains the more specialised option if your main interest is aircraft and spacecraft, while TU/e Mechanical Engineering covers a wider range of mechanical systems.

A Simple Preparation Timeline

Before January

Focus on Mathematics and Physics and build a basic understanding of core aerospace concepts.

Late January

As soon as TU Delft releases the official material, start working through the First-Year syllabus.

February

Combine theory with topic-specific and mixed practice questions.

Before the Exam

Shift toward timed practice and review your mistakes carefully.

A useful cycle is:

Learn → Practise → Review → Fix Weaknesses → Practise Again

Final Advice

The biggest mistake is treating all parts of the TU Delft selection in the same way.

Math and Physics are stable enough to prepare months in advance.

First-Year Aerospace material can change, so the current TU Delft syllabus should always take priority once it is released.

Prepare the fundamentals early, stay flexible, and then adapt quickly when the official 2027 material becomes available.

That is also the approach we use at DelftPractice: stable Mathematics and Physics preparation throughout the year, combined with Aerospace material that is updated around the latest TU Delft selection syllabus.