
Master Nanotechnology
Enschede, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 17,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EUR 2,530 ┃for EU/EEA students
Introduction
Tackle big (societal) issues at the smallest level: become an expert in the field of Nanotechnology and invent, design, and develop innovative solutions on the extremely small nanoscale.
How can you diagnose diseases, such as cancer, at an early stage? Are there more sustainable ways to store energy to make the energy transition possible? And how can you make a sensor that checks water pollution levels on a large scale? These important, societal questions all have one thing in common: nanotechnology might be the answer! In the two-year, English-taught Master’s in Nanotechnology at the University of Twente (UT), you become an expert in this exciting, upcoming field.
You start your studies in September. If you need to follow a Pre-Master’s first, you can start in September as well and continue with the Master’s in the following September.
Small scale, big impact
The research field of nanotechnology might focus on an extremely small scale, but if you think it is a small discipline: think again. Nanotechnology is everywhere. It’s in our phones, our computer chips, our solar panels, our food, our cars, our medicine, our cosmetics, and the list goes on and on. The scope of nanoscience is exceptionally wide, with five main application areas: Health, Energy & Sustainability, Security, Agriculture, and Water & Technology.
Nanotechnology in Twente
If you’re interested in the upcoming field of nanoscience and nanoengineering, then the University of Twente is the place to follow your Master’s. Not only is our university the only research university in the Netherlands to offer a Master’s in Nanotechnology, but the region Twente is also home to the MESA+ Institute, one of the world’s leading institutes in nanotechnology.
In this research institute, over 500 scientists collaborate on cutting-edge research at the highest level in the field of materials science, lab-on-a-chip technology, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, membranes, MEMS, and nanofluidics. Many high-tech spin-off companies are rooted in this institute and the market-developed technologies, such as Lionix, Micronit, LipoCoat, U-Needle, Medspray, and IamFluidics, all of which operate within Twente and the MESA+ institute.
What will you learn?
As a graduate of this Master’s, you have acquired specific, scientific knowledge and skills.
Knowledge
After completing this Master’s, you:
- have solid knowledge in the techniques that are available for creating nanostructures, both top-down (e.g. optical lithography techniques) as well as bottom-up (self-assembly/nanochemistry).
- have a broad overview of the application areas of nanotechnology.
- have a fundamental understanding of various aspects of molecular, nanoscale and continuum (macroscopic) scale characterisation that are essential for the study of nanostructure.
Skills
After completing this Master’s, you:
- can design a nano-device, both in terms of device physics and the clean room fabrication process.
are able to analyse the social consequences (economic, social, cultural) of new developments in nanotechnology and integrate - the consequences in your scientific work.
- can involve multiple scientific disciplines when conducting research in the field of nanotechnology.
Value
- are aware of the changeability of the research process due to external circumstances or progressive insights and you are able to adjust this process accordingly.
- can identify gaps in your knowledge, and you have a mindset to enhance and extend your knowledge through study.
- are aware of social, environmental, sustainability and safety aspects of nanotechnology and you are able to analyse and understand these aspects and to integrate these elements in your scientific work.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
WWF/Russell E. Train Fellowships
Russel E. Train Fellowships support individuals pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree in conservation and related fields. Each year, WWF supports committed conservation leaders and scientists from target countries to receive financial support for their studies and research.
Level of Study: Master's programs
Master's programs: Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
ITC Faculty Early Bird Programme
ITC is happy to announce the ‘Early Bird’ program for a limited number of unconditionally admitted candidates.
Level of Study: Master's programs and Short course
Master's programmes
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
- Spatial Engineering
Short Course
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (Postgraduate diploma)
University of Twente Scholarship (UTS)
The University Twente Scholarship (UTS) is a scholarship for excellent students from non-EU/EER countries, applying for a graduate programme (MSc) at the University of Twente.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
Master's programmes:
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business Administration
- Business Information Technology
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Civil Engineering & Management
- Communication Science
- Computer Science
- Construction Management & Engineering
- Educational Science & Technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Environmental & Energy Management
- European Studies
- Health Sciences
- Humanitarian Engineering
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Industrial Engineering & Management
- Interaction Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Robotics
- Sustainable Energy Technology
NL Scholarship
The NL Scholarship is a scholarship for excellent students from non-EU/EEA countries, applying for a Master's programme at the University of Twente. The scholarship amounts to € 5,000 only for the first year of your studies.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business Administration
- Business Information Technology
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Civil Engineering & Management
- Communication Science
- Computer Science
- Construction Management & Engineering
- Educational Science & Technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Environmental & Energy Management
- European Studies
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
- Health Sciences
- Humanitarian Engineering
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Industrial Engineering & Management
- Interaction Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Robotics
- Spatial Engineering
- Sustainable Energy Technology
William Georgetti Scholarships
The purpose of the William Georgetti Scholarship is to encourage postgraduate study and research, normally in New Zealand, in a field that in the opinion of the Scholarship Board is important to the social, cultural or economic development of New Zealand.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
Master's programmes:
- Environmental & Energy Management
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
- Sustainable Energy Technology
- Water Technology
ITC Excellence Scholarship Programme
The Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation is pleased to announce the offer of partial scholarships to a maximum of 25 applicants with a very good academic track record. These academic scholarships are designed for students exhibiting as high-skilled geospatial professionals.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
Master's programmes:
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
- Spatial Engineering
Colfuturo Loan Programme powered by the University of Twente
Colfuturo and the University of Twente provide a shared financing programme to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The programme is for talented Colombians interested in a Master's programme at the University of Twente, within the framework of a Joint Graduate Loan-Scholarship programme.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
Master's programmes:
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business Administration
- Business Information Technology
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Civil Engineering & Management
- Communication Science
- Computer Science
- Construction Management & Engineering
- Educational Science & Technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Environmental & Energy Management
- European Studies
- Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
- Health Sciences
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Industrial Engineering & Management
- Interaction Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Spatial Engineering
- Sustainable Energy Technology
ASML Technology Scholarship
Last year, 40 of the best technical Master's degree students from across the world studying at a Dutch university were selected to receive the ASML Technology Scholarship.
Level of Study: Master's programmes
Master's programmes:
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Kipaji Scholarship
The Kipaji Scholarship Fund is founded especially for talented students from countries with upcoming economies. Students from these countries could have the potential, but not the means to study at the University of Twente. The scholarship is meant as additional support for UTS scholarship students.
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business Administration
- Business Information Technology
- Chemical Science & Engineering
- Civil Engineering & Management
- Communication Science
- Computer Science
- Construction Management & Engineering
- Educational Science & Technology
- Electrical Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Environmental & Energy Management
- European Studies
- Health Sciences
- Industrial Design Engineering
- Industrial Engineering & Management
- Interaction Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Philosophy of Science, Technology & Society
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Robotics
- Science Education
- Sustainable Energy Technology
- Technical Medicine
- Water Technology
Curriculum
Structure
The Master’s in Nanotechnology consists of a number of mandatory courses. In addition, you can structure your Master’s with elective courses that interest you. Your first year ends with an internship and you graduate with your final master’s project. In two years of study, you collect a total of 120 EC.
Nanotechnology
Compulsory courses for the Master's
- Nano and surface Chemistry
- Fabrication of micro and nanodevices
- Characterisation of nanostructures
- Nanoscience
- Nano-Lab: Fabrication & Characterization
- Nanotechnology Design Project
Mandatory elective courses
You select at least three out of eleven elective courses within this Master’s. These courses are categorised into three different profiles, to give you some direction. Still, you can make whichever combination of electives you want.
(Application of) Solid State Matter
- Nanomaterials
- Nano-optics
- Nano-electronics
- AMM Inorganic Materials Science
(Bio)molecular Matter
- Bionanotechnology
- Nanomedicine
- (Bio)molecular Chemistry & Technology
Nano-Engineered Devices
- Lab on a Chip
- Nanofluidics
- Advanced Colloid & Interfaces
- Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Design
- Design validation of Nano-engineered devices
Elective courses
You can fill up the rest of your elective space with (two) courses that match your own interests. You can choose more of the electives listed above, but there are a lot of more technical and non-technical electives you can choose from. A Capita Selecta, in which you explore a specific topic of your interest, which is not available as a regular course, is also a possibility.
- Nanophysics
- Quantum optics
- Surfaces and Thin Layers
- Biophysical Techniques & Molecular Imaging
- Systems-on-chip for embedded systems
- Advanced Semiconductor Devices
Internship & Job Orientation Project
The first quartile of the second year consists of an internship as a preparation for the professional field.
Final master’s project
You spend the last three quartiles of your Master’s on graduating: your final master’s project
Internship
During the first quartile of the second year, you get to do a (research) internship as a preparation for the professional field. This internship is mandatory and will be hosted by a company or research institute in the field of nanoscience or nanoengineering, either in the Netherlands or abroad.
Final master's project
You end the Master’s in Nanotechnology with the final master’s project. The choice of your graduation subject is largely up to you. You will carry out your master’s project under the supervision of a professor of one of the nanotechnology research groups participating in MESA+. In recent years, students have completed their projects at for example the BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip group, the Interfaces and Correlated Electron Systems group, Inorganic Materials Science group, Nanobiophysics group, Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, Integrated Devices and Systems, Physic of Fluids group, Nanobiophysics, Molecular Nanofabrication, Biomolecular Nanotechnology, Biomaterials Science and technology and the Nanoelectronics group.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Career perspectives
Most of our graduates continue with a PhD – at, for instance, Twente’s world-renowned MESA+ Institute. Others fulfill jobs at all kinds of high-tech companies, creating new materials, technologies, or products in sectors such as energy, water, healthcare, or electronics, and some even go on to start their own companies!
Continue as a researcher: obtain a PhD
Many of our graduates choose to pursue an academic career and go on to study for a PhD, with opportunities right here at UT’s MESA+ Institute, but also throughout the world. As a PhD candidate, you conduct independent research for several years under the supervision of a senior researcher within a research group, culminating in the public defense of your PhD dissertation. Obtaining your PhD will earn you the title of Doctor (Dr).
Interested in continuing with a PhD after your Master’s? You can find vacancies below, but you can also explore your options during your Master’s, for example at the research group in which you complete your Master’s thesis. Note that you always need to apply for a Ph.D. position. The application procedure is similar to an actual job application.
Job opportunities
Instead of pursuing a PhD, you could also start your career right away in the field of nanotechnology. In the past twenty years, a lot of high-tech nanotechnology companies have risen that create new materials and devices for a range of applications in sectors such as energy, water, healthcare, or electronics.
As a graduate, you can make a valuable contribution to the development of such devices or materials. You could develop nanocoatings for cars or aircraft engines, for example, that might triple service life and reduce fuel consumption, or you could develop a nano device that predicts a heart infarct with just a drop of blood, or innovate the newest generation of low-energy chips. The list of applications is endless!
Start a business
At UT, we highly encourage entrepreneurship. This University is the birthplace of a large number of high-tech spin-off companies that market developed technologies. You could use your research or even inventions stemming from your master’s thesis and/or your PhD research to start up your own innovative company as well! UT has been voted the most entrepreneurial university in the Netherlands four times in a row. We have a unique approach to putting scientific knowledge to practical use and turning our expertise and yours into solutions that people and society need. As a catalyst for meaningful entrepreneurship, we offer you the Novel-T Foundation and their start-up hub Incubase on campus.
You could use your research or even inventions to start up your own innovative nanotechnology company, just like some of our former students did. Think for example of ECsens, a high-tech research start-up of one of our alumni that focuses on Lab-on-a-Chip platforms for liquid biopsies. Will you be the next one to start up your own business?
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.