Student Stories MOT
First year student: Isa Oğuz
Hey, I’m İsa Oğuz from Turkey. I graduated from Istanbul Technical University with my bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering in 2023. After two years of work life, I wanted to be a student again and pursue my master’s and TU Delft was the best option.
Why did you choose the Netherlands? And why TU Delft ?
I love the people and the active lifestyle here. There is a relaxed culture which makes you focus on yourself. Besides, believe it or not, being able to cycle everywhere is an amazing privilege.
Read more I also wanted to experience what a world class masters education feels like. TU Delft was always on my radar with its reputation. Also, I love Delft. It’s a beautiful calm city and you’re 15 minutes away from the larger cities if you want some action.
Why did you choose MOT ?
In my work experience, I realized there was a communication gap between technical people and the rest of the teams. I assumed that with the skills I’ll get in this program, I will be able to fill this gap. I want to be a bridge that connects all the teammates together towards the same goal, eliminating the barriers.
What challenges did you face while making the transition from your country?
The quarterly education system took some time to get used to. The pace was higher but thankfully I passed all my courses! Furthermore, the difference between cuisines left me no choice but to improve my cooking skills.
How are you adjusting to the cultural and study load differences?
What helps me the most is knowing that I’m not alone. Most of the students are newcomers like me and trying to figure out what to do. I found amazing friends to help each other with studies and we do a lot of different activities together!
Any tips for new comers?
1 - It takes time! Give yourself 2 quarters to get familiar with everything.
2 - Buy everything WATERPROOF! I mean everything including your shoes and bags.
3 - Learn how to cook some simple meals.
Second year student: Arghem Khan
Why did you choose MOT?
I chose MOT because of my personal entrepreneurial interest. This combined with my technological background and general interest in how technologies actually change the world is the reason I chose MOT. In my opinion, MOT was the best way forward to combine my technological background with my interest in business and management.
How did MOT complement your engineering background?
I did a bachelor's in Computer Science & Engineering where I have really dived deeper into the different aspects of IT. MOT complements this background by extending this theoretical knowledge to a more practical perspective. MOT really challenges you in trying to understand how technologies diffuse, work and are managed in the real world, which is essentially where technology will be used!
What are the challenges that you encounter during your study, and how do you overcome them?
During my first year I really struggled with moving away from a technical perspective. Because of the engineering background you tend to be so engrained into the technical aspect. However, MOT requires a different mindset. It is more about taking account of all sociotechnical aspects of the technology. I overcame this by time, to be honest. The subjects are laid out in such a way that it becomes easier; there is a real chronological order to the learning.
Do you have any tips for upcoming students to adapt with the Dutch education system?
My general advice would be to not stress it too much! ? Every course in my experience provides enough support from the staff. Following the requirements throughout the courses will really make your life easier. Another advice would be to try to go to lunch lectures or other networking sessions. This will really help with getting to know what your interests actually are.
What were the most interesting experiences from MOT that you can share?
The most interesting experience for me was the course of Integration Moment. For this course a student consultancy group is formed, for an actual company with an actual case. This is a great opportunity to dive into the deeper challenges of the company, and come up with worthwhile solutions!
