Industrial Engineering is a real engineers' degree, in which you learn to translate new industrial techniques into practical solutions, such as a more sustainable production process or new products.
In the Bachelor’s degree programme in Industrial Engineering and Management (Technische Bedrijfskunde in Dutch), you learn how to analyse problems and develop, design and apply solutions. You are first and foremost trained to become an industrial engineer, and you learn to look at the applicability of your solutions in the business world.
After all, a technical solution is only useable if you have thoroughly tested its feasibility. Imagine, for example, that you have developed a new method to keep pepper-flavoured crisps fresh for longer. Is the production process still cost efficient? Does the method fit into the production line? What do the company’s employees think of it? And do customers still find the crisps tasty?
The degree programme is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering so you can be sure of lots of course units in maths, physics and chemistry. In addition, you will follow course units in business studies, management and logistics. Your technical know-how and your management insights will prepare you for jobs where technology and management meet. Embedding in business and society is a key element of this degree programme.
International Bachelor’s programme
The business world and the profession are becoming increasingly internationally oriented. Multinationals are introducing new products to the global market or want to open a factory abroad. These are all good reasons for offering this degree programme in an international English-taught variant. Your fellow students and lecturers come from the Netherlands and abroad.
Listen to the podcast!
Want to know more about this Bachelor's programme? Listen to the podcast with a student and lecturer of the Industrial Engineering and Management programme. You can listen to the podcast here. (Please note: podcast is in Dutch).
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | ||
Design Science | ||||
Calculus 1 (for IEM) (5 EC) | ||||
Global Supply Chain (5 EC) | ||||
Linear Algebra (for IEM) (5 EC) | ||||
Organizational Behaviour and Group Dynamics (5 EC) | ||||
Programming, Modelling and Simulation (5 EC) | ||||
Systems Dynamics (5 EC) | ||||
Calculus 2 (for IEM) (5 EC) | ||||
Fluid Dynamics (5 EC) | ||||
Industrial Marketing (5 EC) | ||||
Management Accounting (5 EC) | ||||
Materials and Molecules (5 EC) | ||||
Statistics and Stochastics (5 EC) |
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | |||
Operations Research (5 EC) | ||||
Outlining and Implementing Innovation Strategy (5 EC) | ||||
Production Planning and Quality Control (5 EC) | ||||
Research and Design Methodology (5 EC) | ||||
Sustainable Engineering Design (5 EC) |
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | ||
Minor (5 EC) | ||||
Capita Selecta SPE (5 EC) | ||||
Design and Construction for IEM (5 EC) | ||||
Integration Project IEM (PTL) (5 EC) | ||||
Mechanical Craftsmanship (5 EC) | ||||
Product Technology (IEM) (5 EC) |
Two-thirds of the degree programme in Industrial Engineering and Management is comprised of course units focusing on the technical sciences, and one third of course units focus on business subjects.
In the first year, you will learn the basics of programming and you will also learn how to create models and simulations, with an eye to designing products and production processes. In addition, you will explore the chemical and physical aspects of materials and molecules. The course units on business and management provide an introduction to industrial marketing and management accounting, among other topics.
Apart from the content-based course units, you will receive study-related and personal support from experienced student coaches in your learning community.
Later on in the degree programme, you will choose a track: Sustainable Process Engineering or Production Technology and Logistics. You will complete your Bachelor's programme with a final project, in which you solve a concrete technical problem for a company.
Programme options |
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Production Technology and Logistics (track) This track focuses on logistics and the automation of the production processes of large factories. You will learn how to improve these processes, for example for a car factory. With this knowledge, you would also be able to work for a hospital, to investigate how medical research equipment can be deployed more effectively and efficiently. You will follow course units including:
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Sustainable Process Engineering (track) This track focuses on the process from raw material to final product. To this end, special attention is paid to the chemical and biochemical aspects of the production process After following this track, you would be able to work for the chemical or pharmaceutical sectors, for companies such as Shell or DSM. You will follow course units including:
You might wonder what the difference is between this degree programme and the degree programme in Chemical Engineering. The latter degree programme is more focused on chemical processes and how exactly these work. In the degree programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, more attention is paid to the skills that are needed in the business world, including the chemical and food industries. You will learn, for example, how to scale up certain chemical processes in a cost-efficient manner. |
wiskunde B
wiskunde B
wiskunde B
Specific requirements | More information |
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language test |
Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) as well as the exemptions listed on the language exemptions webpage). More info: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language |
other admission requirements |
Physics and Chemistry are not mandatory, but highly recommended Before you apply! When you cannot fulfil the vwo requirement, due to deficient profile or if you want to be admitted on the basis of a successfully passed first year of HBO or colloquium doctum, you need to submit an additional admission request via the Admission Board Bachelor programmes. Please go to this website for more information. Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the matching procedure. Information about the matching procedure can be found here |
More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
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Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
Secondary education equivalent to Dutch pre-university education (vwo) is required. A list of qualifications that are considered equivalent to pre-university education in the Netherlands can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/education/bachelor/international-students/admission-and-application/application-admission-procedure/entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications If you have any questions concerning admission to the programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/education/bachelor/international-students/admission-and-application/application-admission-procedure/contact-the-admissions-office |
additional subject |
Sufficient background knowledge in Mathematics and Physics is required. The Admissions Board will determine whether your background knowledge in these subjects is sufficient to start the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice. |
language test |
You will need to submit proof of English proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Please find our English language requirements (exemptions, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and more) on this page: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language |
other admission requirements |
Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the matching procedure. Information about the matching procedure can be found here |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
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Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
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EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 2314 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 16500 | full-time |
The Dutch government is halving tuition fees for first-year students in higher education.
Practical information for:
Once you have completed the three-year Bachelor's programme and have your degree, you may continue with the Master's degree programme to study your field in greater depth. A Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and Management will open many doors to you in many different companies and organizations, from multinationals to consultancy firms, in the Netherlands and further afield.
Your technical know-how and your management insights will prepare you for jobs where technology and management meet. You will feel at home in companies and organizations interested in innovation, searching for new opportunities by integrating technologies.
Product manager and process technologist are jobs often offered to our graduates. You could also work in a hospital, investigating how to use research equipment better. Some graduates end up in the service sector or working for the government. Ultimately, virtually all of our graduates find jobs immediately after graduating.
Business sectors that you could enter as a process technologist, for example, include the production industry (from car manufacturers to shaving products) as well as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. You will have vast knowledge of production processes and chemical processes but, because you will also have thorough business training, you will be able to reach a management position faster. One interesting field is our future energy supply. Think of companies developing and improving solar panels, or generating electricity from biomass. You don’t have to stand in a lab yourself as long as you are able to translate the results of research into useful information for the rest of the company.
In Industrial Engineering and Management, our academic educational programme is strongly linked to our research programme.
We consider it important that our students are exposed to the latest research developments throughout the course of their studies. In the Industrial Engineering and Management BSc, each student has the opportunity to conduct research to broaden his/her academic development. In lectures, tutorials and your own research project, you will be instructed by, and closely work together with, the scientific staff of our research institute and design group. These researchers are true specialists, and belong to the global experts in their respective fields.
Our researchers perform excellent technology driven scientific research and teaching in product and production sectors. We strive to be recognized for the capability to explore and design new technologies, and to improve existing ones, that are based on the integration of fundamental and engineering sciences in a comprehensive environment.
Interested in reading more about our research institute and design group? You can find more information about our research at https://www.rug.nl/research/enteg/ and the design group at https://www.rug.nl/research/fse/industrial-engineering-systems/
Read moreA combination of all my interests
Hello! My name is Raquel Aycart. I am 19 years old and I am from Seville, Spain.
At school, my academic interests lay in physics, chemistry, and mathematics, but I also had ambition in management and business. In my search for career prospects, I was very discouraged when I only found jobs in one of the three areas. Then, a website showed me a degree called ‘IEM’, which covered a combination of all my interests. There was one university that I liked more than all the others because it is one of the world’s leading universities, because of its position in the rankings, and most importantly, because of how the students spoke about it.
In addition to all this, this university is located in a city full of international students, with an unbeatable atmosphere and a vibrant community. I never imagined that I would end up studying in a city in the Netherlands, but today, I can say with certainty that it is one of the best—if not the best—decisions I have made in my life.
What I like most about my degree programme is how dynamic it is. It is suitable for a wide range of careers since we learn a little bit about everything. This programme does not pigeonhole you for life in a specific profession but is very broad, unlike most other programmes.
Besides that, the community we have could not be better. Everyone is willing to help out at all times. When I'm not studying, I like to party with my friends. And in this city, there is never a lack of parties!
For prospective students who are still hesitant about the city or the degree programme: I would advise you to be brave and give it a chance, because it will surely be the best decision you are going to take and you have very little to lose.
Read moreThis study gave me the opportunity to figure out what I want to do later in my life and which way I want to go
The reason I chose Industrial Engineering and Management is that I was looking for a programme that had a very broad education and was satisfying all of my interests. I had a very hard time deciding what I wanted to study. I went from fashion to teaching, to the military, and to something with sustainability. Then the bachelor Industrial Engineering and Management was introduced to me. This study had endless possibilities for me, to go whatever way I wanted.
I could still work in all of the fields I was interested in and it was broad enough to keep being interesting for me. At first, I did think it would be more of the management side than it eventually turned out to be. It is a lot of math, physics, and chemistry, but all are applied in ways that are used in the industry. This makes it more accessible to understand for me, which makes this the perfect study for me. It is hard but fun and doable as long as you put enough effort into it.
In my second year, I chose the track Sustainable Process Engineering to focus more on sustainability and process improvements within the industry. Right now I am a third-year SPE student while doing a board year at the Study Association TBV Lugus. This is the study association for IEM. After my board year,I will do a minor in Education and finish my final courses before starting my bachelor’s thesis.
This study gave me the opportunity to figure out what I want to do later in my life and which way I want to go. It was broad enough for me to give me all aspects of the fields I am interested in and narrow down what I want to work in. After my bachelor’s I am looking into a master’s that focuses a bit more on sustainability and management within companies, that also looks at the social aspect of the environment and population.
Read morePerfect combination of engineering and business-oriented subjects
I decided to study IEM because I was unsure which engineering pathway I wanted to take. This was mostly due to my additional interest in business-oriented subjects. IEM seemed like the perfect combination of both fields, and so far, it has exceeded my expectations.
In the first year, I really enjoyed an assignment which was based on a real-life case: a budget airline company needed to be managed to prevent it from bankruptcy.
Originally, I’m from Punto Fijo, in Venezuela. I really enjoy living in Groningen, although the weather sometimes makes me think otherwise. The city has an overall amazing vibe and I have friends from many different countries and continue to meet new and exciting people every week.
Read moreLearning to work with a solution-oriented attitude is something I find the most interesting at the moment
My name is Rudi van Driezum. I am a big fan of American football and I play in the Groningen Giants team. I am 22 years old, born and raised in Groningen, the most beautiful city of the Netherlands. Here I live in a student house together with four other guys.
I started studying IEM because this degree programme is very technical and has many technical aspects: from fluid dynamics to mechanics. It is nice to learn how you can connect these aspects to the business branch of a company. Learning to work with a solution-oriented attitude is something I find the most interesting at the moment. With every problem you face, you have to consider whether the current solution is efficient enough, or whether there is a different, more optimal one.
I have always been very active within my study association, TBV Lugus. It is a great association with a lot of active members. Lugus organizes various fun activities: for example, skiing trips and drinks events, as well as educational activities aimed at self-development.
During my third year I really wanted to progress my self-development further, and doing a board year at Lugus seemed logical. Right now, as the Treasurer, I am responsible for drawing up the budget under the supervision of our strict Audit Committee. I also take care of all the association’s expenses, and all committees keep in contact with me regarding their spendings and budgets. Furthermore, I help with organizing events and carry joint responsibility for the association.
I would advise all new students to become Lugus members. As a member, you can always get free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate at the members corner, and you can participate in all of our activities. You can also have a great time with other members and make friends for life!
Read morePerfect balance between basic business administration and technical detail
After my graduation I started as a consultant at the Strategy & Operations practice of Deloitte Consulting. I focus on large scale transformations like designing and implementing new operating models, large scale cost reductions and mergers and acquisitions.
Currently I’m working on a M&A project where I work in the team that designs the global to-be organization structure of two merging international clients in Consumer Business. My role typically includes facilitating client sessions, doing data analysis and making client documentation.
During my years in Groningen I became a broad allround engineer with a strong analytical background. The combination of analytical and numerical skills and knowledge of business administration is crucial for a good consultant in my opinion. IEM Groningen offered me the perfect balance between basic business administration and technical detail.
The study also allowed me to learn about my own strengths and interests. I think it’s important to do the things that you are passionate about and IEM will provide you with the right toolset to pursue any type of career after your graduation
You are broadly interested in technology and the business world. You enjoy physics, mathematics and chemistry – the subjects that form the basis of this degree programme. In addition, you are focused on the human aspect and on results. In Industrial Engineering and Management, all these elements come together. You are first and foremost trained to become an engineer, with a solid background in the technical sciences but also with thorough knowledge of the business world.
You will be issued a study advice at the end of your first year of study. You can expect a positive study advice if you have earned at least 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS; most course units are 5 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative study advice, you will not be allowed to continue your degree programme.
You will receive a preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you are. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the Binding Study Advice system.
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