IDE is a 3-years Bachelor programme and operates on a semester schedule. That means each academic year is divided into 2 semesters, with each semester having 20 weeks. Each semester is further broken down into 5-week ‘units.’

Every IDE student will begin with 'Basics of IDE (Boi)', during semester E chooses a minor course or an exchange programme or an internship and, finally, graduates in semester F.

IDE is based on a modular approach to education, allowing students to choose their own unique study path. During semesters B, C, D, and E, you are free to create your own learning path. A diverse selection of design courses are offered, as well as minor programmes and exchange options.

Structure of semesters

IDE is a full-time 3-year programme based on a 40-hour workweek, 8:45 - 17:00, Monday through Friday. During this 40-hour week, students participate in classes and workshops, self-study and group work, coaching, portfolio preparations, and other activities.

At the end of each 5-week unit, assessments are held. Assessments are a time for each student to show and explain what they’ve learned during the last 5 weeks. These assessments let students prove their competencies and earn the necessary credits to graduate. For more detailed information about assessments, please check out the ‘competencies’ section.

During the final unit of each semester, students are given 3 weeks of ‘portfolio/free space’ to work on personal passion projects and improve their portfolio. There are often portfolio events and additional extracurricular projects for the student to participate in if they so wish.

The heart of the IDE curriculum is based on the idea of competencies. In order for a student to become ready for the professional world, they must be proficient in 5 competency areas: Do research, Organise & manage, Design & Engineer, Communicate and Learn. If students can prove their ability in these areas, then they are ready to be professional designers and innovators.

These 5 competency areas are broken into sub-competencies. There are 24 sub-competencies in total. Each sub-competency must be mastered at three levels: novice, advanced beginner, and competent. When a student masters any level of a sub-competency, they earn ECs (European Credits) which are necessary to graduate.

Sub-competencies are proved during assessments. Assessments are offered 4 times a semester and are individual moments for a student to prove why they have earned the next level of the sub-competency. During an assessment, the student meets with 2 faculty members to show and explain to them what they have learned about the sub-competency and why they deserve another mastery level. After 30-minutes of presenting and asking questions, the faculty will assess the students’ level: fail, pass, or good. In each assessment, multiple sub-competencies can be proven in each assessment.

1. Do Research

1.1. (Re)define problems and reason analytically

1.2. Discover knowledge by investigating & experimenting

1.3. Take external contexts into account (societal, environmental, entrepreneurial)

1.4. Approach research in a technical & human-centred way

1.5. Report on research using a practical scientific standard

3. Organise and manage

3.1.  Work methodologically

3.2.   Collaborate within a design team in a multidisciplinary (international) setting

3.3.   Show resourcefulness, flexibility and willingness to make decisions in fuzzy (complex) contexts

3.4.  Show entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship

3.5.   Practice project, stakeholder, time and resource management

3.6.   Break down and model systems and select relevant approaches

4. Communicate

4.1.   Manifest/present yourself in a (semi)-professional setting

4.2.   Communicate within a team on team dynamics and (your) role 

4.3.   Make deliverables tangible in a refined, communicative way

4.4.   Communicate in a foreign language and/or in an international setting

5. Learn

5.1.   Reflect on your role in projects and your impact on society as an innovator

5.2   Develop and adapt learning strategies 

5.3   Transfer and integrate acquired knowledge and experience in projects