University of Twente Scholarship Scholar Lizeth Chávez from Mexico Shares Her Journey of Securing a Partially Funded Master's Degree at the University of Twente, Netherlands

I am Lizeth Chávez, born and raised in Mexico, where I lived with my big family: eight people under the same roof. So, I grew up surrounded by love, but also by financial and emotional challenges. Out of six adults in the house, only three provided for the entire family, because the others were dealing with serious long-term illnesses. My natural intelligence, curiosity, and drive pushed me toward engineering, but my family history (watching loved ones get sicker or pass away), along with my empathy, led me to the biomedical side of things. That’s why I decided to study biomedical engineering: I hope to one day use my creativity and talent to save lives, advance healthcare research, and improve the quality of life for patients with all kinds of diseases. After finishing my bachelor’s at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico (thanks to another scholarship), I became truly passionate about what we can create for healthcare by mixing biology and engineering. So, I decided to specialize in bioengineering technologies.

University of Twente Scholarship Details

Master's: University of Twente

Scholarship 1:

• University of Twente Scholarship
• 12,000 euros per year (max duration of 2 years)

Scholarship 2:

• Holland scholarship (now NL scholarship)
• 5,000 euros (one-time payment)

Scholarship 3:

• Tuition fee waiver
• 50% tuition fee waiver for the nominal duration of the study program

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

• BME Paris - Université Paris Cité and Arts et Métiers
• SMARTS-UP Excellence Scholarship
• 8,000 euros for the first year (unclear whether it can be extended to the 2^nd year as well)
• Bachelor’s: Tec de Monterrey

Scholarship 1:

• Beca al talento academico
• 70% tuition fee waiver for the whole duration of the study program

Scholarship 2:

• Beca socioeconomica
• Loan of 10% of the tuition fee price

Educational Background

I graduated with a bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering with a GPA of 95.6/100. During my bachelor's, I already took several courses in bioengineering technologies applied to healthcare, so the master's felt like a natural way to go deeper into areas I was already familiar with. Along the way, I received a few awards: top 1% GPAs in 2022, the LiFE award for my extracurricular work and leadership, and two top-3 finishes in hackathons (one national, one international) in the biomedical engineering field. I also did an exchange semester in Graz, Austria, at TU Graz, which really helped prepare me for living abroad.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Twente?

How Did You Find Information About University of Twente Scholarship and the University of Twente?

My goal was to do my master's at an institution that was at least as good as, or better than, where I did my bachelor's. So, I only considered universities ranked in the top 500 according to QS or THE rankings. Then I filtered those down to universities in northern, western, or central Europe. From there, I looked at their biomedical engineering programs and specific courses to make sure they would help me specialize in bioengineering technologies. Once I had a shortlist, I checked which scholarships each university offered directly on their websites, and I also investigated external scholarships available at the country level. After I had around five target universities and their scholarship options, I went deeper: carefully reviewing each program on their website and looking up professors on Google Scholar to prepare even further.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes, I took the TOEFL and GRE. I had already taken the TOEFL because it was required to graduate from my bachelor's. When I prepared for it, I focused mainly on speaking and writing, since those were my hardest areas. I used online resources, and my main advice is to take the exam as early as possible (well before applying) because you're allowed to retake it if needed.

The GRE was a different story. I also prepared with online resources, but this exam is highly demanding, and the truth is, most universities don't even require it. My recommendation? Avoid programs that ask for the GRE. It's very time-consuming and doesn't really boost your chances of getting scholarships.

As for the SAT: a few years ago, I took the Mexican version (the PAA) for my bachelor's scholarship. I scored 1570 out of 1600, which automatically gave me the highest scholarship. I highly recommend preparing thoroughly for the SAT, doing as many mock tests as possible, and keeping a high GPA during high school, especially if you're aiming for academic-based scholarships.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the University of Twente Scholarship?

• CV: I made sure to look up the specific expectations for each country: different places prefer different formats and lengths, so it's worth checking before you start.
• Cover letter: For me, this was the most important part of the whole application. I actually paid for an ebook with tips on how to write it, and I truly think it made all the difference.

How is Your Experience at the University of Twente?

The courses were very high-level, and the program overall was well-designed. The professors are extremely capable, so you can really learn a lot. The master's thesis you do there can be genuinely impactful; you might even get published.

That said, the internship length is too short, and there's no support for finding a placement. This turned into a nightmare for several of my peers. Some of them ended up wasting up to six months, or even a full year, delaying their studies because they either couldn't find anything, were only offered longer internships, or both.

How Do You Rate the University of Twente Academically?

10/10 very challenging

How Does the University of Twente Support International Students?

There are a few international student associations (LaVOZ for Latin American students, for example) that can help you feel more integrated into the community. The institution also supports international students at the start of the year with things like registering at the municipality. Plus, they help you find housing for the first year if you're coming from abroad.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Dutch?

English, and they also offer courses to learn Dutch

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Dutch?

No

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I had a long-term plan for where I wanted to go after my master's, and I could clearly show how I had been working toward that goal for years. The missing piece was the master's; it was really necessary for my career. Universities need to know that you're fully committed, so having a well-thought-out future plan and being able to explain how their program fits into it really helps convince them that you're serious and that investing in you is worth it.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Have some additional backup plans that you can apply to while waiting for the results of your main applications. For example, apply to your top-choice programs first, and then to the others, just make sure their deadlines are later.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I highly recommend paying for a course, mentoring program, or online resource that helps you tell your story in the most attractive and compelling way possible. Also, when writing your cover letter and going through interviews, make sure to be very explicit about how the program you're interested in will help your future career, how it connects to your life experiences, and why you need to do it at that specific location. Don't spend too much time explaining your financial situation