Study at Tilburg University

Information for international students

2011/2012

Feel at home at Tilburg University

Studying at Tilburg University means studying at a world-class university

on a lively campus in the vibrant city of Tilburg. Our university takes the

lead in international rankings and is well-known for its research into

people and society. We have also been voted best specialist university of

The Netherlands in the field of education.

Studying at Tilburg also means ‘Understanding Society’: each day our

schools apply their advanced knowledge to the most pressing issues

facing the global community today. You can join this international and

multicultural community of academics, students and support staff from

the moment you arrive at Tilburg University.

You will soon feel at home at our university, where you will be challenged

by our excellent English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s and Research

Master’s programmes. Living and learning in one of the most

internationally oriented countries of Europe also guarantees an

international and culturally diverse student life that starts right away.

I wish you the best of luck in deciding which of our excellent

programmes fits your interests best and I hope to welcome you to our

campus in the next academic year.

Prof. dr. Philip EijlanderRector Magnificus

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Tilburg UniversityI: www.tilburguniversity.nl

E: information@tilburguniversity.nl

T: +31 (0)13 466 9111

Study at Tilburg University

Table of contents

Welcome to Tilburg University 05

The Netherlands and Tilburg 08

World-class English-taught programmes 10

Application & financial matters 14

Student life at Tilburg University 16

Student services 18

Partner institutions 21

More information & contact 22

www.tilburguniversity.nl/rankings06 07

One of the best universities in Europe, and you can join usAt Tilburg University, you can be sure that you are studying at one of

Europe’s most respected institutions. Tilburg University regularly takes

the leading position in international rankings and is known for its inter-

national orientation – students from more than 65 countries study at

our university – and its high-profile and innovative degree programmes.

Our mission is to inspire and challenge students, which is why you will

find the highest standards in teaching, scientific research and in our

campus facilities.

Tilburg University awards approximately 1,750 Bachelor’s degrees, 1,700

Master’s degrees and 60 PhD degrees each year, while 1,600 staff mem-

bers teach and support over 12,000 students within six schools.

Our six schools are:

Tilburg School of Economics and Management

Tilburg School of Humanities

Tilburg School of Theology

Tilburg Law School

Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

TiasNimbas Business School

Tilburg is consistently benchmarked for the excellence of its Bachelor’s

and Master’s programmes. National assessments and international

reviews also prove that we achieve good scores in our research which

is firmly anchored in the fields of economics, law, humanities, social

sciences and theology. As our reputation grows, so will the strength of

your Tilburg degree in the eyes of future employers worldwide.

Recent rankings of Tilburg University:

Best specialist university in the Netherlands - latest national ranking •

by Elsevier’s Higher Education Review, 2009.

European Top 10 Academic Ranking of the World Universities •

(Shanghai-ranking) in the field of Social Sciences, 2009.

No. 1 in Europe for Economics research - latest European Economic •

Association ranking.

No. 3 in Europe for Business Research - latest ranking by School of •

Management, University of Texas at Dallas, 2009.

No. 1 in Europe for Law - latest Social Science Research Network •

ranking, 2009.

No. 15 in the world for the International Executive MBA - latest •

ranking by the Financial Times, 2009.

For more information on rankings and accreditations of Tilburg

University, please visit our website.

Welcome to Tilburg University

908 09

Understanding Society - a broader approach to learning At Tilburg University, we do our best to contribute to the development

of a better, fairer and more sustainable society. In our educational

programmes, important societal and global issues are the backdrop

to learning, from ageing, individualisation and religious differences to

climate change and poverty. At Tilburg University, you will gain a clear

awareness of our globalizing world and you will be able to understand

how your future decisions will impact society.

However, if knowledge is only accessible to a select few, it is meaningless.

Therefore, our schools and research institutes do not only generate new

knowledge, but actively share this knowledge. They are widely cited by

international media, such as the Financial Times, The Economist, The

New York Times and Nature, influencing public opinion and adding to

public knowledge. Additionally, by combining our roles of research and

teaching with seats on national and international advisory bodies,

Tilburg’s researchers influence decision-makers and generate insights

that are put to use in companies, today. Tilburg’s own Supervisory

Board is led by the famous former Prime Minister, Mr. Ruud Lubbers.

Tilburg as a gateway to Europe, and a gateway to your future career With its central location, the Netherlands is said to be the ‘gateway to

Europe’. An extensive public transportation system, the world’s second

largest harbour, and several international airports make travelling within

the Netherlands or to major European capitals like London, Paris and

Berlin very easy.

And in Tilburg, you are right where it all happens: between the seat of

the European parliament in Brussels and the centre of European public

law in The Hague; close to Europe’s major financial centres in London

and Frankfurt; and surrounded by successful local and multinational

enterprises cooperating in learning and opening doors to your future

career.

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An ideal location for living and learningThe Netherlands is an excellent place for your international study

experience: it offers the highest quality education at a location where

you can still fit in and feel at home.

Of all the non-English speaking countries in Europe, the Netherlands

provides the largest number of degree programmes in English.

In addition, more than 160 nationalities co-reside in the Netherlands,

making it one of the most multicultural countries in Europe. Different

lifestyles, cultures, and languages are part and parcel of life in this country.

With English more widely spoken here than anywhere else in Europe,

getting around and meeting people is easy. And so is travelling within

and outside of the Netherlands.

Rachel Liong from Indonesia - Travelling the Netherlands

“Convenient! That’s the word that expresses travelling in the Netherlands. Within Dutch cities, buses, trams and/or metro will take you

to every corner of the city. If you are bored staying in one city and want to explore the country and learn more about Dutch culture, you

can travel by train which will take you less than 2 hours from Tilburg to other big cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or The Hague.

Eindhoven Airport is about 30 minutes away, from where you can fly to other European countries on low cost flights.”

The Netherlands and Tilburg

The Netherlands - a booming economyToday, the Netherlands is one of Europe’s most competitive economies

- progressive in outlook, ultra-modern and with companies like Philips,

Shell, Unilever and DSM all based here, a booming country. With advanced

industries, agriculture and a prominent role in world trade, it is among

the world’s most prosperous countries. In addition, the Netherlands

has a highly developed system of social welfare which ensures that

everyone shares in its prosperity.

Tilburg - a sparkling university town with a business heartLarge enough to find plenty to do, but still small enough to run into

people you know; it is easy to see why so many international and Dutch

students choose Tilburg for their degree.

Situated just ten kilometres from the Belgian border, Tilburg is a sparkling

university town with no less than 30,000 students living and studying

here. It’s located in one of the fastest growing economic regions in the

Netherlands, with over 7,600 companies based or headquartered in the

region, including multinationals like Fuji, Sony, Coca Cola, IFF and Iris

Ohyama.

As the sixth largest city in the Netherlands, with a population of 200,000

inhabitants, Tilburg is a vibrant town with a young, cosmopolitan and

cultural heart. You’ll never be at a loss for things to do, with one hundred

cafes, a soccer stadium, galleries, museums, concert halls and cinemas,

and a huge line up of festivals all year long – from the Festival Mundial

(world music) and City Sounds (Free Dance Festival), to the Tilburg Wine

City and the Festipet Street Theatre. Surrounded on all sides by woods

and scenic areas, Tilburg is a very ‘green’ city, which has recently been

awarded the most environmentally sustainable city in the Netherlands.

Alba Liko from Albania – The Dutch

“Dutch culture is modern but preserves a lot of traditions developed since the Golden Age of the 17th century. The Dutch are proud of

that period which you can tell by the architecture of the houses in Amsterdam. Painting is also remarkable. I mean, painters like Rembrandt

and Van Gogh are world-famous. I prefer the colours of Van Gogh and I discovered the master of light, Vermeer, of whom I had never

heard before.”

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World-class English-taught programmes

Bachelor’s programmes Economics and ManagementBSc Econometrics and Operations Research

BSc Economics

BSc International Business Administration

HumanitiesBA Liberal Arts and Sciences

Master’s and Research Master’s programmesEconomics and ManagementMSc Accounting

MSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics

MSc Economics

MSc Economics and Finance of Ageing

MSc Finance

MSc Information Management

MSc International Management

MSc Marketing Management

MSc Marketing Research

MSc Operations Research and Management Science

MSc Quantitative Finance and Actuarial Science

MSc Strategic Management

MSc Supply Chain Management

MSc Research Master in Business

MSc Research Master in Economics

MSc International Master in Management of Information Technology

(IMMIT) - Dual Degree programme with France & Finland

MSc International Master in Service Engineering (IMSE) - Dual Degree

programme with Germany & Greece

HumanitiesMA Communication and Information Sciences

MA Research Master in Language and Communication

MA Research Master in Philosophy

MA Research Master in Theology

Theology MA Christianity and Society

LawLLM Research Master in Law

LLM Law and Technology

LLM International Business Law

LLM International and European Public Law

LLM International and European Labour Law

Advanced LLM European and International Taxation

Social and Behavioural SciencesMSc Organisation Studies

MSc Human Resource Studies

MSc Leisure Studies

MSc Sociology

MSc Social Psychology - Track Social Psychology

MSc Social Psychology - Track Economic Psychology

MSc Social Psychology - Track Work and Organisational Psychology

MSc Research Master in Social and Behavioural Sciences

TiasNimbas Business School (executive programmes)

International Full-time MBA•

Part-time MBA (Bonn, Tilburg, Utrecht)•

International Executive MBA (IMM)•

Full Time International MSc in Business Administration •

Part Time International MSc in Business Administration •

Doctor of Business Administration•

Visit www.tiasnimbas.edu for more information.

PhD positionsWhen you study for a PhD in the Netherlands, you are usually employed

on a full-time basis at the institution where you are conducting your

research.

For an overview of all current PhD vacancies in the Netherlands,

including those at Tilburg University, please visit:

www.academictransfer.org

For an overview of PhD positions in the field of Economics and

Management, please visit:

http://center.uvt.nl

Tilburg University programmes are accredited by:

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Free Mover studentsAs a Free Mover Student, you can enrol for certificate programmes

without following a full degree programme. Free Mover students are

international (non-Dutch) students who are temporarily registered

(one or two semesters) at Tilburg University for a certificate programme

(without their enrolment being subject to an exchange agreement with

a partner institution).

Specific courses are assigned to each certificate programme and in

most programmes you still have some freedom as to which courses you

would like to follow. You are awarded a certificate after completing the

courses required.

For more detailed information please visit:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/freemovers

Tilburg University Summer School While many universities are winding down for the summer hiatus,

Tilburg University students are gearing up for a summer to remember.

Tilburg University Summer School offers several courses including

Dutch Language Courses (Dutch for German students and Dutch for

Erasmus Students), English for Academic Purposes, an International

Entrepreneurship course and Philosophy.

And that’s only part of what’s on offer. The summer school’s social

programme will have you living it up for a full month. It includes weekly

movie nights, fitness nights, excursions to the local brewery, a rowing

clinic, concerts in the park, a BBQ and nights out on the town.

For more information please visit:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/summerschool

Gabriel Jose Angulo Linero from Columbia - Placement Officer at Colfuturo

The added value of studying at Tilburg University

“Attending Tilburg has been decisive in terms of my career.

My Master’s programme International and European Public Law has

given me the tools to contribute to my country’s development. I really

liked the fact that this programme did not only focus on legal decisions,

but also on practical actions regarding the protection of human rights.

The elective courses that I followed are clearly applicable to my country,

such as the International and National Protection of Minorities, Human

Rights, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity. My research experience

at Tilburg was also great. Before attending, I really wanted to write my

thesis about education as a human right. At Tilburg, I found the perfect

supervisor to research and write about the position of human rights in

Columbia, and more specifically the right to education of the Columbian

people.”

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Application & financial matters

ApplicationAre you ready to take the next step? Choosing to study at a foreign

university is a major decision - and one that will inevitably shape the

direction of your future career and life. If you’re ready to take that next

step, we encourage you to apply now.

All applications need to be sent directly to Tilburg University by the

allotted deadline of your particular programme. More detailed information

about application and admission is available in the brochure of your

preferred programme. A complete overview of all admission requirements,

procedures, deadlines for specific programmes, as well as our online

application forms, can also be found on our website:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/bachelors/admissionprocedure/forms or

www.tilburguniversity.nl/masters/admissionprocedure/forms

Financial mattersTuition feesThe most up-to-date information on tuition fees for the academic

year 2011/2012 is available on our website, where you will also find

the Tuition Fee Wizard, a quick wizard that tells you exactly which fee

applies to you. Please visit:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/tuitionfees

To give you a general idea of our tuition fees, below are the costs for a

full academic year programme in 2010/2011.

EU/EEA Non-EU/EEA

Bachelor’s programmes € 1,672* € 6,450*

Master’s programmes € 1,672* € 10,506*

One semester Full academic year

Free Mover students € 4,356* € 8,712*

* For some programmes the tuition fees might deviate.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date tuition fees.

Scholarships for excellent studentsWe offer scholarships for excellent international students who are

qualified for a Master’s programme at Tilburg University (MA, MSc, LLM).

A scholarship consists of a partial tuition fee waiver (for non-EEA students

only) and € 5,000 for living expenses.

More information on scholarships can be found at:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/tuspFor detailed information on other scholarship possibilities, please visit:

www.grantfinder.nl

Cost of livingLiving in Tilburg is great fun - and great value for your money, with the

cost of living relatively inexpensive compared to other Dutch university

cities including Amsterdam and Utrecht. You are looking at approximately

€ 800 per month, or € 9,600 per year.

Below you will find a general overview of your estimated costs per

month during your stay in Tilburg.

Accommodation € 350 - € 450

Food € 300

Books and readers € 75

Health, liability and travel insurance* € 45

Total € 720 - € 870

* Insurance premiums vary depending on your personal situation.

Examples of other things you might need are a bicycle and lock (€125),

and a sports card (€ 91). Estimated costs will of course vary per person

depending on your lifestyle. Please note that these figures are subject to

change and your tuition fees have not been included in this overview.

A job next to your studiesMost international students in the Netherlands are allowed to have a

part-time job next to their studies. How successful students are in

finding a job in the Netherlands depends on a variety of factors, like

your nationality and the languages you speak. In general, EU students

do not need a work permit for a part-time job (with still some exceptions

to this rule). Additionally, with a contract based on at least 8 hours per

week, EU students will receive a grant and a free public transport card

from the Dutch government. Non-EU students are only allowed to work

a maximum of 8 hours a week and always need a work permit.

Please notice that the university does not assist in finding a job and that

the number of jobs open to non-Dutch speaking students is limited.

For more information, please go to www.ib-groep.nl, and click

‘International visitors’.

www.tilburguniversity.nl/studentlife 1918

Giselle López Martel from Venezuela - Student Life in the Netherlands

“Student life is the Netherlands is very diverse. There are a wide number of student associations in and around the

University that range from sports or leisure to actual academic associations. I myself have been involved in organizing

guest lectures from top economists, symposia, trips to the European Commission, and even introduction events at

the University. The type of experience you gain from being a student here is exceptional. And besides these more

formal, university-related affairs, life in the city of Tilburg is entertaining as well. It is a town of 200,000 people,

but don’t be fooled because it is full of life! There are student parties or activities almost every day, as well as

large festivals, concerts, and markets.”

From your first day until your last, your time at Tilburg University is sure

to be memorable. With its picturesque grounds and compact layout,

Tilburg University is an exceptionally welcoming university.

Your studies are just one part of life in Tilburg. The rest of your time,

you might be found recruiting a high-profile UN leader for a conference,

training for a rowing competition, attending a networking event, or

socialising with friends at cafés or bars in town or on campus – life is

full as a Tilburg University student.

Student clubs and associationsA huge range of student associations at Tilburg cater to every interest.

These clubs offer you the chance to develop your leadership or team-

work skills, to socialise or network, to gain invaluable professional

experiences or just to make new friends who share similar interests.

Paired with each individual school or programme are also study-related

associations, which give you the chance to gain specific pre-professional

experiences in your future career field.

Sports Tilburg University’s world-class Sports Centre offers you the opportunity

to participate in sports together with your fellow students. Ranked by

students as the best sports centre in the Netherlands, Tilburg Univer-

sity’s Sports Centre is open daily and located a short walk from campus.

It offers a range of indoor and outdoor sports. Think everything from

aerobics, darts, diving, pilates, and spinning classes to squash, steps,

surfing, tennis, thai chi and yoga.

Your first weeks on campusYou won’t be at a loss for things to do during your first few weeks

in Tilburg. With a host of different student-organised events and intro-

ductory weeks, you will quickly seal new friendships, and discover that

Tilburg is about much more than studying.

Welcome Week Life at Tilburg University starts off with a bang. With a whirlwind of

introductory activities, information sessions and social events, our

Welcome Week ensures that you quickly assimilate to life at the

university and Tilburg.

The welcome week includes:

A pick-up service from Tilburg’s central train station, so we can •

personally welcome you.

Getting acquainted with your academic advisors and programme •

coordinator.

Meeting your buddy, someone you can depend on to show you the ropes.•

Information about your class schedules and the ICT facilities. •

A guided tour of the campus and the sights of Tilburg.•

Sorting out your administrative affairs.•

An official welcome by the mayor of Tilburg.•

Buying your bicycle – an essential part of life in the Netherlands.•

Loads of activities and events that will quickly acquaint you with your •

fellow students.

Student life at Tilburg University

www.tilburguniversity.nl/masters/servicesandfacilities20

Student services

At Tilburg University, it’s part of our job to make your integration into

university life as easy and stress-free as possible. Here’s an idea of what

you can depend on in terms of our service level.

IT facilitiesTilburg University campus is fitted with the latest IT facilities. There are

three internet cafes, and you can use any one of the 1,000 flat-screen

computers located in various buildings on campus. A wireless network

allows you to connect to the internet via your laptop from virtually

anywhere and even when you’re off-campus, you can access various

services including the library database or your web-based ‘e-lectures’.

In our Montesquieu Learning Centre, modern IT facilities are available

in an open space which has been especially designed to support group

work for students and lecturers.

Guaranteed accommodationYou have a guaranteed place to stay in Tilburg from the day you arrive

thanks to our cooperation with local housing agencies.

Mostly, you can expect to be situated right near the university,

or in the historic city centre. You’ll have your own room, completely

furnished, and will share a kitchen, lounge and bathroom with your

fellow students.

Immigration requirementsClueless about how to go about organising your immigration

requirements? You needn’t be. We are experienced in helping our

international students meet their immigration requirements: research

among thousands of students shows we offer the best immigration

service in the Netherlands. Starting from the moment your application

is accepted, our staff at the International Office will provide you with

more detailed information relating to your circumstances.

Library The University Library at Tilburg University is a truly state-of-the-art

facility – even more so after this year’s renovation. No less than one

thousand study spaces are available, 500 with flat-screen computers.

Students and staff have digital access on and off campus to over 11,000

electronic journals and 125 databases. There is an inter-library loans

service, a learning forum for group work, a learning resource centre,

and a Learning Centre.

Language CentreThe Tilburg University Language Centre offers regular semester courses

to students who want to improve their skills in Chinese, Dutch, English,

French, German, Spanish or Italian. So-called ‘Language Vouchers’ give

you the possibility to attend two (6 ECTS) language courses for free at

the Language Centre. Additional tools for self study are also available

to anyone who wants to work independently on improving their

language skills.

Robert Janssen from Germany - Tilburg University’s IT facilities

“Tilburg University is always up-to-date with and constantly improving its IT facilities to make the study environment as

convenient as possible. In every building you can find computers or computer space to connect with your laptop to the

Internet. Most convenient on campus is the VPN (Virtual Private Network), which gives me the possibility to access the

Internet wirelessly everywhere I go. In the summer it makes studying far more enjoyable to sit outside and combine the

necessary with the enjoyable.”

Supporting your future careerAt Tilburg University, we act as your gateway into the professional world,

starting from what you learn during your programme to actually securing

that first job. We offer courses and workshops in all kinds of vocationally-

oriented areas, giving you the knowledge of different industries and

professions that can really help you make the right choice when preparing

for your career. This preparation also helps secure you a job, because

employers know they can depend on Tilburg graduates to hit the ground

running - whether it’s in the Netherlands, or abroad.

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Tilburg University wishes to attract scholars from all over the world

and has partnerships with institutions in about 40 countries.

This includes good relationships with South East Asia (India, China,

Japan), the United States of America, Canada, Australia, South Africa,

and of course Europe.

Tilburg University has established institutional agreements with a

number of selected top universities worldwide to facilitate long-term

academic cooperation and to increase the international exposure of the

university. These bilateral agreements contain various initiatives, such

as student exchange programmes and other forms to study abroad,

staff mobility and the development of dual degree programmes.

For more information, please visit:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/partnerinstitutions

Partner institutions

Lingxiao Qu from China

Why did you choose Tilburg University?

“I did a Bachelor’s programme in Economics. My master was Investment Analysis. The reason why I came to the Netherlands

in 2002 was because Tilburg University has a very good reputation in China. I got the chance to be interviewed by people from

the university in Beijing and was offered a Dutch Government scholarship. I have always been good at mathematics and I’m

interested in the economy of Europe. With so many well-known multinational corporations, the Netherlands is definitely an

interesting country to study. Plus, it is very convenient to travel to other parts of Europe from here.”

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25024 www.tilburguniversity.nl 24

More information & contact

More informationWould you like more information about studying at Tilburg University?

Do you want to sign up for our international newsletter that keeps you

posted on our international activities, and would you like to meet us in

your city, please go to:

www.tilburguniversity.nl/bachelors/contact if you’re interested in a Bachelor’s programme or

www.tilburguniversity.nl/masters/contact if you’re interested in a Master’s or Research Master’s programme.

Visit us on campusYou can also visit us on campus. Get a taste of life and learning at

Tilburg University during an Open Day for prospective Bachelor’s

and Master’s students. You will find comprehensive information on all

English-taught programmes, and get a tour of the campus grounds,

facilities, and the sports centre.

Open Days for Bachelor’s students: October 2010 and April 2011

www.tilburguniversity.nl/bachelors/openday

Open Days for Master’s students: November 2010 and May 2011

www.tilburguniversity.nl/masters/openday

The exact dates will be published on our website.

ContactTilburg University

Visiting address: Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands

Telephone: +31 13 466 91 11

Fax: +31 13 466 29 21

E-mail: information@tilburguniversity.nl

Website: www.tilburguniversity.nl

Check our website or the brochure of your preferred programme for

more specific contact details.

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Tilburg

Tilburg UniversityAddress PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands

Telephone +31 13 466 35 80

Fax +31 13 466 28 92

E-mail admissionshumanities@uvt.nl

Skype IRO.humanities

www.tilburguniversity.nl