Tilburg University
Universiteit van Tilburg
A specialised Dutch university for economics, business, law and social sciences on a green campus by a forest.
- Students
- 19,168
- Tuition
- €13,400
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1927
- QS World Ranking
- #429
- 2027 edition
About Tilburg
Tilburg University was founded in 1927 as the Roman Catholic University of Commerce and still describes itself as a specialised university: it focuses on economics, business, law, social and behavioural sciences, humanities and digital sciences, and theology rather than medicine or engineering. It had 19,168 students in 2024 and more than 97,000 alumni, and about 38% of students in its English-taught programmes are international, from more than 120 nationalities.
Teaching is organised in five schools: the Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Tilburg Law School, the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences and the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology. Bachelor's degrees last three years and many are taught in English, including Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, International Business Administration, Global Law, Psychology and Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Tilburg's strength is its social-science subjects: THE 2026 puts it 35th in the world for Law and 47th for Business and Economics. Admission to most programmes is based on meeting the diploma, English and mathematics requirements, with rolling decisions, while Psychology is a numerus fixus programme with a selection procedure. It suits students who want a focused, rigorous business, economics or law education on a compact campus in an affordable Dutch city.
Why students choose Tilburg
THE 2026 subject rankings place Tilburg 35th in the world for Law and 47th for Business and Economics.
Quantitative degrees such as Econometrics and Operations Research and Economics are taught entirely in English, with a clear published mathematics requirement.
Most bachelor's programmes use rolling admission, with a decision within four to six weeks of a complete application.
Living costs are estimated at €1,000 to €1,200 a month, lower than in Amsterdam or Utrecht.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (academic year 2027-28)
Selectivity
Tilburg does not publish an acceptance rate. Most bachelor's programmes admit every applicant who meets the diploma, English and (where required) mathematics requirements. Psychology is a numerus fixus programme with 700 places (250 in the English-taught track), allocated by a selection procedure.
Typical entry requirements
| Diploma | A secondary school diploma equal to the Dutch vwo; country-specific lists are published on the diploma requirements pages |
|---|---|
| A-levels | At least 3 accepted A-levels in general academic subjects at A*-C, plus 3 GCSEs at A*-C or 4-9 (six different subjects in total); mathematics conditions apply for some programmes |
| IB Diploma | Accepted; mathematics courses (Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation, SL or HL) must be shown for programmes with a mathematics requirement; predicted IB grades are not used |
| Mathematics | Required for Economics, Econometrics, International Business Administration, Cognitive Science and AI and others, e.g. six hours a week of mathematics in the last four years plus an OMPT A test |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 IELTS Academic 6.0 with at least 5.5 in Writing and Speaking (IELTS Online not accepted). TOEFL iBT 80 with Writing 19 and Speaking 17 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 with Writing and Speaking 4 on the new scale. Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with 173 overall and 160 in Writing and Speaking. Data Science has different requirements. |
Deadlines
- Psychology (numerus fixus) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027, 23:59 CET
Studielink registration deadline, regardless of nationality; the OSIRIS Aanmeld application is due by 31 January 2027. Online knowledge test and motivation assignment in March 2027; ranking numbers on 15 April 2027.
- General deadline, non-EEA nationals Non-binding In ~6 months1 April 2027, 23:59 CET
Also applies to non-EEA nationals with a residence permit from another EEA country.
- General deadline, EEA nationals Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027, 23:59 CET
Extended deadlines: Data Science and Digital Culture and Society 1 May for all; Liberal Arts and Sciences 1 May (non-EEA) and 15 June (EEA).
All bachelor's programmes start once a year in late August. Apart from Psychology, applications are assessed on a rolling basis, so applying early shortens processing time but does not improve your chances. The general deadlines are listed without a year on the admissions page; the Psychology dates are those published for 2027-28.
How to apply
Register for the programme in Studielink (opens 1 October 2026), then complete the application in OSIRIS Aanmeld: upload passport, diploma or statement of your school, official grade lists, English test results and any programme-specific documents, and pay a one-time €100 application fee for non-Dutch diplomas. Decisions arrive within four to six weeks.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary diploma at the level of the Dutch vwo, with official grade lists issued by your school.
- Sufficient mathematics for quantitative programmes, proved through your school subjects or an online mathematics placement test.
- English test scores obtained before you apply, at the published minimum including Writing and Speaking subscores.
- For Psychology, the ranking combines your average high school grade (40%) and an online knowledge test (60%), plus a motivation assignment.
Tips for applying to Tilburg
- 1 Take your English test early: you cannot submit the application without the results, and Tilburg does not combine scores from different test dates.
- 2 Check the mathematics requirement for your programme on the mathematics requirements page before applying; it is the most common reason applicants are not directly admissible.
- 3 If you apply for Psychology, register in Studielink by 15 January 2027 and prepare for the knowledge test in March.
- 4 Non-EEA applicants have an earlier deadline (1 April) than EEA applicants (1 May), and visa and housing take time, so apply well before it.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in EUR
Tilburg does not offer scholarships specifically for bachelor's programmes, because bachelor's tuition is subsidised through the statutory fee. Refugees and asylum seekers may be eligible for support from the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).
- None offered
- Bachelor's scholarships from Tilburg
- €100, one-time
- Application fee (non-Dutch diplomas)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters: Fall (late August to early January) and Spring (late January to late June)
Econometrics and Operations Research (BSc)
A quantitative, English-taught degree with a mathematics admission requirement; alumnus Ralph Hamers, later CEO of ING and UBS, studied business econometrics at Tilburg.
Economics (BSc)
English-taught, with a mathematics requirement, in a school ranked 47th in the world for Business and Economics by THE 2026.
Global Law (LLB)
A three-year English-taught law degree from a law school ranked 35th in the world by THE 2026.
Psychology (BSc)
Numerus fixus programme with 250 English-track places and a selection test; Tilburg is 66th in the world for Psychology in the QS subject rankings 2026.
Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (BSc)
An English-taught programme combining cognitive science and AI, offered by the School of Humanities and Digital Sciences.
University College Tilburg: Liberal Arts and Sciences
A broad liberal arts bachelor's across the humanities, social sciences and cognitive sciences, leading to a BA or BSc.
Research
- The Center for Economic Research (CentER) trained economists such as Uri Gneezy, who earned his MA and PhD there.
- The university ranks in subject areas including Accounting and Finance, Economics and Econometrics, and Law and Public Governance.
Schools & faculties
- Tilburg School of Economics and Management
- Tilburg Law School
- Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences
- Tilburg School of Catholic Theology
Student life
Tilburg's campus is compact and green, on the edge of a park-like forest, with teaching buildings, the library, a sports center and cafes all within walking distance. Students can spend a semester abroad at more than 200 partner universities. The city of Tilburg has a café and restaurant culture, pop and classical music venues and contemporary art, and students join study and student associations to build a social life. About 38% of students in English-taught programmes are international.
- A green campus next to a forest with all facilities within walking distance.
- More than 200 partner universities for a semester abroad.
- Students from more than 120 nationalities.
- A university sports center on campus (membership about 215 euros a year).
Housing. The university's Housing Office offers reserved accommodation and guidance for finding a room on the private market; furnished rooms start at about 600 euros a month.
Location
Tilburg is a city in the southern Dutch province of North Brabant. The university notes that life there is relatively inexpensive compared with Amsterdam and Utrecht, with living costs of about 1,000 to 1,200 euros a month. The campus sits on the city's edge next to a forest, and the city has a lively café, music and arts scene.
Nearest airport: Eindhoven Airport (EIN)
Notable alumni
- RH Ralph HamersCEO of ING Group and later UBS; MS in business econometrics and operations research
- JV Jacques van den BroekCEO of Randstad; law degree from Tilburg
- UG Uri GneezyBehavioural economist known for field experiments on incentives; MA and PhD from Tilburg's CentER
- KD Klaas DijkhoffDutch politician and former minister; LLM, MPhil and PhD in law from Tilburg
- NS Norbert SchmelzerDutch Minister of Foreign Affairs 1971-1973; studied economics at the Tilburg Catholic Economic University
- GM Guus MeeuwisSinger-songwriter; studied law in Tilburg
- JG Jackie GroenenDutch international footballer who studied for a law degree at Tilburg while playing for Chelsea
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tilburg University application deadline for 2027?
For most bachelor's programmes it is 1 April 2027 for non-EEA nationals and 1 May 2027 for EEA nationals. Psychology has an early Studielink deadline of 15 January 2027 because of its selection procedure.
How much are Tilburg tuition fees for international students?
EU/EEA students pay the Dutch statutory fee, 2,771 euros for 2027-28. Non-EEA students pay an institutional fee: for students who started in 2026-27 it was 13,400 euros for most bachelor's programmes and 16,100 euros for Liberal Arts and Sciences and Cognitive Science and AI; 2027-28 starter rates were not yet published.
What IELTS score does Tilburg University require?
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in Writing and Speaking, or TOEFL iBT 80 (Writing 19, Speaking 17) on the old scale. Test results must be no older than two years and available when you apply.
Is Tilburg University hard to get into?
Most programmes admit applicants who meet the diploma, English and mathematics requirements, with rolling decisions. Psychology is selective: 700 places in total, 250 in the English track, ranked on high school grades and a knowledge test.
Does Tilburg offer scholarships for bachelor's students?
No. Tilburg says it does not offer scholarships specifically for bachelor's programmes; refugees and asylum seekers may get support from the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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