Application and Admission for international students
General admission requirements for those who possess a foreign diplomaAll Bachelor's and Master's programmes offered by Tilburg University are accessible to students who have received their preparatory training abroad. The level of the foreign preparatory training programme must at least be comparable with the level of Dutch pre-university education (VWO). For all programmes knowledge of the instruction language is indispensable and for a number of the programmes a good working knowledge of mathematics is also required.
Tilburg University assesses the level of the foreign preparatory training. Since this assessment takes time, a request to be admitted must be made well in advance. Most study programmes are offered in Dutch, which is why knowledge of the Dutch language is an entrance requirement.
For all study programmes, knowledge of the English language is indispensable. This goes especially for the English-language undergraduate and graduate programmes. For these programmes, (stricter) requirements apply as regards students' competence in English.
Bachelor's admission
To be admitted to one of the undergraduate programmes, the prospective student must have received preparatory training equivalent to a Dutch pre-university diploma.
Below, there is a list of diplomas on the basis of which students are in principle admitted. For the programmes of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, the student's list of marks is checked to ascertain whether his/her knowledge of English and mathematics is sufficient. If this is not the case, admission can be refused.
| Country | Entry standard required |
| The Netherlands | VWO (pre-university) diploma |
| International schools | European Baccalaureate International Baccalaureate |
| Albania | Dëftesë Pjekurie |
| Australia | High School diploma and at least 1 year academic education |
| Austria | Reifeprüfungszeugnis |
| Belgium | Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs / Diplome de l'Énseignement Secondaire Superieur |
| Bulgaria | Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie (DZSO) + a class grade point average ≥ 5 |
| Canada | High School Diploma + at least 1 year academic education* |
| Chile | Licencia de Enseñanza Media and at least 1 year academic education |
| China | Gaozhong and at least 1 year academic education |
| Czech Republic | Gymnazion, Maturita |
| Denmark | Bevis for Studentereksamen or Brevis for Høgere Forberedelseksamen |
| Estonia | Gümnasiumi Loputunnistus |
| Finland | Ylioppilastutkintotodistus or Studentexamensbetyg |
| France | Baccalauréat de l'Enseignement du Second Degré or Baccalauréate Général/Technique |
| Germany | Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife |
| Greece | Apolytirio Eniaiou Lykeiou |
| Hungary | Gymnáziumi errettségi bizonyítvany |
| Iceland | Studentprof |
| Indonesia | SMA and 1 or 2 years academic education * |
| Iran | High School and at least 2 years academic education |
| Iraq | Baccalaureat and at least 2 years academic education |
| Ireland | Leaving Certificate (after 13 years of school) with 5 subjects and at least 3 Higher Levels |
| Israel | Te'udat Bagrut |
| Italy | Diploma di Maturità or Diploma di Superamento dell'Esame di Stato Conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruziona Secondario Superiore |
| Japan | High School diploma and at least 2 years academic education |
| Jordan | Certificate of General Secondary Educaction and at least one year academic education |
| Latvia | Atestats par Visparejo Videjo Izglitibu |
| Lithuania | Brandos Atestatos |
| Luxembourg | Diplome de fin d'études secondaires |
| Malta | Matriculation Certificate with at least 3 A-levels |
| Morocco | Baccalaureat de l'Enseignement Secondaire + at least 1 year academic education |
| New Zealand | High School diploma and at least 1 year academic education |
| Norway | Vitnemål fra den vidergåonde skolen/Vitnemål fra den vidergåonde opplaering* |
| Poland | Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Liceum Ogolnoksztalcacego / Maturity Certificate from General Secondary School |
| Portugal | Diploma do ensino secundario |
| Romania | High school diploma plus one year academic education |
| Rusia | Secondary (complete) general education [Attestat o Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii/Attestat Zrelosti] and at least 1 year academic education |
| Slovakia | Vysvedcenie o maturitnej skúske/Maturitné Vyvsedcenie |
| Slovenia | Gimnazija |
| South-Korea | High School and at least 1 year academic education |
| Spain | Titulo de Bachiller + Prueba de Selectividad |
| Suriname | VWO diploma |
| Sweden | Avgangsbetyg or Slutbetug* |
| Switzerland | Maturitätszeugnis/Certificat de Maturité/Attesto di Maturità |
| Thailand | Certificate of Secondary Education ("Matayom 6") and at least 1 year academic education * |
| Turkey | Lise diplomasi and Öss Sonuç Belgesi (admission to a programme at a recognised university in Turkey) or the Yuksekogretime Gecis Sinavi (Higher Education Examination, YGS) and the Lisans Yerlestirme Sinavi (Undergraduate Placement Examination, LYS) |
| United Kingdom | General Certificate of Secondary Education in 3 subjects with marks ranging from A*-C, plus a General Certificate of Education with 3 subjects at advanced level A-D (six different subjects in total) |
| United States of America | High School and at least 1 or 2 years academic education* |
| Vietnam | Certificate of secondary school graduation ("Bang Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc") + 1 year university studying subjects relevant to the selected programme |
* The exact value of your diploma may also depend on such factors as the institution from which it was obtained or the contents of your study programme.
Below, there are a number of countries whose pre-university education programmes do not qualify students for entrance. It is specified which supplementary courses are necessary for admission. For these diplomas, too, the university will check whether the student's knowledge of English and mathematics is sufficient.
| Country | Entry standard required * |
| Australia | High School diploma and at least 1 year academic education |
| Canada | European Baccalaureate International Baccalaureate |
| China | Gaozhong and at least 1 year academic education |
| Indonesia | SMA and 1 or 2 years academic education * |
| Iraq | Baccalaureat and at least 2 years academic education |
| Iran | High School and at least 2 years academic education |
| Japan | High School diploma and at least 2 years academic education |
| New Zealand | High School diploma and at least 1 year academic education |
| South-Korea | High School and at least 1 year academic education |
| Thailand | Certificate of Secondary Education ("Matayom 6") and at least 1 year academic education * |
| Turkey | Lise diplomasi and Öss Sonuç Belgesi (admission to a programme at a recognised university in Turkey) |
| United States of America | High School and at least 2 years academic education |
| Vietnam | Certificate of secondary school graduation ("Bang Tot Nghiep Pho Thong Trung Hoc") + 1 year university studying subjects relevant to the selected programme |
Knowledge of the Dutch language
To participate in Dutch-language study programmes, a thorough knowledge of Dutch is indispensable. This is why in this respect, the holders of foreign diplomas have to meet strict requirements at Tilburg University. To be able to register as a student, candidates must have passed the state examination of 'Dutch as a second language', programme II (Nt2). The state examination consists of four components: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Every year, there are three occasions on which the examination can be taken. All four components must be passed. More information about the state examination can be found on the website of the Informatie Beheer Groep ('Information Management Group', the body that administers the national system of student grants).
A thorough, and for some people lengthy, preparation is needed to pass the state examination. In the Netherlands, universities and colleges, regional training centres (ROCs), and (private) language centres offer language courses preparing students for the state examination. Tilburg University's Language Center also offers these courses.
There is also an intensive language course Dutch (Intensivkurs Niederländisch) specifically for German speaking students. Please see here for more information.
Application for admission
Depending on the faculty offering the study programme selected, the documents must be sent to:
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, attn. International Students Services Office. Go to special admission procedures FEB.
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, attn. Education Office
- Faculty of Law, attn. Education Department
- Faculty of Humanties, attn. Examining Board
- Faculty of Catholic Theology, attn. Examining Board
An application for admission on the grounds of foreign preparatory training can be submitted throughout the year. However, 'the sooner, the better' is a sound bit of advice. In any case, make sure that you include the following documents:
- a short letter indicating in which study programme you want to participate;
- an application form;
- a curriculum vitae with all data pertaining to your educational career;
- a copy of the passport page containing your personal details;
- an authenticated copy of diplomas obtained in secondary and higher or university education and lists of marks;
- official translations if the diplomas/lists of marks are not in Dutch, English, French, or German.
- An additional copy of all documents, diplomas and certificates mentioned above
P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands
Please note:
only complete dossiers will be taken into consideration!
After receipt of your application, a decision about admission will be made within six weeks. The decision will be communicated to you in writing.
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