Master's programs

Top-level master's programs within an international environment prepare you for a responsible position in society.

Admission & Application

From 2013-2014 onwards, the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Tilburg University will no longer offer a Master’s progam in Leisure Studies. 2012-2013 will be the final year that the Master’s program in Leisure Studies will be taught. Students who will start their Master’s program at the start of September 2012, will be offered the opportunity to finish their program. It is foreseen that the Academy for Leisure at the NHTV in Breda will offer the Master’s program in Leisure Studies from 2013-2014 onwards. Click here for more information.

As a result of this, students cannot apply for the Premaster’s program for 2012-2013. Students who are interested in the Premaster’s program are advised to regularly check the website of the Academy for Leisure for more information on the (Pre)master’s program.

It is still possible to apply for the Master’s program in Leisure Studies for 2012-2013. See below for information about the admission criteria and application procedure.

You hold a Tilburg University Bachelor's degree in a social sciences subject
You are admitted as long as you have taken the minor in Leisure Studies. You must apply in writing to the Examining Board of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

You hold an Bachelor’s degree in International Leisure Sciences or Tourism studies from NHTV Breda
You have direct access to the Master’s program in Leisure Studies. For more information about these Bachelor’s programs click on the links below.

You hold a Bachelor's degree from another university
This Master's program may be of interest to students with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in the areas of economics, political science, management, sociology and psychology. Students should have the following prior knowledge:

  • Basic knowledge of social science theories.
  • Basic knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and statistics.
  • Basic knowledge of relevant subjects in the field of leisure studies.

Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Should you fail to meet all the prerequisites for admission to the Master's program, you may be able to make up this so-called deficit by taking a personalized Premaster's program at Tilburg University or the NHTV in Breda. It is also possible given your prior knowledge that you might be asked to take a preparatory course in methods and statistics here at Tilburg University during the summer, which is free of charge for those students, who have been admitted to the Master's Leisure Studies.

You must apply in writing to the Examining Board of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. It then assesses whether your degree qualifies you for admission to this Master's program on a case by case basis. For more information about written applications and the documentation you need to supply, read the Application procedure for Dutch or International Students.

You hold an HBO vocational degree
It is foreseen that the Academy for Leisure at the NHTV in Breda will offer the Master’s program in Leisure Studies from 2013-2014 onwards. As a result of this, students cannot apply for the Premaster’s program for 2012-2013. Students who are interested in the Premaster’s program are advised to regularly check the website of the Academy for Leisure for more information on the (Pre)master’s program.
Application Procedure

To both Dutch and international applicants applies that, if you have not yet obtained your Bachelor's degree, you can ask the Admission Committee whether admission to the program would be possible once you have obtained your degree. Your admission will be finalized once the Admission Committee has received certified photocopies of both your Bachelor's diploma and your list of grades. These documents should be handed in no later than the beginning of the academic year for which you are applying.

Methodology and Statistics

All our Master's programs maintain a strong emphasis on research methods and statistics. For that reason, it is of great importance that candidates starting a Master's program at the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences have a solid background in these topics. International candidates who meet all the requirements in order to be accepted to the Master's program but lack a sufficient background in methodology and statistics will be invited by Tilburg University to attend the Summer School course in Methodology and Statistics. The course is offered free of charge to our MSc applicants. Upon completion of the course, one will be admitted to the Master's program. The Summer School course takes place in July and August preceding the start of the academic year.