Bachelors Tilburg University

Colloquium Doctum BSc Social and Behavioral Sciences

Direct admission

The Dutch Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) states that admission to degree program examinations should be regulated in the relevant Education and Examination Regulations.

Direct admission to the Bachelor’s programs at the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is granted to those in possession of a valid:

  • Dutch pre-university diploma (VWO) diploma (Gymnasium, HBS, or Atheneum) with Mathematics I or II, or A, B, C, or D or an international equivalent
  • Degree program diploma from an HBO institution (Dutch university of applied sciences)
  • Propaedeutic diploma from an HBO institution (Dutch university of applied sciences)

Admission by means of a Colloquium Doctum

Anyone ineligible for admission based on their existing educational qualifications and who has reached the age of 21 years may nonetheless be admitted by demonstrating their suitability for the degree program in question by means of a University Entrance Examination (Colloquium Doctum), in accordance with Article 7.29 of the Higher Education and Research Act. Please note that candidates must have reached the age of 21 years before taking part in the Colloquium Doctum, i.e., before September 1st.

Admission applications are examined by the Colloquium Doctum Committee of the faculty, made up of members of the Examining Board. Candidates should demonstrate to the committee their suitability for the degree program in question and their ability to complete the relevant examinations successfully.

Anyone who believes they are eligible for admission in accordance with the Colloquium Doctum regulations should submit an application attended to the Colloquium Doctum Committee TSB: TSB-EBoffice@tilburguniversity.edu

Please note: for the Bachelor’s in Psychology, applications must be received by the Colloquium Doctum Committee no later than January 31, 2024. In addition, candidates for this program must also register in Studielink by 23:59 (Dutch time) on January 15, 2024.

Applicants must clearly state which Bachelor’s program they are seeking admission to. Applications must also include: 

  • A brief description of the applicant’s life so far (studies and employment);
  • A description of the applicant’s reasons why the program appeals to them and why they consider themselves suitable for it;
  • A statement from their local authority’s population registry or registry of births;
  • Photocopies of the diplomas and the lists of grades from programs they have completed, either wholly or in part (never send original documents).

After receipt of the aforementioned information, the Colloquium Doctum Committee will give its response in writing within four to six weeks. Their response will state whether the applicant’s existing qualifications offer a sufficient guarantee for their success in the program, or whether any deficiencies can be rectified, and if so, how.

As soon as an applicant clearly meets all the requirements, the committee will issue a positive recommendation to the Executive Board regarding the suitability of the applicant for the degree program in question.

The applicant, or candidate, may only enroll for the degree program after receiving an admissions decision (‘toelatingsbeschikking’) from the Tilburg University Executive Board.

The inclusion of all the above details with applications will help ensure that they are processed quickly. Failure to do so will result in an unnecessary delay, as incomplete applications will be returned.

Any candidate wishing to start their program on September 1 should therefore ensure that all the requirements have been met by July 1. Moreover, experience has shown that in almost every case, it takes between six and twelve months from the time an application for a Colloquium Doctum is submitted for every requirement to be met.

Registration with Studielink is also a requirement, preferably in December of the year preceding that in which the applicant proposes to begin their studies. Please note: for the Bachelor’s in Psychology, you must register in Studielink by 23:59 on January 15, 2024.

More information for each program

Psychology

The admission requirements for the Psychology degree program relate to prior knowledge in the area of:

  • Biology
  • Mathematics
  • English
  • Dutch

Additional requirements may be set by the Colloquium Doctum Committee (such as obtaining other diplomas).

International Sociology, Global Management of Social Issues, Human Resource Studies: People Management

Parts of the special program of study may be:

  • Mathematics
  • Dutch
  • English

More information regarding deficiencies in mathematics

Our programs in the field of Social and Behavioral Sciences also offer a mathematics course in the first months of the program (so called ‘examination of the Mathematics’ or in Dutch ‘Testimonium Wiskunde’). In general, you will be exempt from this mathematics course if: you have taken mathematics as an examination subject in your final year of high school, and you received a passing grade, and your high school diploma is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma.

After having received your documents for unconditional admission (your diploma and list of grades), you will be informed whether you will have to follow (and pass) this course or if you can be exempted.  This mathematics course is offered in the following Bachelor’s programs:

  • BSc Psychology
  • BSc International Sociology
  • BSc Global Management of Social Issues
  • BSc Human Resource Studies: People Management

If you still have any questions about the Colloquium Doctum, you should contact the relevant School’s education coordinator.