Global Management of Social Issues BSc

Program content

• The first year is an interdisciplinary year, in which you gain insights into three different disciplines within the social sciences: human resource studies, organization studies, and sociology. These first-year disciplines will help you develop an initial understanding of the backgrounds, nature and causes of wicked problems. Think about subjects such as poverty, migration, climate change, or humanitarian interventions after a natural disaster.
• From the second year on, you will increase your knowledge of and insights in theories dealing with complex societal and organizational problems in general and wicked problems in particular.
• The main goal of the third year is the practical integration of the acquired knowledge and insights. You can accomplish this through an internship at an organization in an international context in or outside the Netherlands, through a project that deals with wicked problems, by taking additional minor courses, or by studying your minor abroad. You will finish your program with a Bachelor’s thesis.

Read more about this study program

What are 'wicked problems'? (video - 2:44 min)

Typical courses are:

• Wicked problems 101
  Many of the current, most pressing societal challenges involve dealing with complex social, policy and organizational problems, so-called ‘wicked’ problems. 
• International Organizations
  This course has two parts. In the first part, the course an introduction is to international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The second part focuses on how international organizations attempt to cope and tackle global complex policy issues.The course encompasses a field trip to international organizations in The Hague.
• Financial and Project Management
  The aim of this course is to increase the basic knowledge and understanding of financial and project management.

More on the program per year

Approach complex societal issues with academics and students from all over the world

• Approach current complex societal issues from an organization and management perspective and develop analytical thinking skills. Through simulations, you learn how to compose a team of experts to ‘solve’ a wicked problem.
• The program brings together academics and students from all over the world in a small-scale and interactive learning environment. 
• Immerse yourself in a truly international classroom and explore various interdisciplinary and cross-national perspectives on ‘wicked problems’. 
• Study at a university that offers the infrastructure and all the possibilities of an international research university, yet is still small scale.
• Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
  Personal guidance and coaching from an academic mentor throughout the entire program (years 1, 2 and 3) to help you achieve your full potential. 
  Watch a short video about our Program for Academic Study Success (2:21 min).

Get ready for a multidisciplinary, international job

• Get ready for a multidisciplinary job in international commercial, public or non-profit environments and organizations. Go beyond the limits of one specialization with this extraordinary combination of scientific expertise.
• Participate in regular guest lectures of practitioners discussing current important global issues.
• Take part in simulation exercises (as a part of a humanitarian emergency response team) or get active with Model United Nations (MUN) to train your leadership, team working and project management skills. 
• Gain international exposure by spending a semester at a partner university studying abroad or by doing an internship.

More on the reasons to choose this program

What to expect when coming to Tilburg

• Why Tilburg University?
• International student support
• Study in Holland

Beyond your Bachelor: Extracurricular Activities

• Join our  Study Association Polis. They organize multiple formal and informal activities for their members.
• Challenge yourself by participating in one of the programs of excellence.

View all extracurricular activities

Pursue a Master's degree

Most of our students continue towards a Master's degree after completing their Bachelor's degree. For example:

Check out all applicable Master's programs

Career prospects

The fact that you can think beyond the limits of one specialization makes sure that you can be employed in different companies, departments and projects in international environments and organizations.

You could work, as a consultant or human resource manager in an international organization, connecting people in order to create the most competent team to solve complex problems. Or you could work as a fund-raiser and help find a solution for poverty, or help introduce sustainable practices in supply chains.  As a project manager, you can make sure that projects run smoothly and produce the best possible results.

 More on your career prospects

Please follow the national application and admission procedure (in Dutch) if you are applying based on a Dutch vwo or hbo-p diploma, regardless of your nationality. A general description of the national application procedure is also available in English.

Admission requirements

• To be eligible for admission to a research university such as Tilburg University, you must have a high school diploma equal to the highest level of secondary education in the Netherlands (the Dutch vwo diploma).
• As this Bachelor’s program is taught entirely in English, you must prove your English language proficiency. 
• A good knowledge of mathematics is important for being successful in this Bachelor’s program. In order to be admitted, you must therefore prove that you have sufficient knowledge of mathematics.

You can find more detailed information about the admission requirements on this program's 'Application and admission' page.

Go to application and admission

Related Bachelor's programs

• Human Resource Studies: People Management
• International Sociology