Bachelor GMSI

Application and admission for BSc Global Management of Social Issues

This is the application and admission procedure for applicants with a non-Dutch educational background.

a) Check your eligibility

Get a quick indication of your eligibility to our international Bachelor's programs.*

Go to our Eligibility tool

*Currently only available for students who want to apply for admission with a national diploma obtained in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, or USA or with one of the following international diplomas: International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate, GCE A-levels (UK, Cambridge). If you want to apply for admission with another diploma, this is possible, please check the information below.

1. Diploma requirements

Diploma 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).

You can review a list of most commonly accepted diplomas on our website.

  • If your diploma is not on the list, this does not necessarily mean that your diploma cannot be accepted. We advise you to submit your application via our online application system so that we can assess your eligibility.
  • Haven’t obtained your diploma yet? You are welcome to apply if you are in the final year of your secondary education, but only if you will graduate before the start of your program at Tilburg University (i.e., by the end of August).
2. English language requirements

English language requirements

As this Bachelor’s program is taught entirely in English, you must prove your English language proficiency. 

Tilburg University accepts one of the following tests, which must not be older than two years at the time of application:

  • Academic IELTS  with a minimum overall score of 6.0 and a minimum score of 5.5 for each section.
  • TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 80 for the traditional TOEFL iBT test at a test center or the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition. 
  • Cambridge English test results: C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) or C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE). For both C1 and C2, we accept a score of A, B, or C.

Please note

  • All tests must be taken at an authorized exam center, we do not accept online versions of tests like IELTS Online. The only exception is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition which we accept under certain circumstances. Please check our corona FAQ for more information.
  • We do not accept a combination of test results on different test dates, e.g., TOEFL's 'My Best Scores'. 
  • You must be able to prove your English language proficiency at the time of application. Without test results your application cannot be processed, unless you are exempted.

For a full overview and list of exemptions, please check out our English language requirements.

3. Mathematics requirements

Mathematics is a required course. This means that even if you have obtained or are going to obtain a recognized diploma, you must be able to prove that you have a sufficient level of Mathematics. More information on the level of mathematics that is required for admission to this Bachelor’s program can be found on our mathematics requirements page.

Good to know is that this Bachelor's program offers a mathematics course in the first months of the program. Specific requirements vary according to the educational system in each country but - in general you can be exempted from this course if you have taken mathematics up to and including the last year of high school. You will be informed at the start of the academic year whether you will have to follow (and pass) this course or if you can be exempted based on your final diploma and list of grades. If you are exempted, you can still choose to follow this course on a voluntary basis because it can be a good preparation for any research or statistics related courses.

Please note that the Tilburg University mathematics course cannot be used for admission to other Dutch universities. For this reason, you will not receive a certificate at the end of the course.

4. Student profile

Student profile

As a student of Global Management of Social Issues, you will all contribute to the quality of your own - and other student's - learning experience. Our admission process ensures you will be studying alongside other interesting, ambitious and globally minded students.

For Global Management of Social Issues we seek candidates who display:

  • an interest in the social sciences;
  • an interest in (inter)national social issues and organizational responses to manage these issues;
  • the ambition and the desire for an intellectual challenge and personal development (including obtaining intercultural skills);
  • strong analytical abilities;
  • an interest in critical and analytical thinking;
  • an international mindset and the ability to thrive in a multicultural classroom;
  • respect for and an interest in other cultures;
  • a high level of intrinsic motivation and independence;
  • an interest in small-scale, interactive lectures and practical sessions;
  • very good command of English.

b) Remember the deadline

If you want to start the program end of August 2023, you must submit your complete application at the latest by:

  • EEA nationals: May 1, 2023
  • Non-EEA nationals: April 1, 2023

Please note:

  • Applicants with a non-EEA nationality and a valid residence permit of an EEA country, other than the Netherlands, should apply before the non-EEA deadline.
  • Applicants with a non-EEA nationality and a valid residence permit of the Netherlands, can follow the deadline for EEA nationals. The residence permit should be valid until at least up to the intended start date of your study program.

c) Follow the procedure for international applicants

For a step-by-step guide through the application process, please watch our video How to apply for a Bachelor's program as an international student (12:29).

Make sure you apply for the correct study program
  • The name of this Bachelors program in Studielink:
    B Organization and Management Studies: Global Management of Social Issues (English program)
  • Please note: Name change from 1 September 2023 onwards! Bachelor Organization Studies will become Bachelor Organization and Management Studies. Until 1 September 2023, you may still encounter both names in communication from Tilburg University.
Step 1: Prepare your application documents

During the application process, you must upload several documents. The process consists of two phases, an application phase and a matching phase. You will need to upload documents in both phases.

Please prepare the following documents in pdf format:

  1. Copy Passport / ID card
    Please check the exact requirements, including the minimum validity of your passport or ID card, on the webpage Documents to verify your identity.
  2. Your diploma(s) in the language in which it is/they are issued, OR the Statement of Educational Institution.
    • If you have not yet obtained your secondary school diploma, please upload the Statement of Educational Institution - Highschool. This Statement helps us assess your eligibility for admission correctly. Please ask your School Counselor or another representative of your school to complete the form as requested, sign it, and stamp it.
    • If you are currently studying at a higher education institution but have not (yet) obtained your diploma, please upload the Statement of Educational Institution – Higher Education. This Statement gives us more insight in your curriculum and will help us assess your eligibility for admission correctly. You can complete this form yourself. 
    • If you are selected for the program, you must send in a certified copy of your diploma once you get it, and before you start your studies at Tilburg University.
  3. Your grade list(s) in the language in which they are issued, showing the grades obtained to date for all your secondary education.
    • Please note that we only accept official grade lists issued by your school. A screenshot of your school’s student information system is not accepted.
  4. A legalized translation of all documents - grade lists and diplomas if these are not already in Dutch, English, French, or German.
  5. The results of an English language test (unless you are exempted).
    • The test results must not be older than two years at the time of application.
    • If you do not have your test results at the time of application, your application can not be processed.
  6. Curriculum vitae
    A curriculum vitae (CV) is a summary of all your work experience and skills. If you have never created a CV before, you can use our guidelines to create a CV. Make sure that your CV does not exceed two pages.
    • Chinese nationals are advised to apply for a Nuffic Certificate as soon as possible to avoid any delays in the immigration procedure. For more information, please go to the Nuffic website.

    The following document is part of the matching phase and you only need to complete it once you have been conditionally admitted:

      8.  An application form for matching. This form is required for your participation in the matching procedure. Please use our application form template which combines your curriculum vitae and questions about your motivation to study this program.

    Step 2: Register in Studielink

    You must register in Studielink, the Dutch national registration system for higher education, including the information below. Please do so correctly or we will not be able to process your application.

    • Make sure you register for the correct study program as described above.
    • Add your personal details (including your full name) as stated in your passport.
    • Enter an e-mail address that you use regularly. Tilburg University will send you important information via this e-mail address, so please check it regularly.
    • For instructions on how to register via Studielink, please watch our video How to register in Studielink or check the Step-by-step plans on the Studielink website.

    Register in Studielink

    Please note: you must follow the application procedure in step 3 to be considered for admission. Registration in Studielink only is not sufficient. Both processes must be completed by the deadline stated above. 

    Step 3: Continue your application in our online application system

    After you have registered in Studielink, you need to continue your application in OSIRIS Aanmeld, our online application system.

    Within 48 hours of your registration in Studielink, you will receive two e-mails from Tilburg University. 

    • One e-mail contains your Tilburg University account details (your student number and Tilburg University e-mail address). You will not need these details for your application, but please save them carefully, as you will need them at a later stage.
    • The other e-mail contains your OSIRIS Aanmeld account details as well as information on how you can start your application in OSIRIS Aanmeld. If you have not received this e-mail within 48 hours of your registration in Studielink, please contact your International Admissions Coordinator via Admissions@tilburguniversity.edu.

    For instructions on how to apply via OSIRIS Aanmeld, please watch our video How to apply for a Bachelor in OSIRIS Aanmeld (07:00).

    Some tips for your application:

    • You can prepare for the e-mail containing your Osiris Aanmeld account details by confirming noreply@tilburguniversity.edu as a safe sender in your e-mail system. You should also check your spam/junk inbox. 
    • If you want to upload a document with more than one page, scan each page of the document into one PDF.
    • You do not have to complete your application in one go.  You can save your application and return to it later.

    Submit your application before the deadline as stated above

    If you submit your application either close to or on the deadline, but have not uploaded the correct documents, Tilburg University reserves the right not to process your application.

    After submitting your application

    Our International Admissions Coordinator will check that your application is complete, according to the requirements above.

    If your documents are not complete, you will be asked to submit any missing or replace any illegible document(s). Your International Admissions Coordinator may request additional information from you during the assessment process.  Please check your e-mail regularly (including your spam folder) to avoid a delay in the processing of your application.

    You can check your application status anytime you log in to your account in OSIRIS Aanmeld.

    Step 4: Outcome of the admissions process

    When your application is complete, it will be assessed to determine whether your academic background meets our admission requirements, based on your application documents.

    Within four to six weeks of the start of this process, you will receive the Admissions Committee's decision by e-mail. Below are the possible outcomes of your application.

    Admission

    This means that you have been admitted to the Bachelor’s program for which you have applied.

    • Your admission may be conditional upon factors such as your graduation from your current program. The conditional admission letter will state what you need to do to turn your conditional admission into unconditional admission. Please read it carefully and contact your International Admissions Coordinator if you have any questions. Please make a note of the deadline given for meeting the conditions of admission.
    • After you have met all the conditions of admission, you will receive your unconditional admission letter via e-mail.

    Rejection

    This means that the Admissions Committee considers your academic background to be unsuitable for admission to our Bachelor's program and we are unable to admit you based on your current academic background.

    • Your registration in Studielink will be cancelled.
    • You are welcome to re-apply for this program in the future if your academic background changes.

    If your application is rejected and you are not directly eligible for admission to our Bachelor’s programs, you may be eligible at a later date via another route:

    • Successfully complete the first year of a Bachelor’s degree in any academic subject at a university in your home country.*
    • Successfully complete the first year of a Bachelor’s degree in any academic subject at a university of applied sciences in the Netherlands and be awarded a propaedeutic certificate.*

    * Please note that you will also need to meet all other requirements stated on this webpage under a) Check your eligibility.

    Step 5: Matching

    It is important to us that you make the right study choice. That is why we offer prospective students a Study Compatibility Check through a virtual matching activity. By taking part in this activity, you will find out whether this program really suits your interests and talents before you start your studies. You make this consideration yourself; you do not receive advice on whether or not to start the program. 

    Upload the necessary documents

    Within a week after receiving your conditional admission letter, you will receive an e-mail with information about the matching activity, which will consist of a virtual small-scale, group matching activity. If you would like to join the matching activity, please log back into your OSIRIS Aanmeld account, and upload the necessary document for the matching process:

    • Application form

    Details about the format and content of the required document can be found in 'Step 1: Prepare your application documents'.

    After submitting your documents

    Our International Admissions Office will check if you have uploaded all the necessary documents for the matching process.

    If your document set is incomplete, you will be asked to submit any missing or replace any illegible document(s). Please check your e-mail regularly (including your spam folder) to avoid a delay in the processing of your application.

    Once your document set is complete, you will receive an e-mail invitation to register for a virtual small-scale, group matching activity.

    • You can use your OSIRIS Aanmeld account details to log in to our online registration system OSIRIS Aanmeld to select a timeslot for the matching activity.
    • During the matching activity, topics such as your academic ambitions, background, personal interests and motivation will be discussed.
    • The matching activity will be held in English.
    • Matching meetings will take place online once a month online starting in February 2023.
    Step 6: Admitted, what's next?

    Congratulations on being admitted to Tilburg University, either conditionally or unconditionally! 

    You may be wondering what the next steps are. To ensure a smooth (and stress-free) start of your studies, we have prepared a timeline to give you an overview of the things you need to arrange and to guide you through the process of becoming a Tilburg University student. 

    On the timeline you can find information about:  

    • Completing your enrollment  
    • Paying your tuition fees 
    • Finding accommodation 
    • Arranging your insurances 
    • Books and schedule 
    • Introduction activities like TOP Week and your (mandatory) Study Program Introduction 

    Go to the Welcome page

    Tilburg University complies with all the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) regarding all personal information included in the application process, including photocopies of passports/residence permits, etc. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Statement.

    Any questions?

    Please feel free to contact us with any personal queries about the program, admissions and enrollment. You can contact us before, during or after you have submitted your application. Our team will be glad to answer all your questions about studying at Tilburg University and provide you with detailed practical information.