Application and admission for BSc Human Resource Studies: People Management

When you apply for one of our English-taught Bachelor’s programs, there are several admission requirements which you must meet with regards to your diploma, English language skills, and mathematics skills.

Diploma requirements

To be eligible for admission to a research university, you must have a high school diploma that is considered equal to the highest level of secondary education in the Netherlands (the Dutch VWO diploma). Examples of diplomas which are accepted for admission include the

• Dutch vwo diploma,
• Full International Baccalaureate diploma,
• European Baccalaureate diploma.
• Most European high school diplomas which allow direct access to a university in your own country, such as the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Germany), Diplôme du Baccalauréate Général (France), Apolytiron (Greece), Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie (DZSO) (Bulgaria), or Diploma de Baccalaureate - Filiera Tehnologică/ Teoretică.

You can review a list of most commonly accepted diplomas on our website. If your diploma is not listed, this does not necessarily mean that your diploma cannot be accepted. In this case, please submit an application via our online application system so that the assessment can be started.  

Haven’t obtained your diploma yet? You are welcome to apply when 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 (at the end of August).

English language requirements

As our Bachelor’s programs are taught entirely in English, you will need to demonstrate your English language proficiency. Tilburg University accepts the following tests, which must not be older than two years at the time of application:

• Academic IELTS (minimum score 6.0 overall and a minimum score of 5.5 for all subscores);
• TOEFL (minimum score of 80 for the internet based test, 550 no paper based test accepted). TOEFL institutional code of Tilburg University is 9860)
• 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.

In case you are required to provide an English language test, you only need to provide the results of one of the above mentioned tests. For a full overview and exceptions, review our paragraph on English language requirements.

Mathematics requirements

In order to be successful in the program, you must have sufficient knowledge of mathematics. Specific requirements vary according to the educational system in each country. However, as a general rule, you are required to have followed mathematics up to and including the last year of high school.

Are you unsure whether the level of maths you took is sufficient? If you are interested in our program, we would encourage you to apply. By submitting an application, our Admissions Office can check your level and give you further advice.

More information about the required level of mathematics is given on our mathematics requirements page.

Student profile

As a student of Human Resource Studies: People Management, you will all contribute to the quality of your own - and each other’s -  learning experience. Our admission process ensures you will be studying alongside other interesting, ambitious and globally-minded students.

For this Bachelor we seek candidates who display:

• Ambition and the desire for intellectual challenge and personal development.
• An international outlook to adapt to a truly multicultural classroom.
• A high level of self-motivation and self-discipline.
• An interest in participating in small-scale, interactive classes.
• A passion for discussion and debate.
• An interest in developing their ability to think critically and analytically.

Our application procedure, including the matching interview, is designed to assess these characteristics to check that this is the program for you – and you are right for this program.

Do you meet the requirements? Then you are ready to apply! You can apply for Human Resource Studies: People Management through our online application system, MySAS. 

You will be requested to upload the following documents:

1. Your diploma(s) in the language in which they are issued, OR the Statement of Educational Institution.
   • If you have not yet obtained your secondary school diploma, you must upload the Statement of Educational Institution in your application. This statement provides information we need to assess your eligibility for admission correctly.  Please ask your School Counsellor / Representative to complete it as requested, sign it and stamp it.
   • 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.
2. Your grade list(s). If you have not obtained your diploma yet, please enclose your most recent list of grades and/or predicted grades.
   • Please note that we only accept official grade lists which have been issued by your school and/or Academic Advisor. A screenshot of your school’s digital environment where you can review your academic progress is not accepted.

3. A legalized translation of all documents, transcripts, certificates and grade lists if these are not already in Dutch, English, French or German.

4. Your application form: this form combines a curriculum vitae and some questions related to your motivation to apply for this program. This form will be used as the basis for the matching interview. Please use our template to create your application form.
5. Your essay: you need to choose one of the three statements that are mentioned in the template and write an essay about it. This essay is an opportunity for you to display your ability to critically analyze a topic and effectively argue your viewpoint - illustrating your points with supportive evidence. Please use our template to create your essay.
6. The results of one of the English language tests mentioned above.
7. A copy of your passport (or EEA national ID card). If you have dual citizenship, please upload both passports/identity cards.
8. If you are a non-EEA national and already live in the Netherlands: your Dutch residence permit (back and front).

Please do not send hard copies of your documents to us at this stage. You must apply via the online application system MySAS and upload your documents there. The university maintains the right to request certified copies during the admission process, if this is necessary to evaluate your application. If you are accepted onto the program, you will be requested to send us certified copies of your documents, which are required for your unconditional admission and enrollment.

The application process begins the moment you click on the submit button in MySAS and may take up to ten weeks. This depends on several factors, such as the total number of applications in process, the time of year you apply, your availability for the matching interview and the completeness of your application. We therefore advise you to apply as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the deadline is really close!

During the admissions process, your Admissions Officer will contact you via e-mail. It is therefore important to keep an eye on your mailbox, and check your spam folder as well.

Please read this paragraph carefully, so that you fully understand the process and are aware of all relevant deadlines and other important information.

Phase 1: Submitting your application

As mentioned above, you must register for Human Resource Studies: People Management in two different places, Studielink and MySAS.

Register via Studielink

When registering in Studielink, make sure you pick the correct program. In Studielink, Human Resource Studies: People Management is listed as: B Human Resource Studies (HRS: People Management - English program).

Download the Tilburg University Studielink Manual

Submit your application via our online application system MySAS

When applying through MySAS, make sure you select the correct program.

Within one week, the Admissions Officer will check whether your application in MySAS is complete. If your documents are incomplete, you will be asked to submit the missing document(s).

When your application is complete, you will receive confirmation via e-mail, and you will enter Phase 2.

Phase 2: After submitting your application

When your application is complete, the Admissions Committee will determine whether your academic background meets our admission requirements, based on your application documents.

• If your application does not meet our admission criteria, you will receive a letter via e-mail informing you that your application does not meet our requirements, and that you cannot be admitted to the program.  The application process for you will not go further.
• If your application meets our admissions criteria, you will move to Phase 3 of the process.

Phase 3: Interview

You will be invited to attend a Skype interview. Your application form will provide input for this 20 minute interview with a member of our Admissions Committee. The purpose of the interview is to determine whether you are right for this program and whether this program is right for you! During the interview, you will have the opportunity to discuss your academic ambitions, background, personal interests and motivation for following this program of study. The interview will be held in English.

The interview is an additional moment in which you, your qualities, abilities and goals for the future are linked to our program in Human Resource Studies: People Management.

By completing your application form and writing an essay, you were challenged to think about the program and what you expect to learn. The interview is an additional moment in which you, your qualities, abilities and goals for the future are linked to our program in Human Resource Studies: People Management. During this process, we will determine whether you are a good match for this program and you will determine whether this program is a good match for you.

Phase 4: Outcome of the admission process

You will be informed about the decision of the Admissions Committee. At this stage, you will receive either positive or negative admission advice.

• Positive admission advice means that we believe that this program will be a good match for you and you will proceed to Phase 5.
• Negative admission advice means that we do not feel that this program is a good match for you and we would advise against you starting this program of study. We strongly encourage you to follow this advice.

We will inform you of the Admission Committee’s advice via e-mail.

Phase 5: Unconditional admission

From the beginning of July onwards, you will receive further instructions regarding official enrollment. Your admission remains conditional until you have met the conditions given in your conditional admission letter. This can be, for example, submitting the results of your English proficiency test, or a certified copy of your diploma and/or final list of grades.

After you have met all the requirements, you will receive your unconditional admission letter via e-mail. Conditional admission always means you have to fulfill a requirement, which means turning it into an unconditional admission is in your own hands.

To ensure you don’t miss any important messages, please check your e-mail regularly. Add the e-mail address of the Admissions Officer to your safe sender list, and check your spam mailbox regularly to ensure you receive all messages sent by our Admissions Officer. Make sure you don’t lose your Studielink password, and regularly check your Studielink account for updates and messages.

Admitted? Congratulations! We hope you are excited about your move to Tilburg.

Before you start your studies here, there are some things you need to arrange, such as housing, payment of your tuition fees, visa, and more. To help you, we have created a "Welcome to Tilburg University" guide - specifically for our international students. This guide will take you through the process and the preparations you need to make before you come to Tilburg. On top of that, several emails regarding the above mentioned topics are being sent in spring/early summer.

Nearer to your arrival, we will create a Facebook group for all admitted students for Human Resource Studies: People Management so that you can get to know your future classmates before you even move to Tilburg. You will receive an invitation to join the Facebook group via e-mail a few months before the start of the academic year.

All Tilburg University students are encouraged to arrive in Tilburg during our Registration Days which will take place mid-August. After that, you can take part in the Tilburg Orientation Program (TOP Week) – a great way to get to know your fellow students and the city of Tilburg. It is the best way to start your studies in Tilburg!