Bachelor Human Resource Studies: People Management

Program and courses Human Resource Studies: People Management BSc

In the Bachelor's program in Human Resources Studies: People Management, you will study the human side of business (people management). You will focus on the performance and efficiency of organizations as well as the well-being of their employees. People, work and management issues are approached from different disciplinary perspectives: psychology, sociology, economics and management studies.

Video: short overview of this Bachelor's program (02:52)

Program structure and content

Human Resource Studies: People Management has an international orientation, with an emphasis on the European context. This is reflected in the choice and content of the cases that you will study.  The program has strong connections with large internationally operating companies and offers a relevant interaction between academic approaches and real-world problems. You will gain analytical and consulting skills to enhance your decision making skills regarding people in organizations. 

First Year Content

In the first year of your Bachelor's program, you will learn the basic concepts and ideas of psychology, sociology, economics and management studies. At the end of the year, you will begin to apply these disciplinary perspectives to analyze issues related to work, organization and people management.

You will take the following courses in block 1:

  • Introduction to Human Resource Management 
  • Introduction to Organization and Management Studies  
  • Introduction to Sociology 
  • Professional Skills People Management
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 2:

  • Introduction to Human Resource Management
  • Introduction to Organization and Management Studies  
  • MAW-INT: Introduction to Research Methodology
  • Academic Skills for People Management A
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 3:

  • Organizational Psychology for People Management
  • Social Psychology for International Students
  • Strategic Management for People Management
  • Academic Skills for People Management B
  • MAW-INT: Introduction to Statistics
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 4:

  • Organizational Psychology for People Management
  • Economics for International Students
  • Sociology of Work
  • MAW-INT: Introduction to Statistics
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
Second Year Content

In the second year you will focus on developing your analytical skills. Next to this, you will have a number of integration courses. In these courses you will learn how to combine disciplinary insights and how to apply these insights to real world people management problems. You will also learn to consult organizations regarding their people management questions.

You will take the following courses in block 1:

  • MAW-INT: Qualitative Research Methods
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Work and Health Psychology 
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 2:

  • MAW-INT: Causal Analytical Techniques
  • Strategic Human Resource Management
  • Work and Health Psychology
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 3:

  • MAW-INT: Constructions and Analysis of Questionnaires
  • Financial and Economic HRM
  • Talent Management
  • Research Seminar HR Analytics
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 4:

  • Research Seminar HR Analytics
  • Financial and Economic HRM
  • Evidence Based consulting for HRM 
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
Third Year Content

In the third year of the program, you create your own curriculum: will it be an internship, study abroad, or minor courses? You will deepen your knowledge with international industrial relations and cross-cultural aspects of people management. You will conclude the program with a Bachelor’s thesis.

You will choose one of the following options in block 1 and 2:

  • Internship
  • Minor
  • Study abroad

You will take the following courses in block 3:

  • Comparative Labor Relations in Europe
  • Cross Cultural Human Resource Management
  • Bachelor's thesis
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 4:

  • Social Philosophy for People Management
  • Cross Cultural Human Resource Management
  • Bachelor's thesis 
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
Study abroad: going on exchange

We encourage all students to gain international experience. A popular and very exciting option is to go abroad on exchange. As an exchange student, you study at one of the many international partner universities of Tilburg University, typically for one semester.

The Study Abroad & Exchange Office of Tilburg University will be available to help you research the opportunities within your study program and a dedicated Study Abroad & Exchange Coordinator will be advising you before, during and after your exchange.

Most students will be eligible for a grant or scholarship to financially support them during their exchange experience. Additional grants for students with special needs or a difficult financial situation are also available.

More on studying abroad

Watch a trial lecture

You will find a detailed description of the courses and required literature in our course catalog.

Go to the course descriptions


Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.


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Why Human Resource Studies: People Management in Tilburg?

  • Become familiar with the four disciplines psychology, sociology, economics and management studies, which contribute to the study of people management and organizational problems.  Due to the combination of the four perspectives and a focus on work, organization and people management, the program is unique in the Netherlands and Europe.
  • Focus on social sciences and organizational issues, while also acquiring HR analytics skills, which are important in the current field of Human Resource Management.
  • You benefit from an interactive learning environment in a small-scale classroom where over 70% of the students are international.
  • Use your curriculum choices and mobility window to prepare for a Master’s program of your choice in one of the supporting disciplines and multidisciplinary programs.

Program for Academic Study Success (PASS).

Gain study guidance and career coaching through PASS. In this program, you participate in activities in small groups and you receive guidance from a mentor.

Interested in the Bachelor's program in Human Resource Studies: People Management?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application