Matching at Tilburg University
Choosing the right Bachelor’s program increases your chances of study success. To find out whether the Bachelor’s program of your choice is a good match, most of our programs offer you a matching activity prior to the start of your studies.
What is matching?
Matching is very common in the Netherlands. A matching activity will give you the chance to find out to what extent your preferred Bachelor’s program matches your skills and interests. How the matching activity is done, depends on the Bachelor's program.
After the matching activity, you will receive a positive or negative advice. Based on this, you can decide whether the program is suitable for you or not. If you feel like the program does not fit your interests or ability, you can still choose another program.
How does it work?
We offer you this matching activity after you have registered for one or more programs in Studielink. If your program offers a matching activity, you will automatically receive an invitation to take part. Most, but not all of Tilburg University’s programs have a matching activity. If you apply for multiple programs, you may be invited to multiple matching activities.
Is matching mandatory?
For some Bachelor’s programs, taking part in matching is a mandatory step in the application process. For others, it is optional. You can check whether or not matching is mandatory for the program of your choice in the overview of matching procedures per Bachelor’s program below or on the application and admission webpage of the program of your choice. Since a good orientation on your study program is advisable, we do recommend you to take part.
Which programs offer matching?
The offered matching activities vary per Bachelor’s program and might also vary for students who are completing their prior education in the Netherlands and those who are completing their prior education in another country.
We offer matching for most Bachelor’s programs. Sometimes, matching does not apply to international students.
Matching procedure per Bachelor's program
We offer a matching activity after you have registered for one or more Bachelor's programs in Studielink. Please check below which matching activity applies to the program(s) of your choice.
Programs that offer matching
If you click on a program name, you will be directed to the application procedure of that particular program. On the right-hand side you will find the corresponding matching activity.
| Bachelor's program | Type of activity |
| Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence | Online questionnaire + live activity with lecture, test and Q&A. Options 2024: April 4, 13.00 – 16.00 online, or May 30, 9.30 – 12.30 on campus. |
| Data Science* | Online questionnaire, advice, and interview. Check the application and admission procedure via Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) for more information |
| Econometrics and Operations Research | Optional personal interview with the program’s education coordinator |
| Economics* | Advice based on motivation letter, CV, and grade list Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation* | Advice based on assignment including an essay Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| Global Law* | Advice based on CV and matching form Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| Global Management of Social Issues | Online matching activity on May 29, 2024. Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| Human Resource Studies: People Management | Online matching activity on May 29, 2024. Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| International Business Administration* | Advice based on motivation letter, CV, and grade list Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| International Sociology | Online matching activity on May 29, 2024. Check step 5 in the application procedure for more information |
| Online Culture: Art, Media and Society | Online questionnaire and self-study assignment that is individually provided with feedback |
| Theology | Interview with education coordinator Check step 4 of the application procedure for more information |
- *Matching is mandatory
- The Bachelor’s program in Psychology is a Numerus Fixus program with a selection procedure.
- The Bachelor’s program Liberal Arts and Sciences is a selective program without Numerus Fixus. Hence, no matching is offered for these programs.
Difference between matching and selection
It is important to know that matching is not the same as selection. Matching is intended to help you assess whether a particular Bachelor’s program suits you. After the matching activitiy, it is up to you whether you want to continue with the program, or register for another one. In the case of selection, the advice is binding and your admittance is dependent upon the selection procedure.
Currently, only the Bachelor’s programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Psychology are selective programs. Psychology has a Numerus Fixes (a limited number of places), and Liberal Arts and Sciences does not.
Matching is not related to your admission to a study program. The admission is based on the evaluation of your educational background, whereas matching is based on your skills and motivation.
Negative advice? What to do
It is possible that you are conditionally admitted to the program of your choice, but that you receive a negative matching advice. This means that you have met the requirements for admission, but there are doubts whether this program is the right fit for you. Since the matching advice is just advice, and not binding, you may choose to start the study program even if you have received a negative advice. Of course, we do recommend to take the advice seriously when deciding whether you want to start a program or not.
Conversely, it is also possible that you have received a positive matching advice but are ultimately rejected for the program based on your prior education. In this case, you will unfortunately not be able to start the program.
More information
Do you have any questions about matching for a specific program? Feel free to contact us.