Bachelor Theologie

Application and admission for BA Theology

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

Which application procedure should you follow?
  • Follow the international application procedure below only if:
    • you are applying based on a non-Dutch school/university education, regardless of your nationality (including Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba).
    • you are graduating from an educational institution in the Netherlands with a non-Dutch diploma, such as the full International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma.
  • Please follow the national application and admission procedure if you are applying based on a Dutch vwo or hbo-p diploma, regardless of your nationality.

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).

If you haven't got the degree or diploma to apply for a bachelor and you are 21 years or older, there is the option of taking a Colloquium Doctum.

  • A Colloquium Doctum is a test that will determine your general knowledge as well as your aptitude for a scientific education.
  • For applications for a Colloquium Doctum for the Bachelor’s program in Theology, please read this document first.
  • If you are interested in taking a Colloquium Doctum, please contact the School’s Academic Advisor first for advice. If you want to apply for the Colloquim Doctum, please use this application form.
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.

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 Bachelor's program in Studielink:
    B Theology – Location Tilburg
Step 1: Prepare your application documents

During the application process, you must upload the following documents in pdf format only.

  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/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. When you have limited or no work experience yet, it may seem difficult to create a CV. However, there are many life experiences and educational experiences which have shaped the person you are today. These can range from extracurricular activities to courses you’ve taken or internships and exchanges you’ve taken part in. Even a visit to a company, organization or social institution can be relevant to your development as a person. 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.
  7. 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. Your essay will be discussed during the matching interview (step 4 of the application process). Please use our template to create your essay and sent it before May 1st to studieadviseurTST@tilburguniversity.edu. After receiving your essay you will be invited for the matching interview under the condition that you are admittable to the bachelor's program Theology. 
  8. 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.
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

Phase 1: Assessment whether your academic background meets our admission requirements

When your application is complete, it will be assessed within four to six weeks to 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 you cannot be admitted to the program. The application process will end here for you.

If your application meets our admissions criteria, you will move to the next phase of the process.

Phase 2: Interview

You will receive an e-mail invitation for a 20 minute Skype 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.

Phase 3: Positive or negative admission advice

You will be informed about the decision of the Admissions Committee via e-mail. 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.
  • 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, but it is not binding.

Your admission will remain conditional until you have met all the conditions stated in your conditional admission letter

After you have met all the conditions of admission, you will receive your unconditional admission letter via e-mail.

Step 5: 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.

Would you like to know more about this program?

Katrien

Download a personalized brochure or contact Katrien, our education representative. She will answer your questions and can connect you with current students, advisors, and teachers.

Download a personalized brochure

Ask Katrien a question