Application and admission: Data Science in Business and Entrepreneurship - international procedure

In this section we provide information for students holding an international diploma. We kindly advise you to read carefully the information below related to the evaluation of your previous academic background, and how this is relevant for the admission procedure and your eligibility.

Level of your diploma

Please be aware that during the admissions process we will check your previous academic level in contrast to the level required to have access to higher education in the Netherlands. Based on this information, and next to the rest of the admissions criteria, the Admissions Committee will make the final decision about your eligibility to the Master Data Science in Business and Entrepreneurship (joint degree).

Higher education in the Netherlands

There are two types of higher education in the Netherlands: research-oriented and profession-oriented:

• Research-oriented education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) is traditionally offered by research universities.
• Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO) is offered by universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).

For more information about the Dutch education system, please visit the Dutch organization for internationalization in education (Nuffic).  (c) Nuffic
Depending on the level on which your diploma is being evaluated, you will be processed either as a graduate from (i) research-oriented education or as (ii) a graduate of higher professional education. Please note that in some cases having a university diploma in your country; it might not be sufficient for having access to a university program in the Netherlands.  ​

A. Students holding an international diploma evaluated as a Research-oriented education bachelor

Direct eligibility
In order to be directly eligible to the Master Data Science in Business and Entrepreneurship (joint degree) the curriculum of your technical Bachelor's program needs to meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of 15 EC in mathematics and statistics, which includes at least 5 EC in mathematics and 5 EC in statistics.
• Courses in:
  • Databases
  • Algorithms
  • Programming (at least one language, preferably Python)
  • Machine Learning / Data Mining

Next to this you need to meet the English language requirements

Eligibility via a pre-Master or minor program
If the curriculum of your Bachelor's program contains a minimum of 15 EC in mathematics and statistics (including at least 5 EC in mathematics ad 5 EC in statistics), you are only eligible if: 

• (i) you either have followed the equivalent of the pre-Master courses within your curriculum or
• (ii) after completing the pre-Master itself at JADS. In order to check your eligibility, please start the admission procedure below via Tilburg University.

B. Students holding an international Diploma evaluated as a higher professional education Bachelor

To be eligible you need to have a Bachelor's diploma in the field of Computer Science or equivalent. If your program contains at least 15 EC in mathematics and statistics, which includes at least 5 EC in mathematics and 5 EC in statistics, and your English meets the English language requirements, you are most likely to be eligible to a pre-Master at the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (joint degree).

You must prove your proficiency in English by submitting the results of one of these tests:

• Academic IELTS with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 for each section.
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 90 for the traditional TOEFL iBT test at a test center or the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition and a minimum score of 22 for each section. 
• 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

• The test results must not be older than two years at the time of application.
• 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 for the February 2024 intake under certain circumstances:
  • You obtained your test results before September 2022 and your test results are no older than 2 years at the time of application OR 
  • You are unable to take the test on location because test centers in your region are closed because of lockdown or unsafe situations. 
• 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 can not be processed, unless you are exempted.

An English proficiency test is not required if one of the following applies to your situation:

• You hold a passport from one of the following countries:
  Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.
• You have studied your entire Bachelor's or Master's program in one of the following countries:
  Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.

Prospective candidates of the Joint Master Data Science in Business and Entrepreneurship should be prepared to embark on a multi-disciplinary program, with students from multiple backgrounds, cultures and nationalities.

1. Become an innovator 

We expect that students who decide to apply for this program have an intrinsic motivation to become an innovator.

2. Soft skills

Since this program is not only about learning knowledge and acquiring skills, but also about developing the personal traits - that are generally believed to be critical to become successful - students should be open to this as well.

3. A solid background in data analysis and database technology

Last, but not least, this program requires students to be well equipped with BSc level knowledge and skills in mathematics and statistics - a.k.a. data analytics -, and programming and database technology a.k.a. data engineering.

Master's program

• Application deadline for starting end of August: July 1
• Application deadline for starting end of January: December 1

Pre-Master's program

• Application deadline for starting end of January: December 1

Please note:

• Applicants with a Swiss citizenship can follow the deadline for EEA nationals.
• 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.

Master's program

• Application deadline for starting end of August: April 1
• Application deadline for starting end of January: October 1

Pre-Master's program

• Application deadline for starting end of January: October 1

Please note:

• UK citizens should follow the deadline for non-EEA nationals.
• 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.

If you are applying for a scholarship, please carefully read the information provided for this scholarship on our tuition fees and scholarships page.

• Certain scholarships will require you to apply before the application deadline of the program at Tilburg University.
• If your scholarship application requires you to be (conditionally) admitted by Tilburg University, please take into consideration when applying for admission at Tilburg University, that it can take at least six weeks for you to receive your (conditional) Admission Letter.

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. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
   This must include your personal information and details of any jobs (part-time, research assistant, etc.) which you have done. Please include membership of any professional bodies and details of any articles you have published. We do not require a standard format.
3. Transcript of Records
   This is a list from your University of the courses you have taken in your Bachelor's (and Master's) degree, with the grades you have achieved.  This must be an official list from your University, not your results downloaded from the University’s student system. If you have not yet completed all courses at the time of application, please provide the Transcript plus a list of the courses you still need to complete before graduation. You can make a list of courses you still need to complete yourself if they are not mentioned in your Transcript of records. Please upload this document together with your transcript or under additional documents.

4. For Chinese applicants only: Online Verification Report 
   Please upload an Online Verification Report of your Bachelor’s/Master’s Diploma Certificate (学士学位证书) and Graduation Certificate (毕业证书) and a Verification Report of your Transcript of Records (成绩单) in English. Make sure to request the reports on time via China Credentials Verification | CSSD (chsi.com.cn). 

   *If you don’t have the Online Verification Report(s) in time of submitting your application, please upload your Transcript or Records, Diploma Certificate, and Graduation Certificate. 

5. Diploma(s)
   Your Bachelor's (and Master's) diploma(s), if you already have them.
   • If you have not yet completed your higher education study program, you should upload a provisional transcript with your grades up to this point (see 2). Once conditionally admitted, you must send a certified hard copy of your diploma to us, according to the details in your conditional Admission Statement.
   • If you already have completed your higher education study program but have not yet received your diploma, you can provide us with a Graduation Statement from your university that states you have completed all graduation requirements for your study program and the date the diploma will be awarded. Such a statement must have an original seal/stamp and signature.
6. Official translations of the Transcript of Records and diploma(s)
   If your Transcript of Records and diploma are not in English or Dutch, a certified translator must translate the documents (with the exception of the course description). The translator must attach the translation to copies of the original document and stamp both documents. Please note: we cannot accept translations that are not attached to a copy of the original document; the translator must make sure that s/he stamps the copy of the original document and attaches the two documents to each other.
7. English language test results (unless you are exempted). 
   You can check the requirements above under the heading 'English language requirements'. Please note that it is obligatory to have obtained the required English language test results before submitting your application.
8. Course list 
   Please complete the course list as requested.
9. Motivation letter in which you introduce yourself and motivate your choice for this Master: why this program, what are your expectations, what are your career ambitions, etc.

Admitted? Congratulations!

Complete your enrollment at Tilburg University

After your conditional admission, you must turn your conditional admission into unconditional admission and complete your enrollment.

• You can check your enrollment status and/or see any 'To do' items that are still pending in OSIRIS Student. You can use your login details for Tilburg University’s computer network to access OSIRIS Student.

Practical matters

Before you start your studies in Tilburg, there are some important things you need to arrange, such as your visa (non-EEA nationals only), housing, payment of your tuition fees, and more.

• To help you, we will create a Pre-departure Guide specifically for our international students. This guide will take you through your final preparations before you come to ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
• We will also send you regular e-mails about all these things, before your arrival.

Participate in the introduction activities

All JADS students are encouraged to take part in the JADS Introduction Days. A great way to get to know your fellow students and the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. It’s the best way to start your studies!