Communication and Information Sciences

This program is intended for highly talented and motivated students with a keen sense of intellectual curiosity and intellectual ambition. In this Master's program, you will encounter state of the art research in the broad interdisciplinary field of communication. The tracks: Business Communication and Digital Media: focus on communication issues in the area of business communications Communication Design: Communication designers research different factors that influence the effectiveness of texts as communication tools Human Aspect of Information Technology: How can we make sure that people get the exact information or (access to) the knowledge that they require Data Journalism: explore the opportunities of data journalism from four angles: data retrieval, data storytelling, data visualization and data publishing. Data Science: Business and Governance: trains students to become Data Scientists. The Harvard Business Review calls it "the sexiest job of the 21st century"!

Instruction modes

case study, colloquium, computer exercise, group discussion, group assignment, lecture, individual assignment, laboratory work, literature study, oral presentation, research, research project, research proposal, practicum, seminar, tutorial, working group, workshop, self study

Accreditation: NVAO

Erasmus Mundus program: This is an Erasmus Mundus program.

Admission requirements

An adequate knowledge of English is required. Please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts), TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) or Cambridge Proficiency Examination. The English proficiency tests must be less than two years old at the time of application. You are exempt from an English test: A) If you are a native English speaker, i.e. if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. B) If you completed all your secondary education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. C) If you completed all your university education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. D) If you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma with English as the language of instruction. E) If you completed a 4-years Bachelor's program (of at least 240 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited University of Applied Sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands. F) If you completed a 3-years Academic Bachelor's program (of at least 180 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands. G) If you completed a 1 or 2-years Academic Master's program (of at least 60 or 120 ECTS credits respectively) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands. In all other cases, please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts) TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) Cambridge Proficiency Examination

Other requirements

1. taaltoets cijfer An adequate knowledge of English is required. Please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts), TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) or Cambridge Proficiency Examination. The English proficiency tests must be less than two years old at the time of application. You are exempt from an English test: A) If you are a native English speaker, i.e. if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. B) If you completed all your secondary education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. C) If you completed all your university education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America. D) If you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma with English as the language of instruction. E) If you completed a 4-years Bachelor's program (of at least 240 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited University of Applied Sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands. F) If you completed a 3-years Academic Bachelor's program (of at least 180 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands. G) If you completed a 1 or 2-years Academic Master's program (of at least 60 or 120 ECTS credits respectively) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands. In all other cases, please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts) TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) Cambridge Proficiency Examination
2. vooropleiding (ISPAC: vereiste vooropleiding) Tot de master Communicatie- en Informatiewetenschappen word je in ieder geval toegelaten op grond van een met goed gevolg afgeronde: bachelor Communicatie- en Informatiewetenschappen aan Tilburg University; premaster Communication and Information Sciences aan Tilburg University.
3. vooropleiding (ISPAC: vereiste vooropleiding) Before applying, please make sure that you meet the following requirements: You have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, such as general Communication Studies, Linguistics, or a modern language. Students with a Bachelor's degree in a different subject are most welcome to apply, but we strongly recommend that you consult us in advance for advice.
4. aanvullend vak Statistics and research methodology are very important components of this program. Tilburg University has designed Statistics and Research Methodology course and tailor-made pre-master's program specifically for those students who have academic deficiencies or a bachelor's degree from University of Applied Sciences. Depending on your academic deficiencies or degree, you might be required to complete this course or a pre-master's program. Applicants apply always for the (Research) Master's program and not for a pre-master program. The Admissions Committee will inform the applicants accordingly about the following procedures for a pre-master, when necessary!
5. erkende verworven competenties (EVC’s) Admissions Committee will be evaluating whether or not your previous education matches 3 years of Dutch academic education, our Admissions Committee evaluates the modules you have completed previously and whether these match the profile for the program. They especially take note of the concentration of statistics courses completed. Please find more detailed information regarding this program on http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/communication-and-information-sciences/
6. minimum kennis (ISPAC: overige vereisten) A) A completed application form, dated and undersigned (1 form per program you are applying for!) (sample) B) An authenticated copy of your (recent) original grade transcript(s) + (a sworn/certified translation into English) (sample) C) A copy of your Bachelor's or Master's thesis or an essay completed during your studies (only in English and at least 1500 words) [if you have not yet written a thesis, then read section D] D) A dedicated writing sample in form of an academic essay or research proposal (only in English and at least 1500 words) E) Letter of motivation (1 letter per program you are applying for!) (format) F) Curriculum Vitae G) Photocopy/scan of your currently valid passport Other required documents which you can upload/send later: H) Certified copies of your original final diploma('s) and final grade transcript(s) + (a sworn/certified translation into English) I) Academic IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge Proficiency Examination certificate (Exemption form, only if applicable) J) Extra letter of motivation (only if you wish to be considered for TUSAE or TSHS) (format) K) Nuffic (formerly NESO) certificate (Chinese applicants only!) L) Proof of Dutch Language Proficiency (only if you wish to apply for a Dutch-taught program) Master's students who wish to be considered for a scholarship/grant under the Tilburg University Scholarship for Academic Excellence (TUSAE) or Tilburg School of Humanities scholarship (TSHS), need to apply separately for this scholarship before April 1st of each calendar year. The outcome of the scholarship selection process will be announced in June each year. Scholarships provided by Tilburg University are only available for the Fall Intake. Spring Intake students who wish to apply for a scholarship provided by Tilburg University, need to apply before the deadline of April 1st of the year before the start of the program, in other words, students who wish to start in February 2014, should apply before April1st, 2013!