Liberal Arts and Sciences

The Bachelor’s programme in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Tilburg University offers a unique interdisciplinary educational experience designed to develop well-rounded, critical, and innovative thinkers. This programme provides students with the flexibility to design their own curriculum by choosing courses across various disciplines, including social sciences, humanities, behavioral sciences, and economics. The interdisciplinary approach encourages students to understand complex societal issues from multiple perspectives, fostering a comprehensive understanding of global challenges such as sustainability, social justice, and technological change.

Throughout the programme, students engage in active learning methods, including project-based assignments, teamwork, and real-world problem analysis. They acquire essential skills in research, communication, and analytical thinking, preparing them for diverse careers in academia, government, international organizations, consultancy, and the private sector. The curriculum emphasizes developing both academic and practical skills, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations and to develop innovative solutions.

Studying in an international environment, students benefit from Tilburg University's diverse student body and faculty, creating a vibrant multicultural campus atmosphere. The programme also encourages active participation in debates, seminars, and community projects, enhancing personal growth and cultural awareness. Additionally, students have the opportunity to undertake internships and exchange programmes abroad, gaining valuable international experience and professional networks.

The flexible structure of the Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students to tailor their educational pathway according to their interests and career aspirations. Upon graduation, students are equipped with a broad skill set and a versatile academic background, making them highly adaptable to various professional fields and societal roles. The programme aims to prepare students not just for a specific career, but for lifelong learning and active citizenship in our increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 1835 Year (EEA)
• EUR 7500 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

Liberal Arts and Sciences is a three-year program that focuses on the disciplines within the Social Sciences and Humanities at Tilburg University. The Social Sciences comprise law, business and management, psychology and sociology; while the Humanities encompass culture, history, literature, philosophy and religion.

First Year

Your first year introduces you to the various academic disciplines within the Social Sciences and Humanities. The Social Sciences at Tilburg University comprise law, business & management, psychology and sociology; the Humanities culture, history, literature, philosophy and religion.

Your first year requires you to take ten courses in total: five in the first semester, and five in the second semester.

SEMESTER 1 (SEPTEMBER - JANUARY)

• European History: Politics and Culture 6 ECTS
• Thinking about Science 6 ECTS
• Society, Culture and Economy 6 ECTS
• Rhetoric, Culture and Democracy in conjunction with Academic English 6 ECTS

Elective (select one of four optional subject) 6 ECTS

• Law and Film
• Consumerism
• Literature as Social Knowledge
• Europe in the World: History of Change

Total 30 ECTS

SEMESTER 2 (JANUARY - JULY)

• Mind and Brain 6 ECTS
• Research Project: Qualitative Methods 6 ECTS
• Researchers and their Fields 6 ECTS
• 1 Introduction to Social Sciences and Business & Management 6 ECTS
• 2 Introduction to Law and Humanities: European History & Culture 6 ECTS

Total 30 ECTS

1 Preparatory course for the Major Social Sciences and the Major Business & Management.

2 Preparatory course for the Major Law and the Major Humanities: European History & Culture.

Binding Study Advice (BSA)

Tilburg University adheres to the Binding Study Advice (BSA), a legally-binding system that determines the minimum level of performance you must achieve during your first-year of studies.

You are required to obtain at least 42 ECTS out of a total of 60 ECTS by the end of your first year in order to receive a positive BSA, and therefore continue your studies within the BA Liberal Arts and Sciences.

A negative BSA is received if you obtain less than 42 ECTS at the end of your first year. You are not able to continue your studies within the BA Liberal Arts and Sciences with a negative BSA. You do, however, have the following options:

• Commence another Bachelor's program at Tilburg University.
• Commence the same Bachelor's program at another university.
• Commence the same Bachelor's program at Tilburg University but only after a three year period.

On average 70% of all Tilburg University students receive a positive BSA. Since the start of the BA Liberal Arts and Sciences in September 2008, for three consecutive years, students attained a percentage well above average: from the class started in 2010 92 % received a positive BSA. We are very proud of this achievement by our Liberal Arts and Sciences students.

Second and third year

The curriculum for your second and third year is dependent on the Major you choose. Please select the Major you are planning on choosing:

• Major in Business and Management
• Major in Law Europe
• Social Sciences Major
• Major in Humanities: European History and Culture

Structure

The program is divided into six semesters, each requiring the completion of 30 ECTS worth of courses (usually five courses of 6 ECTS each), leading to a total of 180 ECTS, and an internationally-renowned Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Tilburg University.

30 ECTS translates to around 40 hours of study per week, divided into 15 hours of class-time and 25 hours of independent study.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test : 80

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Your classmates on the Liberal Arts and Sciences program contribute in so many ways to the quality of your learning experience. Our admissions requirements ensure you get to learn alongside some of the most interesting, ambitious and globally-minded students around. And you might just be one of them.

All applicants must go through an application and selection procedure before joining the program. This procedure ensures all students' backgrounds, profiles and ambitions meet our requirements. All applicants are assessed fairly and impartially using the same assessment criteria.

Diploma requirements

You are eligible to apply for the Liberal Arts and Sciences program with a Dutch high school diploma at VWO level (all four profiles are eligible), or a foreign equivalent, such as the International Baccalaureate diploma or the German Abitur. Find out whether your non-Dutch diploma meets our requirements.

English proficiency requirements

Because the Liberal Arts and Sciences program is taught entirely in English, you may be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English by producing the results of a TOEFL test, an IELTS test or a Cambridge Proficiency Certificate. Required minimum scores are:

• TOEFL: 550 paper based and 80 internet based (institutional code for TOEFL is 9860)
• IELTS: 6.0 overall band, 5.5 on all parts
• Cambridge Proficiency Certificate: pass

An English proficiency test is NOT required for students who:

Are native English speakers, i.e. citizens of, or have obtained their secondary education in English for at least three years in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States of America.

Or who have:

• An English International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma.
• A Dutch VWO diploma.
• A Dutch HBO propedeuse.
• The German Abitur (with English as one of the examination subjects).

Student profile

We seek candidates for Liberal Arts and Sciences who display:

• Motivation and a broad range of interests.
• Ambition and the desire for intellectual challenge and personal development.
• An international mindset, and who can adapt to a truly multicultural classroom.
• A high level of self-motivation and self-discipline.
• An interest in participating in small-scale, interactive classes as well as lectures.
• A passion for discussion and debate.
• An interest in honing their ability to think critically and analytically.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Tilburg University.

Accreditation

Tilburg Universitys Liberal Arts and Sciences programme is a fully accredited Bachelors programme. The Dutch government allocates responsibility for accreditation to the NVAO (the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders), and the NVAO accredited the BA Liberal Arts and Sciences programme in spring 2007. Upon successful completion of the programme students receive a legally accredited Bachelors degree from Tilburg University and the title Bachelor of Arts (BA).