About the university
Tilburg University was founded in 1927 as the Catholic Business School and has almost 20,000 students from more than 140 countries. Besides its main campus in Tilburg it has branches in Utrecht, Den Bosch and central Tilburg.
It is strongest in economics, business, finance, econometrics, law and the social sciences, and it has a growing range of data science and AI master's. It is ranked 429 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 326–350 in the THE World University Rankings 2027.
For Indian students, most business, finance and data master's take just one year, and many have a January as well as an August start. The standard non-EU master's fee for 2026-27 is €19,900, and a 50% tuition waiver exists for applicants whose last degree is from an eligible country.
Tilburg is a smaller Dutch city with lower living costs than Amsterdam; the university estimates €1,000 to €1,200 a month, with furnished rooms from about €600.
- Founded
- 1927, as the Roomsch Katholieke Handelshoogeschool (Catholic Business School)
- Type
- Public university best known for economics, business, law, social sciences and data science
- Total students
- Almost 20,000 (university history page)
- International students
- 26% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data); students from over 140 countries
- Student–staff ratio
- 18.1 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Intakes
- Many one-year master's start at the end of August or the end of January
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
429 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
326–350 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- End of August 2027 (non-EEA deadline 1 April) or end of January (non-EEA deadline 1 October)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or 5 (new scale), Cambridge C1/C2 180 for September 2027
- Postgraduate
MSc Business Analytics and Operations Research
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September 2027 intake (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027 on the application pages we checked)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or Cambridge C1/C2 180 on the application pages we checked; confirm on the programme's application page
- Postgraduate
MSc Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September 2027 (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or 5 (new scale), Cambridge C1/C2 180
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September 2027 intake (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027 on the application pages we checked)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or Cambridge C1/C2 180 on the application pages we checked; confirm on the programme's application page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- End of August 2027 (non-EEA deadline 1 April) or end of January (non-EEA deadline 1 October)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or 5 (new scale), Cambridge C1/C2 180; GMAT 525 (or GRE equivalent) also required
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September 2027 intake (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027 on the application pages we checked)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or Cambridge C1/C2 180 on the application pages we checked; confirm on the programme's application page
- Postgraduate
MSc Strategic Management: Business Development
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September 2027 intake (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027 on the application pages we checked)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or Cambridge C1/C2 180 on the application pages we checked; confirm on the programme's application page
- Postgraduate
MSc Information Management: Intelligence and Innovation
- Fee / year
- €19,900
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- September 2027 intake (non-EEA deadline 1 April 2027 on the application pages we checked)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in writing and speaking), TOEFL iBT 90 (old scale) or Cambridge C1/C2 180 on the application pages we checked; confirm on the programme's application page
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Data Science and Society | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Business Analytics and Operations Research | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2 years | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Marketing Analytics | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Marketing Management | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc International Management | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Strategic Management: Business Development | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
| MSc Information Management: Intelligence and Innovation | 1 year | €19,900 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Tilburg University with similar universities in the Netherlands.
Scholarships
- Master's
Tilburg University Waiver
Value: 50% tuition fee waiver
Eligibility: Non-EU applicants whose most recent degree is from an eligible country (check the list on the university's page). Limited number, awarded on academic achievement.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's
Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme
Value: Listed by the university as a full scholarship
Eligibility: Check eligibility and deadlines on the university's scholarship page. Scholarships are not available for pre-master's programmes.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Tilburg's standard non-EU/EEA bachelor's fee is €13,400 for 2026-27; check each bachelor's programme page for international diploma requirements.
Postgraduate
- Each master's lists the subject background it expects. Marketing Management, for example, asks for about 12 ECTS each in economics and business, management, mathematics and statistics and marketing, plus 24 ECTS of academic training such as a thesis.
- Some business master's require GMAT (Marketing Management asks for at least 525) or a GRE equivalent.
- Non-EEA deadlines are 1 April for an end-of-August start and 1 October for an end-of-January start.
- A one-time €100 application fee applies to applicants with a non-Dutch diploma for programmes starting September 2027 or later.
- Gaps in your background may be covered by a pre-master's for some programmes (not offered for Cognitive Science and AI).
Documents
- Valid passport
- Colour scan of your bachelor's diploma (or proof you will graduate)
- Official, signed and stamped transcript of records
- Sworn translations for documents not in English or Dutch
- English test result from a single test date, no more than two years old
- GMAT or GRE score where the programme requires it
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in writing and speaking on the master's pages we checked. IELTS Online is not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 (with 22 writing, 21 speaking) for tests before 21 January 2026, or 5 (5 in writing and speaking) on the new scale for September 2027. Home Edition only in exceptional cases. |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 180 overall with 180 in writing and speaking for September 2027 |
| Exemption | Possible if your entire bachelor's or master's was taught in English (or completed in Australia, Canada except Quebec, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US). Check the exemption criteria before relying on it. |
Accommodation and living costs
Students arrange their own housing in Tilburg; the university links to an accommodation guide. Its cost-of-living estimate for master's students is below.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished accommodationFrom this amount | €600per month | ≈ ₹63,600 |
| Food and drinks | €250per month | ≈ ₹26,500 |
| Insurance | €50–140per month | ≈ ₹5,300 – ₹14,840 |
| Total living costs | €1,000–1,200per month | ≈ ₹1.1 lakh – ₹1.3 lakh |
Campus and location
Tilburg University's main campus is in Tilburg, with branches in Utrecht, Den Bosch and central Tilburg. Students come from more than 140 countries.
- Many one-year master's in business, finance, marketing, econometrics and data science.
- Two intakes (end of August and end of January) for several master's, such as Data Science and Society and Marketing Management.
- Data science programmes span business, health, governance and media tracks.
- Pre-master's programmes help some students close gaps in their background.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Non-EU graduates can apply for the Dutch orientation year (zoekjaar) to look for work; see our Netherlands guide for the rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International students as a share of all students | 26% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in the Netherlands
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the Netherlands. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in the Netherlands
Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicDelft University of Technology (official website, opens in a new tab)
Delft, NetherlandsOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Arts, Design & Media
Photo: Fons Heijnsbroek, CC0 PublicUniversity of Amsterdam (official website, opens in a new tab)
Amsterdam, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Data Science & AI, Law
Photo: RSM erasmus, CC BY-SA 2.0 PublicErasmus University Rotterdam (official website, opens in a new tab)
Rotterdam, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Finance & Accounting, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: Kleon3, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicMaastricht University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Maastricht, NetherlandsOften chosen for Business & Management, Life Sciences, Law
Photo: Marvin Raaijmakers, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicEindhoven University of Technology (official website, opens in a new tab)
Eindhoven, NetherlandsOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Rudolphous, CC BY 3.0 PublicLeiden University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Leiden, NetherlandsOften chosen for Law, Life Sciences, Computer Science & IT
FAQs
What does a master's at Tilburg University cost?
The standard non-EU/EEA master's fee for 2026-27 is €19,900 a year, and most master's take one year. Some programmes set a different fee, so check the fee overview. Living costs are about €1,000 to €1,200 a month.
Can I start in January?
Several master's, including Data Science and Society and Marketing Management, also start at the end of January. The non-EEA deadline for that start is 1 October.
Do I need GMAT?
Some business master's do. Marketing Management asks for a GMAT Focus score of at least 525 or a GRE equivalent. Data Science and Society and Cognitive Science and AI do not mention GMAT on their application pages.
Is IELTS waived for Indian students?
Tilburg says you may be exempt if your whole bachelor's was taught in English. Check the exemption criteria and confirm with admissions before you skip the test.
Are there scholarships?
Tilburg lists a 50% tuition waiver for applicants from eligible countries and a few other scholarships, all limited and merit-based.
Sources
- Tilburg University: tuition fees (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: overview of institutional fee rates (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: master's tuition fees, cost of living and scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Business and Management master's (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Data Science master's (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Finance and Accountancy master's (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Data Science and Society application (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Marketing Management application (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: Cognitive Science and AI application (opens in a new tab)
- Tilburg University: history (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: Tilburg University (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Tilburg University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.tilburguniversity.edu (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details