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The Economics BSc is a specialized three-year program designed to teach you how economic models and data can solve real-world challenges like inequality, economic growth, and climate change. Whether you're interested in understanding how individuals make financial decisions, how businesses operate, or how governments shape entire economies, this program equips you with the analytical tools and knowledge to make a genuine impact on the world economy.
Curriculum Structure
First Year: Building Your Foundation
Your first year establishes a solid grounding in core economic principles alongside essential quantitative skills. You'll take Micro 1: Principles to understand how individuals and firms make decisions using mathematical models, Macro 1: Principles to explore how these decisions affect the broader economy, and Mathematics for Economics to develop the mathematical toolkit you'll need throughout the program. Alongside these core courses, you'll also study Statistics for Economics and develop practical programming skills in R and Python, ensuring you can work confidently with real economic data from day one.
Second Year: Deepening Your Expertise
In your second year, you'll move beyond foundational concepts and explore specialized areas of economics with greater depth. Building on your first-year knowledge, you'll take courses like Macro 2: International Finance, where you'll examine how exchange rates, capital flows, and trade balances respond to policies and economic shocks. You'll also engage with Micro 2: Welfare Economics and Finance and Investment, developing advanced analytical skills while beginning to see how economic theory applies to real markets and policy decisions.
Third Year: Specialization and Independent Research
Your final year gives you the freedom to shape your own learning path through a diverse range of electives tailored to your interests. You might choose Experimental and Behavioral Economics to understand how people actually make decisions (rather than how economic models assume they do), Competition Policy and Regulation to explore how governments manage markets, or The Economics of Banking and Finance if you're drawn to financial sectors. Crucially, you'll also complete your thesis, conducting independent research that lets you apply everything you've learned to a genuine economic question.
Focus Areas
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, development economics, behavioral economics, financial economics, environmental and resource economics, data analysis, and policy analysis.
Learning Outcomes
You'll develop the ability to recognize and analyze economic problems using mathematical and statistical models; apply economic theory to real-world issues; interpret and work with economic data; communicate complex economic ideas clearly to policymakers and diverse audiences; and conduct independent economic research.
Professional Alignment
Tilburg University offers a specialized program with a strong focus on economics in all its forms, differentiating itself from other Dutch universities that typically combine business and economics. The program is designed to prepare you for careers in government ministries, central banks, international organizations, financial institutions, consulting firms, and research bodies.
Reputation
The Economics BSc achieved 89 respondents in the National Student Survey 2025, and the program was recognized in Elsevier Best Studies 2023, reflecting strong student satisfaction and academic quality.
At Tilburg University, our Economics BSc program stands out by blending solid theory with hands-on practice from day one, so you build real-world skills that employers love—like analyzing data, modeling economic scenarios, and crafting policy solutions. You'll dive into practical challenges through dedicated courses that apply economics to issues like inequality, growth, and climate change, all while getting personal guidance in small classes at the world-class Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM). This isn't just learning; it's preparing you to make an impact right away, with flexible options in year three to gain even more experience through internships or abroad exchanges.
Experiential learning is at the heart of the program, with courses designed to tackle real-life problems faced by businesses, governments, and society: think optimizing humanitarian aid or economic consulting. Here's how you'll get that practical edge, straight from the curriculum:
- Improving Society Lab (runs throughout years 1-2): Apply econometrics and operations research to real-world cases, like medical treatments or aid distribution, practicing theory on actual societal challenges.
- Internships (year 3 Mobility Window option): Spend a semester interning (24 ECTS) in economics-related fields, combining it with electives for 30 ECTS total—perfect for building your resume and network.
- Economics in Practice; Consulting minor/course: Work on cases from firms and policymakers, learning consultancy skills through lectures, tutorials, team projects, and self-study to advise on real economic changes.
- Group projects and skills training: Tutorials emphasize teamwork, analytical thinking, and shared learning; plus courses like *Skills: Visualizing Data and Writing for Policymakers* and *GROW: Student Development* build presenting and programming skills for policy impact.
- Electives with practical focus: Choose hands-on options like *Experimental and Behavioral Economics*, *Competition Policy and Regulation*, or *Economics of Banking and Finance* to deepen applied knowledge.
- Thesis (year 3, 12 ECTS): Your capstone project applies models and data to a real economic issue, often involving research or fieldwork.
- University facilities: Access the extensive library, Wi-Fi campus-wide, and TiSEM's research-driven environment on our green campus with modern study spaces.
Imagine finishing with a degree from a top-ranked program (Elsevier Best Studies 2023) that opens doors to careers in consulting, policy, or finance.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Economics at Tilburg University develop strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills that prepare them for careers in both the private and public sectors. With this degree, students are well prepared for roles such as Economist, Data Analyst, Financial Consultant, and Policy Advisor. The program builds the knowledge and confidence needed to work in international environments and make informed economic decisions in organisations worldwide.
University services that support employment: Tilburg University offers dedicated Career Services, including CV and interview workshops, career counselling, internship guidance, and employer networking events. Students also benefit from support in finding internships and opportunities to gain real-world experience during their studies.
Employment outcomes and salary perspective: While exact figures for this specific programme are not separately published, Tilburg University graduates are known for strong employability, and many secure positions in leading companies and international organisations. Economics graduates typically enter well-paying roles, especially in finance, consulting, and data-related fields.
University–industry connections: Tilburg University maintains strong links with national and international organisations, businesses, and research institutions. These connections help students access internships, projects, and networking opportunities that strengthen their career prospects.
Long-term academic and professional value: The degree is offered by Tilburg University’s School of Economics and Management, which is internationally recognised for the quality of its research and education. This academic reputation adds strong value to your CV and supports global career mobility.
Graduation outcomes: By the end of the programme, students are able to analyse economic problems, interpret data, evaluate policy decisions, and apply economic theory to real-world situations. These skills are highly valued across industries.
Further Academic Progression:
After completing this bachelor’s degree, you can continue your studies with a wide range of Master’s programmes in Economics, Econometrics, Finance, Data Science, Public Policy, or related fields. Many graduates choose to specialise further to strengthen their expertise and career opportunities. The programme also provides an excellent foundation for research-oriented master’s degrees or future PhD studies, both at Tilburg University and at other leading universities worldwide.
International Baccalaureate: Tilburg University only accepts the full IB Diploma (including Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS) with a minimum overall score of 24, at least three Higher Level subjects, and subjects selected from groups 1–5 (or 1–6); individual course results are not accepted.English language requirement: Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting the minimum scores in IELTS Academic (overall 6.0, with at least 5.5 in Writing and Speaking; IELTS Online is not accepted) or TOEFL iBT (overall 80, with minimum scores of 19 in Writing and 17 in Speaking, taken at a test center).GCE A Level: Applicants must have at least three accepted GCE A Levels in approved academic subjects with grades A* to C, plus three GCSE academic subjects with grades A* to C or 4 to 9, making six different subjects in total.Canada:Canadian secondary diplomas (such as the DEC from Quebec, OSSD, British Columbia, or Alberta diplomas) provided they include the required Grade 12 academic subjects (including English and Mathematics) with a minimum score of 80% in each subject, as specified for each qualification.China: Students with a secondary education diploma from China cannot be admitted directly because the level is not equivalent to the Dutch Pre-University education (called ‘VWO’ in Dutch).France: Applicants must hold the Diploma du Baccalaureate General (French General Baccalaureate) for admission consideration.Germany: Applicants must hold the Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (German General Higher Education Entrance Qualification) for admission consideration.South Korea Students with a secondary education diploma from South Korea cannot be admitted directly because the level is not equivalent to the Dutch Pre-University education (called ‘VWO’ in Dutch).Turkey: Applicants must hold a Lise Diploması from a Genel Lise with a minimum diploma score of 85 percent; diplomas from Imam Hatip Lise, Meslek Lisesi, or Teknik Lisesi are not accepted for direct admission, and students from IB schools must meet the International Baccalaureate requirements.IB points generally around 30–32 points with MathematicsA level mathematics required, typically A–C gradesCBSE generally around 75% overall with strong MathematicsUSA High School Diploma with around 3.0–3.3 GPA or higher, along with a strong Mathematics background.EconomistData AnalystFinancial AnalystPolicy AdvisorConsultantResearch AssistantEconomic ResearcherInternational Organisation SpecialistBank AnalystMultinational Company EconomistEconomic ModelerEconomic Data SpecialistGovernment Economic AdvisorFinancial Consultant
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