Address: Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB Tilburg, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Data Science, Cognitive Science & AI
Tilburg University started in 1927 as the Roman Catholic commercial college, known in Dutch as the Roomsch Katholieke Handelshoogeschool, in the south of the Netherlands. Economics was the central subject from the beginning, and the university’s own history page adds that law, history, psychology and social sciences were studied from the start. From the 1960s these areas developed into independent schools.
The university is now divided into five schools: the Tilburg School of Economics and Management, which has the oldest roots, Tilburg Law School, the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, and the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology. Each school covers a field with its own research and degrees, from business and economics to law and public administration, human behaviour in society, culture and digital technology, and religion as a social force.
Tilburg has almost 20,000 students according to its own history page, and Wikipedia reports 19,168 for 2024. The main campus is in the city of Tilburg, and the School of Catholic Theology preserves the Catholic heritage of the founding college. Prospective students should consult the school pages for English-taught programmes, fees and application deadlines.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Ergonomics, Statistics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Member of several international university networks.
Research:
Digital sciences for society, Health and wellbeing, Sustainability and circularity.
Famous Alumnis:
Wim van de Donk
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2000
Current students***:
20000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
70000
Pros
Strong in data science and its societal applications, modern campus.
Cons
Primarily known for social sciences; pure engineering options are limited.
Best For
Data science and AI with a strong societal and human-centric focus.
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam is a Dutch public university listing data science and health technology among its fields, a city-based counterpart in economics and business education.
Maastricht University is public and lists data science and AI and biomedical engineering among main fields, and it is a Dutch university with an international profile.
Radboud Universiteit in Nijmegen is a public university with brain research, artificial intelligence and chemistry, close to Tilburg in the southern Netherlands.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is public and covers brain research, artificial intelligence and environmental sciences, a large city university offering broad choice.
Universiteit van Amsterdam is a public university with artificial intelligence, physics and life sciences as main fields, and it is a capital-city research alternative.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
ENSAE Paris in France is a public school for data science, applied probability and quantitative economics, linking economics with applied data work.
Universität Mannheim in Germany is a public university with computer science and data science and business information systems among its fields, known for business and social sciences alongside them.
University of Essex in the United Kingdom is public and lists social sciences, human rights and data analytics, a good match for a social-science-led institution.
University of Warwick in the United Kingdom is public with business, economics and engineering among main fields.
Université Paris Dauphine - PSL in France is a public university for applied mathematics and data science and computer science, with a strong economics and management tradition.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was Tilburg University established?
It was founded in 1927 as a Catholic school of commerce. The original Dutch name was Roomsch Katholieke Handelshoogeschool.
Which schools make up the university?
It has five: economics and management, law, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and digital sciences, and Catholic theology. Each school publishes its own programme pages.
How large is the student body?
Almost 20,000 students are enrolled, and Wikipedia gives 19,168 for 2024. Students are spread across the five schools.
What subjects were taught at the start?
Economics was central, but law, history, psychology and social sciences were studied from the beginning, according to the university's own history page. These subjects grew into separate schools from the 1960s.
Does the university still have a Catholic link?
Its origin lies in a Catholic college, and it still has a School of Catholic Theology. Degree details for that school are on its own pages.
Where can I find fees and admission requirements?
Each school publishes programme information, including language of instruction and application dates. International applicants should check the pages for their chosen master's or bachelor's programme.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cognitive Computing, Digital Twin, Machine Learning, Sustainable Development, User experience (UX), User-Centered Design
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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