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The English language requirements apply to all bachelor’s programmes, both English and Dutch taught.
The BSc Tourism accepts the following test scores and diploma as valid proof of your English language ability.
IELTS Academic test overall grade 6, with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 for speaking
- TOEFL test internet-based: 80, with a minimum sub-score of 20 for speaking
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) – C1 Advanced score between 169-210
- Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) – B2 First score between 169-190
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – C2 Proficiency score between 180-230
- RATEr listening pass, reading pass, writing borderline, speaking borderline
- Dutch VWO diploma English (any grade)
- Dutch HAVO diploma English 7 or above
IELTS and TOEFL tests should have been taken no longer than two years prior to the application.
Exemptions for the English requirements
If your diploma is on this list, your English level is determined to be at pre-university level, and you can be exempted from any further English language requirements. Applicants who have completed their secondary school education in Australia, Ireland, Canada (except for schools in Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America are exempted from taking an English language proficiency test. If you have questions about admission to the bachelor’s programmes, please check the Questions and Answers for prospective Bachelor students.
If you’re from the Netherlands, your vwo diploma is sufficient. You don’t have to do a test. And to be honest, you don’t have to be an expert in both as you will learn it during the program better. If you’re not from the Netherlands you can take a look at the admission page (Can I be admitted to a bachelor’s – WUR) or contact the study adviser (bto.bsc@wur.nl) for further information.
And if you’re from hbo: you need a propaedeutic certificate and do an additional exam in math, but this is rarely the case. Also, your level of English should be sufficient. If you did HAVO, you will need at least a 7.0 for English.
Not applicable for foreign students.
For Dutch students: Before May 1st you have to apply for a study in Studielink. If you apply for BSc Tourism, you are obligated to fill out an online questionnaire, which is your matching. This questionnaire compares your motivation with our porgramma. Does it fit your expectations? If you filled out the questionnaire, you will get a matchings advice from the programme. Most of the time, this is a positive advice. In case we doubt about your motivation and possibilities within our university, we will provide you with a personal explanation and advice. We want to guide everyone in making the right choice for them.
For more questions and answers see: https://www.wur.nl/nl/Onderwijs-Opleidingen/Bachelor/Matching/FAQmatching.htm
Keep an eye on the following site for the latest news about orientation days.
https://www.buas.nl/en/programmes/meet-us/join-student-day
You can also always contact our student coach.
No, there is no limit on the number of students we accept at this point.
The BSc Tourism looks more broadly at the subject of tourism than the average professional bachelor and connects knowledge about tourism with knowledge about broader change processes.
Scientific analysis and reflection is much more important compared to professional bachelor programs. A scientific tourism student wants to dig deeper into the background of tourism topics. In a scientific study program, for example, the student is not satisfied with knowledge about tourism trends, but also wants to know why they arise.
In the BSc Tourism, students learn to set up and conduct sound scientific research and to better judge the usefulness and applicability of existing knowledge.
First of all, tourism management is a professional bachelor’s degree and BSc Tourism a scientific degree.
Tourism Management is a program that focuses mainly on management within the tourism industry. BTO deals with developments in tourism and the interrelationships between tourism, the economy, society and the environment. You will learn how to study tourism from different scientific perspectives.
The degree you receive at BTO will allow you almost directly into any master’s program, while Tourism Management does not. However, there might be pre-masters at certain universities that you could apply for.
The Joint Degree brings together strong characteristics of both institutions:
- The scientific top knowledge of social and environmental sciences and the international scientific networks of WUR
- The applied tourist knowledge and contacts with innovative companies in the tourism sector of BUas.
More specifically, the joint degree means for a student that:
- He / she studies in Breda in the first two years and completes the study programme in Wageningen in the third year.
- He / she receives a joint academic degree from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas).
- The program does not share courses with professional bachelor programs from BUas. All courses are specifically designed for the BSc Tourism.
- In almost all courses, teachers of Wageningen and Breda work closely together in teams.
- All lecturers from both institutions also conduct scientific research and are rigorously tested for the quality of their scientific research (comparable to lecturers from other universities).
- In 2019, an international accreditation committee assessed the program with the final rating of “GOOD”. Some quotes from the assessment report:
“The program delivers on its ambition to educate analytical, critical, and strategic thinkers who will be able to adjust to the challenges that the tourism sector faces.”
“The research quality of staff members is beyond any doubt.”
“Graduates showed a high level of ability and showed that they are very well prepared for progression to a master’s program either in tourism, or related to tourism.”
Approximately 30 students register for the BSc Tourism every year. About 30% have a foreign nationality. About 70% of the students are women.
The number of contact hours in the first year of the course is 12-18 hours. In BSc Tourism, contact education is concentrated as much as possible on a few days a week, in order to make participation in teaching by teachers and students more efficient.
The program has deliberately chosen not to have specialization. The integrated approach to tourism from the angles of all three core disciplines (social, economic, environment) in most courses is the reason for this.
In the third year, however, the fifth semester is completely reserved for individual profiling. In this period you can choose a described minor from Wageningen University or another Dutch university, or go on an international exchange, or you can compile a package of courses from scratch, which must be tested by the Examination Committee for suitability for the program and internal consistency. So no fun package.
Over 50% of BSc Tourism students opt for an International Exchange.
The variety of chosen minors is large, for example:
- marketing & consumer behaviour
- business management
- international development studies
- international land and water management
- anthropology | psychology
- climate studies | environmental sciences
- risk and disaster management
Very!
- All subjects in the program have an international perspective. Issues from all over the world are covered.
- The literature used is international.
- 30% of the students have a foreign nationality
- The language of instruction in the program is English
- A large part of the staff has a foreign nationality.
- In the second year of the study programme, the International Field Project takes you one month to an international destination.
- In the third year, over 50% of the students go on international exchange for six months in the fifth semester.
- All BSc Tourism students are allowed to participate in the honours program of Wageningen University.
- Because that program is provided in Wageningen, it is difficult for BSc Tourism students to participate in it.
- Upon request, subject teachers are happy to offer additional challenges to students who wish to do so.
- It is possible to follow extra courses or MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses). The study adviser can help you with this.
Yes, A Binding Study Advise (BSA) applies.
If you study nominally, i.e. exactly according to the program of your study program, then each academic year consists of 60 credits. The standard that has been set for the BSA is 42 credits for first-year courses. In order to enrol in your study program the following academic year, it is therefore necessary to obtain at least these 42 credits in first-year courses.
82% of all BSc Tourism students continue to the second year. That is a lot compared to other programmes.
87% of all BSc Tourism students graduate within 4 years. That is a high percentage.
Economics (Economics & Tourism) and Statistics & Mathematics are courses in which you can show your maths skills! Both courses challenge you with more simple mathematical equations and ask you to reflect on your high-school math skills.
In Statistics and Mathematics (SMA) you learn about Statistics in general, and you will make use of the statistics program SPSS. With that, quantitative data can be analyzed and through weekly assignments you have the chance to reflect on the course material and ask questions during the practicals. It’s important to keep on track for this course and to stay motivated throughout in order to pass successfully. Once you have figured SPSS out, it can actually be a lot of fun!
Of course, this is very individual, but there are a lot of students that enjoy the first introductory course, namely “Tourism Principles and Practice”. In this course you get a good overview of tourism and its context.
Also, the course NFP (National Field Project) is popular, as you get to undertake research yourself on a small team on a multi-day excursion in the Netherlands.
The International Field practicum used to be the favourite course for BTO students (pre pandemic), as you got to travel to foreign places and do fieldwork yourself. Hopefully we can travel abroad again for this course this year!
This is based on your individual perception, but usually the research related courses such as “Research Methods 1” and “Research Methods 2” as well as “Statistics & Mathematics” are perceived as challenging
In the Netherlands, we call the University lectures by their first names, most of the time, and they are very approachable. Most lecturers even emphasize that you can always send them an email if you have questions. Also, you can always ask questions in class (before or after the lecture is also fine)
In Breda, a lot of rooms are available through Kamernet.nl or klikvoorkamers.nl, also check facebook groups such as ‘Find a room(mate) or house in Breda – Kamer(s) in Breda’ or ‘Zoekt kamer in Breda Community’. You can apply for rooms on the website/facebook groups by sending them a private message or email. Most houses will organize “hospiteer” evenings, either in person or online in order to ‘interview’ you if you’re a good fit. More information about housing in Breda can be found in the housing manual.
First of all, register at room.nl and pay their fee. Through room.nl, you can react to available rooms and you get into a ranking system, based on how long you have been registered for at room.nl. So it’s worth it if you are registered early (one or two years in advance if possible), to enhance your chances of finding housing. Further, there is a facebook group called ‘Wageningen Student Plaza’, where many rooms are posted every week by student houses. Most houses will organize “hospiteer” evenings, either in person or online in order to ‘interview’ you if you’re a good fit. More information about housing in Wageningen can be found here: Student Housing – WUR
No that is impossible. You must first complete a Bachelor’s degree before you can start taking courses that you want to do in the MSc.
- Almost all BSc Tourism students opt for a master’s program after obtaining their bachelor’s degree. 30% opt for a master’s degree from Wageningen University and 20% opt for a foreign master’s degree.
- Some students first take a gap year after completing their bachelor’s degree, before continuing their studies in a master’s program.
Yes, often the minor is a stepping stone to a later master. The study advice is also aimed at this. The diagram below gives an idea of the relationships.
- In practice, it appears that BSc Tourism students are broadly moving towards a wide variety of master’s programs.
- The BSc Tourism offers unconditional admission to two WUR and one BUas master:
- WUR MSc Tourism, Society and Environment
- WUR MSc International Development Studies
- BUas MSc Leisure and Tourism Studies
- If students choose a suitable minor, they are also admissible to other WU masters, eg.
- MSc Environmental Sciences
- MSc Climate Studies
- MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
- Forest and Nature Conservation
- Students have also moved on to a wide variety of other master’s programs in the Netherlands and abroad.
- We know that the Wageningen master’s programs mentioned above are very satisfied with the level of BSc Tourism graduates. Especially knowledge and experience with conducting scientific research is highly valued.
That is very difficult to say. Students continue their studies with a very wide range of master’s programs.
The job opportunities differ per master program.
In practice, upon completion of a master’s degree, graduates usually found work as a teacher / trainer, project leader / program coordinator, commercial assistant, researcher or consultant / advisor at educational organizations, regional or national governments (including national parks), universities, NGOs (think of WWF), the transport industry (e.g. an airline) or travel agencies (ANVR, Holland Marketing, TUI).
The BSc Tourism is advised by an External Advisory Committee of professional organizations. This includes ANVR’s Frank Oostdam. He recently concluded:
“We have to realize that we are one of the biggest economic sectors in the world and this comes with bigger responsibilities than we were used to in the past. Looking at the future challenges of our sector I am strongly convinced that the BSc Tourism has the essential competences to really bring our sector a sustainable step further and we will get new young travel professionals that really can be agents of change. ”
- The Bachelor of Science Tourism prepares you for a broad range of MSc programmes or direct career opportunities. With strong knowledge of sustainable tourism development, graduates entered careers in the domains of Leisure & Tourism; Environmental Sciences; Society & Culture; Economics & Management, and International Development.
- Graduates are equipped to fill a range of positions, such as Strategic Policy Advisor, Business Analyst, Consultant at the European Commission, Social Impact Consultant, Sustainable Tourism Consultant or Project Leader at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
- Work is carried out from a broader conceptual perspective than that of a future practice-oriented marketeer, project leader or entrepreneur.
Our alumni find work in different places and can be roughly divided into three thematic directions: Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences and Economics & Management. A couple of examples of jobs can be found below. If you’re interested in more alumni stories, check out our Future Career page!
- International Environmental Policy Consultancy, UNCTAD; UN-DSD; Wageniingen University & Research
- Data Science Consultant at Next Senz
- Manager of hotel Fauwater, Belgium
- Key Account Manager Benelux & Scandinavia, Eurotours International GmbH
- Researcher, Center for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University
- Tourism expert, InterDomizil GmbH
- Content producer at WWF Nederland (WNF Wereld Natuur Fonds)
The BSc Tourism focuses on the relationship between tourism and economic, cultural, social, political, technological and ecological transitions. The study program trains students as strategic and innovative thinkers who, in the professional practice, help tourism and related organizations prepare for dynamic change processes, such as climate change, globalization, digitization, managerial change and global income relationships.
A key issue in the study programme is the transition of tourism into a more sustainable and responsible practice.
It is an interdisciplinary study programme. It combines insights from social, economic and environmental sciences. These disciplines are closely related to the three sides of the sustainability triangle: people, planet, profit.
Admission requirements Dutch students
Dutch students can be admitted to the programme with:
- A Dutch vwo diploma. All vwo profiles are eligible: N&T, N&G, E&M, C&M. For the C&M profile: Mathematics A is required
- A diploma (propedeuse) from the first year of a four year hbo programme. Please note that sufficient knowledge of mathematics and English is required
- A diploma from the first year of a Dutch university. Please note that sufficient knowledge of mathematics and English is required
Admission requirements International students
International students can be admitted to the programme with:
- An International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, including Math Standard or Math Higher.
- A European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma, including Mathematics (3 hrs).
- Another secondary or high school diploma that equals the Dutch vwo diploma, including Mathematics and English.
If you have questions about your admissibility to the Bachelor of Science Tourism, you can contact the admission office of Wageningen University through studentadministration@wur.nl.
The Bachelor of Science Tourism programme is offered jointly by Wageningen University and NHTV Breda. Application and registration for this programme goes through Wageningen University.
Detailed information on how to register can be found on the application and admission website of Wageningen University (click here).