Economics at Tilburg University in the Netherlands

Fall Semester – 18 weeks (mid August to late December)
Spring Semester – 23 weeks (January 20 - June 30, 2009)

Sponsored by the Department of Economics in the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Sponsored by the Department of Economics in the College of Social Science at Michigan State University, this program takes place at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.    The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Tilburg University is known for its high quality research and education and has recently been ranked the best research institution in Europe.

The program will provide students majoring in Economics with the European economic perspective and allow them to broaden and deepen their understanding of economics by being exposed to disciplinary material from people with different world views.  Participating in this program will provide students the international learning experience essential to become well-educated citizens of the world.

Where does it take place?

Tilburg is the sixth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of about 200,000.  It has a reputation as a center for learning with an array of educational institutions and has a student population of more than 25,000, with 12,000 students at Tilburg University.  The city provides numerous entertainment and leisure activities including popular theme parks such as the Efteling, Beekse Bergen and the Land van Ooit.   Surrounding cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht are also easily visited.

Tilburg University was founded in 1927 and was originally a School of Economics.  Today, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration is the largest program at the university (second largest in the country) and among their oldest.  It offers a wide range of educational programs and conducts research in all major fields of economics and business administration.

What can I study?

The following is an example of potential course offerings:

• Monetary Economics
• Comparative Public Economics
• International Trade and Exchange Rates
• International Financial Markets
• Institutions and Incentives
• Competition Policy and Deregulation
• European Financial and Monetary Integration
• European Economics
• Industrial Organization and Technological Change
• Philosophy of the Economy
• International Markets and Institutions
• European Labor Markets
• Monetary Policy and Economic Activity
• Corporate Finance
• Ethics of Markets and Governance
• Seminar in International Economics
• Seminar in Monetary Economics
• Seminar in Governance and Markets

Students will not be allowed to enroll for courses for which they have not met the prerequisites or in instances where it is deemed academically inappropriate.

Courses will be offered in English, but students who would like to study Dutch can do so through the Language Center at Tilburg.

Students will enroll in a minimum of fifteen (15) credits. 

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. They will be included as part of your MSU grade point average (GPA). For further details about this policy, visit the student webpage.

Contact the study abroad program coordinator listed below to learn more about available courses. To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Reigistrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

What are the requirements?

This program is open to MSU students majoring in Economics who

• have junior status;
• have completed all the basic disciplinary courses in their major: EC 201, 202, 301 and 302 (251H and 252H) with a strong recommendation for EC 340 and 420 as well; and
• are in good academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA/major GPA of 3.0 at the time of application and departure. 
• Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Meeting these criteria does not, however, guarantee admission as additional criteria may be applied.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students can choose to live in student houses or with host families.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Professor Carl Davidson
Department of Economics
110 Marshall-Adams Hall
Phone: (517) 355-5238

You can also log-on to Tilburg University’s Web site.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.

How much does it cost?

Funds paid directly by the student include:

• transportation to the Netherlands
• accommodations
• meals
• books and supplies
• MSU tuition and fees*
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visit
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding MSU tuition and fees, an estimated total for these costs is $9,200 (Spring Semester 2009) per semester.

A program fee of $165 (Spring Semester 2009) is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance.

Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester programs and by March 1st for fall programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines. 

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.