Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies

3-year academic bachelor’s programme | English-taught

An expert in leisure time

Leisure is all around us, from parties to music festivals, from amateur sports to urban development projects around sports stadiums, and from art to gaming and esports. But what's behind it?

How can we predict trends in the way people spend their leisure time? How can traditional leisure businesses use social media more effectively to attract visitors? What new business models are needed in an increasingly complex and dynamic leisure sector? You will explore all this and more in the only academic bachelor's programme in the field of leisure in the Netherlands.

An academic bachelor's programme in leisure?

  • Only academic degree programme in the field of leisure studies in the Netherlands 
  • Interdisciplinary education preparing you for positions in policy, strategy or research, or for a master’s degree programme
  • Academy for Leisure & Events is one of the five World Leisure Centres of Excellence

Zoom in on our Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies

Programme content

Projects and minors

Breda student city

Campus favourites

The right choice?

Do you want to know if this Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies in Breda is the right choice for you?

Within five minutes you will find out if this BSc programme is the right fit for you!


Take the quiz

Quiz BSc Leisure Studies

Study overview

This multidisciplinary academic study programme offers you courses on the importance of sports, culture and music events, on innovation, sustainability and well-being, and you will learn how policy and strategy regulate the leisure sector. Together with other students, you will work on assignments for real industry clients, you will learn about research methods and techniques, and you will attend theoretical and practical seminars. 

Most of the lecturers of this BSC leisure programme hold, or are working on, a PhD and conduct substantial research. To be more effective, efficient, creative and decisive, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg University and several other institutes have decided to join forces in leisure research by means of a Centre of Expertise in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH).

Year 1- Introduction to the core disciplines of the leisure field

In the first year, you will get a solid introduction to different sectors of business and social science, as well as research methods, underscoring the varied nature of the leisure field. Some courses will focus on the consumer perspective or social science approaches, whereas in other courses the business side is more prominent. You will learn to apply your knowledge in several practical cases.

Open first year curriculum in a .pdf

BUas Curriculum BSc Leisure studies year 1
Year 2 - Deepening your knowledge & training your analytical skills

In the second year, you will strengthen your knowledge on what kinds of activities people choose in their leisure time, and how companies can organise those activities and profit from them. In addition to theoretical lectures, practical seminars, debates and case studies, you will work on several projects for commissioners from the leisure field. In these projects, you will apply the research techniques and theoretical insights learnt in the various courses.

Year 3 - Expanding and integrating your knowledge

In the fifth semester, you will choose a minor at another university, preferably abroad (via our network of partner universities) or in the Netherlands. In the sixth and final semester, you will apply everything you have learned by:

  • considering leisure preferences, activities, networks and impacts from all angles. These leisure practices involve complex collaboration processes, for instance in the development of urban space and city culture;
  • considering leisure activities across different cultures; studying fundamental philosophical questions about the relevance of leisure and the ethical questions it raises;
  • investigating the contribution leisure can make to the development of urban space and city culture;
  • In the last semester, you will write a thesis, in which you will investigate a complex leisure issue. Topics for the bachelor's thesis can be connected to current research being conducted by members of staff.

Open second and third year curriculum in a .pdf

BUas Curriculum BSc Leisure studies year 2&3

Generally, the differences between ‘academic’ and ‘professional’ programmes are as follows: 

  • Content (the academic programme has more research and uses more advanced theories/models, teaching you to see leisure in a broader, societal perspective);
  • Analytical perspective (the academic programme trains for roles at a more strategic level, professional programmes are focused more on operational roles);
  • Assignment and work styles (the academic programme features a large variety of assignment styles - writing papers and research reports, presentations, discussions, etc. - and more individual work than the mostly project-group-based professional programme);
  • Graduation perspectives (the professional programmes educate you for work in a specific sector, whereas an academic diploma affords more flexibility, training you in skills that you can also apply in other sectors and roles);
  • They are similar in atmosphere and attitude

The average study load for this programme amounts to approximately 40 hours a week, during 42 weeks. How many hours a week you actually spend on studying differs per week and depends greatly on the type of person you are. The last weeks of a term and the exam weeks are relatively busy.

Admission

To be admitted to this degree programme, you need a vwo diploma with an appropriate profile, or an equivalent of these Dutch diplomas. Check out the complete admission requirements and the possibilities if you do not meet the requirements

Application

If you meet the admission requirements, you are invited to apply for this programme. Please check out the application procedure

Study costs

In the academic year 2023-2024 the statutory tuition fee for bachelor's programmes is €2,314. First-year's students pay €1,157. In addition to the tuition fee, you will need to take into account additional costs for participation in the introduction week and the purchase of study materials such as textbooks and excursions. Read more about study costs.

I like to research why something happens

The study programme teaches you about the backgrounds of leisure pursuits. The difference between professional and academic education is that the latter has a distinct research focus, whereas professional degree programmes are more about the practical aspects. I like to research why something happens; I am not so much interested in the organisational aspects of the leisure profession. After my studies I would like to go back to Aruba with the knowledge and experience leisure activities there.

Liesje Proveyer from Aruba 

Student Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies 

Janneke - Bachelor of Science Leisure

I want to improve people’s well-being

After my studies I want a role in which I can improve the well-being of people, for example of lonely young people or refugees. If there is a place where you really feel at home, then the choice is actually quite easy. Make sure to come to our campus and talk to students! If that all feels right, you will know you are in the right place!

Want to know what orientation options there are? Follow Your Road to BUas

Janneke

Student

After your bachelor

After graduation you approach the leisure industry from both a social and a business point of view. Career examples are: strategic manager in a theme park, policy officer in the field of culture, consultant or researcher in the field of tourism and events.

Like to more? After your bachelor.

(Left: Linda graduated and now works as a data analyst at Transavia)