Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies

Are you interested in the dynamic world of leisure? Leisure is all around us, from neighbourhood parties to music festivals, from amateur sports to urban development projects around stadiums, and from art to gaming and esports. Do you want to know how to predict how people will spend their leisure time? Then maybe this unique programme is just your thing. 

In this only academic bachelor's programme in the Netherlands, you will work on the story behind leisure. You will learn how companies can use social media more effectively to attract people. You will also learn which business models are needed in this complex and dynamic leisure sector. You will ensure that people can enjoy their leisure time to the fullest. The programme is a collaboration with Tilburg University. 

The academic Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies is 'knowledge-oriented'. During your studies you develop a number of academic and management competencies by analysing academic knowledge. To do this, you will often work independently and sometimes in small groups on cases and assignments. In the field of leisure, the various lines of approach offered by, for example, psychology, sociology and anthropology, only offer partial explanations of what people want – and are able to do – in their leisure time. This means that if you want to understand leisure, you will need to adapt to new and unexpected situations, by using old ideas, theories and methods in new ways, or by developing fresh new ideas – which can then be assessed and researched. This is how we push the boundaries and make crucial new contributions to existing knowledge in the industry.

The programme is completely English-taught and runs over three years. The first year exists out of four terms, the second and third years is organized into two semesters. Breda University of Applied Sciences also offers two professional bachelor programmes in the field of leisure: Leisure & Events Management, which is also taught in English, and Leisure & Events Management (NL), which is taught in Dutch.

Organisation

The academic Bachelor of Science Leisure Studies is a separate programme within Breda University of Applied Sciences with its own management. The core team not only teaches on the programme, but also conducts substantial research which is financed by third parties. Most of the lecturers hold, or are working on, a PhD.
To be more effective, efficient, creative and decisive, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg University and several institutes have decided to combine forces on leisure research into a communal Centre for Knowledge called CELTH (Centre of Expertise leisure, tourism & hospitality).