Have you already completed another programme? If so, you may be eligible for course exemptions. This means you won’t have to take certain modules because you’re already familiar with the material. Read below to find out how to apply for course exemptions.

Course Exemptions for New Students

Have you previously studied at another vocational institution, university of applied sciences, or university? If so, you can apply for course exemptions by sending an email to examboard@tio.nl.

It’s important to include the following in your email:

• Which programme you want to pursue at Tio Business School, starting when, and at which location.
• Your diploma.
• Your transcript with a signature or stamp from the educational institution. (A screenshot from a system like Osiris or any other university system is not sufficient.)
• If you have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree: a description of the learning objectives for each course you have passed. The examination committee must determine whether the content of the courses is sufficiently similar to the content of the modules at Tio Business School. You can often find such a description in a course catalogue or module handbook.

Good to know:

• You can apply for an exemption up to four weeks after the start of the semester in which you are taking a module.
• If you have completed an MBO programme, a description of the learning objectives from a course catalogue or module handbook is not required.
• If you did not complete a programme but did pass individual courses, you can also apply for an exemption. In that case, email the information listed above, but without the diploma.
• Have you emailed all the information? You’ll receive a response within ten business days.
• The examination committee determines exemptions. If, after this decision, you still have questions about how to proceed with your personal study plan, it’s best to ask your (assistant) campus manager or study coach.
• Even if you meet a course’s exemption requirements, you are still allowed to take the course in question if you want. Should you also decide to take the course’s exam, your exemption will lapse and the result of your exam will count towards your grade. It is not possible to request an exemption if you have already taken a course’s exam. If you have purchased study materials for a course you later receive an exemption for, you will not be eligible for a refund.

Applying for exemptions is pointless if:

• The semester started more than four weeks ago.
• You’ve already taken an exam for the relevant course at Tio.
• Your diploma is more than ten years old. For languages: more than five years old.
• You want to be exempted from a finance or accounting course based on a previous diploma with (business) economics.
• You want to be exempted from languages that are industry specific. For example, you cannot be exempted from hospitality English if you took English as part of an IT programme.