Slightly fewer participants in ninth lustrum TOP Week

The TOP Week 2025 started on Monday morning. First-year students could register, received a wristband and they got to know their fellow students.

After the official registration at the sports center, the mentor groups gathered on the adjacent hockey field. The groups also moved across the university campus. A bit uncomfortable, the first years got to know each other and the mentors, who want to give the students a flying start in their studies.

Fewer participants

The number of first-year students participating is slightly lower than last year. About 3,100 students are participating in the introduction week, says TOP Week chairman Cas Bogaers. Last year, that was 3,700 students. This decrease is probably the result of a slight decrease in the number of enrolments at the university this year, according to Bogaers.

This year is a festive year because the TOP Week is celebrating its ninth lustrum. To celebrate this, the 45th board has also opened the beer cantus to external interested parties this year.

Bogaers is looking forward to the cantus: ‘Senior students and study associations are also welcome in the Ireen Wüst ice rink on Wednesdays. It may be a bit busier, but we can handle the extra crowds, and it will be very pleasant.’

No drugs

The well-being of the new students has also been considered. This year, for example, there is a Visual Thinking Strategies workshop  that first-year students can follow to work on their mental health. And a campaign is launched against the normalization of drug use.

Finally, it is striking that the 013 Fair, where students get to know Tilburg associations and companies, is somewhat larger than in other years. More parties have signed up to present themselves to the new students on the university campus.