Applied Mathematics

Welcome to the Education Guide for the Applied Mathematics Bachelor program. This website includes all the information you need as a student.

There are formal requirements to enroll in the program. They guarantee for instance that  students have at least a background in mathematics comparable to `mathematics B' (wiskunde B) at vwo high school level. This concerns mainly skills (like problem solving skills, mathematical thinking, algebraic skills), functions (like exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions), graphs, equations, differentiation and integration, geometry with coordinates. The vwo elective Wiskunde D is not a prerequisite for the bachelor program, but provides a valuable addition  to students' background.

The Bachelor program Applied Mathematics aims at educating students in the main branches of mathematics relevant for applications in a societal and industrial setting, including working on real-world mathematical modeling problems.

The detailed objectives of the program are as follows.  

1. Graduates have general knowledge of those parts and aspects of Continuous Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics and Stochastics that are important for the application of mathematics to problems motivated by real world challenges  
2. Graduates are familiar with the core language of mathematics, to the extent they are equipped to read master-level textbooks and a small selection of research papers  
3. Graduates understand the principles that underline mathematical abstraction, are capable of formal reasoning and can construct mathematical proofs (associated with domain expertise) 

1. Graduates are able to devise well-motivated mathematical formulations for problems motivated by real world challenges 
2. Graduates are able to use their mathematical knowledge to answer questions arising in mathematical formulations of problems 
3. Graduates are able to implement moderately complex mathematical algorithms in general purpose software platforms 

1. Graduates are able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a mathematical argumentation and identify possible flaws and generalizations 
2. Graduates have the ability to judge proposed mathematical formulations and solutions on aspects such as usefulness, effectiveness, efficiency in terms of the originally proposed problems
3. Graduates have the ability to find sources and literature and to assess their relevance 
4. Graduates have the ability to critically reflect on the social and ethical aspects of their results and solutions 

1. Graduates are able to use the language of mathematics to formulate and communicate concrete mathematical questions and analysis to their lecturers and peers 
2. Graduates are able to adequately document their work in writing, and present and defend it orally, targeting both specialists and non-specialist audiences 

1. Graduates have a structured approach for tackling problems. They can dissect problems, ask the right questions and critically reflect on possible solutions 
2. Graduates have a pro-active attitude towards individual learning and personal development, and are able to apply learning skills that enable them to pursue a follow-up degree and acquire knowledge in new fields with a high level of autonomy 

3. Graduates are able to plan their work activities individually and as a team 

Content wise, we distinguish the following thematic lines in the major Applied Mathematics:

1. Basic courses on Analysis
2. Basic courses on Algebra and Linear Algebra
3. Further courses on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)
4. Further courses on Discrete Mathematics and its Applications (DMA)
5. Further courses on Statistics, Probability, and Operations Research (SPOR) 
6. Mathematical Modelling
7. Professional Skills
8. Programming skills and Mathematical Software
9. Research Experience

Note: the thematic lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 consist of regular courses. In these courses a part Modelling and/or Professional Skills and/or Mathematical Software can be contained. The themes 3, 4, 5 prepare for the main specializations CSE, DMA and SPOR in the master program Industrial and Applied Mathematics. 

Visit the Major Courses page for a full overview of all the courses included in the thematic lines of the program.

Want to know more? Contact M&CS Education and Student Affairs at +31 40 - 247 2379 or via the contact form below