BSc in Applied Mathematics University of Groningen

Why do some cars or airplanes experience more drag than others? How do we calculate the orbit of a satellite? How are partially autonomous vehicles controlled? How fast does blood flow through our veins?

While the degree program in Mathematics is concerned with abstract matters, the emphasis of the Applied Mathematics program is on constructing mathematical models to solve problems, simulate practical situations, and analyze the results. For example, you may make a model to compute the flow of water or blood or the flow fields around the wing of an airplane. Or, you may work on operating systems for robots, airplanes, or satellites. While the ability to think abstractly is just as important as it is for Mathematics, in Applied Mathematics you also learn to structure your reasoning and draw conclusions.

The University of Groningen offers degree programs in both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. The first year is largely the same for both Bachelor’s programs, during which you explore the programs and gradually work towards your specialization. It is possible to switch programs at the end of the first year.

Applied Mathematics is an international Bachelor’s degree program. All of the course units are taught in English, which gives Applied Mathematics an extra dimension as many of your fellow students and lecturers will come from abroad.

Why study this program in Groningen?

• In Groningen, you can study Mathematics or Applied Mathematics.
• You can switch to the other program at the end of the first year.
• Applied Mathematics is an international degree program, which gives you a substantial advantage at the start of your career.
• The Faculty of Science and Engineering is home to the Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Ben Feringa, and the Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Frits Zernike.

Research

Our Bachelor's degree program in applied mathematics is connected to the Bernoulli Institute.

The mission of the Bernoulli Institute is to perform outstanding academic research and teaching in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence, and to maintain international leadership herein; to foster these disciplines as a living body of knowledge, and to make it relevant to society in its broadest sense. The symbiosis between pure and applied science, and between mono- and multidisciplinary research and teaching, is a distinguishing characteristic of our institute. As an important part of this mission, we aim to transfer our results to other areas of science and technology and initiate and expand inter-and multi-disciplinary research collaborations.

The following research groups within the institute focus on Mathematics:

• Algebra
• Computational Mechanics and Numerical Mathematics
• Dynamical Systems, Geometry and Mathematical Physics
• Probability and Statistics
• Systems, Control, and Applied Analysis

Courses

• Calculus 1
• Electives, e.g. Introduction Logic, Mechanics and Relativity 2, OR Modelling
• Kaleidoscope Mathematics
• Linear Algebra 1
• Mechanics and Relativity 1
• Analysis
• Calculus 2
• Computer-aided Problem-solving
• First-year project
• Linear Algebra 2
• Linear Systems
• Probability Theory

Curriculum

The degree programs in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics have a common first year. This gives you time to familiarize yourself with the two programs so that you can make an informed decision at the end of the first year. During the first year, you take course units that are relevant to both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

You increasingly specialize in Applied Mathematics during the second and third years. You start to focus on modeling and simulations, and you look at concrete applications in course units such as Project System Theory, Fluid Dynamics, and Mathematical Modelling. You complete your Bachelor's degree program with a research project.

Credits per year: 60 ECTS; most courses are 5 ECTS.

Study abroad

• Study abroad is optional
• Maximum of 30 EC

Exchange: All our science and engineering programs offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America. Our exchange programs have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.

Internship: This program offers you the opportunity to carry out a research project of a variable number of months at a company in the Netherlands or abroad, as part of your thesis. Our choice of industry partners ranges from large multinationals (such as Shell, Philips, Unilever) to dynamic small and medium enterprises in the Groningen area.

Job prospects

Applied Mathematics is a broad Bachelor's degree program, after which you can specialize in a Master's degree program. You can continue in the academic world or opt for a career in the business world, either in the Netherlands or abroad. Research, consultancy, or teaching there are many fields open to you!

Business

Having finished your degree program in Applied Mathematics, many opportunities will be open to you for a career in the business sector, for example with an insurance company or a consultancy firm. Multinational companies such as Shell, Philips, and ABN Amro also welcome applied mathematicians enthusiastically, as do smaller and medium-sized enterprises.

During the degree program, you learn to think logically and to structure your reasoning. An analytical approach becomes second nature – a skill that is highly welcome in the business world. After all, you are able to identify the structure of a large organization, separate the main issues from the side issues, and produce a model to predict how the organization will change as a result of internal and external influences.

Research

Once you have your Master’s degree, you may choose to carry out Ph.D. research at a university. Your Master’s degree will also qualify you for positions at research institutes such as TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) and the KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute).

Teaching

There is a great demand for mathematicians to work as teachers in secondary education. After the Bachelor’s program in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, you can follow the Master’s degree program in Science Education & Communication (Dutch-taught education track, English-taught communication track).

Job examples

• Researcher
• Analyst
• Positions in the financial world
• Teacher
• Consultant