Mathematics
At the start of the first year the student chooses a preliminary field of specialization. This leads naturally to the choice of a preliminary personal supervisor and a choice of the courses that the student will attend. Of course the student can change his mind about the field of specialization and the advisor until he starts his thesis work. All decisions regarding the education of the student will be taken in consultation with advisor and coordinator. The fields of specialization correspond with the research fields of the Institutes as described on the research areas.
There are no compulsory courses for master students. On the other hand, there are some 'central' courses of interest for the different fields of specialization. Further more the structure of the programme is restricted according to the rules of the structure.
The nine Dutch Universities that have a master programme in Mathematics or Engineering Mathematics, offer a joint programme of courses. Each master student in mathematics is expected to attend four of these courses. You will find a list of courses of the joint national programme here. More details will be published on the web site http://www.mastermath.nl.
Students in general take part in a seminar in their research area. Also it will be the forum where the student will present his master project. It will beprovides a possibility for individual study of a topic on which the student will present a lecture.
The second year is largely devoted to advanced mathematics and ends in a master project. The subject of the project should be chosen at the end of the first or at the beginning of the second year. The supervisor will advise the student in choosing the subject.
The master project can be carried out under supervision of a member of one of the two mathematical institutes, or externally, within a company or research facility other than one of these two institutes. In the latter case he/she will have a local advisor and a supervisor from one of the two institutes. The student chooses his master project with the help of the coordinator and the preliminary supervisor, and possibly the 'stagebureau' at the VU.
The project requires half a year of work, not including preparatory activities.
A student can only start the actual project if he has obtained 75 cp . In exceptional cases the examination board may allow otherwise.
