The master programme Mathematics offers the student a wide range of advanced mathematics courses. The students have a variety of options to specialize in a (sub)field of fundamental mathematics, or to choose subjects more broadly either with an eye towards applications or focused at a profession.
Reflecting these possibilities, there are several variants of the programme. In the Research (R) and Professional (P) variants, the students choose courses for 84 EC and complete their studies with a master project (R variant) or an internship (P variant) for 36 EC. The same applies to the Biomedical (B) variant, but in this variant at least 30 EC of the courses are to be chosen from the area of life sciences. The Education (E), Society oriented (S) and the Communication (C) variants consist of 36 EC Mathematics courses, a master project of 24 EC, and 60 EC dedicated to variant specific courses, projects and/or internships. Details about the compulsory courses in the different variants can be found in the study guide. In the R, P and B variants at most 15 EC can be devoted to optional courses, while the optional courses in the E, S and C variants are restricted to 12 EC.
At the start of every semester, students discuss their programme with the master coordinator. Mathematics courses can be selected from the ‘local’ courses offered by VU University Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam, but also from the MasterMath programme offered jointly by the nine Dutch Universities that have a master programme in Mathematics or Engineering Mathematics. Students in the R and P variants are expected to follow at least 30 EC of these courses.
The master project is carried out under the supervision of a staff member of VU University Amsterdam or the University of Amsterdam. In case of an internship the student has a local advisor at the company and a supervisor from one of the two institutes; please contact the internship office roughly half a year before the start of the internship. In the R, P and B variants the student can only start the master project or internship after obtaining at least 75 EC.
