Course content

Mathematics is an independent scientific discipline with many parallels and constant interactions with various other sciences. Mathematics proved impossible to ignore in any scientific discipline where a certain level of accuracy is involved. For example, the spectacular advances in molecular biology have not only inspired biologists but also many great mathematicians, resulting in a fascinating interaction. This has created many new research fields, both in mathematics and in biology. However, pure mathematics without applications in science and technology in itself also merits its place.
Sometimes applications are very indirect and unexpected: some branches of pure mathematics appear very useful for practical applications such as encoding and decoding, and cryptography.
Mathematics has in fact long been one of the most fundamental manifestations of man’s efforts to better understand the world. Therefore, it remains an essential element of the culture we transmit to future generations.

Programme

The master’s degree programme offers three majors: Pure Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, and Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
The research groups consist of incidence geometry, logic and analysis, algebra, differential geometry and mechanics, Clifford analysis, numerical analysis and mathematical modelling, general relativity, combinatoric algorithms and algorithmic graph theory, computational biology, fuzziness and uncertainty modelling, numerical mathematics, statistics, stochastic modelling, representation theory and special functions, and applied dynamical systems.

Course structure

DEGREE STUDENTS

Someone who follows the Master of Mathematics has enough maturity, mobility and private interests to develop a conscious choice. Consequently, the study shows a wide choice.

First choose a main subject that matches your interests: (A) Pure Mathematics, (B) Mathematical Physics and Astronomy, or (C) Applied Mathematics. The structure of the two year programme is as follows: 30 credits for basic courses in the specialization, 30credits for elective courses, 30 credits for the master thesis and 30 credits for the minor (research or business management) .

During the master you can orientate yourself in a particular direction by means of choosing a so-called minor. Every minor is a reflection of a specific career branch (research and development, industry and management). The program has been arranged in such a way that, regardless of the minor you choose, an equivalent master degree is obtained. The specialised courses introduce you to some research areas inherent in the specialisation. In the minor research you have five courses from a list of advanced elective courses, in line with the chosen specialisation.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

The exchange programme contains a preferred list of English courses taught at UGent of the Master of Science in Mathematics. The programme offers a selection of courses with subjects in the three majors.

Career perspectives

The graduates of the Master of Mathematics can go for a job scientific research and in many companies where research and development are a core activity. Your main strengths are your ability to illustrate technical concepts, to deal strategically with complex information and to creatively look for new viewing points. Your training as a mathematician is particularly useful and highly valued, and often gives you ahead of colleagues from other programmes. Besides for teaching and research, mathematicians are highly sought in financial institutions, the ICT industry and services (consulting firms, ...).

Admission requirements 

diploma

• For non-Flemish degrees: the course is open to students with at least a Bachelor degree in the field of mathematics with minimum 180 credits.

• For Flemish degrees: the list of degrees giving access to this master can be consulted in the online course catalogue.

language

Check the language requirements.

Application Procedures

DEGREE STUDENT

International students who want to obtain a diploma or degree at Ghent University apply and enroll as regular students on the basis of a diploma obtained abroad.

EXCHANGE STUDENT

International students who temporarily live in a foreign country and attend courses or are involved in other academic activities, have to follow the procedure of exchange students.