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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Applied Mathematics
Header image Applied Mathematics

Applied Mathematics

Why do some cars or aeroplanes 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 programme in Mathematics is concerned with abstract matters, the emphasis of the Applied Mathematics programme 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 aeroplane. Or, you may work on operating systems for robots, aeroplanes 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 programmes in both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. The first year is largely the same for both Bachelor’s programmes, during which you explore the programmes and gradually work towards your specialization. It is possible to switch programmes at the end of the first year.

Applied Mathematics is an international Bachelor’s degree programme. 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.

Listen to the podcast!

Want to know more about this Bachelor's programme? Listen to the podcast with a student and lecturer of the Applied Mathematics programme. You can listen to the podcast here. (Please note: podcast is in Dutch).

Facts & Figures
Degree
BSc in Applied Mathematics
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
56965
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Studie in Cijfers
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • In Groningen, you can study Mathematics or Applied Mathematics.
  • You can switch to the other programme at the end of the first year.
  • Applied Mathematics is an international degree programme, which gives you a substantial advantage at the start of your career.
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b
Analysis
Calculus 1
Electives, e.g. Introduction Logic, Mechanics and Relativity for Maths
Introduction to Graph Theory
Linear Algebra 1
Sets and Numbers
Calculus 2
First-year project
Linear Algebra 2
Linear Algebra 2
Linear Systems
Probability Theory
Scientific Programming

Curriculum

The degree programmes in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics have a common first year. This gives you time to familiarize yourself with the two programmes, 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 modelling and simulations, and you look at concrete applications in course units such as Project System Theory and Mathematical Modelling. You complete your Bachelor's degree programme 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 programmes 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 programmes have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.

Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid

    wiskunde B

  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij

    wiskunde B

  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij

    wiskunde B

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
language test

Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) as well as the exemptions listed on the language exemptions webpage). More info: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

other admission requirements

Before you apply!

When you cannot fulfil the vwo requirement, due to deficient profile or if you want to be admitted on the basis of a successfully passed first year of HBO or colloquium doctum, you need to submit an additional admission request via the Admission Board Bachelor programmes. Please go to this website for more information.

Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the matching procedure. Information about the matching procedure can be found here

Choice of degree programme check

More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Choice of degree programme check

More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Secondary education equivalent to Dutch pre-university education (vwo) is required.

A list of qualifications that are considered equivalent to pre-university education in the Netherlands can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications

If you have any questions concerning admission to the programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/contact/admission-office

additional subject

Sufficient background knowledge in Mathematics is required.

The Admissions Board will determine whether your background knowledge in this subject is sufficient to start the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice.

language test

You will need to submit proof of English proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Please find our English language requirements (exemptions, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and more) on this page: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

other admission requirements

Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the matching procedure. Information about the matching procedure can be found here

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16500full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 19300full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Applied Mathematics is a broad Bachelor's degree programme, after which you can specialize in a Master's degree programme. 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 programme 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 Vestas, Philips and ABN Amro also welcome applied mathematicians enthusiastically, as do smaller and medium-sized enterprises.

During the degree programme, 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, to separate the main issues from the side-issues, and to 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 PhD 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 programme in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, you can follow the Master’s degree programme in Science Education & Communication (Dutch-taught education track, English-taught communication track).



Job examples

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

Our Bachelor's degree programme 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 Optimization (SCO)
Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
Campus TourMore information
Bachelor's Open DayBroerstraat 5More information

Contact

  • Ask Our Students! (Like to talk about the programme and student life with someone currently studying Maths?)
    Email: mathstudents rug.nl
  • Study Science (For general questions for all prospective students)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl
  • Academic Advisors FSE (For questions regarding the programme)
  • 
						Testimonial of Irene Castellano Gomez

    Since I was little I've always loved solving riddles and puzzles

    – Irene Castellano Gomez
    Read more

    My name is Irene, I’m from Spain and I moved to Groningen 3 years ago to pursue my bachelor in Applied Mathematics. Since I was little I’ve always loved solving riddles and puzzles and along with the fact that math was always my favourite subject, I had no doubt this bachelor was for me. However, as an international student, I understand the perks of moving to a new country and starting this new adventure. This is why choosing this university made me feel so safe, since you don’t have to decide between following General Mathematics and Applied Mathematics until your second year. After my first year, when I got to know different disciplines inside the world of Mathematics, I realized I wanted to follow Applied Math since I loved the courses that have some programming or that deal with some Physics content. During my second year, I especially liked the courses Numerical Mathematics, which teaches you problem-solving skills through programming techniques, and Partial Differential Equations.

    Currently I am working on my Bachelor Thesis, which is about how Traffic Flow Theory can be studied using Differential Algebraic Equations. Along with some theoretical background and some simulations that I’m running, I’m developing a system that can model a network of roads with different constraints. This is very useful because it can be applied to many different networks and we can predict if a road will result in traffic jams or not.

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Ali Ozun

    Impressed by the computing part

    – Ali Ozun
    Read more

    I decided to study mathematics when I first succeeded in a local olympiad in high school, in Chisinau, Moldova and got more confident in my mathematical skills. I chose Groningen, because of the universities' alumni as Wietse Venema, and famous physicists. Most of all I appreciate the consistency of the programme and I was impressed by the computing part, which rests on the simplest but complex pieces of code.

    Living in this city makes me curious about its kind people. The architecture shows its history very nicely, that always makes the eye wonder and find beauty in shapes and structure. I do yoga by myself in the mornings, it helps to keep the pace for a disciplined study.

    Close

Study associations

FMF

The FMF is an association for the Bachelor's programmes Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Applied Physics, Physics, Astronomy and all of the subsequent Master's programmes at the University of Groningen.
The association pursues three objectives. The first objective is that it wants to contribute to the broadening of the scientific education of its members. This is done by organizing various activities in the scientific field, such as study excursions, lectures and symposiums.
https://www.fmf.nl
Read more
(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be issued a study advice at the end of your first year of study. You can expect a positive study advice if you have earned at least 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS; most course units are 5 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative study advice, you will not be allowed to continue your degree programme.

You will receive a preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you are. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the Binding Study Advice system.

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