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).
Read moreSince I was little I've always loved solving riddles and puzzles
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.
Read moreImpressed by the computing part
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.
