Why does one car have more air resistance than another? How can the frequency of the electric power smart grid be kept constant under external disturbances?
Applied Mathematics involves the development and application of mathematical tools to analyse and design the dynamical systems required by modern technology. Mathematical modelling of the problems encountered plays a fundamental role, followed by numerical analysis, computer simulation, and controller design to make the systems behave according to the desired specifications. Interaction with other disciplines and with specialists in the fields of application is essential.
During your two-year Master’s programme you will be
embedded in the Applied Mathematics research group of your choice.
You will be supervised by staff during your research project, which
can also take the form of an internship, for example within a
company’s research division.
Three specializations
This is a 2-year Master's programme, that consists of 120 ECTS (60 ECTS per year). The programme is built up as follows:
1) 15 ECTS mandatory courses
2) ≥35 ECTS from one specialization 3) ≤20 ECTS Electives (from other specializations, Mastermath, etc.) 4) 35 ECTS MSc Research Project 15 ECTS Internship Applied Mathematics
You also have the option to follow an MSc Applied Mathematics
open degree programme. In that case, the programme is built up as
follows:
- Mathematics and its environment
- Student Colloquium
- Research Seminar in Applied Mathematics
2) ≥35 ECTS from all Applied Mathematics
specializations
3) 35 ECTS MSc Research Project
15 ECTS Internship Applied Mathematics
| Programme options |
|---|
| Computational Mathematics (specialization) This specialization emphasizes modelling, analysis and the simulation of fluid flow problems. Courses offered in this specialization cover subjects like Computational Fluid Dynamics, Computational Engineering, and Boundary Layers in Fluid Dynamics. |
| Systems and Optimization (specialization) This specialization deals with mathematical systems theory, control theory and optimization. Courses offered in this specialization cover subjects like Robust Control, Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control, and Iterative Algorithms |
| Statistics and Data Science (specialization) This specialization deals with all statistical and Machine Learning techniques that are required for analysing modern data sets. Courses offered in this specialization cover subjects like Contemporary Statistics with Applications, Statistical Consulting, Pattern Recognition, and Machine Learning. |
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.
Internship: This programme offers you the opportunity to carry out a research project of a variable number of months at a company in the Netherlands or abroad, as part of your thesis. Our choice of industry partners ranges from large multinationals (such as Shell, Philips, Unilever) to dynamic small and medium enterprises in the Groningen area.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
A Dutch bachelor's degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics gives direct access. In case of other bachelor's or master's degrees, the Board of Admissions will decide if you meet the admission requirements in terms of general level of previous education and specific background knowledge. A special pre-master programme is available for holders of a relevant Dutch HBO Bachelor's degree. In case you have a Dutch bachelor's degree in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics which is not obtained at the University of Groningen, or a relevant Dutch HBO bachelor's degree, please contact the academic advisor. Information about admission possibilities and requirements for students from a Dutch HBO institute is published on: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/admission-application/apply-msc/nl-diploma/ |
| other admission requirements |
BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/admission-application/apply-msc/ for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Applied Mathematics | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme. The Board may decide that you have to take supplementary courses or follow a bridging programme before being admitted.
Do you prefer an early decision on your request of admission? Don’t wait until 1 May, but use one of the earlier deadlines for this Master’s programme (for a course start on 1 September).
If the University of Groningen has received your complete application before, then you will receive a decision at the latest on:
Application - Decision:
1 December – 15 January
1 February – 1 March
15 March – 15 April
1 May - 15 June
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
At least a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics or Applied/Engineering mathematics with courses in the field of control theory and/or fluid dynamics. This is merely an indication of required background knowledge. The Board of Admissions determines whether the specific contents of your previous degree programme meet the admission requirements. |
| additional subject |
The Admissions Office will advise the Board of Admissions on your application, after which the Board will decide if you meet the admission requirements in terms of general level of previous education and specific background knowledge. Applications are evaluated on a continuous basis. You do not have to wait until the application deadline to apply. Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/admission-application/apply-msc/intl-diploma/ for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements. |
| language test |
Make sure to visit 'Language Requirements' for all the necessary information about required language tests and minimum scores. https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements |
| other admission requirements |
BEFORE YOU APPLY Make sure to visit 'MSc Application Procedure' at https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/admission-application/apply-msc/intl-diploma/ for all the necessary information about the procedure and admission requirements. SCHOLARSHIPS ASML Scholarship: ASML is one of the world's leading manufacturers of chip-making equipment. The €5000 p/y scholarship is awarded every year to 25 exceptional students, who get the chance to become a Technology Ambassador within their scholarship period. More information can be found here: https://www.asml.com/en/careers/students-graduates/asml-scholarship/netherlands#scholarship-details |
The Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be admitted to the Master's degree programme. Applications are evaluated on a continuous basis. You do not have to wait until the application deadline to apply.
Do you prefer an early decision on your request of admission? Don’t wait until 1 May, but use one of the earlier deadlines for this Master’s programme (for a course start on 1 September).
If the University of Groningen has received your complete application before, then you will receive a decision at the latest on:
Application - Decision:
1 December – 15 January
1 February – 1 March
15 March – 15 April
1 May - 15 June
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 24200 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 2601 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 24900 | full-time |
Practical information for:
A Master's degree in Applied Mathematics opens up many job opportunities. During the Master's programme you will learn to think in a logical, systematic, and problem-oriented way within a multidisciplinary environment. When you have completed the programme, you will be able to apply mathematics to a technical problem and to work at the interface between theory and practice, skills that are highly valued by a wide variety of employers. You will find job opportunities in industrial companies, rese
Job opportunities are available in industrial companies, research institutes, as well as in universities. Examples of companies looking for applied mathematicians include Gasunie, Philips, Stork, Shell, Tata Steel, KPN and small engineering bureaus. Examples of research institutes are the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR, the picture on these pages comes from the NLR), WL/Delft Hydraulics, KNMI and TNO.
You can start a university career by working as a PhD student, which means working for four years on a research project and writing a thesis. After having successfully defended this thesis, you will be awarded a PhD degree. Afterwards you can continue an academic career or start a career in industry.
In the second year of the Master's programme you will conduct a research project. You can choose from one of the following fields of expertise:
Computational Mathematics
Typical research questions in the area of computational science and
numerical mathematics include how much force is exerted on a ship
when it is hit by a wave, where does plaque develop in a blood
vessel, how does the fuel in the tank of a satellite slosh in the
absence of gravity?
Systems and Optimization
In the field of systems, control and optimization answers are
sought to questions like how can a satellite be kept in a stable
orbit around earth, is it possible to design a controller that
robustly stabilises for a certain technical process?
The Master's programme in Applied Mathematics is closely linked to the Bernoulli Institute. Its mission is to perform outstanding academic research and teaching in Mathematics, Computing Science, and Artificial Intelligence.
This set of programmes as a whole has as its main goal performing research at a high international level, leading to publications in international scientific journals and a steady stream of highly qualified researchers (at PhD level). The intended audience consists of the academic research community on one hand and social and professional practice (e.g. industry, hospitals and administration) on the other hand. The Institute aims to provide an attractive research environment for graduate students by maintaining a modern infrastructure and by appointing highly competent and active scientific staff members.
Study Applied Mathematics at the University of Groningen
