How are partially autonomous vehicles controlled? How fast does blood flow through our veins? Why do some cars or aeroplanes experience more drag than others? How do we calculate the orbit of a satellite?
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!
Do you want to hear more from people who have a passion for (Applied) Mathematics? Professor Marcello Seri and Master student Marit van Straaten are hosting the podcast “It’s not just numbers” (in English) which features mathematics professors from the University of Groningen talking about the human aspects of mathematics! Episodes 5 and 6 address the differences between applied mathematics and pure mathematics.
| CoursesCourse Catalog > |
|---|
| Analysis |
| Calculus 1 |
| Calculus 2 |
| First-year project |
| Introduction to Graph Theory |
| Linear Algebra 1 |
| Linear Algebra 2 |
| Linear Systems |
| Mechanics and Relativity for Maths |
| Probability Theory |
| Scientific Programming |
| Sets and Numbers |
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.
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.
wiskunde B
wiskunde B
wiskunde B
| Specific requirements | More 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/education/admission-application/apply-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 |
More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
More information about matching: https://www.rug.nl/fse/education/matching
| Specific requirements | More 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/education/admission-application/apply-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 |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
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).
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:
