Mathematics B.Sc.

 

CDs, DVDs, computer games, clinical studies, statistical surveys, the management of traffic jams, risk evaluations for insurance, early-warning systems for the finance market, encryption technologies, and the simulations of geological phenomena – they all have one thing in common: mathematics!

Our daily life would completely different without mathematics and many products and services wouldn't even exist.

Scientific disciplines also call up mathematics to use structured arithemetic techniques to find solutions for complex problems. Mathematicians develop highly complex problem situations and structures within the interdisciplinary interaction of disciplines. In doing so, they obtain a deep understanding for the observed systems.

Furthermore they support every step of a solution with analysis and prognosis methods, and primarily simulation processes. With these processes they create predictable models, which are verifiable and can replace lengthy, expensive test series.

In order to reflect the diverse challenges, RWTH gives its mathematicians application-oriented training. After completing an intensive and demanding core curriculum, students have access to fields where mathematical methods are applied, for example the natural sciences and engineering.

After completion of the core curriculum, RWTH's mathematics program offers a comprehenisive range of elective modules, with which students can create their own individual profile starting in the fourth semester. The module catalogue reflects the extraordinarily broad research spectrum of the RWTH Department of Mathematics. The wide range of topics on offer includes differential equations, optimization, statistics, computer algebra, graph theory, uncertainty quantification, and numerical analysis.

The Aachen mathematics course of study's high practical relevance is evident in the application subjects, which accompany the mathematics training starting right in the first semester and make up about 20 percent of the curriculum:

• Physics
• Computer Science
• Business Administration
• Economics
• Additional minors can be selected if approved by the examination board, such as medicine, biology, philosophy, or geology

The combination of a high theoretical niveau and practical implementation ensures RWTH graduates possess profound methodological skills.

 

Degree Content

The curriculum content at the beginning of students' studies ensures students learn theoretical and mathematical fundamentals. The goal is to learn correct logical reasoning and diverse proof methods.

Weekly exercises encourage students to apply mathematical processes to problems.

Intensively supervised small groups support this learning process and promote teamwork. Seminars provide the opportunity for students to work together for a longer period of time on the current topic and to strengthen contact to the academic small groups. The concluding Bachelor's thesis offers the opportunity to independently work on a mathematical topic and appropriately present it.

Example Course of Study Layout (varies, depending on application subjects)

Semester	Curriculum Content
1	Analysis I	Linear Algebra I	Fundamentals of Algebra	Fundamentals of Analysis	Modules from the Selected Application Subject
2	Analysis II	Linear Algebra II
3	Analysis III	Programming Course	Numerics I	Stochastics I
4	Elective	Mathematical Lab	Numerics II	Stochastics II
5	Elective	Elective	Seminar	Elective
6	Elective	Bachelor's Thesis	Elective

You can find more information about the schedule on the department’s website.

 

Programs Abroad

The Department of Mathematics maintains research and teaching partnerships with a number of European and non-European universities. With the EU mobility program ERASMUS+ students can study abroad at 31 European universities, improve their technical skills, and expand their cultural and language spheres. The intensive collaboration with Asian universities particularly offers an extraordinary variety of study offers. The breadth of partnerhips reaches from China to Japan, India, Korean, Taiwan, and Thailand.

RWTH students profit not only from the Faculty's exchange programs but also from the University's strategic partnerships with international universities. They can, for example, complete short stays at one of the IDEA League universities while completing a term paper. The UROP Abroad program, the only one of its kind in Germay, offers the possibility to participate in research projects at international universities during Bachelor studies. These stays abroad are partially funded by RWTH-specific funding.

All of RWTH's partnerships programs are listed on the study abroad pages.

 

Decision Aids

What to bring with you: enjoyment and interest in logical relationships, great engagement, and the readiness to work hard and continually.

If you want to study mathematics, you should not only enjoy arithmetic, but also abstract work. Everything you learned in school will be discussed again during your studies - but from another perspective: You will radically question everything that you have seen thus far. Your "tool" is proof. Thus, you should have already expressed interest in justification in school. Your constant question wil not be: " How do I get the answer?" but rather "Under what conditions is the process of calculation valid?" In the course of your studies, you will achieve a high level of abstraction, which you should enjoy. If you would like to consider your decision again, you are welcome to visit a lecture: Lecture Visits for School Children. You can also gather initial impressions at the Schüleruni, during student practicals, at the University Visitation Week, or in the Sample Studies for Girls. The Department of Mathematics website offers additional exciting looks at mathematics – such as the math compass, presentations, and workshops.

 

Prerequisites

Personal Prerequisites

If you want to study Mathematics, you should possess solid basic arithmetic knowledge. Above all, this means intermediate mathematics, of which you should have complete control. In its bridge course program, RWTH Aachen offers mathematics bridge courses and an online bridge course in order to intensify and complete your knowledge.

Enrollment Prerequisite

RWTH Mathematics Self Assessment

 

Media Library

Do you want more information and impressions? Use our diverse information resources! You can find our recommendations in the media library.

 

Career Prospects

Mathematicians are in high demand in the job market! Statistics have shown that they are sought after and valued as generalists in diverse fields. In addition to having completed a demanding course of study, graduates are qualified for abstract, structural thinking and quick incorporation. They are equipped to solve problems stemming from the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and business and economics.

For example, mathematicians work on calculations and simulations of technical innovations in the development departments of all technology sectors. Insurance and banking also offer good entry-level opportunities. Here mathematicians primarily work on market development prognoses, rational risk estimation, and the evaluation of economic options.

In corporate consulting mathematicians are view as problem solvers, who often open up new paths with their logical thinking, exact analyses, and reliable predictions. One should not forget that mathematics is not only an exact science, but also a creative one. Mathematicians are unconventional thinkers, who are often used to solve Gordian knots.

You can find examples of the diversity of career fields on the Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung (de) website.

 

Master's Degree Prospects

RWTH offers a Master's course of study in mathematics with unsually diverse specialization possibilities that can be flexibly combined. Students can choose from almost all areas of the subject. The only requirement is that students complete an equal amount of modules in pure mathematics and applied mathematics. You can even take the Master's program entirely in English if you choose the Applied Mathematics specialization.

An application subject is further studied during Master's studies, just as during the Bachelor's phase. It is possible to write the Master's thesis in collaboration with institutes working in this field of application.

 

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook
Subject-Specific Examinatio Regulations
RWTH's General Examination Regulations

 

Faculty

The Bachelor course of study in Mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences .

The RWTH Department of Mathematics is one of the most strong research departments in Germany. This is evident in its top placement in international rankings such as the CHE Excellence Ranking, were it is ranked in the Excellence Group. From algebra to number theory, it conducts research all the important fields of mathematics – and always with a practical orientation.

Many research groups also conduct interdisciplinary work and actively network with other RWTH faculties, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and other institutions.