master’s degree

Applied MAtheMAtics

For us the world is flat. Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and

Computer Science have created a level playing field for science and

innovation where national boundaries and time zones are irrelevant.

Mathematics is at the heart of this; without optimization algorithms and simulation of processes with many

variables, the internet would still be a pipe dream. Without the cost-effective and time-effective protocols

developed by computer science engineers, computers would not be connected and without electrical

engineering, electrical or optical signals would not process our information. That much is obvious...

Prof.dr.ir. Ton Mouthaan, dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

What’s not so obvious is the next phase: truly seamless integration of technology with human behaviour... cost-effective health support at home... optimization of systems with ‘embedded’ intelligence... real cyber security... exploring novel electronic concepts... developing sensing techniques at living cell level... medical robotics... The limits are only set by the boundaries of our imagination.

Join our international group of scientists who supervise over 250 research projects in these areas. Master’s students always play an active part in this research. Our two-year Master’s programmes offer coursework

and substantial research experience, all with a dose of design and an emphasis on the societal implications of our work.

Nerds? We are happy to be the most human-friendly, enthusiastic, out-of-the-box-thinking and serious group of nerds around!

Welcome to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science!

programmeThrough mathematical models, abstractions of reality, you as an applied mathematician see the general

structure, the core of the problem, and the relation to seemingly unrelated problems.

Applied Mathematics distinguishes itself from pure mathematics more in attitude and motivation than in content. It derives inspiration for its own development from related fields such as physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, economics and computer science. As a matter of fact, mathematics – and certainly applied mathematics – has largely developed in response to the need to formulate and solve questions in those fields.

In short, it is the language of scientific communication par excellence.

A Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics will open a great many doors in your future career. Regardless of whether you are eventually employed by a private company, a research institute or a university, a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics represents a crucial step in your development, making you a highly prized professional.As a student of applied mathematics, you will work closely with a range of disciplines such as physics, (industrial) engineering, medicine and computer science. In the second phase of your study you will participate in your supervisor’s research endeavours and you will be considered a junior member of the chair.

SpeCIaLIZaTIoNSIndustrIal EngInEErIng and OpEratIOns rEsEarchOperations Research (OR), also referred to as Management Science or Business Analytics in business environments, aims to develop mathematical and computational support for the evaluation and optimization of operational and logistical questions in industry, servicing (e.g. healthcare) and business.

OR at the University of Twente has a number of rather unique, appealing characteristics. First of all, it offers a well-balanced two-year programme: one theoretical year of fundamental and advanced courses and one applied year with an internship and thesis. You can compose your own course programme by choosing different OR related courses. Both deterministic and stochastic operations research are strongly represented. Secondly, it has staff members with excellent scientific records as well as two specialized research centres. Finally, it has an active group of over thirty Master’s and

PhD students organizing student seminars, alumni activities and meetings with industry. Accordingly, career possibilities are excellent. OR Master’s students typically have a BSc background in Operations research, Applied Mathematics, Econometrics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics or Engineering.

Profit organizations generally aim to maximize profitability, while non-profit organizations focus on improving services and quality. The goal of both is therefore to optimize the effectiveness of resources within the context of all kinds of external and internal constraints. Key concepts within OR include:- planning and scheduling- efficiency and productivity- throughput, delay and waiting timesNowadays OR is used to achieve optimization in a wide range of fields from business environments (multinationals, sales companies, financial firms) to

Mathematics is the language of scientific communication par excellence

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industry (production, distribution and supply chain networks). Transport is another major sector, from aviation (airports and airlines) to public transport and railways. Utilities and public services such as energy, communications, hospitals and healthcare are another relevant field. Last but not least, OR plays a leading role in the field of consultancy (logistical, healthcare, technical, simulation, financial, IT, supply chains).

Twente is the only university campus in the Netherlands with housing and excellent sporting and other facilities, only a two-hour train journey from Amsterdam.We offer a well-balanced two-year programme. In your first year you will take OR courses and practical assignments to acquaint you with real-life issues and equip you with essential techniques. In your second year, you will complete a practical OR internship (of either 3 or 6 to 9 months) and your Master’s thesis.We provide a strong theoretical and practical focus, with two specialized OR centres: one in healthcare and one in energy. Our teaching staff have outstanding scientific and professional track records in deterministic OR and stochastic OR.The programme is also plugged into an extensive network of contacts that provides excellent career prospects. As a graduate, you can also be part of our active alumni programme. At the University of Twente, you will benefit from a highly flexible course programme and a personalized approach. There are effective structures in place for students who need to catch up in particular areas.

As an applicant, you should have a strong mathematical background, equivalent to the holder of a Bachelor’s degree in the fields mentioned above. For the general admission requirements for Applied Mathematics and the options open to you if your existing qualifications are not up to standard in all areas, see the admission requirements for Applied Mathematics.No specific knowledge of OR is required. However, it is advisable to have a basic knowledge of standard OR topics, such as:

- linear programming- integer programming - dynamic programming- combinatorial optimization- stochastic dynamic programming- Markov chains - queueing- simulationThese topics will also be reviewed and expanded on during the Master’s courses. But if you are unsure of your knowledge in any of these areas, you are strongly advised to familiarize yourself with these topics.

MathEMatIcs and applIcatIOns Of sIgnals and systEMsModern technologies increasingly rely on complex systems to attain and maintain functionality. In general, these systems involve dynamics, meaning the situation changes over time (velocity, position, pressure, stock prices). The objective of this programme is to study two major aspects of this problem. One aspect is to measure signals using different types of sensors and then extract information from the data obtained. This can be straightforward, for example a position from GPS measurements, but sometimes we want to use the data to obtain a model for the underlying dynamics or to estimate unknown parameters of a model taken from the realm of physics or biology. We are generally interested in the basic question of how to extract specific information from collected data. This can be useful in a variety of fields ranging from medicine, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry to economics.The other aspect that we study is how to influence the behaviour of these systems. We might wish to design a cruise control for a car where we can influence the

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brakes and the accelerator based on measurements of velocity and distance to surrounding cars, and of course we want to ensure that the car drives close to a desired speed without accidents. This should take place automatically and without human intervention. These types of control problems occur everywhere: factory robot arms are controlled in this way, but you might also want to control IV fluids in a hospital setting based on continuous measurements. Currently, many systems are actually hybrid in character, meaning certain variables are discrete in nature. This is the case, for example, at an intersection with traffic lights that depend on only three variables, but where the cars have a velocity which of course continuously changes. This creates interesting new challenges.

Mathematics and Applications of Signals and Systems relies on various aspects of mathematics such as differential equations to describe our models, and on stochastics to describe our uncertainty. Clearly, optimization is also a crucial aspect in our programme. Mathematical systems and control theory are concerned with the mathematical analysis of complex systems, as well their design through the addition of control components (feedback), involving system components from various disciplines, including electrical and mechanical engineering, computer science and process control. This results in advanced courses in a variety of mathematical subjects, mathematical modelling, joint courses with other disciplines, and a final research project in a company or research institute in the Netherlands, or at the University of Twente.

If you wish to enrol in the Mathematics and Applications of Signals and Systems specialization, you must have a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. We have no additional prerequisites. However, if you

have an engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, Advanced Technology or Mechanical Engineering, then you may enrol in the programme after completing a deficiency programme (For Advanced Technology this deficiency programme can be part of the final year of your Bachelor’s). For detailed information have a look at the admission requirements.

Twente is the only university campus in the Netherlands offering on-campus student housing and excellent sports and other facilities.We have a large group of active researchers and lecturers in the field of mathematics who will provide you with a great education. We offer a well-balanced two-year programme. In your first year you will take theoretical courses giving you a broad overview on mathematics as a whole. Moreover, you will learn the basic techniques needed in this field. You can choose from a variety of practical courses or additional mathematics course to suit your individual interests. In your second year, you will complete a practical internship (three months) and your Master’s thesis (six months). Some students opt to combine the two in a larger project involving both their internship and Master’s thesis in nine months. There are many options in choosing your internship or final project. Some students are interested in a certain area of application such as medicine, aerospace, mechanical engineering or economics, while other students opt for a more theoretical research topic. In all these cases, we will be able to find internships and final projects which suit your area of interest. We can even arrange international internships.

You can choose from a variety of practical courses or additional mathematics course to suit your individual interests

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admISSIoN requIremeNTS

dutch hBO studEntsDutch HBO graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study may be considered for admission. In most cases students will first need to complete a pre-Master’s programme.

unIvErsIty Of twEntE studEntsStudents holding a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Applied Mathematics from the University of Twente qualify for direct admission.

dutch unIvErsIty studEntsStudents with other relevant Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Twente or another Dutch University will be considered for admission. In most cases students will first need to complete a pre-Master’s programme. Students holding a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology qualify for direct admission.

IntErnatIOnal studEntsInternational students with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or an equivalent qualification and a CGPA of at least 70% of the maximum score are invited to apply for admission. In addition international students need to pass an English language test.

More detailed admission requirements are available at www.utwente.nl/master/am.

applIEd analysIs and cOMputatIOnal scIEncEThe Applied Analysis and Computational Science (AACS) specialization focuses on modelling, analysis and simulation from a dynamical systems point of view. Application areas are within the natural sciences & technology. The programme is centred around a thorough study of partial differential equations addressing linear, nonlinear and variational equations. Graduates of the programme:

1. have knowledge of the mathematical ingredients useful for modelling, analysis and simulation of biophysical and physical models;

2. are able to contribute in a multidisciplinary environment by integrating mathematics and strategies for solutions.

AACS at the University of Twente has a number of rather unique, appealing characteristics. First of all, it offers a well-balanced, two-year programme: one theoretical year of fundamental and advanced courses and one applied year with an internship and thesis.

You can compose your own programme by choosing different AACS-related courses. Both (numerical) analysis and computational science are strongly represented. Secondly, it has staff members with excellent scientific records active within MESA+ (nanoscience) and MIRA (biomedical technique and technical medicine research institutes). Finally, it has an active group of over twenty Master’s and PhD students that organize seminars and other activities. Career opportunities are excellent.

AACS Master’s students typically have a BSc background in Applied Mathematics, Physics or Biomedical Engineering.

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Career opporTuNITIeSGraduates of the Master’s programme in Applied Mathematics find employment in numerous sectors of

industry and academia such as R&D departments in industry, consultancy firms, research and teaching

positions, teaching at high schools and even higher management.

In our technology-dependent society, commercial and governmental organizations have a growing need for professionals with an up-to-date background in applied mathematics at an academic level. Naturally there are also numerous careers awaiting applied mathematicians in academia, where these skills are in high demand as well.

applIEd analysIs and cOMputatIOnal scIEncE carEEr OppOrtunItIEsGraduates of the Master’s programme in Applied Mathematics find employment in numerous sectors of industry and academia such as R&D departments in industry, with consultancy firms, research and teaching positions, teaching at high schools and even higher management. In our technology-dependent society, commercial and governmental organizations are in growing need of professionals with an up-to-date background in applied mathematics at an academic level. Naturally there are also numerous careers awaiting applied mathematicians in academia, where these skills are in high demand as well.

OpEratIOns rEsEarch carEEr OppOrtunItIEsGood news: unemployment is virtually unheard of among OR graduates! Firstly, all of the career prospects listed above apply. In addition, as an OR graduate, your knowledge of real-life issues and your OR skills, in combination with the analytical, quantitative and critical attitude instilled by Operations Research, mean you will be very much in demand in industry, service and business environments, enjoying far better prospects than an average MBA student. Depending on your field of interest, you can look forward to excellent job prospects in the following fields:- consultancy (logistical, technical, simulation, financial,

supply management)- industry (manufacturing, distribution, supply chains)- transportation (railways, airlines, public transport)- services (call centres, health services)- logistical companies (e.g. supermarket chains)- financial services (banks, insurance companies)- healthcare services (hospitals, consultancy)

Depending on your academic focus and level of performance, you might also consider taking up a PhD research position at a public research institute or the University of Twente (see also Twente Graduate School). Research specializations include stochastic operations research, mathematical programming, discrete mathematics, optimization, queueing, healthcare and logistics.

In our technology-dependent society, commercial and governmental organizations are in constant need of people with a solid background in mathematics at an academic level

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NAME JeSper LaNSINk roTgerINk

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN The NeTherLaNdS

cOntactFor general information about the Master’s programme or the University of twente, as well as for questions about the application form of your enrolment status, please contact:

University of twentestudy information deskphone: +31 (0)53 489 5489master@utwente.nlwww.utwente.nl/master

‘Because of the broad range of math courses, the applications and the UT’s good reputation, my choice to enrol in the Master’s programme was easily made’

STudeNT’S TouCh

Jesper recently finished his Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente. He is now

studying for his Master’s in Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente. When he graduates, he

would like to acquire a PhD position if he is offered an interesting assignment. Eventually, he would like

to work at a company which engages in the field of Alzheimer’s disease.

“I chose the Master’s in Applied Mathematics because I really enjoyed my Bachelor’s. I am interested in the applications of mathematics which the Master’s programme offered me. Because of the broad range of math courses, the applications and the UT’s good reputation, my choice to enrol in the Master’s programme was easily made. I also liked the contact with fellow students and teachers. I chose the University of Twente because it is near my hometown. This made it possible for me to stay with my football club and my band.

Right now, I am working on my Master’s thesis, in which I deal with modeling Alzheimer’s disease. The human body contains neurons which transmit signals from your brain. The way these signals are being transmitted, can be calculated using mathematical equations. My task is to find differences in this functioning between healthy people and people with Alzheimer’s disease.”

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