Master's Mathematics - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Theory meets real-world impact

A programme driven by insight, innovation and impact

The Master’s in Mathematics is a two-year programme divided into compulsory courses, elective courses and seminars, and concluding with the Master’s project. You choose whether you do the Master’s project as an internship at a company or as a member of one of the research groups at the university. You can pursue the programme either full-time or, uniquely within the Netherlands, part-time. The start dates are September 1st and February 1st.

Study paths

The Master has two study paths: Mathematics and Data, and Mathematics and Computation. Furthermore, there is the Education Specialisation.

Mathematics and Data is for students interested in data science, statistics, probability and optimisation grounded in a strong mathematical foundation.

Mathematics and Computation is for students who wish to use their fundamental mathematical skills to solve problems in domains our department is strong at, such as dynamical systems, topology, biomedical applications and discrete structures.

The Education Specialisation is for students that wish to get a science teacher degree for secondary school education in the Netherlands.

By following a study path, you have a wide variety of courses to choose from, both local and through Mastermath. You have the opportunity to be a member of one of our research groups and participate in its activities. Can’t decide? Don’t worry – you can switch study paths later on, and even mix and match between them. You can find all the courses and more information in the Study Guide, as well as a visual overview here.

A short overview of each study path is given below. You can find all the courses and more information in the Study Guide.

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1st year
2nd year

First year

All students meet each other at Current Issues in Mathematics. You’ll explore hot topics like the use of LLMs for mathematical proofs, the ethics of AI or sustainability and mathematics.

Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning prepares you for your future career, whether that’s in industry, societal organisations or research. Requiring only basic knowledge of linear algebra and statistics, you’ll learn about the most effective machine learning techniques and their theoretical underpinnings.

In addition, you’ll choose two or three seminars that align with your interests, where you’ll practice giving mathematical presentations and reading research papers in your field.

Finally, you’ll choose electives from a broad range of options. In addition to elective courses offered by our department, you’ll also have access to the advanced mathematics courses from the national Mastermath programme, many of which are taught in Amsterdam

The structure of the Education specialisation is different, please see below.

Mathematics and Data
Mathematics and Computation
Education

Summary

This study path is for students interested in data science, statistics, probability and optimisation grounded in a strong mathematical foundation. You will study how to transform data into decisions. Important areas of application are in the life sciences, forensic probability and statistics, logistics, the energy and service industries. This study path prepares you well for a broad range of careers, ranging from data science consultant to biostatistician to financial risk modeller to PhD researcher, to name just a few examples.

VU offers wide-ranging expertise in statistics and probability, combining classical theory with modern developments in machine learning and data-driven modelling. Staff expertise includes optimisation, machine learning algorithms, networks, Bayesian statistics, computational neuroscience and much more.

Courses

Your programme is structured as follows:
* Compulsory courses: 12 EC
* Local research seminars: 12-18 EC
* Thesis or internship: 36 EC
* Elective courses: 54-60 EC

For electives, we encourage students in the Mathematics and Data study path to take Statistical Models and Mathematical Optimization, and to select at least two courses from the following list:

Applied Stochastic Modeling

Asymptotic Statistics
Dynamic Programming and Reinforcement Learning
Large Language Models from Scratch
Measure Theoretic Probability
Optimization of Business Processes
Statistical Learning with High-Dimensional Data
Stochastic Processes

The study advisor and our staff members will be happy to help you choose electives that best fit your future career and research goals.

Summary

This study path is for students who wish to use their fundamental mathematical skills to solve problems in domains in which the Mathematics department at VU is strong, including dynamical systems, topology, biomedical applications and discrete structures. You will learn how to convert mathematical results into actionable algorithms.

Explore analytic tools to describe the dynamics of evolving systems with applications to neuroscience, biomedicine, and fundamental physics.
Reveal the topological structure hidden in data, networks, protein folding, and in the fascinating world of manifolds and their symmetries.
Discover discrete structures and their computer formalisation: from graph theory to number theory.

This study path prepares you well for a broad range of careers, ranging from quantitative analyst to computational neuroscientist to scientific software developer to cryptography expert to PhD researcher, to name just a few examples.

Courses

Your programme is structured as follows:
* Compulsory courses: 12 EC
* Local research seminars: 12-18 EC
* Thesis or internship: 36 EC
* Elective courses: 54-60 EC

For electives, we recommend that you select at least two of the following courses:

Algebraic Topology I
Dynamical Systems
Elliptic Curves
Formal Methods in Mathematics
Mathematical Biology
Mathematical Neuroscience
Partial Differential Equations
Topological Data Analysis

The study advisor and our staff members will be happy to help you choose electives that best fit your future career and research goals.”

Summary

In the Education specialisation you’ll deepen your mathematical knowledge and you’ll become fully qualified to teach Mathematics at high schools (“eerstegraads lesbevoegdheid”). Mathematical courses and the teaching qualification training form equal parts of your programme.

In the first year, you’ll take 36 EC of Mathematics electives from a broad range of choices, including the national Mastermath program. You’ll finish the year by completing a 24 EC Master Project, writing a thesis about a mathematical topic fitting your interests.

In the second year, you’ll take 60 EC of didactical courses.

You can find all course options in the Study Guide and more information about the didactical courses.

Mathematics and Data
Summary

This study path is for students interested in data science, statistics, probability and optimisation grounded in a strong mathematical foundation. You will study how to transform data into decisions. Important areas of application are in the life sciences, forensic probability and statistics, logistics, the energy and service industries. This study path prepares you well for a broad range of careers, ranging from data science consultant to biostatistician to financial risk modeller to PhD researcher, to name just a few examples.
VU offers wide-ranging expertise in statistics and probability, combining classical theory with modern developments in machine learning and data-driven modelling. Staff expertise includes optimisation, machine learning algorithms, networks, Bayesian statistics, computational neuroscience and much more.
Courses
Your programme is structured as follows:
* Compulsory courses: 12 EC
* Local research seminars: 12-18 EC
* Thesis or internship: 36 EC
* Elective courses: 54-60 EC

For electives, we encourage students in the Mathematics and Data study path to take Statistical Models and Mathematical Optimization, and to select at least two courses from the following list:
Applied Stochastic Modeling
- Asymptotic Statistics
- Dynamic Programming and Reinforcement Learning
- Large Language Models from Scratch
- Measure Theoretic Probability
- Optimization of Business Processes
- Statistical Learning with High-Dimensional Data
- Stochastic Processes
The study advisor and our staff members will be happy to help you choose electives that best fit your future career and research goals.
Mathematics and Computation
Summary
This study path is for students who wish to use their fundamental mathematical skills to solve problems in domains in which the Mathematics department at VU is strong, including dynamical systems, topology, biomedical applications and discrete structures. You will learn how to convert mathematical results into actionable algorithms.
- Explore analytic tools to describe the dynamics of evolving systems with applications to neuroscience, biomedicine, and fundamental physics.
- Reveal the topological structure hidden in data, networks, protein folding, and in the fascinating world of manifolds and their symmetries.
- Discover discrete structures and their computer formalisation: from graph theory to number theory.
This study path prepares you well for a broad range of careers, ranging from quantitative analyst to computational neuroscientist to scientific software developer to cryptography expert to PhD researcher, to name just a few examples.
Courses
Your programme is structured as follows:
* Compulsory courses: 12 EC
* Local research seminars: 12-18 EC
* Thesis or internship: 36 EC
* Elective courses: 54-60 EC
For electives, we recommend that you select at least two of the following courses:
- Algebraic Topology I
- Dynamical Systems
- Elliptic Curves
- Formal Methods in Mathematics
- Mathematical Biology
- Mathematical Neuroscience
- Partial Differential Equations
- Topological Data Analysis
The study advisor and our staff members will be happy to help you choose electives that best fit your future career and research goals.”
Education

Summary

In the Education specialisation you’ll deepen your mathematical knowledge and you’ll become fully qualified to teach Mathematics at high schools (“eerstegraads lesbevoegdheid”). Mathematical courses and the teaching qualification training form equal parts of your programme.
In the first year, you’ll take 36 EC of Mathematics electives from a broad range of choices, including the national Mastermath program. You’ll finish the year by completing a 24 EC Master Project, writing a thesis about a mathematical topic fitting your interests.
In the second year, you’ll take 60 EC of didactical courses.

You can find all course options in the Study Guide and more information about the didactical courses.

Second year

In your second year, you can select electives relating to your interests. The last semester of your second year is dedicated to the Master’s project. This is either a research thesis under the supervision of a staff member, or an external internship at a company or research facility. If you choose an internship, you’ll have an on-location advisor as well as a supervisor from the Department of Mathematics. To complete your Master's project, you’ll write a thesis and present your results in a colloquium.

A Master’s degree in Mathematics will set you up well for an exciting career. Your analytical mind and problem-solving skills will make you a valuable asset for all kinds of employers.

Explore your future prospects

Do you have any questions about the curriculum of this programme?

If you have any questions regarding this Master's programme, please contact Ilke Canakci by sending an email to: i.canakci@vu.nl.

Mathematics

Study paths

Mathematics and Data

Mathematics and Computation

Education

Examples of Master’s projects

Research groups associated with this study path

Examples of Master’s projects

Research groups associated with this study path

Change your future with the Mathematics programme

Change your future with the Mathematics programme

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