Mathematics for Data and Resource Sciences

Mathematical skills are indispensable for the activities of modern industrial enterprises. In addition, the necessary quantification, professional assessment and documentation of the findings of application-oriented research can only be carried out with the advanced and qualified use of mathematical methods. The current issue of climate change and the challenges associated with it make the management of large data volumes an essential skill, while an understanding of the technical difficulties involved in the provision, transportation and recycling of valuable waste materials and by-products has become invaluable for companies today. Based on a top-class mathematical foundation – ideally laid upon the groundwork of a bachelor's degree in mathematics – the Mathematics for Data and Resource Sciences programme focuses on the methods and techniques necessary to understand and mathematically address the challenges described above.

Programme Objective

Successful graduates of the Master's programme Mathematics for Data and Resource Sciences will have acquired the techniques, methods and general mathematical skills to solve the most pressing problems of today. These include the ability to understand and exploit large amounts of data, a mastery of so-called computer-based machine learning as well as a broad understanding of problems in the field of scarce resources – such as rare raw materials, in particular, or planet Earth in general.

Application-Oriented Lecture Series

Mathematical problems from real-world applications are discussed in a lecture series created specifically for the Master’s programme. This series provides a catalogue of relevant problem statements at an early stage, so that students can apply the skills they have learned in a meaningful way. The clusters of complex issues presented go straight to the heart of the individual research areas, and are constantly updated in order to gain the deepest insights into mathematical problems.

Industrial Internship

The Master’s programme rewards student commitment to companies based in the region. If an industrial internship of at least four months’ duration is completed during the degree programme, this time can be recognized in credits that count towards the completion of the Master's thesis: The maximum time required for completing the thesis is reduced from 9 months to 6, and the content required is also reduced accordingly. This measure is intended to benefit the local economy in the form of expedited graduation and the precise skills acquired by the students. Meanwhile, the students themselves gain by taking their first steps towards permanent employment in the region.

Master's Thesis Parallel to Lecture Programme

The range of courses offered in this Master's degree programme is broad, guaranteeing a truly comprehensive and multi-faceted education. In order to expand this breadth of opportunity to all four semesters, the programme has much greater flexibility built into it than other courses, with students allowed to begin working on their Master's thesis as early as the third semester.

Certification for Specialized Training

Within the framework of the international Master's degree, it is possible to obtain extra certification if in-depth knowledge in Mathematical Data Science or Geomathematics is acquired during the degree programme. By means of their respective specialization – whereby the former focuses more on the processing and treatment of (large) data volumes and the latter more on the mathematical problems associated with climate change or the circular economy – graduates are eminently prepared for the real-world requirements of professional practice.