Master's degree in mathematics

Our Master's Degree Programme in Mathematics provides optimal preparation for your further career - be it in academia or industry. Our graduates will continue as researchers at universities/research institutes  or find employment in banks, insurance companies, management consultancies, IT and telecommunication firms, or many other sectors seeking well-qualified mathematicians.  In any case, not only mathematicians’ knowledge but also their acquired analytical skills are highly valued.

After completing a Master's degree there are usually also possibilities to continue in our PhD programme in mathematics at Saarland University.

Our Department of Mathematics is home to an outstanding group of faculty researchers with international reputations in their specialist fields. They represent a wide variety of areas covering both pure and applied mathematics. The research environment is further enhanced by an active group of graduate students from across Germany and abroad.

Our research programme is also enriched by the proximity to two Max-Planck Institutes for Computer Science and Software Systems and close coordination with the Master's Degree Programme in "Mathematics and Computer Science".

 

Why study at Saarland University?
  • International Master's Program in English
    All classes of the Master's programme are offered in English.
  • Small Groups and High-Quality Teaching
    Students work in small groups and are individually supervised by professors and their assistants. In the national CHE university rankings Saarbrücken is rated in the top group in the categories “overall” and “supervision”. The mathematics students' council, a representative body of the mathematics students in Saarbrücken, provides help and support with questions around the studies of mathematics.
  • High Scientific Quality
    Our Department of Mathematics is home to an outstanding group of faculty researchers who represent a wide variety of areas covering both pure and applied mathematics. Our faculty's reputation and high international visibility is documented by many prestigeous awards and honours, including invited talks at the International Congress of Mathematicians, ERC advanced grants, and a Leibniz prize; you can find a  list of such accomplishments here.

  • Many Collaborations with Computer Science
    The Department of Mathematics has strong ties with the Department of Computer Science, one of the leading departments in Germany, as documented by three joint professorships in the fields of applied algebra, mathematical image analysis, and mathematical data analysis. Moreover, the highly renowed Max-Planck-Institutes for Computer Science and Software Systems as well as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence are next door.

  • No Tuition Fees
    There is only a semester fee of 288 Euros which includes free rides on buses and trains within the Saarland region and subsidized food in the university canteen.

  • Low Living Costs
    Compared to other cities in Germany, Saarbrücken is inexpensive in regard to rents and living costs in general.

  • High Quality of Life
    Saarbrücken has around 180,000 inhabitants, and the university has around 18,000 students. The quality of life is high, and there are plenty of opportunities in regard to cultural activities, nightlife, and nature.

Research Groups

The Department of Mathematics of Saarland University currently has 20 professors, including 3 joint professorships with the Department of Computer Science (indicated by a * in the list below). In alphabetical order, our research areas are:

Algebra, Geometry, and Number Theory

Applied Analysis

Functional Analysis

Mathematical Data Analysis

Numerics

Stochastics

    There are strong collaborations with the Department of Computer Science and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in the areas of discrete mathematics, complexity theory, and computational geometry.

    You can find some more information about the research profile of the department here .

    Furthermore, we also offer

    Mathematics and Didactics

     

     

    The programme

    Successful completion our Master's programme requires a total of 120 credit points (CP). Students are normally required to attain 30 CP each semester.

    Compulsory modules make up 42 CP, from which 30 CP are allocated to the Master's thesis and 12 CP to the Master's seminar. Six months are reserved for writing the thesis, before completion of which students must take a Master's seminar of direct relevance.

    Optional modules with a total of at least 78 CP must be taken. These modules include Master's placements, freely choosable courses from our range of core modules, advanced lectures and seminars in mathematics, tutoring, language courses, soft skill workshops, industrial placements or work in academic administration. Details can be found in the programme regulations.

    Prerequisites and application

    Prerequisites

    The prerequisites for our Master's programme are:

    • A Bachelor’s degree from a German university or an equivalent qualification from a foreign university in a programme in mathematics or a related subject.
    • Evidence of English language skills (normally C1): For applicants from abroad we require a TOEFL TEST with at least 95/120 or an IELTS with at least 7.0/9.0. The result can be filed subsequently if the test is scheduled no longer than three weeks after the admission deadline. Native speakers or applicants, who have studied in a country, where English is the mother tongue are excluded from this rule. Applicants from India and Pakistan need to present an English test (TOEFL or IELTS).
    • Evidence of technical skills equivalent to those acquired by students in the Bachelor's programme “Mathematics” at Saarland University
    • A dossier and two letters of recommendation to document your interest in our Master's programme.

    Application

    Students may join the programme in the winter or summer semester. The deadlines are 15 May for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester. Applications should be made through the online application portal of the Faculty for Mathematics and Computer Science (in English).

    Regulations

    At a glance

    Standard period of study2 years
    LanguageEnglish
    Language prerequisitesC1 English
    Restricted admissionno
    Deadlines for applicationwinter semester: 15 May
    summer semester: 15 November

    Tuition fees

    none

    Semester feeCurrent fee
    Internet sitewww.math.uni-sb.de

    Contacts

    Academic advice

    Prof. Michael Bildhauer
    Campus Saarbrücken
    building E2 4, room 1.02
    phone: 0681 302-2384
    bibi(at)math.uni-sb.de
    www.math.uni-sb.de

    Central academic advisory service

    Campus Saarbrücken
    Campus Center, building A4 4, EG
    phone: 0681 302-3513
    studierendenberatung(at)uni-saarland.de
    www.uni-saarland.de/studienberatung

     

    Postal address

    Saarland University
    Department of Mathematics
    Postfach 15 11 50
    66041 Saarbrücken
    Germany

     

    Visitors

    Saarland University
    Campus building E 2 4
    66123 Saarbrücken
    Germany