Master of Mathematics (Leuven)

After successful completion of the Master in Mathematics the student is prepared for a professional career in either research, government or business and industry.

Discipline-related competences
- The student has advanced and in-depth knowledge and understanding of complex theories, models, methods and techniques in a number of areas of pure mathematics and / or applied mathematics.
- The student has knowledge and understanding of current (state-of-the-art) scientific research in one or more areas of mathematics. The student can situate these scientific developments within the discipline.
- The student can analyze independently complex mathematical or scientific problems, build models for those problems and devise appropriate solutions.
- The student has an advanced understanding of the relationship between various areas of mathematics and / or applications of mathematics.
- The student can follow complex mathematical reasoning, assimilate the argumentation critically and devise creatively new proofs and argumentations.
- The student has a critical attitude towards research methods and results, and can analyze, interpret and, if necessary, adjust them.
- When confronted with a rather vague or generally formulated problem, the student is able to define and solve relevant subproblems.
- Based on the knowledge and experience gained from general solution strategies, when dealing with a specific problem, the student can choose a concrete and appropriate solution strategy.
- The student can independently select appropriate ICT tools and use them efficiently when doing mathematical work.
- The student has a critical understanding of the international dimension of mathematical research.
- The student can describe the role of advanced mathematics in a broader social context.


General scientific competences
- The student can build independently on previously acquired scientific knowledge.
- The student can plan and carry out independently a scientific study in one of the areas of mathematics or its applications; he can write down his results in a scientific paper, and he can communicate correctly his findings to both laymen and specialists.
- The student has an inquisitive, interested attitude and has the will and motivation to attain advanced and in depth understanding.
- The student can search independently for new information, critically evaluate it and integrate it with previously acquired knowledge.
- The student can communicate and present research results both orally and in writing and is familiar with the appropriate modern ICT tools for that purpose.


General competences
- The student can reason logically, think and interpret analytically also outside mathematical contexts.
- The student can retrieve information, evaluate it critically and assimilate it..
- The student can think in a systematical, abstracting and structuring way.
- The student can plan, evaluate and adjust his learning process independently.


Option-related competences
Depending on the option chosen (research, professional) the student has additional option-related competences.

Research Option
The learning outcomes for the Research Option relate to a broader and deeper knowledge of some mathematical topics and greater independence in the understanding and presentation of advanced mathematics. The option provides a preparation for possibly starting an advanced research training, usually leading to a PhD or a research position.
- Compared to a student from the other options, a student who has chosen the Research Option, has a broader and deeper knowledge of some mathematical topics that are not directly related with the thesis.
- The student is able to assimilate advanced mathematics fully independently.
- The student is able to distill relevant information from a research seminar..
- The student is more proficient in working on a research task in advanced mathematics and in presenting the results to experts.

Professional Option
The learning outcomes for the Professional Option relate to an in-depth knowledge in an economically relevant application area of mathematics, the mathematical modeling and analysis of business inspired or socially relevant problems and the insights and skills that are relevant in an economic context.
- The student has in-depth knowledge in one or more of the economically relevant applications of mathematics.
- The student can model ans analyze business related or socially relevant problems mathematically.
- The student has insights and skills that are relevant in an economic context.