Master in Mathematics

Master in Mathematics is one of 10 English-taught Mathematics programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 10 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 10 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. The same programme title is offered at 4 institutions, so compare the content, campus and requirements before you choose.

The Master's degree programme in Mathematics at the University of Klagenfurt is taught entirely in English and takes four semesters (120 ECTS). It builds on a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and pushes you towards applying mathematics rather than just proving theorems.

What you study

The compulsory core covers Analysis (12 ECTS), Discrete Mathematics (10 ECTS) and Statistics and Probability (10 ECTS). On top of that you pick one of three specialisations: Applied Analysis, Applied Statistics or Discrete Mathematics (24 ECTS).

A second block of guided electives (12 ECTS) lets you add an application subject. The options named on the programme page are Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, Feminist Science / Gender Studies, Informatics, Information and Communications Engineering, and Sustainable Development. The extension subjects Informatics and Information and Communications Engineering are what the programme calls its application orientation.

There are 9 ECTS of open electives, a compulsory internship of 14 ECTS, and 24 ECTS plus 2 ECTS for the Master's thesis and research seminar. A final board examination (3 ECTS) closes the degree.

The recommended first semester lists Functional Analysis (lecture plus exercises), Dynamical Systems 1, Algebra and Bayesian Statistics. The second semester lists Partial Differential Equations 1, Integer Optimization and Stochastic Processes, each with exercises. Exercises marked with compulsory attendance run alongside the lectures. Some lectures are offered only once a year, but the exams can be taken on set dates throughout the year.

How the programme is organised

You study at your own pace, guided by a recommended course of study through the semesters. The internship is a required element and lasts several weeks. You can do it in a company in Austria or abroad, in public administration, in a non-profit organisation or in a non-university research institution. It is there to test and apply what you have learned.

Teaching mixes lectures (VO) with exercise classes (UE). The campus keeps seminar groups small and working groups manageable, which the programme page presents as one of its strengths.

Beyond the curriculum you can add a Build! Entrepreneurship Certificate, learn languages such as Russian, Spanish or Chinese, or join the extension programme Social Competence and Organizational Learning (SCOL). A semester abroad is possible at one of around 250 partner universities.

Who it suits

This suits you if you liked the precision of mathematics in your Bachelor's and want to use it on real problems. The programme states that graduates should be able to abstract a practical problem, build a mathematical model, work on it with the techniques they have learned and discuss the solution across disciplines. They should also be able to analyse, simulate, evaluate and implement using symbolic and numerical tools.

If you want to stay close to research, the programme says it conveys enough familiarity with modern mathematical methods to address current research questions. If you want to move into industry, the application subjects and the internship are the parts to look at first.

Admission, language and next steps

There is no special admission procedure. You need a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics or a degree of equivalent academic value from another post-secondary institution, and proof of English at level B2 of the CEFR. Applicants whose first language is not the language of instruction must show that proof at the time of application.

Applications go directly to the University of Klagenfurt, not through a central portal. Non-EU and non-EEA citizens must have their complete application received by 30 June for winter admission or by 30 November for summer admission. The institution's own admission page gives the general admission periods and the full enrolment steps.

At a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. Other students pay a fee per semester. The student guidance service and the programme director's office answer questions by email, phone or in person.

The master’s degree programme offers three specialisation options: applied analysis, discrete mathematics, statistics and probability. The specialisation is based on a prior common mathematical foundation in all three areas.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Klagenfurt. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.