Introduction
Postgraduate virtual open day
What next, after finishing your Bachelor's degree? Is postgraduate study worthwhile? What are the requirements and which Master's programmes would be suitable for me? You're not the only one asking yourself these questions. Many undergraduate students about to graduate are faced with the challenge of finding the right postgraduate path. Our first virtual Postgraduate Open Day is taking place on 16 April 2021. We'll help you find a Master's programme that is just right for you. Sign up now so you don't miss any updates!
About the degree programme
In addition to being a science in its own right, mathematics plays a fundamental role in the quantitative areas of practically all other academic disciplines, particularly in the natural sciences, engineering, business administration, economics, medicine, and psychology. Mathematical results permeate nearly all facets of life and are a necessary prerequisite for the vast majority of modern technologies – and as our IT systems become increasingly powerful, we are able to mathematically handle enormous amounts of data and solve ever more complex problems.
Special emphasis is placed on developing students' ability to formalize given problems in a way that facilitates algorithmic processing as well as enabling them to choose or develop, and subsequently apply, suitable algorithms to solve problems in an appropriate manner. The degree programme is theoretical in its orientation, with strongly application-oriented components. Studying this programme, you can gain advanced knowledge in the mathematical areas of Cryptography, Computer Algebra, Algorithmic Algebra and Geometry, Image and Signals Processing, Statistics and Stochastic Simulation, Dynamical Systems and Control Theory as well as expert knowledge in Computer Science fields such as Data Management, Machine Learning, and Data Mining.
Furthermore, you will have the chance to learn how to apply your knowledge to tackle problems in areas as diverse as Marketing, Predictive Analytics, Computational Finance, Digital Humanities, IT Security and Robotics.
Features
The fully English-taught degree programme
A broad spectrum of subjects with a focus on algorithms
Excellent relations with businesses and industry
Numerous partnerships with universities abroad
Career prospects
Mathematicians continue to have outstanding career prospects, as they are highly sought after wherever high-level analytical thinking skills are a requirement. Their potential occupational fields are therefore less limited than is the case with medical doctors or engineers, who specialize in a specific sub-field of their discipline.
Outside of academic and research organizations, mathematicians find employment in nearly all private- and public-sector organizations. Nowadays, mathematicians' work typically makes heavy use of computing technology.
Traditionally, mathematicians are employed in the pharmaceutical industry, in the financial industry, insurance companies, consulting and business intelligence, market research, logistics, information technology and in the research and development departments of high-tech companies.
Programme Syllabus
The core modules consist of two mathematics seminars and the presentation of your master's thesis.
The compulsory elective modules are divided into eight module groups:
Algebra, Geometry, and Cryptography: This module group imparts advanced results in the areas of algebra and geometry, which constitute the fundament for algorithmic calculations, particularly in cryptography but also in many other mathematical areas.
Mathematical Logic and Discrete Mathematics: The theoretical possibilities and limitations of algorithm-based solutions are treated in this module group.
Analysis, Numerics, and Approximation Theory: Methods from the fields of mathematical analysis applied harmonic analysis and approximation theory for modeling and approximating continuous and discrete data and systems, as well as efficient numerical implementation and evaluation of these methods, are the scope of this module group.
Dynamical Systems and Optimisation: Dynamical systems theory deals with the description of change over time. This module group is concerned with methods used for the modeling, analysis, optimization, and design of dynamical systems, as well as the numerical implementation of such techniques.
Stochastics, Statistics: This module group deals with methods for modeling and analyzing complex random phenomena as well as the construction, analysis, and optimization of stochastic algorithms and techniques used in statistical data analysis.
Data Analysis and Data Management and Programming: This module group examines the core methods used in computer science for the analysis of data of heterogeneous modalities (e.g. multimedia data, social networks and sensor data) and for the realization of data analysis systems.
Applications: In this module group, you will practice applying the mathematical methods learned in module groups 1 to 6 to real-world applications such as Marketing, Predictive Analytics, and Computational Finance.
Key Competencies and Language Training: In this module group, you will choose seminars that develop your non-subject-specific skills, such as public speaking and academic writing and other soft skills; you may also undertake internships. This serves to complement your technical expertise gained during your degree studies and helps to prepare you for your professional life after university.
Academic entry requirements
You are eligible for this degree programme if you have an undergraduate university degree in mathematics or a closely related degree with a mathematics component of at least 110 ECTS credits with a final grade of 2.7 under the German marking system or the relevant equivalent grade in a foreign marking system. Applicants who have not attained this minimum grade may still apply if they are among the best 70% of graduates of their cohort.
Language requirements
Unless English is the language of instruction for your prior university or secondary education, you should provide a language certificate at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Similarly, unless German is the language of instruction for your prior university or secondary education, you should provide proof of German language skills at level A1 CEFR (i.e. beginner's level). If you do not have German language skills at the time of application or enrolment, you will complete a compulsory, free German language course during the first two semesters of the programme.
The M.Sc. International Economics and Business programme imparts in-depth expertise, skills and research methodology in micro- and macroeconomic theory as well as empirical economics with a focus on 'Global Economy, International Trade and Finance' and 'Governance, Institutions and Development'.The methodological competences, while geared primarily to economic analysis, are enriched with business administration-specific elements. This degree programme comprises both German- and English-taught modules and can be completed entirely by attending only English-taught modules.
Features
Focus on economics modules
Strong involvement of empirical research (laboratory and field experiments as well as secondary data analysis)
Includes selected modules on business administration and econometrics
Interdisciplinary modules count towards the degree
Excellent staff-student ratio due to small learning groups (about 20 to 30 students each year)
Combines theory and practice
Excellent reputation of the University's language courses
Numerous global university partnerships
Career prospects
Economists work in a wide variety of occupations. Our graduates have been offered top-tier posts in academia and in the business world: executive posts in the private sector, in policy consultancies as well as in public-sector organisations and federal and state ministries. Many decide in favour of an academic career and follow up with doctoral study.
Programme syllabus
The programme is divided into seven module groups and the master's thesis module:
A: Core Courses (20–30 ECTS credits)
The core econometrics, macroeconomics and microeconomics courses impart the central techniques required for the subsequent stages of your degree programme.
B: Advanced Methods (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)
In this module group, you will be acquainted with advanced quantitative methods in in-depth econometrics and behaviour-oriented courses.
C: Global Economy, International Trade and Finance (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)
This module group comprises courses on globalisation, trade and finance. You will learn about theories and apply empirical methods to understand human decision-making processes concerning investments, location, trade and finance as well as their respective systemic interactions and ways of influencing economic policy.
D: Governance, Institutions and Development (a minimum of 10 ECTS credits)
In this module group you will learn about theories and apply empirical methods to understand development theory and policy; institutional design; the fight against corruption; ethics; fiscal policy; and health economics.
E: Business Administration (a maximum of 20 ECTS credits)
Further suitable business administration modules complement the knowledge acquired in module groups A to D.
F: Foreign Language with a business and economics focus (a maximum of 10 ECTS credits)
You will gain 10 ECTS credits in one of the following foreign languages offered by the Language Centre: Chinese, Czech, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.
G: Interdisciplinary Modules (a maximum of 12 ECTS credits)
Give your degree profile its own interdisciplinary orientation whilst exploring the methodology and subject matters of other faculties' disciplines at an advanced level. You may study master's modules taught at the other faculties of the University of Passau and have them counted towards your degree.
Master's thesis
You will write your master's thesis on a topic from module group A, B, C or D. 20 ECTS credits are awarded when you pass the thesis module.
Academic entry requirements
To apply, you need a good undergraduate degree with at least 35 ECTS credits in economics (gained in subjects such as microeconomics, macroeconomics and/or economic policy) and at least 15 ECTS credits in mathematics and statistics. If you have not yet received your final transcript/student record and certificate at the time of application, you may apply using your Transcript of Records or other preliminary transcript. If you are successful in your application, you should then submit your final transcript and degree certificate by the end of the tenth week of lectures in the first semester. Beyond this, there are no specific requirements on the content of your first degree programme.
Following a positive review of your submitted documents, you will be invited to an aptitude interview, which will be conducted in person or by video conference.
Language requirements
You must submit an English language certificate at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), unless English is your native language or the language of instruction for your prior university or secondary education. This degree programme can be studied entirely in English; however, proof of basic, beginner's-level German at level A1 CEFR is required.
