Studienbüro Mathematik

This is a list of frequently asked questions with its answers. They are roughly sorted chronologically related to the course of the study.


During the Master's programme (M.Sc.) in mathematics



And here are the answers:

How do I apply for the Master's programme?



Please find the information on the application process: here

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    • Which language skill proof do I need for admission to the Master's programme (M.Sc.) in mathematics?


    • English proficiency at level C1 or higher (e.g. IELTS Band 7,0 or iBT TOEFL 94), alternatively German proficiency at level C1 or higher (e.g. DSH-2).



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    • Are there welcome-events for new masterstudents?


    Yes, there are. Please find more information here: Welcome-Information

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    • What are lectures and exercises?


    Lectures are courses in which normally especially the instructors speak. Here, the material that has to be learned will be written on the (electronic) blackboard or presented with slides. Of course questions are allowed and welcome.
    Exercise sessions mainly focus on the (solving of the) exercise sheets that have to be solved within the scope of the lectures. Normally, students presents their solutions here. If necessary, lecture material can be discussed and/or deepened together with the exercise instructor ... and it is always helpful to pose questions about the material.

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    • What is the difference between an Oberseminar and a Seminar?


    Seminars and oberseminars are courses where students give talks for others students in the field of the (ober)seminars's topic. Usually the necessary literature for the presentations is provided by the professors.
    Seminars are open for anyone who is interested, as long as there are free slots for talks left. Oberseminars are usually the working group seminars of one or more professors.
    Students participating in such an obersminar are usually writing a thesis (BSc., MSc., PhD) supervised by the respective professor and present their work and progress for the working group audience.
    In some cases though, literature work as in normal seminars is done in Oberseminars as well. In these cases it might be possible for non-working group members to join the oberseminar as well. So if you are interested in one specific obersminar it is recommended to ask the professors if you can join it and earn credits in that oberseminar.

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    • What are key competencies?


    Normally, with the term key competencies skills are identified that exceed the pure subject-related competencies and help to develop posed requirements. Typical examples are method competencies like "How do I prepare a presentation?" or "How do I learn efficiently?" as well as social competencies like "How do I instruct a group?" or "How can I solve conflicts?".
    By choosing the 18 credits that are intended for key competencies in the Bachelor's programme wisely, students can sharpen their personal profile and/or follow own wide-ranging interests. At Göttingen University there are five different categories of key competencies. More details and a list of university-wide key competencies can be found here.

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    • Which key competencies should or do I have to acquire?


    Depending on the choice of the study track, students have to acquire different key competencies. You can find further information in the descriptions of the tracks that can be found here



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    • Which minor subjects can I choose?


    In the Bachelor's programme business studies, chemistry, experimental physics, computer science, philosophy, theoretical physics and economics can be chosen to be the minor subject. In the Master in mathematics astrophysics, business studies, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, physics and economics are possible minor subjects. More detailed information can be found here.
    You do not have to formally register your minor subject. Students just choose their minor subject by taking the corresponding modules. At the end of the studies, the chosen minor subject is determined with the help of the acquired modules.

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    • When should I schedule an internship?


    The internship takes place at a company outside the university. Students search their internship positions theirselves. So that it can be accredited afterwards, it should be well-planned and pre-decided with the study office. It especially has to meet the following requirements:


    • The internship takes place at an industrial environment in which graduates of mathematics actually work.
    • The internship covers at least 300 working hours.
    • The duties of the intern have a mathematical orientation.


    Students should clarify if the internship can be imported to the mathematics programme before the start of the internship. For that purpose, they should get in touch with Hartje Kriete (Contact), because he also accredits the examination result after the internship. The examination consists of a presentation or a report about the internship.
    It can be an organisational challenge to find enough exam-free time without interruption during the semester break. The time between the end of the lectures of the summer semester and the start of the winter semester is in most cases the best choice, because it often is longer than the time between the end of the lectures of the winter semester and the start of the summer semester. The mentioned time normally covers the months of August and September which therefore are quite suitable for a placement.
    A note for students who get BAföG: Income of compulsory placements is charged for the BAföG, meaning that it is substracted from the monthly BAföG. Income of voluntary placements does not yield in a reduction of the monthly BAföG rate.

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    • Where did our students do an industrial placement so far?



    A list of enterprises where our students did an industrial placement can be found here.

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    • What are study tracks? Which track should I choose?


    Students of the Master's programme in mathematics (M.Sc.) have to choose a study track. In these tracks, different modules have to be chosen until the end of the studies. There is the general, the mathematical data science track and the track "physics".
    Each student has to decide for her/himself which track is the most fitting. You can roughly say:


    • The general track has the most freedom of choice. A strong theoretical orientation is possible, but nothing stands in the way of an applied orientation. Details can be found here: General track
    • In the physics-oriented track, it is possible to accredit more physics modules and in the mathematical area there is an orientation in mathematics in which a physical application is possible. Details can be found here: track physics.
    • In the mathematical data science track, an applied orientation is intended and the minor subject has to be computer science. In this track, the Master's thesis can only be written in one of the applied fields of study SP 3 "Numerical and Applied mathematics" or SP 4 "Mathematical Stochastics". Details can be found here: Track Mathematical Data Science


    The choice of a track does not have to be formally announced.
    You do not have to formally register your track. Students just choose their track by taking the corresponding modules. At the end of the studies, the chosen track is determined with the help of the acquired modules.
    The study advisor is happy to help you.

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    • What are fields of study? Which field of study should I choose or let certify?


    A field of study is automatically chosen at the end of the studies. This is specified as the subject-related field in which the Master's thesis is written.
    In mathematics, there are the following four fields of study ("Schwerpunkte" - SP) in Göttingen:


    • SP 1: Analysis, geometry, topology
    • SP 2: Algebra, geometry, number theory
    • SP 3: Numerical and applied mathematics
    • SP 4: Mathematical stochastics


        • It is possible (but not obligatory) to let certificate the choice of the field of study on the diploma. For this, you have to acquire 27 credits in this field of study outside of the Master's thesis.

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        • Do I have to let certify a field of study?


        It is possible (but not obligatory) to let certificate the choice of the field of study on the diploma. For this, you have to acquire 27 credits in this field of study in the outside of the Master's thesis. Details can be found in the examination regulations.
        The possible fields of study are:


        • SP 1: Analysis, geometry, topology
        • SP 2: Algebra, geometry, number theory
        • SP 3: Numerical and applied mathematics
        • SP 4: Mathematical stochastics


            • A field of study is automatically chosen at the end of the studies. This is specified as the subject-related field in which the Master's thesis is written.

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            • How will credits from my exchange studies be recognized?


            All courses successfully completed at the exchange-university will be recognised as so-called "freie Anerkennung" in the respective study group ("Fachgruppe") with the number of credits as given by the exchange-university inst. Grade conversion will be made via the "Bayerische Formel”."

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            • How do I find an advisor for my Master's thesis?


            Students usually look for a supervisor for their thesis themselves by contacting the professors personally to find out whether they still have supervisory capacities and topics available. The professors are also happy to be contacted for the assignment of theses by e-mail.
            A list of possible supervisors ("Prüfungsberechtigte in Mathematik") as well as the thesis application form can be found at this link.
            A list of past theses topics for orientation can be found here.


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            • How do I register my Master's thesis?


            After the advisor situation is clarified, you have to fill in the following form together with your advisor and hand it in in the examination office.


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            • How is the process of the delivery of the Master's thesis?


            The thesis is handed in via upload in FlexNow.
            The form of the thesis has no special requirements. The important thing is that the signed declaration of independent writing is part of the thesis. If you want to you can use this draft of a declaration of independent writing (in German).

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            • How is my final Master's grade calculated?


            When calculating the final degree, the weighted mean of the corresponding credits of the following examination modules is calculated:
            a) the Master's thesis
            b) all completed and graded module examinations.
            Upon request of the student, module examinations amounting to a maximum of 12 credits are not taken into account in the formation of the overall grade; in this case, the corresponding modules are shown in the Master's certificate without a grade.

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