Profile and Career
Mathematics is an exact science, and a mathematical theorem is not accepted until a stringent proof has been produced for it. Acquiring the requisite precision is demanding, and continual practice is necessary.
Before a mathematician can produce a stringent proof, he or she must undergo a creative process in order to achieve an understanding of what the theorem is about and how it can be proved. At this stage, the mathematician draws especially on imagination and experience.
In some cases, computers can also be used to develop ideas about what is right or wrong, but only in rare cases can they be used to prove a theorem.
Mathematics is also communication. Mathematicians talk about things outside the experience of daily life, and a strong talent for storytelling is needed to make it comprehensible. Presentation is a high priority among mathematicians, and a key aspect of the programme.
Competence Description
A graduate in mathematics will be able to:
- Conduct independent, stringent argumentation
- Structure a study of open mathematical issues
- Define mathematical disciplines in relation to each other, but also to take advantage of interdisciplinary skills.
- Independently take responsibility for his or her own professional development and specialisation.
A graduate in mathematics will also have acquired the skills to:
- Read and understand original mathematical literature
- Convey and communicate mathematical issues and problems on a scientific basis
- Explain, orally and in writing, mathematical studies of open issues.
Career Opportunities
MSc graduates in mathematics have many different job opportunities, and there is basically no unemployment. Many graduates find employment in the private sector, where they either work specifically with applying mathematics to specialised problems, for instance within economics or telecommunications, or act as "trouble shooters" in a broader sense.
When we ask employers why they hire our graduates, they often emphasise the mathematician's abilities to see patterns in problems that often arise and to solve them once and for all.
There is also a high demand for mathematics teachers in upper secondary education and other post compulsory education programmes. Moreover, there is the opportunity to continue conducting research in mathematics after earning a PhD.