The specialisation in Operations Research comprises 2 years of study in which you will need to amass a total of 120 EC.
Year 1
In the first year you will gather 60 EC, spread out over courses in three categories:
Not specifically linked to your specialisation, the following three courses are compulsory for all Master’s students in Applied Mathematics.
The following eight courses are specifically linked to your specialisation. You are required to take at least three of them, to be complemented by your choice of elective courses.
With your selection from a large set of elective courses you complete your programme to obtain the required 60 EC and lay the theoretical basis for your specialisation. Some examples:
Year 2
The second year of the specialisation in Operations Research consists of a compulsory internship (20 EC) and your master's assignment (40 EC). During the internship, you will learn how to apply the knowledge acquired in the first year in a corporate or institutional environment. Your master’s assignment will get you working independently on the solution of either a practical challenge from business or industry, or on a theoretical (open) question.
As an intern you will work in an environment comparable to your future as a professional. You are likely to find yourself as part of the team of a Dutch high-tech company, or in collaboration with a researcher from a non-Dutch university. Internships are available in, e.g.:
- hospitals or medical centres such as ZGT and LUMC
- financial and insurance organisations such as ABN-Amro Bank and Zilveren Kruis
- major carriers such as KLM and NS
- consultancy companies such as Ortec, Quintiq or EY
- government institutions such as Belastingdienst (the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration) or TNO
- consultants in traffic modelling such as DAT.mobility or Mobi.dot
Based on what you prefer and how you see your future, you and your mentor will determine the choice that suits you best.