Master of Science in Mathematics University of Konstanz

The consecutive Master’s programme in Mathematics is a research-oriented study programme designed to deepen and extend the knowledge acquired during a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. It provides students with a solid foundation in advanced mathematical theory as well as the opportunity to engage with current research topics.

The programme offers a wide range of specialisation areas, including Algebra, Analysis, Differential Geometry, Geometry, Numerics, Statistics, and Stochastics. Students can flexibly combine courses across these fields and thereby develop an individual academic profile tailored to their interests and career goals.

A particular emphasis is placed on analytical thinking, abstraction, and the ability to solve complex mathematical problems independently. In addition to subject-specific modules, the programme allows students to take courses in related disciplines such as computer science, economics, or physics. This interdisciplinary component enhances both academic development and career prospects.

All Master‘s courses can be taught in English upon request, making the programme accessible to international students. Furthermore, the programme includes an international double degree option in cooperation with the University of Bern (Switzerland), providing students with the opportunity to gain international experience and benefit from two academic environments.

The Master’s programme in Mathematics is a full-time programme with a standard duration of four semesters (120 ECTS credits). It is characterised by a flexible and modular structure that combines lectures, seminars, and independent work.

The curriculum consists of the following components:

• Main modules (18 ECTS), providing fundamental knowledge in the chosen specialisation areas
• Specialisation modules (13.5 ECTS), offering advanced and research-oriented courses
• Mathematical elective modules (27 ECTS), allowing students to deepen and broaden their expertise
• Mathematical or non-mathematical elective modules (27 ECTS), supporting interdisciplinary study
• Seminar (4.5 ECTS), focusing on presentation and discussion of current research topics
• Master’s thesis including presentation (30 ECTS), representing an independent research project

Coursework is usually completed during the first three semesters. The fourth semester is primarily dedicated to the Master’s thesis, which is supervised by a faculty member and typically related to the chosen specialisation.

Within the double degree option with the University of Bern, students spend the first academic year in Konstanz and the second year in Bern. The Master’s thesis is jointly supervised by one advisor from each institution. Upon successful completion, students are awarded Master’s degrees in Mathematics from both universities.

Double Degree option in cooperation with the University of Bern, Switzerland.

An internship is not a mandatory part of the programme. However, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the university’s Career Service support students in finding suitable internship opportunities that align with their academic profile and individual interests.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics or a related subject from a university, a recognised university of cooperative education (Berufsakademie), or an equivalent higher education institution in Germany or abroad.

Applicants must also have sufficient academic preparation in Mathematics to ensure a successful start to the programme. As a rule, this requires at least 120 ECTS credits in coursework and examinations comparable to the level of the Bachelor’s programme in Mathematics at the University of Konstanz. This includes advanced knowledge in at least one of the specialisation areas offered in the Konstanz Bachelor’s programme.

If applicants are missing some subject-specific qualifications, they may be admitted on condition that they make up to 30 ECTS credits in Mathematics during the first year of study and pass the required examinations within the specified period. In such cases, applicants are strongly advised to contact the Student Advisory Service at an early stage.

International applicants must provide proof of German or English language proficiency. Accepted proof of German or English language skills corresponds to at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Alternatively, English language proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the following:

• successful completion of at least four courses taught in English within a degree programme in the European Economic Area or Switzerland
• a secondary school diploma or Bachelor’s degree obtained at an English-language institution
• at least one semester spent abroad in an English-speaking academic environment

Recognised countries in this context include the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Students currently pay the following fees:

Degree-seeking students / free movers: 179 EUR per semester

Exchange students: 109 EUR per semester

For more detailed information, please check here or here.

The average monthly living cost in Konstanz is around 800-900 EUR including the rent:

• Rent (including utilities): 420 to 500 EUR

• Food: 194 EUR

• Phone, Internet, broadcasting fees: 29 EUR

• Clothing, laundry, personal hygiene: 40 EUR

• Learning materials: 28 EUR

• Medical care, medicine: 97 EUR

• Leisure time, culture and sports: 60 EUR

• Health insurance: 115 EUR

• Total: 983 to 1013 EUR

Additional costs per semester:

• re-registration: 179 EUR
• Bus ticket: 65.30 EUR

If you want to earn some extra cash while you study, you can get a student job. The university administration and many departments offer student assistant jobs. You can find a number of advertisements for jobs both on and off campus on online platforms (in German):

Jobbörse Seezeit: the job portal of our student services called Seezeit

Jobs are also posted on the university’s notice boards in the foyer and canteen areas as well as in the departments.

Students with great academic credentials and community service experience can apply for scholarships in Germany. In cases of unexpected financial hardship, the university will try to help with emergency financial support. For an overview of financial support options, check our website.

For example, you may apply for the Deutschlandstipendium.

The scholarship (300 EUR per month) is awarded without regard to income for a minimum of two semesters.

The University of Konstanz offers a wide range of advisory services and additional training opportunities that support students throughout their studies and prepare them for future careers.

Students benefit from orientation programmes, learning guidance, language courses, writing support, and transferable skills training.

Career-oriented and interdisciplinary skills can be developed through programmes such as the Advanced Data and Information Literacy Track (ADILT), transfer-related formats, and the “qualification N” sustainability certificate.

For career preparation, the Career Service offers advice on career planning, applications, and career entry, as well as workshops and events. The Career Passport, designed especially for international students, has twice been recognised as a best-practice initiative.

There are a number of possibilities for accommodation for students: in apartments, flat shares, or residence halls. Check out our website, where we provide an overview of the different options as well as general tips. You can also contact the team of our International Office for advice on housing.

Would you like to study at one of the best research universities in Germany? Then the University of Konstanz is the right place for you. We offer you excellent study conditions in a beautiful location between Lake Constance and the Alps. For us, excellence in studies and teaching also means cultivating close cooperation. We encourage our students to take part in discussions and get involved in research from the start.

Our university is currently home to some 10,000 students enrolled in around 120 different study programmes in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, humanities, politics, law, and economics. With students from more than 90 countries around the world, we are proud to call our university an international community. This international character is further strengthened by our extensive network of over 245 Erasmus+ partnerships across Europe, more than 60 bilateral partnerships with universities worldwide and several Master’s programmes with double degree options. The University of Konstanz is a campus-based university: you will get to know other students quickly, come into contact with other departments and feel at home right away. Our university has an open-door policy: professors are very accessible and happy to help you with any questions or issues you might have.

We will give you a very warm welcome and support you in every stage of your stay. We have an excellent supervision ratio and top advisory services. You will learn in small groups and work across disciplines. We promote innovative teaching methods and strategies such as transfer formats or virtual classrooms and support lecturers in further developing their teaching. Our Advanced Data and Information Literacy Track (ADILT) complements all study programmes by teaching the fundamentals of computer science and data processing methods, along with their legal foundations. Additionally, it provides reflection on their relevance for society.

In Konstanz, you will find optimal conditions for research, studying, and teaching.

The University of Konstanz has set the following five research priorities:

• Collective Behaviour
• Cultural Dynamics and Social Transformation
• Material – Function - Quantum
• Molecular Principles of Life
• Inequality and Conflict

We want to give you the best possible opportunities to develop personally and professionally. You will have many opportunities to put your own ideas into action – whether you conduct research or start a spin-off. In Konstanz, we foster close communication and a strong sense of community to enhance the potential of our university members at all levels. We bring together our different backgrounds and disciplines to create something truly outstanding. At the same time, you will enjoy an /exceptionally beautiful environment with a historical city, lake, and nearby mountains as well as excellent sports facilities.

Find out more about our university and student life in Konstanz on our website.

Konstanz is situated in south-west Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, and it shares its border with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. It is beautifully located on the shores of the Rhine River and Lake Constance, central Europe's second-largest lake, where the borders of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland converge. The lively university city, with about 87,000 inhabitants, among them more than 14,000 students, is the economic and cultural centre of the Lake Constance region. Take a stroll through the shopping mall and the historical centre featuring both large department stores and small specialist shops. Take a break in one of the many cafés, restaurants, ice cream parlours, pubs, and wine bars. Konstanz is not only a popular tourist destination but also an attractive business location (light industry, commerce, high technology). It is a very safe place to live offering a high quality of life with its excellent infrastructure and diverse cultural and recreational facilities. Konstanz has a long and rich historical tradition. The first settlements were erected in Konstanz Bay in 2000 BC, and the city was given its name "Constantia" by the Romans in the fourth century AD. Konstanz has a well-preserved medieval town and numerous historical buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.

Konstanz has the perfect location for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities. The region has an excellent network of routes for walking, cycling, and in-line skating tours. The beaches are a major attraction for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake or the Rhine. The lake offers various water sports, such as sailing, canoeing, and diving, while the nearby Alps provide year-round enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and climbers. Konstanz is the home of the oldest running theatre in Germany and of the famous Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. There are several museums, art galleries, and art centres offering a broad spectrum of events: art and documentary exhibitions and concerts in all genres of music. Konstanz is also an ideal starting point for excursions to many attractions in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. On the city's doorstep are the famous gardens of Mainau Island and the Island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take boat trips to beautiful towns around the lake, such as Meersburg, Überlingen, and Lindau. The lakeside town of Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin, and the Austrian city of Bregenz is renowned for its summer festivals, featuring spectacular opera and musical performances on a floating stage in the lake. A boat trip along one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine takes you to the magnificent Rhine Falls at the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. From Konstanz, you can easily reach major cities, such as Zurich, Basel, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Milan.