Description
The origins of mathematics go back to the dawn of civilization in the attempts to understand the movement of the stars, to compose calendars, to keep accounts, and to measure arable land. With Ancient Greek civilization, mathematics became systematized in the form of axioms, theorems, and proofs. Science was born. Throughout history, mathematics has played a central role in culture, science, and technology. It has been widened and consolidated with the development of foundations, abstraction, and rigor, with a focus on exploring new fields and resolving new problems.
The traditional branches of mathematics are as vibrant and dynamic today as they were 50, 100, or 200 years ago. Thanks to mathematics, more and more problems can be solved, and more and more phenomena can be effectively described and analyzed.
On the other hand, we are witnessing a real explosion of new disciplines. Recent mathematical developments, coupled with the current potential of computers, have paved the way for new ways of doing science and understanding the world through developing mathematical models for highly complex phenomena, in particular through computer simulations of the behavior and evolution of the phenomena in question.
Career prospects
The study of mathematics is fundamental to many disciplines and provides a wide range of work opportunities in constantly evolving fields. We count, for example, on the skill of mathematicians to unravel the human genome and to meet such vital challenges as that of climate change, while all the time guaranteeing the security of gigantic volumes of personal data.
Mathematicians can just as easily be called upon to engage with the evaluation of public policies as to aid the improvement of business management or the creation of industrial products. Mathematicians’ mastery of modelling technics, along with their expertise in statistics and problem solving, affords them professional opportunities in fields as diverse as IT, actuarial science, meteorology, consulting and finance – the latter having been one of the most fertile areas of employment for mathematicians over the past two decades.
Finally, by opting for an academic career and a PhD, graduates could prefer to pursue careers in teaching or research.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates of the Mathematics program at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have a wide array of career opportunities in fields such as data science, cryptography, digital humanities, machine learning, IT, actuarial science, meteorology, consulting, finance, and academia.
Requirement
- EPFL Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, or from another institution with an excellent academic record.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Physics or in a field close to mathematics with excellent academic records may also be accepted. Additional credits to fill any gaps may be required.
- Your resume (curriculum vitae).
- Copy of your University degree(s), if already available.
- Complete transcripts from each university you have attended.
- A statement of purpose not exceeding 1000 words.
- The contact details of three academic referees.
- Your identity card or passport.
Language proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS are optional. All accepted candidates must provide authentic academic documents before matriculation.
All accepted candidates must provide authentic academic documents before matriculation.
Anyone holding a Bachelor’s degree from a university (or equivalent) in a field related to the EPFL curricula can apply for a Master’s program. However, please be aware that admission is competitive. Only candidates with excellent academic records and references have good chances of being accepted. Candidates who already hold a Master’s degree, or equivalent, in the field (or similar field) of the program for which they would apply are not eligible.
Structure
The basics of analysis, geometry, linear algebra, and general physics are acquired during the first year of the Bachelor’s degree. Teaching then continues with the inclusion of new branches such as topology, operations research, probability, statistics, and numerical analysis. During the third year, the students can choose all of their classes. They also carry out two semester projects. Their degree therefore has a personal touch which serves them well in choosing a Master’s program.
Fees
Note-
*CHF 50.- if you hold a Bachelor’s degree delivered by a Swiss University or HES/FHS
CHF 0.- if you hold a Bachelor’s degree delivered by EPFL or ETH Zürich (or if you hold a Bachelor’s degree delivered by UNIL and are applying for the Master’s program in Sustainable Management and Technology)
*The fee is not refunded in case of non-validation or withdrawal of the application.
*The application form must be validated and paid for on March 31st at the latest. Application after that deadline is not possible.