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Graduate education at Jacobs University is governed by the
appropriate policies. Additional program specific rules are
described below.
Every incoming graduate student is assigned an initial academic
advisor prior to coming to Jacobs University. The initial advisor
guides the graduate students through the program, monitors his or
her progress, and helps him or her select a PhD advisor.
The following study plan is the default variant for students
entering with a BSc degree. Faster progress is always possible.
| Semester |
Coursework |
Research |
Additional
Examinations |
| 1-2 |
3 courses, 1 seminar |
|
|
| 3 |
3 courses, 1 seminar |
Preliminary work |
Qualifying exam must be
completed by beginning of 4th semester |
| 4 |
1 course, 1 seminar |
PhD research proposal |
PhD proposal must be
presented by beginning of the 5th semester |
| 5-9 |
1 seminar |
PhD research |
|
| 10 |
1 seminar |
PhD dissertation |
PhD thesis must be
defended by end of the 10th semester |
An individual course plan is prepared by every graduate student
in cooperation with his or her academic advisor and further faculty
members as appropriate. Qualified students can enter the program at
various advanced stages, depending on their qualifications. For
instance, the graduate committee may waive the qualifying
examination for students holding an MSc degree.
Course Requirements
In order to obtain a PhD or MSc degree, a student has to satisfy
the following coursework requirements (in addition to the general
Jacobs University requirements):
- For a PhD degree: graduate courses and seminars worth at least
105 ECTS credits
- For a Master's degree: graduate courses and seminars worth at
least 97.5 ECTS credits
- For both degrees: the courses Algebra (100 421), Real Analysis
(100 411) and Complex Analysis (100 312 or 100 412).
Throughout their studies, graduate students are required to take
one graduate level seminar each semester. In addition, all graduate
students are expected to regularly attend the mathematics
colloquium.
Graduate classes are 400 level courses and above; up to five 300
level undergraduate courses may be counted towards the course credit
for PhD or Master's degrees.
Courses at 300 and 400 level carry 7.5 ECTS credits; graduate
seminars generally carry 5 ETCS credits. A research proposal,
including presentation, carries 25 ECTS credits. The Master's thesis
carries 25 ECTS credits as well.
Every graduate student working towards a PhD in mathematics must
pass a comprehensive examination in mathematics before the beginning
of the fourth semester. The purpose of this examination is to
manifest solid knowledge of advanced but core material in
mathematics, to show the ability to make connections between areas
of mathematics usually taught in different courses, and to
demonstrate the potential for research in the mathematical
sciences.
The examination is oral, it takes at least 90 minutes and covers
material described as follows:
- Algebra
- Real Analysis
- Complex Analysis
plus a choice of two among the
following topics
- 4.
- Topology
- 5.
- Numerical Analysis
- 6.
- Partial Differential Equations
- 7.
- Mathematical Physics
- 8.
- Functional Analysis
- 9.
- Probability Theory
The syllabi for these topics are presented in Section 4.
The examination is given by three professors appointed by the
graduate committee.
Any graduate student may at any time request to work for a
Master's degree, independently of whether or not he or she continues
to work for a PhD degree.
The graduation requirements are specified by the Jacobs
University's policies; the coursework requirements are described in
Section 2.3.
There is no separate Master's examination or qualifying
examination.
The following table describes a study plan for a graduate student
who has entered the program with a Bachelor's degree and wishes to
conclude his or her graduate education with a Master's degree after
four semesters.
| Semester |
Coursework |
Research |
| 1-2 |
3 courses and 1 seminar |
|
| 3 |
2 courses and 1 seminar |
Preliminary work |
| 4 |
1 course and 1 seminar |
Master's thesis |
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