Occupational Area Orientation

In cooperation with the mathematics student's representation the department of mathematics organises the series of talks Mathematicians in Business and Industry, which aims particularly at the students of the department. Roughly twice per semester former students of the department talk about their career and their current occupation and offer the students a realistic insight into possible jobs for mathematicians. After the talk there is the possibility to get into contact with the speaker. - Further interesting case studies can be found in the form of professional portraits on the website of the German Mathematical Society.

The Praxisportal is the central internship and job board for students and doctoral candidates at the University of Tübingen. It offers internships, entry-level jobs and working student positions. Further information can be found at the following link.

In the framework of the study programme Bachelor of Science Mathematik the students have to acquire credit points in the part occupational area expertise. The aim is to better prepare the students for the professional world. In addition to the very extensive range of courses offered by the Studium professionale, there is currently a selection available from the Department of Mathematics (see also the module handbook B.Sc.):

• Practical internship:
  The internship can be carried out as an external internship in a company or as an internal internship in the mathematics department.
• Study mathematics properly! Read, write and work on maths:
  The module supports students in the acquisition of general mathematical work techniques.
• Learn to teach mathematics:
  As part of a special training course, participants learn how to convey mathematical content in a way that is appropriate for the addressee.
• Working techniques in mathematics:
  The participants learn the essential techniques for creating mathematical scientific texts.
• Introduction to scientific programming:
  Students learn to implement mathematically interesting algorithms in subject-specific software.
• Computer science for mathematicians:
  In the module the basics of the systematic construction of computer programs and the different concepts of modern programming are conveyed.

If you have questions about these courses, please contact the dean of accademic affairs.

Today mathematics is a key technology without which the mechanisation of the world like we know it would not be thinkable. Without modern methods provided by mathematics MP3-players, navigation systems, medical treatments like computer tomography, simulations in product development and many other things would not be possible. Mathematics interfuses our daily life, often without being recognized. Therefore the occupational prospects for mathematicians with a Master of Science degree are excellent. Many different fields are open to them: in economy, in research- and development departments, in software companies as well as in banks, insurances and business consulting companies. Also less obvious occupational areas such as scientific journalism, museum education or pollsters are possible. The opportunities are so wide spread that most graduates have no problem to find an employment on the job market right after finishing their master studies. Also the job prospects for graduates of the teacher education programme Master of Education with mathematics as a subject are still similarly good.

While studying mathematics the students learn to see the world through the glasses of mathematics. The recognition of mathematical structures in the environment and the modelling of the environment in simplified mathematical models is a crucial competence communicated in the study of mathematics.

The power of endurance and high frustration tolerance are typical qualities of successful mathematics graduates. They are trained not only by the regular encounter with complex tasks but also by cooperating in a team with fellow students. Mathematicians are particularly well educated in analysing processes and problems, in reducing them to the essential basics and in developing suitable strategies for solving the problems. Due to theses competences companies are constantly seeking mathematicians.

• Interview with Kristina Vaillant about the interview series
• Mathematics and the job market
• Example of an interview with a graduate from Tübingen