Applied Mathematics

Recently, I worked on a group project about dynamics of a bicycle, where we used numerical techniques and coding to simulate the behaviour of a mathematical model of a bicycle.

Moving to a new country has taught me a lot about life and responsibility. I’ve developed important skills like critical thinking and improved my English, which has created many new opportunities. Outside of academics, I enjoy doing sports and joined ACLO for boxing, where I’ve made great friends.

I’m thinking about studying abroad, maybe somewhere else in Europe, though I might also stay in the Netherlands. After finishing my master’s, I don’t plan on staying in academia or doing a PhD, but I’m still discovering which field I want to go into. Right now, I’m looking forward to my new role as a teaching assistant for a mathematics course in AI. I enjoy helping others see the beauty of math, especially those from different backgrounds.

I've been passionate about mathematics all throughout high school and with applied mathematics you are given the tools that you might incorporate in other fields or studies. This ranges from computing science, some physics, and even biology. That combination together with rigorous mathematics is what drew me to applied math.

My favourite courses are project-based courses. Last block this was a 'Systems Theory' course where we ended up doing a project about the cruise controller in cars. I really liked that because it made real what you can do with mathematics and especially applied mathematics. To that end I also really enjoyed 'Differential Equations in Science and Engineering'. It is also very much an applied course where we saw various applications of differential equations. It was really nice to see prospects for the future.

When I think about what I value most about learning in this programme, it is the way of thinking. I definitely think the way I approach problems in the course but also in everyday life has become more logical in a way. It's refreshing to have another approach than some other people, and I think that you can really only gain that from a mathematics degree.
When I'm not studying I'm a big runner and a member of Vitalis, which is the athletics association. I do other activities with them as well, as I have a lot of friends there. I also just like to read in my free time. I mostly read books about nature and climate change, a subject which I'm also quite passionate about.

I look forward to the rest of my studies, and I'm just excited to choose some electives and have more freedom and flexibility to shape my Bachelor's.

The programme at Groningen is more theoretical compared to other universities, which I really appreciate. It also offers flexibility, like the option to choose between General and Applied Mathematics in the first year.

I chose Applied Mathematics because of my broad interests. It allows me to explore a wide range of subjects and keep my options open. I'm considering a Master's in something related to Systems and Control Theory, but I'm still exploring possibilities. My favorite course so far is Metric and Topological Spaces, which generalizes concepts from Analysis. The course is mathematically very interesting and on top of this has many practical applications, for instance in the design and analysis of computer algorithms.

Contrary to popular belief, (applied) mathematics is not just for 'geniuses'. Anyone that's interested in it can become good at it, but the amount of time they need to invest in it may differ from person to person. The most valuable lesson I've learned is not to compare myself to others when it comes to this.

Applied Mathematics is an excellent choice for anyone interested in technical subjects, as it opens up many career paths, and you can apply it to fields like biology, engineering, or computer science.

I appreciate the rigorous approach in Analysis and the opportunity to apply my programming skills in Scientific Programming. I've enjoyed seeing how different mathematical concepts come together in courses like Analysis, which has deepened my understanding of calculus and other high school topics.
After my Bachelor's, I plan to pursue a Master's, though I'm still exploring different options.

Back in Italy, I was a sprinter, and I still enjoy running occasionally here. I also like to participate in many different ACLO courses, like calisthenics or swimming.
I'm also a mentor for first-year students, which has been a rewarding experience. I've enjoyed organising activities and seeing my group of mentees progress, and I still stay in touch with some of them.
The international environment at Groningen has been one of the highlights of my experience, and I'm grateful for the connections I've made here.
I look forward to continuing my studies in Applied Mathematics and am excited for what comes next.

During my second year, I especially liked the courses Numerical Mathematics, which teaches you problem-solving skills through programming techniques, and Partial Differential Equations. Currently I am working on my Bachelor Thesis, which is about how Traffic Flow Theory can be studied using Differential Algebraic Equations. Along with some theoretical background and some simulations that I’m running, I’m developing a system that can model a network of roads with different constraints. This is very useful because it can be applied to many different networks and we can predict if a road will result in traffic jams or not.