Studying mathematics requires an enjoyment of formal and logical thinking. Curiosity to consider problems in an abstract way and to perform a detailed analysis is also necessary. Whilst schools largely teach calculation skills, the focus of university studies is on more precise provision of evidence.

The total of around 1000 students of technical mathematics are supervised by 13 professors, 50 lecturers and 20 assistants. The good staff/student ratio means that the teaching staff are always happy to help with any problems that may occur. For the same reason, there are no problems with overcrowded lecture rooms and there are no restrictions on participant numbers for tutorials.

The drop-out rate in the first semester is around 30%. Around 200 students begin the course every year. In the diploma/master’s course, there are over 60 graduates each year, who started when there were around 150 students at the start of the course.

There are exchange partnerships with a large number of European universities, where it is possible to study for one to two semesters, which will count fully towards your degree. Further such partnerships are being worked on. There are also various agreements regarding joint degrees, which last only one additional year, and make it possible to achieve two degrees from two separate universities.

Mathematics has played an important role in the development of science and technology for centuries. The importance of mathematics as an interface to technology was further enhanced by the digital revolution in the 20th century. The bachelor's program in Technical Mathematics provides a broad, scientifically and methodologically high-quality basic education geared to lasting knowledge, which enables graduates to work in the following fields of activity, for example:

• Research and development in industry ( eg. classical engineering fields such as mechanical and electrical engineering) and in computer science, as well as in biology and medicine;
• Development and distribution of software for industry, administration and service providers;
• Contact persons for questions regarding modeling and computer simulation;
• Management in the above-mentioned fields as well as in administration.

• Analysis
• Linear Algebra and Geometry
• Measurement and probability theory and statistics
• Numerical Mathematics and Programming
• Ordinary and partial differential equations
• Discrete Mathematics
• Seminar and project with Bachelor thesis
• Bound and free electives

Professional and methodological competencies:

• Analysis, algebra, numerical mathematics
• Programming & Mathematical Software
• Probability Theory and Statistics

Cognitive and practical skills:

• Recognition of structures, capacity for abstraction, logical and algorithmic procedures
• Creative use of the gained knowledge in concrete situations
• Independent use of modern mathematical tools

Social and personal skills:

• Strategic thinking and understanding of superordinate relationships
• Accuracy and endurance
• self-organisation
• Personal responsibility
• Scientific curiosity
• Independent familiarization with new areas
• Ability to work in a team

The main formal requirement for admission to the Bachelor's program in Technical Mathematics is the general university entrance qualification. Most important, however, is an enjoyment of and interest in mathematics, the understanding of complicated concepts and facts, proofs, and logical abstract thinking.

Due to modern developments in industry and technology more and more mathematical methods are needed. Therefore, the job market situation for mathematics graduates is generally very good. Thanks to their ability to analyze complex structures, they find very diverse fields of work, for example in development departments in industry, software companies, banks and insurance companies, management consultancies, research institutes, public authorities and of course at universities.

This bachelor's program provides a broad, scientifically and methodologically high-quality basic education, which enables students to work in the following fields of activity:

• the scientifically based application of statistical methods for the collection, processing, evaluation and interpretation of empirical data
• the creation of stochastic models for the description of complex and uncertain phenomena and for risk assessment and evaluation
• the application of mathematical methods of Operations Research for model-based decision making and the efficient use of scarce resources
• the use of mathematical economic models and econometric methods in business and macroeconomic and 
• for structural policy problems

• Analysis
• Linear Algebra and Geometry
• Measurement and probability theory and statistics
• Business Mathematics
• Numerical Mathematics and Programming
• Business Mathematics, Stochastic Processes and Econometrics
• Advanced studies in statistics or business mathematics
• Seminar and project with Bachelor thesis
• Bound and free electives

Professional and methodological competencies:

• Analysis, Linear Algebra
• Probability Theory and Statistics
• Numerical mathematics, economic statistics and data collection

The following knowledge and methods are conveyed in the focus on statistics: 

• Computational Statistics
• Statistical data analysis
• Stochastic processes and time series analysis

For business mathematics they are:

• Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, Optimization and Operations Research

Cognitive and practical skills:

• Development of models and bases for decision-making
• Planning and implementation of forecasting methods
• Planning and optimization of administration and business processes
• critical evaluation
• Preparation and evaluation of large data sets with scientifically based procedures

In addition, numerous social skills and self-competences are taught.

Typical problems: Forecasting problems, quantitative analyses, provision of decision-making and planning aids. Typical employment at or in management consultancies, banks, insurance companies, software companies, energy suppliers, telecommunications companies, development departments in industry, public authorities, universities or other research institutions.

In addition to the classical domain of life and pension insurance mathematics, financial and insurance mathematicians are faced with numerous new tasks that require specialist knowledge. These include, in particular, areas such as property insurance, asset-liability management, financial risk management, financial market modeling, and derivative valuation and hedging.
In connection with the Master's program in Financial and Actuarial Mathematics, graduates will receive the full basic training necessary for recognition as an actuary with AVÖ and as a responsible actuary by the Austrian Financial Market Authority. Furthermore, the requirements for additional qualifications, e.g. "Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst" (CERA) or "Professional Risk Manager" should be taken into account.

• Analysis
• Linear Algebra and Geometry
• Measurement and probability theory and statistics
• Numerical Mathematics and Programming
• Actuarial mathematics:
  Life and personal insurance mathematics
  Non-life insurance mathematics
• Financial mathematics and risk management
• Legal and economic bases
• Seminar and project with Bachelor thesis
• Free electives

Professional and methodological competencies:

• Analysis, Linear Algebra and Geometry
• Measure and probability theory
• stochastic processes, statistics, numerical mathematics
• Life and personal insurance mathematics
• Property insurance mathematics
• Financial mathematics, risk management
• Insurance law
• Insurance economics and accounting

Cognitive and practical skills:

• explicit modelling of insurance rates and their pricing
• Analysis and risk assessment
• Pricing of simple and complex financial mathematical derivatives based on financial market modeling in discrete time
• critical analysis and evaluation of given financial and actuarial applications in practice

In addition, numerous social skills and self-competences are taught.

Thanks to their ability to analyze complex structures, the job market situation of graduates is not only very good in the finance and insurance sector, but also, for example, in management consultancies, development departments in industry, software companies, research institutes, public authorities and of course at universities (see also fam.tuwien.ac.at/jobs, opens an external URL in a new window).