Are you thinking about studying Mathematics? Learn more and watch the introduction video.

PhD candidates carry out a programme of independent research, leading to a PhD thesis in typically 4 years.

The master’s programme Mathematics at Leiden University focuses on analysis, probability and statistics, number theory and (arithmetic) geometry. It offers five specialisations ranging from Applied Mathematics to Mathematics and Business Studies.

As a Mathematics student, you will learn to solve complex problems in creative ways using logical thinking and mathematical structures. A Mathematics degree will open many doors for you in society.

Mathematics forms the basis of many innovations in technology, the service industry and science, such as data analysis and coding, artificial intelligence, weather or climate change modelling or understanding molecular processes. The researchers from the Mathematical Institute (MI) are constantly developing…

The Mathematical Institute is responsible for the research and education in mathematics and statistics at Leiden University.

The master’s specialisation Mathematics and Education at Leiden University prepares students to teach the subject of mathematics to secondary school students. The programme comprises a one-year mathematics component, followed by an education component in the second year.

The master's specialisation Applied Mathematics at Leiden University focuses on both computational and fundamental aspects of analysis and probability. It’s also an ideal basis for a PhD degree. Applied Mathematics is an excellent choice if you have the aspiration to pursue a PhD degree

Can the (industrial) herbal extraction process be mathematically described and can this model be used to optimize the extraction in terms of quality and economical parameters?

The master’s specialisation Mathematics and Science Based Business at Leiden University bridges science and business development by focusing on areas such as technology management, innovation, entrepeneurship, operations, and decision making.

Perform cutting-edge research in the area of the STAR mathematics cluster.

The master’s specialisation Mathematics and Science Communication and Society at Leiden University bridges the gap between experts and the public by combining high quality research in mathematics with extensive training in science communication.

This study looks at the question of how and at what level students in primary teacher education can integrate theory and practice, and how the organisation of their learning environment, focusing especially on mathematics and pedagogy, can contribute to that.

Study information

In this project, we aim to develop mathematical models to mechanistically and quantitatively predict the dynamics of cellular stress pathway activation and its relation with toxic effects when cells are exposed to various toxicants.

Systems pharmacology aims to apply techniques from systems biology to pharmacological models.

Promotor: A.W. van der Vaart

How does the extracellular matrix coordinate endothelial cell behavior during angiogenesis, and how do metabolic waste-products and matrix-degrading enzymes produced by the tumour modify the extracellular matrix so as the change the cellular coordination?

Novel methods for understanding key aspects that are essential to the future of Bayesian inference for high- or infinite-dimensional models and data.

This is a research project on the implementation of national mathematics curriculum reform in Chinese junior high school. The research is expected to provide insight into the ways and reasons of mathematics teachers in Chinese junior high school for implementing national curriculum reform.

During embryonic growth, cells proliferate, differentiate, and collectively migrate to form different tissues at the right position and time in the body.

A novel mathematical model describes spatial-temporal drug distribution within one or more brain units, which are cubic representations of a piece of brain tissue with brain capillaries at the edges.

In this dissertation, Boethius’ mathematics and logic and their roles in philosophy are reassessed, and on the basis of these, the connections between mathematics and logic in Boethius and their applications to theological or philosophical topics are explored.

Cellular stress response pathways are activated upon exposure to chemicals and help organisms deal with various molecular dangers (e.g. oxidative stress). When these pathways become hyper-activated an adverse response takes place and cells die, which may lead to organism-level toxicity such as drug-induced…

Despite being the object of intense study, embryonic development has been difficult to model due to a number of reasons. First, complex tissues can be comprised of many cell types, of which we probably only know a subset.

The Minor in Teaching was introduced in 2009 as a new initiative to introduce and prepare bachelor students for teaching. Student numbers are low, however, especially of mathematics and science students.

PhD student Robbin Bastiaansen applies mathematics to get insight in practical problems. By comparing mathematical models with developments in existing ecosystems, he hopes to demystify the process of desertification. His research has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences…

Starting from September, the four Dutch mathematics clusters DIAMANT, NDNS, GQT and STAR will each be given 1 ME from NWO Exact Sciences, to be spent within a period of two years.

Mathematician Stéphanie van der Pas, winner of the C.J. Kok Jury Award for her PhD thesis in 2017, divides her time between research and education, and between pure mathematics and practical application.

Towards a framework that integrates content-based and process-based accounts of mathematical thinking

Combining geometry and number theory. That is what Dr Jan Vonk of the Institute of Mathematics receives a Vidi grant for today. ‘By fusing these two disciplines we may be able to solve a century-old mathematical problem.’

The number of mathematics students in higher education is increasing spectacularly. This year, the influx of new students rises to more than 1000 on a national scale. This is a fivefold increase compared to the number of students that registered for an education in Mathematics in 2002.

A week before Christmas, the Deltaplan for Dutch Mathematics was presented to Hans de Groene (director NWO) and Sjoerd Verduyn Lunel (chairman Platform Wiskunde Nederland). Prof. dr. Frank den Hollander was one of the leading researchers in mathematics taking part in the Commission Deltaplan Mathema…

Marta Fiocco, associate professor at the Mathematical Institute of Leiden University, has signed an agreement with the UWV (the administrative authority that implements employee insurances and provides labour market and data services) to work with their data in the research project

Electrical signals travel like a wave through our neural pathways. The mathematical models for these movements could not yet properly describe all the biological properties of the nerves. PhD student Willem Schouten-Straatman changed this by improving the existing models. ‘I hope that one day we will…

Research from weekly magazine Elsevier shows that both the Leiden bachelor Wiskunde as the master Mathematics are rated as the best educational programs of the Netherlands according to professors. The first place was achieved by up to 70% of the votes.

With dismay we took note of the sudden death of Willem Obbens, student and student assistant in Mathematics, Leiden University.

René Pannekoek received the 2013 Philipsprize for PhD students in Mathematics at the Dutch Congress for Mathematics 2013 in Nijmegen. It was the 8th time that this prize, 1000 Euro and a trophy, was awarded.

During the Dutch Mathematical Congress, Joost Batenburg has been awarded the Philips Mathematics Prize for PhD students.

On January 5, Rosa Winter will obtain her doctorate in arithmetic geometry. She researched solutions of equations that define so-called ‘del Pezzo surfaces’. ‘I like geometry because I can imagine and draw the shapes and objects,’ says Winter. ‘That makes abstract mathematics feel more tangible.’