PhD Program

Coursework and Credits

The department offers courses in various parts of mathematics and its applications. Each of the regular courses has 3 credits. Students must take a total of 54 credits in introductory and advanced courses. Normally one takes at least 12 credits each semester. There are two main terms each year: Fall and Winter Terms. They start at the end of September and early January, respectively, and each of them has a duration of 12 weeks. Sometimes we schedule special courses or invited lectures beyond these two terms. 
A student who already knows the material of a course can receive credit for it by the Doctoral Committee approving a course taken elsewhere. A maximum of 6 credits of courses can be waived in this way. Additional credits may be earned just by passing a special examination on the material. The key issue is if the student actually knows the material. Credits received are deducted from the required 54 credits. It is also possible to take reading courses (with the consent of the instructor).

Courses Offered

We offer courses in several fields, such as algebra, approximation theory, combinatorics, computer science, evolution equations, functional analysis, geometry, information theory, mathematical logic and foundations, number theory, numerical analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, probability theory and stochastic processes, set theory, statistics, etc. See Course List. We assume flexibility in choosing optional (elective) courses. Our offer exceeds the demand and not all the courses are taken in a given year. On the other hand, further optional (elective) courses may be added to the list, depending on the specific interests of the students. On occasion we will offer special courses on contemporary applications of mathematics.