Bachelor in Applied Mathematics/Data Science

This program prepares you to become a Data Scientist with a focus on applications in Logistics and Engineering. You could work for example on the most efficient route for a delivery service of a (web)shop or supermarket, a dashboard for a theme park with expected waiting times, a prediction of the number of returns for a clothing brand or a model to plan replacement of airplane parts to avoid problems while flying.

Artificial Intelligence is a common theme within the whole program. It is a combination of mathematics, statistics, and logic that helps to make quick, smart, and personalized decisions. Voice recognition, movie suggestions on Netflix, and self-driving cars are examples of technical developments with artificial intelligence.

Why study Applied Mathematics/Data Science at Fontys

• Small educational groups and lots of personal contact with teachers;
• Multiple challenging projects per year for real companies in the Brainport region, the technical development region around Eindhoven;
• Three internships to apply your knowledge at different companies, explore the labor market, and gain work experience;
• Teachers from the industry with more than 25 years of experience in data science;
• The program combines both practical and theoretical sides of data science.

What does your week look like

Studying Data Science can be challenging, but the programme offers you enough variety:

• One moment you're following a lecture;
• The next moment you're in brainstorming to solve a challenge in the logistics sector;
• Or programming a mathematical model to find a solution for a company;
• Always together with your fellow students and/or under the guidance of our instructors/lecturers.

What are you going to learn?

In the first two years, our lecturers will equip you with a broad, but solid mathematical basis. During your entire studies, you will work on challenging projects with your fellow students and you will gain practical experience during different internships. We guide you in mathematical modeling, analysis, and solving complex problems.

After studying Applied Mathematics / Data Science, you will be the person who identifies problems in an organization and finds solutions using mathematics. You will learn to work together in a multidisciplinary team and to master technical matters.

What can you expect?

• A solid mix of theory (knowledge) and practice;
• Work on real (company) assignments and projects;
• You will learn about ethics as we cannot leave all choices to be taken by machines;
• You will develop programming skills on a higher level, in Python and other programs that you would need for engineering and operations research to improve company processes;
• You will be able to translate complex mathematical models into an easy-to-understand business language.

Year 1

In the first year, you will be prepared with a solid basis of mathematics and data science, especially in the field of Logistics and Engineering. A study week consists of:

• 16 hours of lessons/theory
• 12 hours of practice/projects
• 12 hours of independent studying

Year 2

During the second year, you will follow your first internship that focuses on orientation in the professional field. At the end of this year, you will complete the basic knowledge and skills. In addition to these basics, you will know the following fields:

Operations Research

Operations Research focuses mainly on the logistics sector. You will learn how to collect and structure relevant information. You will also learn how to apply mathematical models and techniques to solve logistic problems. You finish the year with a recommendation for the future distribution network of a (fictitious) company.

Data Science

Data Science, in addition to probability and statistics, you will also learn programming skills. The disciplines of mathematics and computer science meet here. In addition to collecting data, you will learn to analyze, model, and clean up this data and make the data transparent. This enables you to discover patterns, make predictions, and conclude. You could for example work on a selection method for picking ripe tomatoes with photographs.

Engineering Mathematics

In Engineering Mathematics, you will learn to translate a practical context into a mathematical model. Important subjects are 'systems and signals' and 'modeling with differential equations. Find out for example when a small deviation of the position of a screw during an assembly process of a car becomes a big problem.

All students follow the learning line of Professionalism. Here you will develop soft skills such as cooperation, presentation, and communication of complex matters in an easy way. You will need to reflect on yourself and will also be taught business ethics, networking, and applying for jobs.

Year 3

In the third year, you will deepen your knowledge. You will also do an internship with a company.

Minor

You will do a minor with another Fontys study program or with another educational institute in the Netherlands or abroad. A minor is a coherent package of courses according to your interests with which you can broaden your knowledge and competencies or specialize in your field of study. You have, to a certain extent, a free choice in the content of the minor. It is also possible to take the minor as a pre-master course if you wish to pursue a master's degree after completing this program.

Internship

During your internship, you will apply your knowledge and experience in the business world, either in the Netherlands or abroad. You will receive intensive supervision from the program and at your work placement.

Year 4

Graduation

Your final year of study will be devoted to graduation. You continue to deepen your knowledge of Data Science. In the second half of the year, you will carry out a graduation assignment at a company in the Netherlands or abroad. You will write a report and give a graduation presentation. The graduation supervisor and the company supervisor will help you with this and will assess the assignment. A graduation assignment is often the first step toward a job.

Related Courses

In addition to Applied Mathematics/Data Science, Fontys University of Applied Sciences offers technical programs Automotive Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and mechatronics.

What are you going to learn?

In the first two years, our lecturers will equip you with a broad, but solid mathematical basis. During your entire studies, you will work on challenging projects with your fellow students and you will gain practical experience during different internships. We guide you in mathematical modeling, analysis, and solving complex problems.

After studying Applied Mathematics / Data Science, you will be the person who identifies problems in an organization and finds solutions using mathematics. You will learn to work together in a multidisciplinary team and to master technical matters.

After the programme, you will be ready for the labour market. You will be able to study mathematical models of technical systems, collect and process data in business processes or to tackle logistical problems.

You can work in various fields and positions for example:

• Data analyst at a Railway or Transport Company
• Logistics specialist at a distribution centre of a webshop
• Data Scientist at a theme park
• Business analyst at a healthcare institution
• Data Engineer at an engineering company

Of course, you can also continue your studies and pursue a master’s degree at Fontys or a university. For example, at the new Fontys master's degree in Digital Technology Engineering. Other possibilities are a teacher training programme in Mathematics or a master's programme at a university such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Industrial and Applied Mathematics or Econometrics.

Agreements have been made with Technical University Eindhoven (TU/e) for special programmes, which makes it easy to move on to a master's programme at the TU/e.