The Applied Mathematics degree will provide students with the competencies and expertise required in mathematical engineering. They will learn to design, analyse and implement mathematical models to be applied to complex systems of the industrial or corporate world, and to create efficient strategies to optimize their performance. Throughout their training, students will acquire both the theoretical and methodological tools which will be implemented in all fields of engineering, as well as in other walks of life in society, such as economics, environmental sciences or life sciences. The Master’s degree in Applied mathematics engineering is characterized by its great flexibility in setting up students’ curriculum: half of the latter will be made up of elective courses. In particular, students are offered a wide spectrum of eleven coherent course modules (called « options »), some of these focussing on basic disciplines of applied mathematics (Optimization and operations research, Systems and control, Discrete mathematics and computer science), others relating to associated application fields (Financial mathematics, Information and signal processing, Biomedical engineering, Modelling and simulation of physical phenomena, Statistics), the remainder pertaining more specifically to the world of economics (Management, Economics and econometrics, Launching of small and medium-sized companies).

The Master’s curriculum in Applied mathematics engineering will consist of at least 120 credits covering two years, with a minimum of 60 credits per year, and comprising :
- a fixed set of 60 credits, consisting of a 30-credit core curriculum and a 30-credit specialization module; 
- a flexible set of 60 credits, made up of elective courses and possibly one or more « options » (15 to 30 credits apiece) chosen amongst the eleven available options  : Optimization and operations research, Systems and control, Discrete mathematics and computer science, Information and signal processing, Biomedical engineering, Modelling and simulation of physical phenomena, Management, Economics and econometrics, Launching of small and medium-sized companies, Financial mathematics, Statistics.

The final thesis is generally written during the last year. However, students may choose to take any given course in the first or second year, subject to possible prerequisites. This will be the case in particular for students pursuing part of their education abroad.
 
If, in the course of his (her) former curriculum, a student has already been credited with a subject included in the compulsory core curriculum, or any training deemed equivalent, this subject will be replaced by any recommended elective course of the Applied mathematics curriculum, within the imposed constraints. The student is responsible for checking whether the minimum total number of credits has been reached, as well as those of the specialized field, which will appear on the final diploma.
 
The student’s curriculum will be scrutinized for acceptance by the Mechanical engineering diploma committee.

Accessible complementary Master’s degrees
The Master’s in Applied mathematics engineering provides the prerequisites for many other Master’s degrees which can then be obtained after one year of studies :
1. 120 Master’s in actuarial science (UCL) A student with at least 35 credits within the  Financial mathematics option has direct access to the second year of the 120 Master’s in actuarial science at UCL.
2.  120 Master's in economics, general stream (specialized or advanced) (UCL) A student with at least 35 credits within the  Economics and econometrics option has direct access to the second year of the 120 Master’s in economics, general stream (specialized or advanced)  at UCL.
3. 120 Master’s instatistics, general stream (specialized or advanced) (UCL) A student with at least 35 credits within the Statistics option has direct access to the second year of the 120 Master’s in statistics, general stream (specialized or advanced)  at UCL.
Accessible Ph.D. studies
Registration for a Ph.D. in applied science is open to any bearer of a Master’s in engineering. The department of mathematical engineering is a partner in various thematic doctoral schools, in particular the « Systems, Optimization, Control and Networks » school of which it is the coordinator (for additional details, refer to http://www.inma.ucl.ac.be/graduate/).

. Features favouring interdisciplinarity :

The curriculum of the Master’s in Applied mathematics engineering is intrinsically interdisciplinary. It aims to provide students with a training in mathematical modelling which is then implemented in the various disciplines of engineering, as well as in other walks of life in society, such as economics, environmental sciences or life sciences. In particular, the wide range of electives, some depending on other departments (Information and data processing, modelling and simulation of physical processes) or even other faculties (Financial mathematics, Biomedical engineering, Economics and econometrics, Statistics), will naturally contribute to strengthening this interdisciplinarity.
The final thesis, when carried out outside the department of engineering mathematics (which is often the case), is yet another source of interdisciplinarity.

. Variety of teaching situations

The pedagogy implemented in the engineering Master’s curriculum is aligned with that of the engineering Bachelor’s curriculum: active learning, a balanced mix of group and individual work, and substantial time devoted to the development of non-techical competencies.
The final thesis amounts to half of the workload of the final year ; it offers the possibility to thoroughly investigate a given subject and, through its mere volume and context, can be considered as a genuine introduction to the professional life of an engineer or a researcher. This activity can be carried out :
- either on a subject directly related to one or many basic disciplines of applied mathematics and its applications, within a research team of the department of mathematical engineering (possibly in cooperation with an external industrial partner),
- or else on a subject involving applied mathematics in some other department of the Faculty of applied sciences, or the Faculties of science, economics, management or actuarial science.

. Variety of learning situations :

The student will encounter a variety of pedagogical tools tailored to the various disciplines : formal lectures, individual projects in small groups, tutorials, project-based learning, case studies, imposed readings, experimental laboratory work, computer simulations, teachware, industrial or research training, individual and group work, seminars given by outside scientists, etc.
This variety of situations will help students to build their knowledge in an iterative and progressive manner, while developing their autonomy, organizational skills, time management, and capacity to use various modes of communication, …The most advanced computer equipment (hardware, software, networks) is made available to assist students in their work.
 
The company launching specialization is based on an interactive approach and problem-based learning. Throughout the curriculum, students are required to perform group activities in multi-disciplinary groups. The final thesis is also multi-disciplinary and designed in such a way that groups of three students, ideally from three different faculties, should work on a company launching project.

All learning activities are assessed as prescribed by the University internal regulations (see exam regulations), viz. written and oral exams, laboratory exams, individual or group work, public presentation of projects and final thesis.

Global framework  

The Faculty of Applied Sciences has taken part, since their inception, in all the various mobility programmes which have been set up at both the European and world levels.  
The numerous contacts it has with professional circles, notably via its Advisory Board, have demonstrated  to what extent employers are favourably impressed by a mobility experience in someone’s CV. The ever-increasing internationalization of research via networks linking laboratories throughout the world, speaks in favour of encouraging this mobility.  
Students’ interest is aroused at the end of their Bachelor studies, notably via intensive courses such as those of the ATHENS (  ) or BEST (  ) networks.  
In the course of the two-year Master’s programme, students are encouraged to take part in a 1- or 2-semester exchange scheme.
Within Belgium, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is involved in a privileged partnership with the Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, with whom it has set up an exchange scheme relating to the first year of the Master’s curriculum (   ).  
At the European level, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is strongly involved in the CLUSTER excellence network (  ). This network encourages internal mobility, since this is a guarantee of quality as concerns both the level of teaching and the hosting of exchange students. Moreover, Cluster partners have signed an agreement recognizing each other’s Bachelor’s curricula. This agreement stipulates that all Bachelors of network institutions will have access to the Master’s studies in any institution on a par with local students.  
Outside Europe, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is a partner in the Magalha#s network, which groups about fifteen European universities together with the best South American science and technology universities (   ).  
Besides these network partnerships, the Faculty has also signed a number of individual agreements with various universities in Europe, North America or elsewhere in the world. A list of these agreements may be found on the website of UCL International Relations (  ).  

International possibilities (for UCL students)  

UCL is also a partner in the TIME programme (  ) which gives students the opportunity to obtain two engineeering degrees, via a specifically tailored curriculum.
Double engineering degree : students may replace the second year of their Master’s by two years of study in a different institution within the TIME programme and conventions with the Ecole nationale supérieure du pétrole et des moteurs (ENSPM). Upon completion of their curriculum, students are automatically awarded the UCL degree following that of the host institution. Under certain conditions, students may take part in the selection process for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Chicago and Cornell universities (for further information, refer to website http://www.uclouvain.be/10490.html)
Besides intensive courses which are one component of international relations, FAS students with outstanding results are encouraged to apply for 5- or 10-month exchange programmes. When taking place during the first Master’s year, exchanges are generally 10 months long. In the second year, they only last for a semester, either as courses or else research in a foreign laboratory as a complement to the final thesis.  
Some other more specific exchange programmes have been set up with South America, where the academic year is naturally on an “austral” basis.  
Students are informed about the various exchange programmes as from their second Bachelor’s year. They are encouraged to prepare for their exchange in a timely manner, notably by taking language courses at the Modern Languages Institute of UCL.

This option aims to introduce the student to specific advanced methods and concepts in optimization (use of integer variables and nonlinear functions, randomness) and make the student familiar with some of their fields of application, in particular operations research (quantitative methodology to assist in decision making).

This option aims to make the student familiar with some advanced topics in systems and control, amongst which system identification, control law synthesis, and the implementation of digital control and modelling and analysis of nonlinear dynamical phenomena.   

This option aims to make the student familiar with some advanced topics in discrete mathematics such as algorithm analysis (complexity), numerical analysis, combinatorial problems, and the computer tools which are specific to applied mathematics.