Univerza na Primorskem Fakulteta za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije
Presentation of the study
The doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences is offered in Slovenian and English language.
The programme is primarily intended for future researchers, higher education teachers, and academic staff. Each student is assigned a supervisor. One of the supervisor’s key responsibilities is to present the student with relevant open problems (or sets of open problems) to be addressed during the course of study. The supervisor also introduces related problems that have already been solved and teaches the student relevant techniques within the mathematical field. The solution of such open problems and their publication in relevant international journals is the main objective towards which the student should strive. Students also regularly present their findings at departmental research seminars.
During their studies, students typically participate in international conferences and research visits, where they present their results. They are often also involved in the organisation of conferences, summer schools, and similar events organised by UP FAMNIT or UP IAM. To a smaller extent, they are involved in teaching at lower study levels.
The fundamental aim of the programme is to train candidates for independent, internationally competitive scientific research in the broad field of mathematical sciences and to develop the ability to apply mathematical theories and practices to solve problems in other natural and social sciences.
Programme information
Programme name: Mathematical Sciences
Type of programme: doctoral study programme, 3rd cycle
Degree awarded: “doktor znanosti” equiv. to a Doctoral degree
Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
ECTS-credits: 180
Mode of study: part-time
Language of instruction: Slovene, English
Place of study: Koper
Accreditation: the programme is accredited in accordance with the Higher Education Act and is officialy recognised.
Admission to the 1st year of the doctoral study programme Mathematical Sciences is open to candidates who have:
- completed a second-cycle study programme in Mathematics (or another relevant field); or
- completed a study programme referred to in the fourth paragraph of Article 36 of the Higher Education Act, provided that the programme is credited with 300 ECTS; or
- completed a previous undergraduate academic study programme (programmes adopted before 11 June 2004) in the fields of mathematics, mathematics and computer science, physics, or other natural sciences.
The study programme is also open to candidates who have completed a mathematics-related second-cycle programme (computer science or physics), as well as other candidates who have completed a second-cycle programme and successfully passed differential examinations in Analysis and Algebra. Individual applications are reviewed by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT.
In the case of limited enrolment, candidates are selected based on their performance in second-cycle studies (average grade and grade of the master’s thesis).
“Transfer between study programmes” refers to a situation in which a student enrolled in a particular study programme does not complete it (i.e. discontinues education in the enrolled programme) and directly enrols into a higher year of a new study programme, whereby both the previous and the new programme must belong to the same Bologna cycle (level). When considering the possibility of transferring to a new study programme, the comparability of the programmes and the student’s completed study requirements in the previous programme are taken into account.
Admission to the 2nd year of the doctoral study programme in Mathematical Sciences under the transfer criteria is possible if the following conditions are met:
- the candidate meets the admission requirements for the doctoral study programme in Mathematical Sciences,
- the completion of the initial study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competences to those of the doctoral study programme in Mathematical Sciences, and
- other criteria in accordance with the Criteria for Transfers between Study Programmes are met (comparable curriculum of the study programme and completed study requirements of the candidate).
Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider the comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The Committee may also assign bridging exams to the candidate.
A candidate transferring from a related study programme abroad may also be admitted under the transfer criteria, provided that, in accordance with the law, they have been granted the right to continue their studies in the doctoral study programme in Mathematical Sciences through the recognition procedure of foreign education.
In the case of limited enrolment, candidates are selected based on the average grade of all completed study requirements in the study programme from which the candidate is transferring.
A student may progress to the next year of study if they obtain 40 ECTS of the current year and complete all obligations of the previous year.
In special cases related to individual circumstances of the student, progression to the next year may be approved with a lower number of ECTS (but not fewer than 30 ECTS). In such cases, enrolment decisions are made by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT.
A student who has not completed all obligations required for progression to the next year may, during their studies, repeat a year once. The student may repeat the year if they have obtained at least 20 ECTS of the enrolled year. If a student repeats a year, they are not entitled to absolvent year, and their student status expires at the end of the 3rd year.
By progressing or repeating a year, the student retains student status and the associated rights and benefits defined by law. In accordance with the law, a student may apply for an extension of student status, but for a maximum of one additional year.
During the course of study, students are assigned a study field. The study programme offers the following fields: Theoretical Mathematics – Algebra, Theoretical Mathematics – Analysis, Discrete Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Cryptography, Statistics, and Computing Intensive Methods Applications.
General competencies
- The ability to analyze, synthesize and predict solutions and consequences of the factors related to the discipline of mathematics.
- The ability to place mathematics into a broader social context.
- The ability to critically reflect on social events in general.
- The ability to critically assess the developments in the field of mathematics.
- The ability to work within a wider social community.
- The ability to autonomously search for and acquire professional knowledge and to integrate it with the existing knowledge.
- Autonomy in professional and scientific research.
Subject-specific competencies
- The ability to apply the mathematical and computer apparatus in concrete research.
- The ability to place mathematics into a broader social context.
- The ability of autonomous engagement in international mathematical circles.
- The ability of in-depth analysis of the development of their area of expertise.
- The ability to communicate within a global mathematical science and society.
- The ability to design a hierarchy enabling decomposition of a problem into sub problems and engineering of the integration of partial solutions.
Graduates are equipped for either independent research or other development projects demanding exacting knowledge, at the national or international level, and are also capable of working on university projects, in scientific institutes or in other research and development organisations. The in-depth knowledge acquired in both theoretical and applied mathematics also enables graduates to seek employment outside the academic environment, i.e. in insurance companies, banks, stockbroking agencies, statistical offices, and in economic environments where the need for survival and development in competitive market economies requires people capable of rational thinking, in-depth analysis and substantial decision making skills – in short, mathematicians.