Business Mathеmatiсs

The M.Sc. in Business Mathematics is taught at the Institute of Mathematics of Friedrich Schiller University Jena. According to the University, the program can be described as follows:

Professors vary in terms of course structure: some may have mandatory exercise modules, required assignments and projects, or presentations. Others may expect nothing from students except for participation in the exam. Course details will typically be outlined in the first week of courses. 

All modules in the program are available in English, though not all modules are taught in English by default. Students may have to email a professor in advance or ask on the first day of lectures for English instruction. This is because many German-speaking students attend courses in the English M.Sc., so a module might be taught in German until it is requested otherwise. All courses may be requested in English at any time by a registered student, even after the first day. (Note that this is not necessarily true for Bachelor modules, even though M.Sc. students may attend up to 18 ECTS credits of Bachelor courses. You may still request that a course be taught in English, but professors will not be obligated to accommodate). 

The Business Mathematics department provides a number of resources, including the computer rooms (pools) on the 4th floor of the department building. Here, students have unlimited access to computers during regular university hours, as well as access to printers. Upon enrollment, students will receive credentials for accessing department computers. 

Furthermore, there are student-run tutoring services provided and a student lounge on the 3rd floor. Students are encouraged to speak with professors and lecturers directly regarding additional questions; some professors also provide office hours (Sprechstunden) to assist students throughout the semester. All students have access to the University library for resources and a place to study. 

Course times follow one of the two following formats: 

• Sine tempore (s.t.): A lecture which is listed s.t. begins and ends at the listed times exactly. For example, a class from 10:00-12:00 s.t. begins at 10:00 and ends at 12:00. 
• Cum tempore (c.t.): A lecture which is listed as c.t. begins and ends with a 15 minute discrepancy between the listed times and the actual times. For example, a class from 10:00-12:00 c.t. begins at 10:15 and ends at 11:45. This is for historical reasons, and allows students reasonable time to get from one lecture to the next.