Implementation of the education

The duration of the academic year at KTH is 40 weeks. The academic year is divided into four periods.  Each period lasts approximately seven weeks with at least 33 days of study. Each period is followed by an examination period. In addition to the four regular examination periods, there are four re-examination periods: at Christmas, in March, June and August, immediately before the start of the academic year. Teaching activities may, if necessary, be scheduled outside the academic year. Details about the structure follow the general rules stated by KTH.

The first year of the track CSSE is carried out at one university and is devoted to the compulsory core courses and the preparation courses for the specialization that the student chooses. The choice of specialization is done at latest after the first year when moving to the second university. The second year is carried out at a different university than the first. The studies comprise specialization courses, elective courses and a degree project.

At least 90 university credits worth of courses must be taken. Of these, courses worth 30 credits are mandatory for all students of the programme. For each track there is an additional ca 30 credits worth of courses that are mandatory for that track. The remaining ca 30 credits are obtained by taking optional courses. The optional courses can be chosen freely if they are at the advanced level given by the department of mathematics, or if they have a strong connection to applied mathematics.  A list of such optional courses is included in appendix 1. To some extent, other choices of courses are also possible. In particular, upto 15 credits can typically be non-technical ("teknikkomplementära") courses.

Note that the choice of optional courses must always be approved by the programme director.

Courses in the first and the second cycle are graded on a scale from A to F. A-E are passing grades, A is the highest grade. The grades pass (P) and fail (F) are used for courses under certain circumstances.

The grades pass (P) and fail (F) are used for thesis works.

Before the second semester each student must select one of the four tracks: computational mathematics, optimization and systems theory, statistical learning and data analytics or financial mathematics. At least 45 credits worth of course work must have been finished during the first year (including the re-examination period in August) to be allowed to move on to the second year of the programme.

For the track CSSE the student is required to make a course selection for the coming semester. This must be done according to the rules of the university where the studies will be carried out. The student is responsible for having the recommended prerequisites. In a few courses, the number of places is limited and selection, for the students who applied in time, is done according to merits such as grades and credits. The selection is done at the course-giving university. For each course, the student shall, at the start of course, register for the course according to the rules of the university giving the course.For students starting their education from the autumn semester 2018, previous promotion requirements have been replaced with special admission requirements to each course. Admission requirements are specified in the course syllabus.

For students starting their education from the autumn semester 2018, previous promotion requirements have been replaced with special admission requirements to each course. Admission requirements are specified in the course syllabus. 

Course application

As a student at KTH programmes you have to apply for semester courses. The application is done via www.universityadmissions.se

Course registration

Students admitted to an educational programme at KTH must register for the courses they intend to study. Course registration is required for the examination and means that the student is active.

Under certain circumstances, and in agreement with the programme director, credits for previous studies can be received according to the local policy of KTH.

Students have the opportunity to spend one semester at one of KTH’s partner universities abroad.

For more information and recommendation on the appropriate semester for exchange studies refer to the International coordinator.

A 30-credit Master’s degree project is carried out at the end of the educational programme (usually the fourth semester). The purpose of the degree project is to develop the student's ability to perform independent project work, as well as to apply and deepen the skills obtained from the courses of the programme. The project may be carried out in an academic or industrial environment in Sweden or abroad.

The student must actively search for a suitable degree project; however KTH can provide some assistance with information on suitable points of contact. The choice of project must be approved by the master thesis responsible for the selected track.

To be allowed to start a degree project, a student must have accumulated at least 60 credits of the total course work, and enough depth within the selected track.

The degree project is graded with P/F.

Students within the track CSSE must complete an individual degree project which corresponds to 30 ECTS credits. In order to start the degree project, at least 60 ECTS credits of the total number of course credits must be completed, where 10 ECTS credits are from the student’s specialization. The goal with the degree project is that the student shall show the ability to independently carry out a degree project by using the knowledge and abilities acquired throughout the programme. The degree project is carried out at the university responsible for the student´s second year and is supervised by teachers from both universities.

A Degree of Master of Science is obtained after completing the degree programme.

Passing grades in all courses which are included in the student’s study plan are required.  The study plan must comprise 120 higher education credits which include a degree project consisting of 30 higher education credits.

KTH’s local degree ordinance can be found at KTH's website, www.kth.se.

In order for a student at track CSSE to receive double degrees from both universities, all courses in the individual study plan must be passed and the degree project must be deemed as passed by both the home and host university. For CSSE students who have studied one of the two years at KTH, it is required that the student has fulfilled the degree ordinance and has completed courses comprising 60 ECTS credits at KTH. The degree project, carried out at the host university, must correspond to 30 ECTS credits. Students who fulfil all requirements are awarded the Degree of Master of Science.

Application for degree certificate

When the studies at KTH are completed the student can apply for a degree certificate. Application is done through the “personal menu” at www.kth.se

Students at the track CSSE can apply for a degree certificate from both the universities where they have studied.