Why this programme?

Operations Research

The Operations Research track of the Business Research master's programme is a powerhouse of mathematics, computing and optimisation analysis. You’ll learn to apply general techniques from mathematical programming and combinatorial optimisation to specific classes of problems, as well as to real-life applications in these areas. This includes the mathematical analysis of approximation algorithms and heuristics for these applications.

Our cooperation with top universities worldwide will allow you to follow guest lectures by international experts. You’ll have the freedom to focus on your areas of interest, and can choose to specialise in one of the following:

Accounting and Information Management
Organisation and Strategy
Marketing and Supply Chain Management

The content and scope of this programme adheres to the American standard, which will enable you to qualify for a PhD programme in the United States (or an American PhD offered elsewhere) or work in research positions internationally. Graduates will receive a Master of Science degree in Business Research.

Compare our programmes

Easily compare different aspects of the master’s programmes from the School of Business & Economics.

Go to the comparison portal

What’s the value of a research master’s in the business world?

If you don’t want to pursue a PhD and would like to go straight into business, this programme helps you develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem analysis, how to master presentations, working in teams and speaking in public.

Saskia J.L. Ossen, alumn,
Central Bureau for Statistics, Heerlen

World-class education

It's never business as usual at Maastricht University. Not only do our academic programmes incorporate the latest developments in each field, but we also focus on research and innovation in education itself. One of our three university-wide research themes is Learning & Innovation. With the creation of EdLab and the continuing improvement of our education strategies, you can be confident that not only will you know your chosen discipline inside and out, but you will also have the best learning experience possible.

What will you learn?

Operations Research embraces the phrase “Knowledge is Power”. You’ll be immersed into the challenging field of mathematical analysis and optimisation, learning optimisation techniques from mathematics and operations research and how to apply them in models from game theory and economic theory. You will also:

study stochastic processes in discrete and continuous time
learn how to read state-of-the-art research articles, to understand the technical details and to give presentations on the subjects
gain a comprehensive overview of optimisation techniques such as linear and integer programming, and non-linear programming, with applications in game theory and economics

What skills will you develop?

You’ll learn to:

analyse the complexity of optimisation problems
design fast algorithms that provide solutions for hard optimisation problems
model hard optimisation problems as mathematical programs
apply several techniques and general purpose software tools to solve these problems

Student profile

Operations Research is a challenging programme that attracts the very best students. You should be a hard worker – this research master’s programme is anything but easy. You should also be ambitious, aiming either to go on to do a PhD or to become a top researcher in the business world. A bachelor’s degree in business or operations is a plus, but degrees in other disciplines demonstrating quantitative skills are also welcome. You may be exempted from certain components of the programme if you already have a master’s degree.

Amazing education opportunities

PREMIUM honours programme

PREMIUM gives you that extra edge by offering real-world experience during your studies. As part of a team of students, you’ll build the experience and skills employers are looking for. Work on a real-world assignment for a company, NGO or educational institution. Create a personal development plan. Participate in intensive individual coaching, master classes and workshops.

More about PREMIUM

Internships

Internships give you practical experience that enhances your studies and increases your employability. Many graduates often end up working at the organisation where they intern. SBE encourages master’s students to do an extracurricular, 8-26 week internship. The SBE Internship Office has an extensive database of internship opportunities and is on hand for guidance and counselling.

More about internship

Combine thesis & internship

Rather than face a trade-off between finishing your studies and doing an internship, SBE students have the option of combining the two. During the Thesis-Internship Programme (TIP), your thesis will be written on a topic relevant to a company or organisation during a part-time internship. This gives your thesis focus and applicability and gives you practical work experience.

More about TIP

Collaborative learning

Master’s courses are taught weekly in seminar-style meetings with small groups of 12 - 24 students, often together with PhD students from Maastricht and other universities. Researchers from various fields cover different research methodologies each week, giving you a great overview of what methods are available and when to use them.

Teaching assistantship

To help lighten the financial burden of studying and to help you develop teaching skills, we offer teaching assistant positions for which you may receive a grant. You can apply for a teaching assistant position and the grant during the first year of the research master's programme.

Research assistant grant

During the second year of the programme, you can also work as a research assistant. You’ll work closely with a member of our academic staff to further hone your research skills, and you may receive a grant to help pay for your study expenses. You can apply for a research assistant position and the grant prior to the start of your second year.

International experience

Maastricht University is among the top 15 most international universities in the world. We encourage our students to see themselves as world citizens, and our educational programmes encourage study abroad, multilingualism, cultural exchange and sensitivity, and international career goals.

The international classroom

UM embraces the International Classroom, an environment where our differences become our strengths. From day one, you’ll be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over the world. This kind of interaction brings you closer to the programme’s goal of teaching you not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. SBE is one of the most international faculties at Maastricht University, with over 60% of students and 55% of the academic staff coming from abroad, representing roughly 60 different nationalities.

Take your degree anywhere!

The SBE has the ‘Triple Crown’ of accreditations: from the American AASCB, the British AMBA and the European-wide EQUIS. This means that your degree is recognised in most places throughout the world: perfect for an international career or postgraduate studies abroad.