Studying Number Theory and Pure Math Internationally..

International Students
1

<p>I am a dutch citizen, hence I can study in Holland or any other EU member for that matter, I am most likely going to study in the US, but if I have a strong alternative option in Europe, plus it's much cheaper, I'd be thrilled to do so.</p>

<p>Here are countries I wouldn't mind studying in, so please list good colleges with excellent pure math departments. I am looking for first tier colleges that would be comparable to MIT, Cal-Tech, Cambridge, Princeton etc...</p>

<p>Holland
Germany
Russia
England
France
Norway
Switzerland</p>

2

<p>Well I have no idea what ‘pure mathematics’ is, but you can discount Germany, Russia, France, Norway and Switzerland unless you happen speak fluent German, Russian, French or Norwegian - as far as I know none of these countries have universities that offer math undergrad degrees taught in English. As for the UK, look at Cambridge (or Oxford), Warwick, Imperial and UCL.</p>

3

<p>Obviously, the national first-tier schools are not comparable with the mentioned Cambridge, Princeton, Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc. Just look at the world rankings… There are many fine and respected universities in Europe, but with the exception of Cambridge and Oxford, there are no top 10 unis. The name of University of Munnich, University of Oslo, or Moscow State will hardly raise any eyebrows… So, your question is a bit puzzling: obviously, in Europe, besides Oxbridge, there are no universities comparable to HYPSM, and other top-notch US unis. But there are many fine universities indeed, in the UK, like the mentioned UCL, Imperial, KCL, etc.</p>

4

<p>Actually GeraldM those universities you’ve listed are very highly respected within Europe; indeed, Oslo and Munich are two of Europe’s leading research universities. HYPSM are of course all excellent, but you underestimate the reputation places like ETH Zurich, SciencesPo, Uppsala, the Karolinska Institute, </p>

5

<p>Germany has some very strong research universities BUT:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>All German universities have open admission policies (for German students at least), so your institutional affiliation will not give you any bragging rights. </p></li>
<li><p>German professors rarely interact with undergraduate students. You’d be a number in a lecture hall or an anonymous face in a seminar.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Many of the most qualified German students go abroad for these two reasons.</p>

6

<p>Interesting, and I don’t care about superfluous ranking, for example University of Delft (NL), Zurich Institute, Poly Technique Ecole Institute (I know I’m misnaming this french University…), and others. Leningrad MathMech University is extraordinary,</p>

7

<p>Ecole Normale Superieure, Rue d’Ulm in Paris… time to get cracking on that prepas</p>

8

<p>Warwick…</p>

9

<p>Dionysus58: You’re right, of course, I shall agree, these are fine universities. Still, even in Europe, what do you think, what receives more praise: the fact that somebody went to Munnich, or went to Cambridge or Princeton…? It’s not just about fame, that everyone heard about the latter big leaguers, but the fact that they are far superior, even if you count that non-UK European universities are quite underestimated, and underranked (have to add, that they also lack the resources, i.e. money…) </p>

<p>It is also true that in Europe people tend to think about US universities with some romance, and it is much soundly if you went to a US university then an European one, even if the compared two places about the same in world rankings.
I’m speaking from experience: after being undergrad at the second strongest university in my fine European homeland (constantly to be found on the world rankings, but barely anyone heard about it outside the country…:D), I went to Cambridge, and then came to Oxford. The reaction within academic circles in my uni and among the people I know (and family) was basically the same: wohohoo, whattefu*. I have no intentions to stay in Europe after earning the PhD (DPhil, actually…) but go to the US, where the name of Oxford and Cambridge raise some eyebrows, and in my field, they are probably the best in the world. But if I decide to stay in Europe, return to home, I know that the reaction would be praise as well - actually, even more, as in the US it’s fine, that I went to Oxbridge, but they have their ultra-elite schools, while in Europe Oxbridge is the best, and dot. If I would earn a degree(s) in , say, Humbolt and the like, it would be a respectable thing, but nothing more, and it is true both in and outside the academia. Many people goes there while far not that many goes to Oxbridge…</p>

<p>Summing up: going to the mentioned European unis is a fine, and great choice, as they are fantastic institutions. But it will hardly have such a great impact on your life, and carrier prospect than if you go to Cambridge, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Harvard, atc, to study pure mathematics.</p>

10

<p>I know several mathematicians in the US who are alumni of ETH Zurich. That’s the only non-British European university that ever stood out to me as a “feeder” to the US academic market. </p>

<p>Before anyone says Munich again, neither of the two research universities in Munich does number theory. There gotta be some number theorists somewhere in Germany, but I wouldn’t know where to look for them.</p>

11

<p>Hmmm, I mean Gotting</p>