The Department of Mathematics and Applications was born in January 1999 with the aim of promoting and coordinating research in the mathematical disciplines and to provide for the carrying out of teaching activities in the mathematical field within university courses and higher education.

The Director is Professor Gianmario Tessitore.

The Department organises an annual programme of scientific activities in the top areas of mathematical research. The Department's research is organised in various disciplines of the mathematical area: Combinatorial and Homological Algebra, Harmonic and Geometric Analysis, Nonlinear Analysis, Numerical Analysis, Mathematics Application, Didactics and Communication of Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, Geometry, Mathematical Methods of Economics and Actuarial and Financial Sciences, Probability and Statistics. The corresponding research groups actively participate in national and international scientific life and maintain a dense network of scientific relations with Italian and foreign researchers, groups, centres of excellence and research institutions. The Department's scientific production has been recognised by the international scientific community and its results have been published in the most prestigious scientific journals in the field.

The Department is the seat of the three-year PhD programme in Pure and Applied Mathematics in consortium with the University of Pavia, which provides students with a high level of skills and professionalism and initiates them into research in all top sectors of mathematics.

The Department is the seat of a section of the National Institute of High Mathematics (INdAM), whose primary aim is to promote research activities and higher mathematical education, while guaranteeing a high level of scientific quality.

The Department is also home to the MateMatita Research Centre, for studies on communication and informal learning of mathematics.