Major Foundations of Computer Science (MPRI)
| Program | Computer Science |
| Track | Foundations of computer science, Operations research, Distributed computing, and Quantum computing (FODQ) |
| ECTS Credits | 120 |
| Language | English |
| Orientation | Research |
| Location | Paris, bâtiment Sophie Germain de l’université de Paris, 75013 |
| Course duration | 2 Years, full time |
| Course start | September |
| Degree awarded | Master’s degree |
WHY ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?
Asset n° 1
Benefit from intensive exposure to contemporary research in computer science
Asset n°2
Prepare to pursue a PhD at Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Asset n°3
Build a successful career in academia or industry R&D
Everyone regularly experiences computer programs being inefficient or crashing. In order to avoid that, it is necessary to properly define and study what it means for a machine to compute something. This 2-years major covers some of the theoretical approaches to computer science addressing this, often based on mathematical tools, with a view towards applications. The topics of the courses include:
- theory of computation: computability, logic, semantics, combinatorics;
- models of computation: automata, concurrent and distributed programming, quantum programming, hybrid systems;
- safety of programs: verification, static analysis;
- efficiency of programs: algorithms, complexity, compilation;
- security of programs: cryptography, coding.
The master is research-oriented, with a focus on foundations: it aims at introducing students to contemporary theoretical computer science and most students do a PhD after the master, although it also leads to many possible careers in industry.
This master corresponds to the Parisian Master of Research in Computer Science (MPRI), which is run jointly by the following institutions: Université Paris Cité (coordinator), Université PSL (ENS Paris), Université Paris Saclay (ENS Paris-Saclay) and Institut Polytechnique de Paris (École polytechnique, Telecom Paris). The first year takes place mostly at École polytechnique, while the second year takes place mostly at Université Paris Cité.
More information can be obtained on the dedicated websites for the first year and the second year.
Objectives
- Acquire fundamental knowledge in theoretical computer science
- Be introduced to current research in computer science
- Gain practical experience through research internships
Students who successfully complete the two-year program will be equipped to:
- Pursue a PhD leading to a career in academia: a teaching-research position at a university or a full-time research position at a research institution
- Build a career in their field of expertise in the private sector e.g. R&D department
| Course Title | Hours / ECTS / Language |
| Advanced Algorithmics | 36 / 5 / English |
| Computational Logic: from Artificial Intelligence to Zero Bugs | 36 / 5 / English |
| Topological Data Analysis | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to Cryptology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to Information Theory | 36 / 5 / English |
| Distributed Data Structures, with a Spotlight on Blockchains | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to quantum information and computing | 36 / 5 / English |
| Algebraic Topology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Course Title | Hours / ECTS / Language |
| Advanced topics in quantum computation and information | 36 / 5 / English |
| Quantum Diagrams and Programs | 36 / 5 / English |
| Parallel and Distributed Algorithms | 36 / 5 / English |
| Randomization in Computer Science: Games, Networks, Epidemic and Evolutionary Algorithms | 36 / 5 / English |
| Algorithmic Geometry: from Theory to Application | 36 / 5 / English |
| Compilation | 36 / 5 / English |
| Advanced Cryptology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Logical Verification of Hybrid Systems | 36 / 5 / English |
| Foundations in Software Verification | 36 / 5 / English |
| Large scale mathematical optimization | 36 / 5 / English |
The first half of the curriculum, starting in September, consists of a selection of courses for a minimum of 30 ECTS to be chosen among M2 MPRI courses, possibly blended with a few external courses. The session is divided into two 10 week period with final exams in late November and late February. Detailed rules and a yearly updated list of the more than 30 different offered courses is available on the pedagogical web pages of the master.
The second period, starting early march, consists in a 4.5 to 6 month research internship worth 30 ETCS. The intership must be conducted in a research or R&D lab and lead to a research report and a defense that takes place early September. Numerous examples of internship offers from previous years can be viewed on the pedagogical web pages of the master.
Admission requirements
Academic prerequisites
Bachelor of Science in computer science
Language prerequisites
English
How to apply
Applications can be submitted exclusively online. You will need to provide the following documents:
- Transcript
- Two academic references (added online directly by your referees)
- CV/resume
- Statement of purpose highlighting your research interests and motivation for research
Fees and scholarships
Registration fees are available here
Find out more about scholarships
Please note that fees and scholarships may change for the following year.
Applications and admission dates
Everyone regularly experiences computer programs being inefficient or crashing. In order to avoid that, it is necessary to properly define and study what it means for a machine to compute something. This 2-years major covers some of the theoretical approaches to computer science addressing this, often based on mathematical tools, with a view towards applications. The topics of the courses include:
- theory of computation: computability, logic, semantics, combinatorics;
- models of computation: automata, concurrent and distributed programming, quantum programming, hybrid systems;
- safety of programs: verification, static analysis;
- efficiency of programs: algorithms, complexity, compilation;
- security of programs: cryptography, coding.
The master is research-oriented, with a focus on foundations: it aims at introducing students to contemporary theoretical computer science and most students do a PhD after the master, although it also leads to many possible careers in industry.
This master corresponds to the Parisian Master of Research in Computer Science (MPRI), which is run jointly by the following institutions: Université Paris Cité (coordinator), Université PSL (ENS Paris), Université Paris Saclay (ENS Paris-Saclay) and Institut Polytechnique de Paris (École polytechnique, Telecom Paris). The first year takes place mostly at École polytechnique, while the second year takes place mostly at Université Paris Cité.
More information can be obtained on the dedicated websites for the first year and the second year.
Objectives
- Acquire fundamental knowledge in theoretical computer science
- Be introduced to current research in computer science
- Gain practical experience through research internships
Students who successfully complete the two-year program will be equipped to:
- Pursue a PhD leading to a career in academia: a teaching-research position at a university or a full-time research position at a research institution
- Build a career in their field of expertise in the private sector e.g. R&D department
| Course Title | Hours / ECTS / Language |
| Advanced Algorithmics | 36 / 5 / English |
| Computational Logic: from Artificial Intelligence to Zero Bugs | 36 / 5 / English |
| Topological Data Analysis | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to Cryptology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to Information Theory | 36 / 5 / English |
| Distributed Data Structures, with a Spotlight on Blockchains | 36 / 5 / English |
| Introduction to quantum information and computing | 36 / 5 / English |
| Algebraic Topology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Course Title | Hours / ECTS / Language |
| Advanced topics in quantum computation and information | 36 / 5 / English |
| Quantum Diagrams and Programs | 36 / 5 / English |
| Parallel and Distributed Algorithms | 36 / 5 / English |
| Randomization in Computer Science: Games, Networks, Epidemic and Evolutionary Algorithms | 36 / 5 / English |
| Algorithmic Geometry: from Theory to Application | 36 / 5 / English |
| Compilation | 36 / 5 / English |
| Advanced Cryptology | 36 / 5 / English |
| Logical Verification of Hybrid Systems | 36 / 5 / English |
| Foundations in Software Verification | 36 / 5 / English |
| Large scale mathematical optimization | 36 / 5 / English |
The first half of the curriculum, starting in September, consists of a selection of courses for a minimum of 30 ECTS to be chosen among M2 MPRI courses, possibly blended with a few external courses. The session is divided into two 10 week period with final exams in late November and late February. Detailed rules and a yearly updated list of the more than 30 different offered courses is available on the pedagogical web pages of the master.
The second period, starting early march, consists in a 4.5 to 6 month research internship worth 30 ETCS. The intership must be conducted in a research or R&D lab and lead to a research report and a defense that takes place early September. Numerous examples of internship offers from previous years can be viewed on the pedagogical web pages of the master.
Admission requirements
Academic prerequisites
Bachelor of Science in computer science
Language prerequisites
English
How to apply
Applications can be submitted exclusively online. You will need to provide the following documents:
- Transcript
- Two academic references (added online directly by your referees)
- CV/resume
- Statement of purpose highlighting your research interests and motivation for research
Fees and scholarships
Registration fees are available here
Find out more about scholarships
Please note that fees and scholarships may change for the following year.