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Master Year 2 Foundations of Computer Science

Master Year 2 Foundations of Computer Science
Year

Master Year 2

Program

Foundations of Computer Science

ECTS Credits

60

Language

English

Orientation

Research

Location

Paris, bâtiment Sophie Germain de l’université de Paris, 75013

Course duration

12 months, 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 master program 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 de Paris (coordinator), ENS Ulm, ENS Paris-Saclay, École polytechnique, and Telecom Paris. The first year takes place mostly at École polytechnique, while the second year takes place mostly at Université de Paris.

Objectives

This two-year program allows students to

  • 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

Courses and exams

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.

Internship

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

Completion of the first year of a Master in computer science or related field at Institut Polytechnique de Paris or equivalent in France or abroad

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

You will receive an answer in your candidate space within 2 months of the closing date for the application session.

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

Coordinator

Gilles Schaeffer

Program office

Jackie Gardin

General enquiries

master-admission@ip-paris.fr

Description

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 master program 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 de Paris (coordinator), ENS Ulm, ENS Paris-Saclay, École polytechnique, and Telecom Paris. The first year takes place mostly at École polytechnique, while the second year takes place mostly at Université de Paris.

Objectives

This two-year program allows students to

  • 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

Courses and exams

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.

Internship

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

Completion of the first year of a Master in computer science or related field at Institut Polytechnique de Paris or equivalent in France or abroad

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

You will receive an answer in your candidate space within 2 months of the closing date for the application session.

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

Coordinator

Gilles Schaeffer

Program office

Jackie Gardin

General enquiries

master-admission@ip-paris.fr