The goal of the Master's programme in Computer Science is to offer an in-depth education in computer science, associated with the versatility of engineering sciences. This curriculum gives access to a wide range of professional activities: computer scientists become designers and creators of complex computing systems, software development project leaders, operation managers, researchers, and so on. They analyse and understand the complex needs of our rapidly evolving society. They create computing systems  that answer these needs. They master and remain at par with the technological evolution in the field. They implement the designed solutions, ensure the quality of the products and of the development and maintenance process.

At the end of their master's programme, students will have mastered the fundamental concepts of the following subjects:

• Algorithms and data structures;
• Programming languages;
• Software engineering;
• Artificial intelligence ;
• Operating systems and computer networks.

It is important to emphasise here that two parallel master's programmes coexist, offering an almost identical content in computer science:

• The Master in Computer Science Engineering,
• The 120-credit Master in Computer Science, presented here.

This extended offer serves 2 goals.

1. The Master in Computer Science Engineering presented here is the continuation of the bachelor programme in engineering (science de l'ingénieur, orientation ingénieur civil) and trains computer science professionals with versatile engineering skills. The Master in Computer Science, on the other hand, is the continuation of the bachelor programme in computer science (sciences informatiques) and provides an opening towards social sciences and management.
2. The coexistence of these two programmes offers a suitable formation to a large audience of students. On one hand, the Master in Computer Science Engineering leads to the legal title of Civil Engineer (ingénieur civil) and is only accessible to bachelors in engineering (science de l'ingénieur, orientation ingénieur civil) and to some other engineering degrees (ingénieur industriel), in order to ensure that the general engineering programme requirements are met. The Master in Computer Science, on the other hand, is accessible to bachelors in computer science (sciences informatiques), to bachelors of the Université catholique de Louvain having followed the Minor in Computer Science, and to some external bachelors through available bridging programmes.

It is important, however, to note that both programmes offer the same level of specialisation in computer science.

Apart from some exceptions mentioned in the detailed programme, all courses of this master's programme are taught in the English language, given the importance of this language in the field of computer science. This gives French-speaking students an opportunity for intensively practice English as part of their training, while at the same time opening access to the programme at the inter-community and international level. In particular, it is possible to follow this master's programme as part of a dual-degree programme, in partnership with selected non-French-speaking universities.

The Master in Computer Science programme includes:
- core courses, mainly the master's thesis;
- focus, compulsory courses;
- one or more options to specialize in one computer science domain,
- some optional courses.

A final graduation thesis is normally conducted during the last year. On the other hand, as long as it suits his/her educational project and the prerequisites are respected, courses can be placed at will by the student in the first or second year. This is particularly true in the case of a student carrying out part of his studies abroad. Consequently, the years to which activities are assigned in the detailed programme are only indicative.

The whole programme is provided in English, except for the options in biomedical engineering, management and CPME. For non-French-speaking students, alternatives to the compulsory courses in French will be proposed by the programme commission on a case-by-case basis, according to the student's curriculum. In particular, for students who did not obtain their bachelor degree at UCL, the course in religious sciences may be replaced by a supplementary activity to the master thesis, under item FSA2993.

It is always possible for a student to communicate in French within a course and the relevant evaluations. In particular, the master thesis can be written and defended in French.

• Fostering interdisciplinarity

The master's programme in computer science is inherently interdisciplinary.

Students have the possibility of opening up their training to non-technical disciplines through elective courses, and thus establish a coherent personal learning project.

Finally, a computer scientist will have to manage projects during his career, lead a team and focus on the complex socio-economic context in which the computing systems he develops will be deployed. The master's programme in computer science therefore offers options in management and creation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Variety of learning strategies

The pedagogical approach involves : active learning, a balanced mix of teamwork and individual work and attention to the development of non-technical skills.

In particular, by putting an emphasis on project activities (including a large-scale project putting the students in a semi-professional situation), the pedagogical approach develops in the students a critical mind capable of designing, modelling, implementing, maintaining and validating complex computing systems.

The graduation project represents half of the workload of the last year; it offers the possibility to cover a given subject in depth and constitutes, by its size and the context in which it takes place, a true introduction to the professional life of an engineer or a researcher.

• Diversity of learning situations

Students will be exposed to various pedagogical devices adapted to the different disciplines: lectures, projects, exercise sessions, problem-based learning sessions, case studies, laboratory experiments, industrial or research internships, group and individual assignments, seminars. In certain courses, e-learning allows the students to assimilate the subject matter at their own pace and to perform virtual experiments.

This variety of situations helps the student to shape his knowledge in an iterative and progressive way, while developing his autonomy, his organisational skills, his management of time, his ability to communicate in different modes, etc. State-of-the-art computer facilities (hardware, software, networks) are at the disposal of the students for their work.

• Use of foreign languages

Globalisation imposes on any society to open its doors towards foreign markets. Moreover, English is by far the most commonly used language in computer science. The use of English during the entire curriculum allows students to develop their mastery of the English language, which will ease their integration in foreign universities and companies. All course material and supervision are in English but the student can always ask questions or answer his exams in French if desired.

Moreover, the programme allows for attending language courses at the university's Language Institute (ILV) and for taking part in foreign exchange programmes.

The entire programme is offered in English, except for the external options in management and creation of small and medium-sized enterprises. For non-French-speaking students, alternatives to the compulsory courses in French will be proposed by the programme commission on a case-by-case basis, according to the student's curriculum. In particular, for students who did not obtain their bachelor degree at Université catholique de Louvain, the course in religious sciences may be replaced by a supplementary activity to the master thesis, with course code FSA2993.

Outgoing students

The Louvain School of Engineering (EPL) participates since their inception in the various existing mobility programmes at the European as well as worldwide levels.

The students' interest in internationalisation and mobility is aroused as of the end of their bachelor programmes, notably through the existence of intensive study programmes such as the ATHENS or BEST networks.  These networks are also accessible in the master programme and allow the students to get a first contact with international mobility.

In addition, in the context of the Erasmus and Mercator exchange programmes, students have the possibility of performing and extended stay of typically 5 months (first semester of the second master year) at a partner university.  To this extent, the Louvain School of Engineering (EPL) participates in several networks.

• In Belgium, EPL maintains a privileged partnership with the Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with which it has developed an exchange programme covering the first year of the master.
• At the European level, EPL was particularly involved in the CLUSTER. CLUSTER provides a guarantee of quality, both in terms of education and in terms of hosting for exchange students. Moreover, the CLUSTER partners have signed a convention of mutual recognition of their bachelor programmes. This convention implies that all bachelors of the CLUSTER institutions benefit, in each institution of the network, of the same accessibility conditions to the masters as the local students.
• Outside of Europe, EPL is a partner of the Magalhaẽs network which associates fifteen European universities with the best universities in science and technology of Latin America.

Alongside these network partnerships, the Louvain School of Engineering has also signed a number of individual agreements with various universities in Europe, in North America and elsewhere in the world. The list of these agreements can be found on UCL's International Relations Administration website.

Moreover, several dual master agreements have been set up and allow, after two years of master (one at UCL, the other in a host university), to obtain engineering degrees from both universities.  In computer science engineering, such agreements have been established with UPC (Barcelona, Spain) and Grenoble (France).  Others are currently being negotiated.

The students are informed about the various exchange programmes at the start of their second bachelor year. They are invited to prepare in time, especially at the linguistic level, through the courses of UCL's Language Institute (ILV).

Beyond exchange programmes, an internship may be conducted in a research laboratory or in an enterprise abroad.

More information about mobility programmes.

Incoming students

In the context of the Cluster network, foreign students benefit at UCL from exactly the same status and conditions as local students, which facilitates Erasmus exchanges for students coming from institutes in this network.

The whole programme is offered in English and can be followed without prior knowledge of French, except for the options in biomedical engineering, management and creation of small and medium-sized enterprises. All courses, but a few exceptions, are given in English. For non-French-speaking students, alternatives to the courses in French will be proposed by the programme commission on a case-by-case basis, according to the student's curriculum.

More information about mobility programmes.

Students who have completed the "Artificial Intelligence" option will have to be able to:

Students who have completed the "Software engineering and programming systems" option, will be able to:

• Understand and explain the problems encountered when engineering large software projects, as well as the critical impact of the solutions chosen throughout the entire software life cycle (problems related to construction, validation, documentation, communication or project management involving big teams as well as the cost and deadlines to respect).
• Choose and apply the appropriate methods and tools to engineer complex software systems that satisfy strict quality criteria: reliability, adaptability, evolutionarity, performance, security, usability, ...
• Model products and processes necessary to obtain such systems and to analyse these methods.
• Develop and implement programmes to analyse, transforme and optimise of complex date representations.
• Use wisely different programming paradigms and languages, and functional, object-oriented and distributed programming in particular for a given problem.
• Understand the differences between various models of concurrent and distributed programming and to be able to use the appropriate model.
• Define new programming languages (syntax and semantics) appropriate to solve problems in a specific domain.

This option is available only for students with a strong background in mathematics (like a minor in mathematics).

Students who have completed the "Computing and Applied Mathematics" option will be able to :

• Apprehend fields of engineering requiring a synergy between applied mathematics and computing, such as algorithms, scientific calculation, modelling of computing systems, optimisation, machine learning or data mining.
• Understand and effectively implement methods and techniques based on advanced algorithms such as optimisation methods, constraint programming, graph algorithms, numerical algorithms or analysis and conception of algorithms.
• Identify and implement models and techniques related to statistics, machine learning and data mining; apprehend classes of application such as data processing, pattern recognition or automatic extraction of information from large data collections.

This option is not accessible to students who have chosen the option in creation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

This option is not proposed in the English language.

The aim of this option is to familiarize a student in engineering with the basic principles of business management.

This option is not accessible to students who selected the option in management.

This option is not proposed in the English language.

This training aims to familiarize engineering students with the specificities of SMEs, of entrepreneurship and creativity, in order to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and tools he or she needs to create a business. Access to this option is restricted to a limited number of students selected on the basis of a motivation file and individual interviews. Motivation files for this option must be introduced before the start of the academic year at :

Secrétariat CPME – Place des Doyens 1
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve (tel 010/47 84 59).

The selected students will replace the master thesis from their core programme with a specific report on business creation (counting for the same number of credits).