French version

MASTER'S ADMISSION GUIDE

350101406 EUROPEAN MASTER IN VISION AND ROBOTICS (IU-ERASMUS MUNDUS)

SEMINARIOS PARA EL DESARROLLO DE LAS COMPETENCIAS TRANSVERSALES UdG DE TRATAMIENTO DIFERENCIADO (Calendario)

Educational objectives

The European Master on Computer VIsion and RoBOTics (VIBOT) is a common European Course organized by the Vision and Robotics European Consortium (VREC) constituted by University of Burgundy (France), University of Girona (Spain) and Heriot-Watt University (Great-Britain). It meets the present needs of industry for quality control and automation of industrial processes as well in the field of health with the increasing importance of medical imagery in all its forms.

The key cognate areas are computer vision and robotics. Current research in these domains is particularly dynamic and finds fast outlets in the industrial world where needs are growing and companies’ executives are increasingly opened to implementing artificial vision solutions to improve both quality and productivity.

It encompasses the most varied sectors, such as the car, agro-alimentary, and health industries, which require adapted and extremely specialized formations in both robotics and computer vision.

Curriculum structure and description of the skills developed

The two-year study programme proposed is divided into four semesters, each corresponding to 30 ECTS. The Masters is kicked off by an induction week in September, held in University of Burgundy. This week purposes to facilitate the cultural adaptation of the newcomers, and to settle all aspects of their administrative registration and academic induction. The Masters ends in July of the second year with all students returning to University of Burgundy to defend their thesis through a public viva.

The first semester is carried out within the School of EPS in Heriot Watt University, Scotland (UK). It covers an introduction to signal and image processing theory and tools, including the key related area of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence and supplemented by local culture studies and specific training for drafting documents in English.

The second semester takes place in the EPS of the Universitat de Girona, Catalonia (Spain). The semester focuses on computer vision for Robotics, covering fundamentals and applications of robotics, as well as specific methods of image analysis and real time hardware. The semester also includes and introductory study of the local culture.

The third semester is hosted by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Burgundy (France). The semester focuses on advanced image analysis and pattern recognition for sensor data images, with an emphasis on medical imagery, through the modalities studied (Infra-Red Imagery, Ultrasound Imagery, Radio-Isotopic Imagery and X-Ray Imagery), and the intervention of medical practitioners. A module of discovery of the local culture is also provided. The fourth semester is focused on the masters thesis, consists in either an introduction to research carried out in one of the laboratories of the consortium or an industry placement in a company involved in vision or robotics technologies.

The learning outcomes are:

a) Understanding, Knowledge and Subject- Specific skills of Computer Vision, Image and Signal Processing and Robotics;
b) Developing and applying skills in critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis, and in the design of projects and experimental models;
c) Deploying advanced problemsolving skills and techniques towards original and creative solutions to general and specialist issues;
d) Developing and demonstrate skills and techniques in oral and written communication with peers and academic/industrial staff;
e) Working autonomously and within teams, as appropriate, demonstrating a capability for both taking and critically reflecting on roles and responsibilities; and
f) Developing and demonstrate the ability to operate and interact successfully and positively within multicultural environments.

Faculty profile

The consortium will achieve these objectives and be able to deliver excellence-level higher education masters thanks to the cumulated expertise of the partner Universities. In teaching, it provides the breadth of coverage, while still benefiting from the depth of expertise each institution brings. In research, it warrants that the consortium will be able to adapt to the rapid and ever changing progresses in the fields, in order to maintain an up to date and relevant curriculum. The European Masters will draw from the international experiences of the three partner universities, in the scientific field, as shown by their involvement in international congress’ organization, and in welcoming international students, as shown by each university’s international student population.

Location

First semester First semester: School of EPS (Engineering and Physical Sciences) in Heriot Watt University, Scotland (UK).
Second semester: Escola Politècnica Superior of the Universitat de Girona, in Catalunya (Spain).
Third semester: University Center Condorcet in Le Creusot, an antenna of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Burgundy (France).
Fourth semester: in one of the laboratories of the consortium or an industry placement in a company involved in vision or robotics technologies


Price

8.800 €/European students and 14.800 €/non-European students. Note that this difference in fees reflects the financial constraints of UK institutions regarding non-EU students, to which Heriot-Watt is subjected.

Academic coordinator

Joaquim Salvi   udg@vibot.org

Telephone:  00 (34) 972 418 483

Fax:  00 (34) 972 418 976

General entrance requirements

All official university graduates (three-year degrees or more), engineers (including technical engineers) and architects (including architectural technologists) can be admitted to these studies.

Also admitted to the Masters programmes will be those candidates having completed three years of study and a minimum of 180 credits from the existing curricula, including all the official first cycle core requirements of current university studies. The completed first cycle of studies must be anticipated within the specific entrance requirements established in the official graduate programme.

Likewise, foreign university graduates can be admitted to a Masters programme if their degrees have been previously and officially approved, or without official approval if it has been verified that their studies are equivalent to the level of academic training of Spanish degrees and that they authorise admission tograduate studies in the country were they were awarded.

Entrance profiles, previous training requeriments and admission criteria

Emphasis will be placed on academic records that reflect theoretical knowledge of algorithmics and/or programming languages, given that they can solve problems in a structured way; knowledge of algebra and geometry, as the foundations of industrial robotics and three-dimensional vision; numerical systems for solving equations since they are fundamental for solving non-lineal systems in mobile vision and robotics. Likewise, it is recommended to have certain knowledge of digital circuits, understood as the basis of how a computer works and real-time architectures.

Priority will be given to students who can certify they meet the admission requirements established by the consortium formed by the three universities and governed by the European Union policy related tothe Erasmus Mundus masters programmes. Specifically, to be admitted, students must demonstrate:

a) Excellent results leading to their degrees (minimum of 180 ECTS credits) in industrial engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, computer science, robotics, physics, mathematics and other degrees with similar basic subjects. Candidates must justify the equivalent of a European Standard grade of B(corresponding to 7/10 in Spain, 14/20 in France and 2.1 in the United Kingdom);

b) To follow instruction, a suitable level of English corresponding to a level of 550 on the TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, 6.5 on the IELTS or a C level on the Cambridge Proficiency Certificate;

c) Motivation to complete the coursework and its expected application to their professional development.

In addition to holding one of the previously mentioned degrees, applicants will be classified according to their academic results, after criteria for standardizing academic records over the years and between academic institutions and countries are applied. What is more, the admission of non European students must comply with the quota system imposed between institutions and countries by the European Unionto award the 25 Erasmus Mundus grants.

Admission to the Doctoral programme

Those candidates who wish to be admitted to the doctoral programme will have to verify that they have a graduate degree or another degree declared to be the equivalent, and that their previous training is equivalent to that which is provided in the training modules of the Masters (minimum of 60 ECTS credits) included in the official graduate programme they are applying to. The applications will be evaluated by the admissions committee from each programme, subject to the report by the professor or researcherproposed by the director(s) of the doctoral dissertation.

Pre-registration and registration process

Pre-registration for official masters programmes is expected to be available on-line as of the month of May. Please refer to the web page of the Graduate School soon for further information: http://gigs.udg.edu.