Academic Programme

Graduate Programme Smart Computing - Master level

Diplôme national de master contrôlé par l'État

Résumé

Our Master Smart Computing is a research-based training program in the broad field of digital intelligence. Smart Computing is a multidisciplinary field in which advanced computing methods and technologies are combined with engineering approaches... Read more

Accéder aux sections de la fiche

Call to actions

Details

Laboratory

Introduction

Our master 's degree is a research-based training program in the broad field of digital intelligence. Smart Computing is a multidisciplinary field in which advanced computing methods and technologies are combined with engineering approaches to create systems, applications and new services that meet society's needs. Every aspect of our daily, social and civic life now has its digital twin, enabling greater efficiency, personalization, security and sustainability. Smart cities should improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, optimizing the use of space and the circulation of goods and people, while integrating environmental standards. Smart power grids improve the efficiency and reliability of distribution, as well as the sobriety of energy consumption.

Working on the intelligent evolution of society requires not only high-level engineering skills, but also new knowledge. The ability to build new knowledge and use it to meet society's new needs is therefore at the heart of this curriculum. Smart Computing trains top-level engineers and researchers capable of working at the cutting edge of digital technology and pushing back its limits.


Why would you choose Smart Computing master's degree ?


By choosing Smart computing, you can :
  • Benefit from the environnement and skills of an internationnally renowned laboratory to :
    • Implement experimental methodologies
    • Develop your autonomy through project-based learning
    • Develop your network in France and internationally
  • Customize your studies with a wide range of “à la carte” courses
  • Benefit from personalized mentoring to help you make the right choices for your goals
  • Take part in scientific events organized by the University Research School
  • Mobility grants for internships abroad or to study in Nantes (subject to eligibility)


Smart Computing Research Ecosystem

Joining Smart Computing means joining the Laboratoire des Sciences du Numérique de Nantes (LS2N), the largest public research unit in Nantes and the Pays de la Loire region.

Digital intelligence systems are at the crossroads of most major fields of computer science and engineering (machine learning, data analysis, software engineering, computer vision, internet technologies, distributed computing and sensing, pervasive computing, social computing, computer security...) combined with other fields of scientific knowledge such as biology, medicine, chemistry, materials, physics and economics) for a variety of applications.

The LS2N is connected to the local socio-economic sphere and to other research laboratories to conduct its multidisciplinary research.

Research immersion enables you to gradually discover key topics and people, define a research project in a given field and start generating knowledge in that field. A mentor researcher helps you to understand this ecosystem and seize its opportunities.

Other participating research units:

              


A Progressive immersion

The course architecture is designed to gradually develop research skills through a variety of learning situations. Progressive immersion is broken down into 5 teaching units :

  • Research Discovery (Master 1/Semester 1: 6 ECTS)
  • Research Engineering (Master 1/Semesters 1 and 2: 12 ECTS)
  • Accompanied Research (Master 1/Semester 2 : 9 ECTS)
  • Research theme construction (Master 2/semester 2 : 12 ECTS)
  • Supervised independent research (Master 2/semester 2 : 30 ECTS)
 

Immersive principle
 

This progressive learning program aims to initiate and develop the following skills:

  • Maintain an international scientific and technological watch
  • Form and disseminate a scientific and technological culture
  • Design and develop an R&D, research and prospecting approach
  • Implement an R&D, research and prospecting approach
  • Supervise a team dedicated to R&D, research and business development
  • Promote and transfer the results of an R&D, research and prospecting initiative.


These skills are specific to the research process and are reinforced by a doctorate, if you wish to continue in this direction.
 

What is a Graduate Programme (GP) ?

The Smart Computing program has been accredited as a "Graduate programme" by Nantes University. This accreditation confirms that the program draws on the research skills of internationally recognized laboratories, and trains students in both the scientific approach and cutting-edge technologies. The skills acquired in accredited Master's programs enable students to successfully enter the workforce as engineers or project managers in the R&D departments of major corporations or innovative start-ups. If you're interested in pursuing a PhD programme, this Master's degree also offers you optimum preparation, since the teaching team is also in charge of coordinating doctoral programs in this field.
 

International outlook

A number of factors make Smart Computing a highly international program:
- The program's international appeal, particularly in M2, thanks to courses taught in English and a partnership policy that enables us to integrate excellent foreign students.
- Support for short, medium or long-term outgoing mobility is available to enable you to benefit from at least one international experience during your course, either for an internship or a study stay.
- A Welcome Grant of €1,000 for selected international Master's students to contribute to their settling-in expenses in Nantes. (excluding French nationals; international students previously enrolled in a French higher education institution (university, school, etc.) are not eligible).

 

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information on all the options!

Admission

Entry requirement

Academic requirement

Academic requirements

  • Application for the first year of Master : a degree equivalent to the european Licence and the bachelor's degree (ISCED level 6) in computer science
  • Application for the second year of Master : a degree equivalent to the Master 1 computer science level


Language requirements

Apply for Master 1 programme :

A minimum level of B2 in French is required, applicants must provide one of the following:

  • TCF level 4 (B2), with a minimum score of 14/20 in written expression.
  • DALF or DELF B2, with a minimum score of 65/100.
  • DUEF B2 from Nantes Université, with a minimum average of 14/20.
  • French-speaking nationals or students who have completed their entire Bachelor’s degree in French (see the list of eligible countries at Admission to Nantes University).

Apply for Master 2 programme :

A minimum level of B2 in English (or equivalent) is required. Applicants must provide a recognised certificate of English language proficiency, such as the Cambridge, TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS.

Applicants are exempt from providing an English language certificate if they:

  • are nationals of an English-speaking country; or
  • hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) awarded by a higher education institution in an English-speaking country.

A minimum level of French proficiency is recommended to facilitate students’ integration into everyday life in France.

Application

Application procedure

Application procedure for the 2027-2028 academic year

If you are a French national or a citizen of the European Economic Area + Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra and you wish to apply for the first year of the Master's (M1): please use the Mon Master platform.
If you are a citizen of, or currently residing in, the European Economic Area + Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra and you wish to apply for the second year of the Master's (M2), please use the Graduate programme application platform*.

You are a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area + Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra :

For further information, please consult our Admission to Nantes University page.
*Note : Please create an Adullact account to start your application. The Graduate programme application platform open from OCTOBER 1st , 2026 to MARCH 15th , 2027

Documents required:

  1. A CV written in English or French
  2. A motivation letter written in English or French
  3. A recommendation letter
  4. Academic transcripts
  5. Proof of language proficiency
  6. Valid ID (Passport)

Additional information:

  • Tuition fees and Scholarships
  • Budget estimation
  • Welcome grant: Graduate programmes offer a €1,500 Welcome Scholarship for the best international students. Please prepare your application carefully to demonstrate your motivation for the programme.
  • Internship: You may complete your internship abroad, with our financial support depending on the host country and the length of your internship. If you choose to do it in France, you will receive financial support of approximately €600 per month.

Programme

A Smart Computing engineer combines expertise in digital engineering and research. To acquire these two skills, students follow the following program:

Master 1 (60 ECTS) :

  • Common core of the Master's degree in computer science (30% of ECTS), taken by all students enrolled in the Master's program, to acquire knowledge in theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, systems, applied sciences, ethics and cross-disciplinary skills.
 
  • 3 chosen courses from the menu of Master's courses offered by the IT department and its partners, linked to the skills you wish to develop (20% of ECTS). Professional researchers will be on hand to help you make these choices

Software :

- Massive data and the semantic web
- Software Engineering
- Concurrency and Verification
- Cross-disciplinary projects
 
AI/DATA :
- Human-Computer Interaction
- AI and applications
- Metaheuristic
- Exploratory data analysis

AI/Optimization :

- Duality and continuous linear optimisation
- Graphs and networks
- Introduction to linear optimisation
- Discrete and combinatorial optimisation
 
  • 3 Smart Computing courses to gradually begin research immersion with 3 learning situations (50% of ECTS) :
    • EU "Discovering research" (first semester): discover the players in research, their tasks, their production. Attend thesis defenses, interview research directors, laboratory directors. Observe and report on research in action.
    • EU "Engineering for research" (first and second semester): integrate a research team and develop research prototypes as a research engineer. Acquire engineering skills, understand how new knowledge is validated.
    • EU “Research in DUO” (second semester): Join a research team and develop a research proposal with a doctoral student supervised by a research director.
  • Mandatory summer internship (>= 2 months) integrating at least one of the following characteristics: International internship, multidisciplinary learning situation, integration into the socio-economic sphere.

Master 2 (60 Ects)

  • 2 courses common to all Smart Computing students (10% of ECTS) :
    • Deep learning
    • Middlware

  • 3 chosen courses from the catalog of Master's courses offered by the IT department and its partners, linked to the skills you wish to develop (20% of ECTS)

  • 2 Smart Computing courses
    • UE "Pre-immersion in Solo research" (first semester): develop the research topic you wish to work on and defend it (5% of ECTS) for validation with researchers.
    • UE "First Solo research" (second semester) (50% of ECTS, second semester): complete your master's thesis supervised by a recognized researcher in your scientific field.


 

What's next?

Level of education obtained after completion

Bac+5 (Unknown label)

Competencies acquired

The SMART Computing pathway aims to develop engineering and research skills.
The Master's degree in computer science delivers the skills defined at national level for a Master's degree in computer science. In addition, our curriculum partly develops certain skills defined for research, as shown in the figure below :
Skills master PhD

The expected skills for a master in computer science are:

  • Advanced and specialized use of digital tools,
  • Development and integration of highly specialized knowledge,
  • Specialized communication for knowledge transfer,
  • Support for transformation in a professional context.

These skills are acquired through participation in the fundamental master's courses in computer science (30% of ECTS). Learning research also actively contributes to these skills in the professional research context.

The expected skills in research are:

  • Design and development of a research and development, study, and foresight approach
  • Implementation of a research and development, study, and foresight approach
  • Valorization and transfer of results from a research and development, study, and prospective approach
  • Training and dissemination of scientific and technical culture.
  • Supervision of teams dedicated to research and development, studies and prospective activities.

These are planned for the doctorate level, but are already covered in the Master's program.

Further studies

Once you've graduated, you'll have the choice of developing your own career, or pursuing a research project at PhD level to give you broader prospects. As a member of the Smart Computing program, you'll be integrated into the MASTIC University Research School and benefit from the advantages of  GP accredited programs.

Career opportunities

Business sectors

Thanks to the cross-disciplinary approach of this course, you can become a research and development engineer in the various fields of digital technology. Your expertise will be aligned with the needs of companies and laboratories involved in advanced digital applications and wishing to add value to complex digital data. Careers

After the Master :
  • Research Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • Entrepreneurship

Over 90% of Master's graduates find a job in the socio-economic sectors within two months of completing their studies. Their salaries are competitive and rank among the highest of all university programs.

 
Updated on 05 October 2026.