MSc Control and Robotics
Advanced Robotics (CORO IMARO)

Programme Objectives

The main objective of this specialism in Control and Robotics is to master the modelling and control of complex robots evolving in dynamic environments by using proprioceptive and exteroceptive perception. The focus is on advanced robotics, but more generally the specialism deals with modern techniques in systems engineering for the modelling, simulation, optimisation, analysis, and control of a variety of robotics systems. It also takes into account the modelling and perception of the environment.

The quality of this Control and Robotics programme has been recognized by the European Union: it is currently involved in the Japan-Europe Master on Advanced Robotics (JEMARO, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters) and previously involved in the European Master on Advanced Robotics (EMARO+ Erasmus Mundus programme).

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. It comprises three study semesters followed by a paid Master's thesis / internship in the final semester.

Our Master's programmes in Control and Robotics are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Students enrolled in the M1 year are eligible to apply for the EMARO Joint MSc Programme and spend their M2 year either the University of Genoa, Italy or Warsaw University of Technology, Poland.

Students applying for this Control and Robotics programme can also apply to join the Integrated Master-PhD track, which brings together the two years of the Master's degree and three years of PhD studies. The Integrated Master-PhD track is designed to give high-potential students exposure to research activities from the M1 year.

 

Contribution to sustainable development goals

 
SDG 8 - DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

SDG 9 - INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Course Content

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year
M1 Year 2025/26
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS Spring Semester Courses ECTS
Signal Processing  5 Group Project 6
Classical Linear Control 5 Optimization Techniques  5
Artificial Intelligence 6 Mobile Robots 5
Modelling of Manipulators 4 Dynamic Model Based Control 4
Advanced and Robot Programming 4 Software Architecture for Robotics 4
Mechanical Design Methods in Robotics 4 Computer Vision 4
Modern Languages * 2 Modern Languages * 2

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

M2 Year
M2 Year 2025/26
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS
Advanced modelling of robots 6
Research methodology 5
Task-based control 5
Advanced visual geometry ± 4
Soft robot modelling ± 4
Autonomous vehicle ± 4
Aerial and maritime drones ± 4
Modern Languages * 2

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).
± Elective courses (choose 3 out of 4)
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

 
M2 Year 2025/26
Spring Semester ECTS
Master thesis / internship 30
 

Examples of previous internships:

  • Off-road rover transversability
  • Epileptic seizure detection based on ECG signal processing
  • MPC-based control of a cable suspended load using multiple UAVs
  • Stiffness analysis of a surgical robot designed for otological endoscopic surgery
  • Decision making for autonomous driving in urban environments
  • Intuitive task coordination with a humanoid robot
  • Online trajectory planning to avoid dynamic obstacles for a 7-DoF robot arm
  • Design and test of a TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) Delivery System handle actuation module

NB Internships undertaken in France are strictly regulated and are only open to current full-time students of an accredited educational institution. Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular employees (such as social protection and redress mechanisms). For internships that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.

Skills developed
  • Master the different fields of advanced robotics and intelligent robots (Kinematic and dynamic modeling, Dynamic control, Dedicated computing, Perceptual organs, Mechanical design).
  • Take a global approach to the design and implementation of robotic systems in their environment.
  • Have a frame of reference of application cases in fast-growing sectors (production robotics, autonomous vehicle, humanoid robotics, etc.)

In addition to the above specialism-specific skills, students will also develop more general skills:

 
  • Identify models, perform simulation and analyse results
  • Communicate comprehensive results in a meaningful way
  • Undertake bibliographic surveys of international research and professional literature
  • Manage or be part of a project

Download syllabus | Control and Robotics - Advanced Robotics

Facilities and Partnerships

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Control and Robotics programme relies on Centrale Nantes faculty and the research facilities of the Laboratory of Digital Sciences of Nantes (LS2N).

Focus on unique resources

The students have access to LS2N research facilities - autonomous vehicles, drones (airborne / underwater), robotic arms, parallel robots, cable robots etc. - typically during their first year project work or second year thesis.

Autonomous Vehicles

 

The "Autonomous Vehicles" research facility allows the LS2N to integrate and evaluate the approaches under development in autonomous mobile robotics around the themes of environment perception, understanding of scenarios and multi-sensor referenced control. The platform includes 3 instrumented vehicles (sensors, computers and man-machine interfaces), 2 of which are fully robotized by the "Drive-by-wire" robotization kit developed by the ARMEN research group in the LS2N.

Cable-driven parallel robots

 

 

This platform consists of five cable robot demonstrators and a set of end-effectors and sensors. The platform is designed to experimentally validate work on the design, modelling, identification and control of cable robots.

Admissions
 
  • Apply online on the eCandidat platform
  • 2025/26 intake:
    M1 applications open on 30 October
    M2 applications open on 15 February
Application process

Application rounds

  • Applications are reviewed in rounds. M1 applicants may apply in any of the three M1 rounds, and M2 applicants in either of the two M2 rounds. Applications should be submitted on the eCandidat platform as early as possible, but before the deadlines below;
  • Applications are not considered 'complete' until all required elements are submitted. Only complete applications received by the round's deadline will be considered in that round;
  • The admissions board reviews applications at the conclusion of each round and notifies each applicant of the outcome of their application;

Accepting your place

  • Successful applicants must accept their place on the eCandidat platform by the deadlines below;
  • The first installment of tuition fees must be paid by the deadlines below to definitively secure the applicant's place on the programme.

Deadlines for the 2025-26 intake

Deadlines
M1 | Round 1 M1 | Round 2 M1 | Round 3 M2 | Round 1 M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by 15 Dec 23 Feb 28 Apr 31 Mar 28 Apr
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by 17 Jan 21 Mar 23 May 25 Apr 23 May
Accept your place by 17 Feb 21 Apr 15 Jun 25 May 15 Jun
Pay your first tuition installment by .... to qualify for a reduction in tuition fees (international non-European students) 17 Feb   * 21 Apr ** N/A 25 May *** N/A
Pay your first tuition installment by .... with no reduction in tuition fees 17 Mar 21 May 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun


Early Bird Applications:
 

  • * A reduction of €1,500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • ** A reduction of €500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the second admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • *** A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the first year (M1)

  • International students with a bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology) or equivalent, in a field related to mechanical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, signal and image processing or mechatronics.
  • French and European students with a 'license' qualification or equivalent.
  • Students must have graduated from the above before the end of August in order to enrol in a Master's Programme at Centrale Nantes in September.
  • Applicants must have a good level in Mathematics and be fluent in English - written and spoken. An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a certificate, which is no older than three years, for a recognised international test of English*:
    • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60, TOEFL Home edition is accepted,
    • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
    • IELTS - 6.5 or higher, IELTS Online test is accepted
    • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
  • Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
  • Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.


Admission requirements for the second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year MSc programme covering the same subjects as the M1 programme can apply for the second year MSc programme i.e.:

 
  • Robot modelling
  • C++ or Python programming
  • Control systems
  • Signal processing

Applicants must be fluent in English - written and spoken:

 
  • An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a certificate, which is no older than three years, for a recognised international test of English*:
    • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60, TOEFL Home edition is accepted,
    • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
    • IELTS - 6.5 or higher, IELTS Online test is accepted
    • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
  • Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
  • Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.

Required documents

When applying for a Centrale Nantes MSc Programme you will be asked to provide the following documents:
 

  • Your official transcripts
  • A CV/Resume and cover letter
  • Your diploma
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Two letters of recommendation - at least one of which must be from an academic professor.
    Letters must be provided on letterhead paper, signed, stamped and with the official contact details of your referees.
  • Your passport or other form of official identification

Your documents must be uploaded in English or French. If the original version of your documents is not in one of these two languages, a certified translation by a sworn translator is required.

Apply online

Apply online on the eCandidat platform

How to use the eCandidat platform:

 

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

admission9ba5decb-73c4-4fce-a9d8-2b2990e3579c@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Tuition fees and financing

Tuition Fees

International students (non-European

Tuition fees
Study year Tuition fees
M1 Year | 2025 - 2026   €12,000 - (students starting their M1 year in 2025) *            
M2 Year | 2025 - 2026 €8,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2025) **
M2 Year | 2026 - 2027 €12,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2026) **


Early Bird Applications:
 

  • * A reduction of €1,500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • * A reduction of €500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the second admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • ** A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

European students

€243 per year
 

Financing your studies

Centrale Nantes Elite Tuition Fee Waivers

 
  • A limited number of excellence-based partial tuition fee waivers are available for the most promising non-European students accepted into the first-year of an MSc programme at Centrale Nantes. The amounts awarded range from €3,000 to €8,000 per year. Conditions apply.
  • Other funding opportunities may be available via government or industry scholarships for example. 

Learn more about Elite tuition fee waivers and scholarships


Other ways to help you finance your way through your studies:

 
  • Paid 6-month internship
    You will be paid for your 6-month Master's thesis / internship in France. For internships undertaken in France that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.
  • Work alongside your studies
    You are entitled to work part-time alongside your studies, to earn some extra money. This option is available for both European and non-European students, but different rules apply. Learn more
  • Help with your rent
    French and international students are eligible to receive financial support (known as APL in French) from the CAF (Caisses d'Allocations Familiales). The CAF is a French government organism that covers part of the monthly cost of rent paid for student accommodation – the allocated amount depends on the type of accommodation and on your income. Learn more (in French)

Meet our Control and Robotics graduates
Video Transcript

Meet Our Graduates, Maab, Class of 2024

Why did you decide to join the MSc Programme in Advanced Robotics at Centrale Nantes?
I didn’t do robotics in my bachelor’s, but I did my graduation project in robotics. I chose Nantes because I wanted collaboration between control and robotics, and that’s what I found in the programme in Nantes. On top of that, the university has different partnerships with different European countries as well as with other universities here, in France or Europe. The last thing is the international vibes; there are different students, different cultures. I like this and that’s why I applied for the programme.

How was the programme for you?
In general, I would say I enjoyed it. Of course, there were challenges at the beginning because I studied new things that I didn’t study during my bachelor’s. But the professors were helping, in the labs they were helpful to make us understand more. In general, it was very good, my experience in the programme. There were some challenges, but everything has good and bad sides. Finally, as I said, it paid off, all that hard work.

What about student life in Nantes?
Very good, actually. Nantes feels like it’s a student city. Many schools, many universities, the culture, international students … It’s easy, the transport, it’s not very expensive compared to other cities in France. There are also many special offers for students. The living costs are not expensive. In general, the student life is very good.

What are your plans for the future?
Currently I’m searching for opportunities as a researcher or for PhD positions, but I didn’t find anything yet.

Any advice for future applicants?
I would advise you to not just focus on the academics. It’s important, but try to experience Nantes, discover France, especially if you are coming from a different country and this is your first opportunity to come to Europe. Try to enjoy, make new friends, not just all the focus on academics.

Centrale Nantes in three words?
Diversity – experience - challenge
Video Transcript

Meet Our Graduates, Kevin, Class of 2024

Why did you decide to join the MSc Programme in Advanced Robotics at Centrale Nantes?
I chose this programme because I always wanted to study robotics. It was always my dream so when I started researching into schools where I could pursue this Master’s programme, I found Centrale Nantes and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me.

How was the programme for you?
The programme itself was really challenging. But I like a challenge, I really enjoyed it. The classes were entertaining for me, because that’s what I like. That’s what I enjoy. But working in robotics is not so easy. You really have to like it, as I do.

What about student life in Nantes?
There are many international students on the Master’s programme so it was really interesting to get to know people from different countries in the world. So far, I hadn’t really met people from Europe. I’m from Mexico, so it was my first chance to actually meet people from Europe and get to know them and their cultures. Hanging out in the city, there are a lot of students in this city, so it’s quite beautiful.

What are your plans for the future?
Well right now, I started a PhD last October, so that’s what I’m doing now. After that, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m doing it at Centrale Nantes as well, in the LS2N lab.

Any advice for future applicants?
Enjoy your classes, have fun, but also study a lot because you never know when you’re gonna need all that you studied.

Centrale Nantes in three words?
High quality education.

Why choose this MSc?

Five reasons why you should choose the MSc in Advanced Robotics at Centrale Nantes:

 
  • State-of-the-art approaches to robotics fields, including modeling, control and perception
  • Strong ties with both industrial and academic ecosystems
  • Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students
  • Centrale Nantes is ranked in the top 300 in the world for engineering according to the Times Higher Education world rankings by subject 2024
  • Accredited Master of Science (MSc) preparing for a PhD in France or abroad or for direct entry into the workplace
After the MSc

Career Prospects

  • Sectors: Aeronautics, Automotive, Transportation, Wind and Marine Energy, Materials Producers, Consulting
  • Fields: Mechanical Engineering, Robotics engineering, Design, Materials, Advanced Processes, Manufacturing, Research and Innovation
  • Positions: Mechanical Engineer, Robotics engineer, Process Engineer, Design Engineer, Research and Innovation Engineer (post PhD)

Recent graduates have pursued their studies after the MSc programme with a PhD in various French research institutes including: IRISA, Inria Sophia, Leonardo Labs, I3S, LS2N; or found employment: Engineer Dow Chemical, Machine learning - Amazon Web Service, SLAM engineer - Huber Automotive, Control engineer, ArcelorMittal R&D, Consultant Mech. Eng., Technical Consultant - Accenture, CDI Testing engineer - Parrot.

Where are they now?

Find out what our recent MSc graduates are doing now

What our students / graduates say

Read what our students and graduates have to say about the programme:

Meet the Programme Supervisors

Olivier Kermorgant, M2 Programme Supervisor IMARO, Programme Supervisor Control and Robotics

Olivier Kermorgant is a graduate of Centrale Paris, with a PhD from Inria Rennes-Bretagne Atlantique. His career history includes a teaching position at Télécom Physique Strasbourg and a research engineer position at IRT Jules Verne, working on the prototyping of an autonomous mobile robot in the ship industry. Since 2015 he has been an associate professor at Centrale Nantes and a researcher in the LS2N in the ARMEN team.

Elwan Héry, M1 Programme Supervisor Control and Robotics

 

Elwan Héry is an associate professor at Centrale Nantes and at the LS2N (Laboratory of Digital Sciences of Nantes) in the ARMEN team (Autonomous Robots and Control of Interactions with the Environment). His main research interests are in perception, localization and mapping for autonomous vehicles and mobile robots.

Campus facilities

Centrale Nantes houses 17 buildings on a 40-acre green campus. In addition to the standard facilities of a university campus (classrooms, media library, computer rooms, etc.), it is home to 13 research platforms, some of which are unique in France, and modern and varied sports facilities, the Centrale-Audencia-Ensa incubator and vibrant student life. Facilities on the Centrale Nantes campus:

  • 45 classrooms
  • 6 lecture theatres 
  • 13 computer rooms (with nearly 180 fully equipped PCs and extended opening hours)
  • 1 FabLab
  • 1 media library
  • 6 research institutes
  • Sports and cultural facilities: 1 gymnasium, 1 multisport/dojo hall, squash courts, 1 piano room
  • 1 student house
  • Student halls of residence and accommodation support
  • 1 online platform for students, Onboard, with timetables, grades, attendance management, distance learning and teaching resources,
  • 1 Moodle platform (Hippocampus) with collaborative functionality available to faculty and students (additional resources, working groups, forum, online assessments, etc.).
  • Students also have access to meeting rooms / learning innovation / videoboxes equipped with video projectors, cameras, interactive whiteboards, etc., for their classes, presentation preparation, project work, etc.
  • 1 lifelong email address and an individual digital workspace and storage space, with remote 24H access.

Watch the video for a bird's eye view of campus:
Video transcript

Welcome to one of France’s most prestigious engineering schools.

This is where we prepare the world of tomorrow - a sustainable world where research and teaching inspire each other, where we contribute each and nervy day to meeting the challenges of energy transition, the factory of the future and healthcare.
Welcome to a school which offers more than 400 course combinations, q school where students play an active role in decision making, a diverse school with over 70 nationalities on campus.
Welcome to Centrale Nantes.


Virtual Tour

Explore the campus with its classrooms, research platforms, student life and sports activities: Take the virtual tour

Published on March 25, 2017 Updated on February 13, 2025