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.
 

• Learn more about the EMARO Joint Master Programme
• Learn more about the Integrated Master-PhD track in Advanced Robotics
• See our other Master's programmes in Control and Robotics

Contribution to sustainable development goals

 

► 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 - 2024/25

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 - 2024/25

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
Optimal kinematic design ±	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 5)
NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 

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

• M1 Year
• M2 Year

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

	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
• 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:

 

• Download the user guide
• Connect to eCandidat: https://ecandidat.ec-nantes.fr
• Use the flag (page top right) to select your language.
• Start off by creating your account.
• No application fees.

Your application in 5 easy steps:

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

admission5bfa7086-fa89-476e-aab8-0e6b0300d783@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)

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

Scholarships

Different scholarships are available for students enrolling in a MSc Programme at Centrale Nantes:
 

• Centrale Nantes Elite Scholarship
• Government scholarships
• Inter-government scholarships
• Industry scholarships
• Scholarships from organisations
• European Programmes

• Learn more

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)

Why choose this MSc?

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

 

• 1 - State-of-the-art approaches to robotics fields, including modeling, control and perception
• 2 - Strong ties with both industrial and academic ecosystems
• 3 - Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students
• 4 - Centrale Nantes is ranked in the top 300 in the world for engineering according to the Times Higher Education world rankings by subject 2024
• 5 - 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:

• 
  Elie | MSc Control & Robotics (Advanced Robotics), Class of 2021

  September 30, 2024

  "The Advanced Robotics program prepared me exceptionally well for my career by consistently challenging me to expand my knowledge and capabilities. That drive for continual learning is something I carry with me in my professional life today."
• 
  Minh Quân, MSc Control and Robotics, Class of 2020

  August 2, 2023

  "I am grateful for the chance to study in Centrale Nantes and the support I’ve received from its staff ..."

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.
 

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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.
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