Research on Information and Communication Technologies (MERIT) – (M.Sc.)

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MERIT is a multitrack research-oriented master program based on a flexible curriculum that covers a wide area of knowledge in the field of Information and Communication Technologies. The institutions participating in the consortium, located in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Sweden belong to the CLUSTER (Consortium Linking Universities of Science and Technology for Education and Research).

The Master’s Course covers Information and Communication Technologies in a broad sense, including fundamentals such as electromagnetism, signal processing, and information theory, and applications such as communications, remote sensing and image and voice processing. Half of the course credits are obtained in a second institution of the consortium and a double degree is awarded upon successful completion of the program. The language of instruction is English and the program includes local language courses up to 6 ECTS per academic year. Admission is restricted to 40 students. This Erasmus Mundus Master’s Course has three 15-week semesters in which students take courses. An additional fourth semester is devoted to the completion of the Master’s Thesis. The program is research oriented, as thus concentrates on the development of research skills. Graduates of the Course may want to pursue careers in a research institution by completing a Ph.D., joining industrial R+D departments or perhaps starting a technology spin-off company. Therefore, strong emphasis is placed during the Master’s Course on the student’s personal work programme, which is focused on developing research skills. Admission is subject to the approval of the MERIT Academic Committee. All students should have completed a Bachelor’s degree related to Electrical Engineering or related field. Admission criteria include the applicant’s capacity and motivation, recommendations and language skills. Each admitted student is assigned a specialization track, a compatible mobility plan and an advisor. The student to professor ratio is less than one.

MERIT Areas of Knowledge

MERIT allows mastery in three large Areas of Knowledge (AoK), providing up to nine specialization tracks as listed in the table below. Not all the universities offer all the Areas of Knowledge and the specialization tracks. The names of the universities that offer the AoKs and specialization tracks can be found between brackets. A fundamental part of the master programme is the mobility plan (studying in two different countries). Therefore, it is important to make sure that the two universities, where the student wishes to study the MERIT Master both offer the AoK and the specialization track of the students' interest.

Microwave, Antennas, Remote Sensing and Photonics
(UPC, KTH, PdT, KIT, UCL)

* Microwaves and RF Circuits and Systems (UPC, PdT, UCL)
* Antennas and EM modelling (UPC, PdT, KIT)
* Remote Sensing and Imaging (UPC, KIT)
* Photonics (KTH, KIT)

Wireless and Optical Communication Systems and Networks
(UPC, KTH, PdT, KIT, UCL)

* Information Transmission and Wireless Communication Systems (UPC, KTH, UCL)
* Wireless Network Management (KTH, PdT)
* Optical Communication Systems and Networks (UPC, PdT, KIT)

Multimedia Signal Processing
(UPC, KTH, UCL)

* Image and Video Processing (UPC, UCL)
* Speech and Language Technologies (UPC, KTH)

The courses offered within MERIT can be classified according to the nature of the knowledge they provide as:

* Core Courses: They provide the fundamentals in electromagnetism, signal processing, communications and information theory required within each AoK.
* Concentration Courses: They are oriented towards the specialization tracks in speech and image processing, optical communications, wireless communications, digital communications, photonics, remote sensing, microwave circuits and antennas.
* Transversal Courses: They aim at: (i) developing skills and competences inherent to research such as scientific communication, bibliographical research, technological assets management, project management and innovation skills; (ii) learning the local language and acquiring a general knowledge of the local culture; (iii) understanding the impact of technology on society and developing individual judgement and ethical responsibility.

The master is a 120 ECTS programme of which 30 ECTS correspond to the master thesis. A minimum of 66 ECTS are core and concentration topics and a maximum of 24 ECTS are transversal subjects. It is advisable that the student completes 24 ECTS from core courses, 48 ECTS from concentration courses, and 18 ECTS from transversal courses.

In order for the student to be able to move on to the second year university it is mandatory to pass a minimum of 48 ECTS.

Language of instruction is English: All subjects will be lectured in English, and teaching material from all courses is in English.