MSc Control and Robotics
Control Systems (CORO CSYS)


csys

NB This specialism is only on offer in the M2 year in from September 2024

Programme Objectives

The objective of this specialism in Control and Robotics is to provide theoretical and methodological tools in order to analyse the structure and properties of dynamic systems, and to design control and observation solutions.

The courses introduce recent results in modern control theory of linear and nonlinear systems, including structural analysis, modelling, control and observation structures design (robust, optimal, …), and application of optimization methods in control system design. An important component is the use of real applications across different fields (energy, grids, transportation etc) in order to illustrate the different concepts of modelling, control and observation.

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.


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 - 2023/24
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 Systems Identification and Signal Filtering 4
Mathematical Tools for Signals and Systems 4 Dynamic Model Based Control 4
Embedded Computing 4 Non Linear Control Theory 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 - 2023/24
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS
Mathematical modelling  4
Optimization  4
Robust and optimal control  4
Observation and diagnostic  5
Complex systems  4
Analysis and Control Methodologies: Standard, Generalized and Time-Varying Systems  5
Project  2
Modern Languages *  2
Conferences  -

* '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
 
Spring Semester ECTS
Master thesis / internship                     30

Examples of previous internships:

  • Comparative study of hybrid observers : application in electric vehicles (LS2N, Renault)
  • Stator-Flux-Oriented Control of EH/HEV Motor Drives (Renault)  
  • Extended glycemic control model including physical activity and stress (CHU, LS2N)  
  • Development of a condition monitoring system prototype for rotating machines with industry 4.0 standards and vibration analysis using machine learning techniques (ACTEMIUM)
    Uncertainties in model predictive building climate control (KU LEVEN)

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
  • Learn and understand the modern theory framework for analysis and modelling of dynamic systems;
  • Learn how to apply adapted methods of control, estimation and diagnostics (linear, nonlinear, robust, optimal etc) to dynamic systems;
  • Be able to apply these methods to real systems.
 

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 - Control Systems


Facilities and Partnerships

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Control and Robotics programme relies on Centrale Nantes’ faculty and the research facilities of the LS2N Laboratory.

Focus on unique resources

Electric Vehicle Test Bench

 

Test facilities - low voltage electrical machines

As part of an industrial research chair with Renault, which aims to improve the performance of electric propulsion in motor vehicles, Centrale Nantes has an electric vehicle test bench specifically for automotive electric propulsion. It comprises of test engines supplied by Renault and a control, power electronics and dynamic load environment to simulate driving situations.
 

Partnerships

Renault, Airbus, RTE, VALEO, GE, Naval Group, GSM, etc

Admissions
   
Application process

Application rounds

  • Applications are reviewed in two 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 2024-25 intake

M2 | Round 1 M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by ... 31 Mar 28 Apr
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by ... 25 Apr 23 May
Accept your place by ... 9 May 6 Jun
Pay your first tuition installment by .... to qualify for a reduction in tuition fees (international non-European students) 25 May * N/A
Pay your first tuition installment by .... with no reduction in tuition fees 15 Jun 15 Jun

Early Bird Applications 2024-25
  • *** 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 second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year MSc programme can apply for the second year MSc programme.

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:

 

Your application in 5 easy steps:

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

master.admission@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Chinese students: lichunlai@ec-nantes.cn
Indian students: application@galaxy-edu.com

Tuition fees and financing

Tuition fees

International students (non-European)

M2 Year | 2024 - 2025 €6,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2024) *

Early Bird Applications
  • *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

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?

why choose Master CORO CSYS 1

why choose Master CORO CSYS 2


why choose this MSc

After the MSc

Career Prospects

  • Sectors: aeronautics, automotive, transportation, energy, consulting, banking, petroleum
  • Fields: control engineering, advanced processes, manufacturing, research and innovation
  • Positions: control engineer, process engineer, design engineer, research and innovation engineer (post PhD)

Where are they now?

Recent graduates of this programme have either taken up engineering posts in industry e.g., in Robotics R&D, nuclear design, automatic control, control systems at GE, Assystem, LITIS, Amazon, CELAD, etc, co-founded their own company (e.g. CodifyMonk in India), or pursued their studies with a PhD in French, German or Dutch universities including within industrial research chairs at Centrale Nantes.

► Find out what our recent MSc graduates across all programmes are doing now
What our students / graduates say

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

Meet the Programme Supervisors

Ina Taralova, M2 Programme Supervisor CORO C-SYS

Elwan Héry, M1 Programme Supervisor CORO



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.
 

Olivier Kermorgant, Programme Supervisor CORO


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.
 
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 media library
  • 5 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.


Virtual Tour

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

Published on April 13, 2017 Updated on February 27, 2024