Basic Information
Target students
Highly motivated and talented students with BSc training in engineering, physics, or mathematics.
Structure
The participants spend the first year at PoliMi, with the students in Mathematical Engineering with orientation CSE, and continues the second year at EPFL, where he or she joins the second year students in the regular CSE program.
- First year at Politecnico di Milano, 56 ECTS
- Summer Internship, 8ECTS (at least 8 weeks outside academia)
- Second year at EPFL, 56 ECTS
- Master project at one institution, with a co-supervisors from the other one, 30 ECTS
Candidates’ selection
The joint program is open to international students with a Bachelor of Natural Science and Engineering, BSc holder of EPFL or BSc holder of Politecnico di Milano with a strong background in mathematics or physics. This allows for a careful selection.
Application
Regulations
Local rules for exams and credits apply at each institution.
Experience of a current student
Curriculum
First year, PoliMi, Mathematical Engineering, 56 ECTS
Six courses in “MSc, Computational Science and Engineering” from the following table:
| Courses in Milan | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Algorithms and parallel computing | Fall (ING) | 10 |
| Real and functional analysis | Fall | 8 |
| Numerical analysis of partial differential equations | Spring | 10 |
| Advanced programming for scientific computing | Spring | 10 |
| Fluids labs | Fall (ING) | 10 |
| Advanced partial differential equations | Spring | 8 |
| *Computational fluid dynamics | Fall | 10 |
| *Mathematical and physical modelling in engineering | Spring | 10 |
(*) optional
Nominally, EPFL will validate 1 project of 8 ECTS, 14 ECTS in the core block, and 4 ECTS in the first and second application groups (total 32 ECTS). The grade obtained for these courses is “R” (réussi, i.e. pass without grade).
Summer internship, 8 ECTS
The internship is managed by EPFL and the credits are validated only at EPFL. Period of the internship: three possible choices:
- 8 weeks (at least) in the Summer between PoliMi and EPFL
- 8 weeks (at least) in the Summer after one year at EPFL, before Master project (which start middle of September)
- One semester after one year at EPFL. This means that the student takes a leave during the semester.
It is not possible to replace this internship with a semester project at EPFL
Second year, EPFL, Computational Science and Engineering, 56 ECTS
| Group/Block | ECTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Bloc 1: | Core Courses | 10 |
| Group 2: | Optional courses from Lists A, B, C, D. Choose 3 lists | 32 |
| List A, Computational methods based on differential equations | at least 8 | |
| (one list | List B, Computational methods based on discrete systems | at least 8 |
| optional) | List C, Numerical methods, algorithms, high performance systems | at least 8 |
| List D, Data science | at least 8 | |
| Groupe 1: | Semester projects + SHS | 8 + 6 |
Mutually exclusive courses. Due to the overlapping subjects, the following courses can not be taken at EPFL: Advanced numerical analysis, Introduction to the finite elements method, Numerical analysis and computational mathematics.
Nominally, PoliMi validates 52 ECTS in total, among which the 10 for ING. The grade obtained for these courses is “R” (réussi, i.e. pass without grade).
Master Project
The master project is managed by EPFL or PoliMi, depending on the student’s registration. There are two advisors, one from EPFL and one from PoliMi. The project can be done at any of the two institutions. It has to be done in the time window open by EPFL. For EPFL, the professor from PoliMi acts as expert. It must be written in English and defended orally at the institue of origin. For this program, the Master project counts for 30 ECTS. It lasts 17 weeks. Out of it 12 ECTS will count towards the 120 the Master project at PoliMi.
Master Degree
The double program represents a total of 150 ETCS, although each institution recognizes a maximum of 120 ECTS. The master degree is given after the validation of the ECTS above. The usual duration of the studies is 5 semesters. The Politecnico di Milano gives the Master degree “Ingegneria Matematica con orientamento alle scienze computazionali”; EPFL gives the master degree “Computational Science and Engineering”.
If one student does not fulfill the requirements of one institution, he will not receive the degree from that institution. To obtain the double degree, a student has to obtain the credits described in this document. It is not possible to compensate credits missed in one institution by exams in the other institutions.
Contacts
EPFL: Sara Frulloni, Assistant, Orane Pouchon, deputy of the Section of Mathematics
PoliMi: Prof. Maurizio Verri, President of the Mathematical Engineering Program, orientation Computational Science and Engineering, Prof. Lorenzo Valdettaro, responsible for the mobility and the Department of Mathematics
Appendix
Current CSE study plan at EPFL
Current Math CSE study plan in Milano and link to double degree site at Politecnico di Milano