CoDaS is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme, funded by Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. CoDaS is also one of the first degrees promoted by the European Programme University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering (Unite!). Unite! envisions a ‘European University’, in which University-hubs at excellent European institutes share resources and services in education, research, and management, thereby removing structural barriers and generating new frameworks for a European degree.

PROGRAMME

Programme structure

CoDaS is an international joint master’s programme, where you will study at least in two partner universities. The Programme is structured into 2 years.

First year

Basic studies at Aalto, Técnico Lisboa, TU Braunschweig, or UPC BarcelonaTech

  • General studies (languages, soft skills)
  • Mathematics/Programming/Security
  • Communications
  • Data Science

Second year

Specialization studies, specific to all Consortium Universities, and Thesis

  • Communications, Data Science, and Security (Grenoble INP-UGA)
  • Communications and Data Science (Tecnico Lisboa)
  • Communications, Automation, and Machine Learning (Aalto University)
  • Communications, Machine Learning, Medical Informatics & Biomedicine (TU Braunschweig)
  • Communications, 5G/6G and Internet of Things, and Data Science (UPC BarcelonaTech)

The total number of credits of the programme is 120 ECTS.

Students may choose between 4 Home Universities (first year; Aalto, Técnico Lisboa, TU Braunschweig, or UPC Barcelona Tech) and 5 Host Universities (second year; Aalto, Técnico Lisboa, TU Braunschweig, UPC BarcelonaTech, or Grenoble INP-UGA). On the first year, you will complete courses with 60 ECTS at Home University and on the second year, you will complete courses with 30 ECTS and the thesis with 30 ECTS at Host University. On the first year, you will already get a chance to study your field of specialization by completing a course online provided by the second year university.

All students of the programme are required to study at two countries other than their country of residence at the start of studies. If you are a resident of the country of the Home or Host University before starting in the programme, you are required to complete the final semester (thesis work) in another Host University or within the industry in another country.

After completing the programme, you will graduate from the two universities you have completed 60 ECTS, including the thesis. You will be granted a double degree, meaning that you will receive a diploma from both universities.
The titles of the degrees in each partner university are the following:
- Aalto University: Master of Science (Technology)
- Grenoble INP-UGA: Master Mention Informatique
- Técnico Lisboa: Mestre em Engenharia Eletrotécnica e de Computadores
- TU Braunschweig: Master of Science (M.Sc.) Computer Science
- UPC: Màster Erasmus Mundus in Communications Engineering and Data Science
The level of the qualification is second-cycle university degree (Master's level), aligned with the Bologna Process."

Curriculum

The expertise gained through CoDaS programme features diverse programming skills, good mathematical background, goal-oriented problem solving, as well as efficient project planning and management.

In particular, students will boast competences in:

Emerging communication technologies: learning from experts in the domain of communication and networking.

Emerging information technologies: learning from experts in evolving information technologies that define the future in industry and society.

Artificial intelligence in networking: acquiring knowledge on a broad range of tools to structure and analyse huge data sets and to extract meaning from patterns.

Network security: learning to lead the transition of the industry towards security and privacy by design and by default in all types of networks, and more specifically in IoT.

Programming skills: obtaining practical programming expertise in a range of industry-relevant languages.

Distributed computer networks: learning to command the tools to manage future distributed networks of an unprecedented scale, including ubiquitously deployed IoT.

Data acquisition: appreciating the value created by collecting, communicating, coordinating, and leveraging the data from connected devices.

Project and team working: getting practical experience through projects in relation with industry.

Cutting-edge automation competences: getting theoretical skills and practical expertise at the crossroads of communications and data science.

Please find the curriculum for the academic years 2024-2026 here.

Summer School and Conference

In CoDaS Summer School, all students in the programme come together and work in groups on timely, industry-relevant topics in communications engineering and data science. The Summer School is organized yearly in July or August in different Consortium University and the students participate in it once between the first and second year of studies.

Students will learn about:

  • Emerging information technologies – the future in industry and society
  • Emerging communication and network technologies
  • Distributed computer networks
  • Artificial intelligence in networking

Learning outcomes

  • Develop cutting-edge automation competences: the programme boasts theoretical skills and practical expertise at the interconnection between communications and data science
  • Learn how to transition towards security and privacy by integrating it into the design of all types of networks, specially in IoT applications
  • Command the managing tools in distributed computer networks commonly deployed in IoT
  • Collect, communicate, coordinate, and leverage data from connected devices
  • Use a broad range of structuring and analysis tools to extract meaning from patterns.
  • Develop professional skills – project management, professional communications, and teamworking competences through practical experience in an international environment.

The Summer School is a great chance for students to network with other students and academics from all Consortium Universities, as well as with the visiting specialists from CoDaS industry partners.

In addition, during the second year of studies, all students in the programme have a chance to participate in an international conference related to the field of study. In connection with the conference, students will participate in a Workshop where they will have a chance to present the results of their work of the joint Project course from the first year of studies.

The conference in questions will be decided annually and informed to the students well advanced.

Internships

CoDaS students are encouraged to find internship positions for the summer between the first and second year. Finding an internship position within the industry is a great chance to integrate to field and possibly find a master’s thesis topic for the final semester.

Students are especially encouraged to see the open internship positions at CoDaS
Associate partners.

CoDaS programme enquires full-time studying, so students are not recommended to conduct internships during the semesters of studying.

Master’s thesis

The final semester of the CoDaS programme is dedicated to the Master’s thesis (30 ECTS), jointly supervised by professors from both universities the student has studied in. The thesis is usually written in a research and development project either in industry or in academia.

If you are a resident of the country of the Home or Host University before starting in the programme, you are required to complete the final semester (thesis work) in another Host University or within the industry in another country.

Careers and employability

The employability of graduates in communications engineering and data science area is very high at the European level since there is a lack of human resources in the target domains in all European countries and even worldwide.

Besides the companies in the telecommunications sector, such as telecom operators, consultancies, service providers, and encompassing manufacturers, one can envisage other companies and organizations hiring these graduates, in need of technical human resources dealing with networks, Internet of Things, security, data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Completing the Master's programme also gives the student access to apply doctoral (PhD) studies in relevant fields.