iPSRS is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master that pairs photonics with artificial intelligence, coordinated by Université Jean Monnet in Saint-Étienne with the University of Eastern Finland, Université Paris-Est Créteil and Vilnius University.
The degree is 120 ECTS over four semesters, taught in English: semester one in Saint-Étienne, semester two at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, then a specialisation semester in Photonics and Machine Learning at Jean Monnet, Biometrics and Intelligent Vision at Paris-Est Créteil, or Condensed Matter Photonics at Vilnius.
The fourth semester is a six-month master thesis placement in an approved industrial or research institution. Graduates receive a joint Master of Science in Optics, Image, Vision, Multimedia with the iPSRS specialisation, plus national diplomas from Jean Monnet and Eastern Finland, with Paris-Est Créteil added for Biometrics and Intelligent Vision or Vilnius for Condensed Matter Photonics.
Benefits & funding
- Erasmus Mundus scholarship: participation costs covered plus €1,400 a month for 24 months, €33,600 in total; the consortium has 80 of them to award across the intakes from September 2024 to 2030.
- The six-per-nationality cap applies only to the 60 regular scholarships; the 20 targeted scholarships are exempt from that rule and allow at most one targeted award per country.
- Participation costs are €18,000 for the two years, and the programme states that all selected applicants receive a 100% fee waiver.
- iPSRS consortium scholarship: fees waived plus €750 a month for the first semester of five months, renewable for students who validate at least 30 ECTS with an overall B average.
- Manutech SLEIGHT graduate school scholarship: fees waived plus €5,500 a year for two years, for the Jean Monnet track only.
- French government Eiffel scholarship: €1,181 a month, up to €28,344 over the programme, plus a return international journey, health and liability insurance and cultural activities; it does not cover participation costs.
- An optional three-month summer internship sits between the first and second year.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants of any nationality; the programme states there is no discrimination on nationality, gender, age, religion or health conditions.
- A bachelor of science or equivalent first-cycle degree of at least 180 ECTS; final-year students may apply, but must graduate before enrolment.
- A solid academic background in engineering, computer science or physics; the FAQ accepts other fields such as electronics or chemistry where that foundation is there.
- English at CEFR level B2, shown by TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5, Pearson 62, a Cambridge Advanced certificate, or a university letter confirming an English-taught degree; candidates who cannot supply a test may demonstrate the level at interview.
- Applicants who have already held an Erasmus Mundus joint master scholarship cannot receive one again.
- Self-funded students pay no tuition and receive programme health-insurance coverage, but must cover accommodation, transportation, meals and other living expenses.
- No age, work-experience or residency requirement.
Can you apply?
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Application process
- 1Apply online through the Université Jean Monnet platform at international-sciencemasters.univ-st-etienne.fr; applications sent by email are not accepted.
- 2Upload academic transcripts, the bachelor diploma with certified English translation, proof of English level, a CV in Europass format, proof of nationality and a birth certificate with certified translation.
- 3Record a two-to-four-minute video presentation in place of a motivation letter, covering motivation, understanding of the programme, what will make you succeed, research ideas, mobility preference and Erasmus Mundus grant eligibility.
- 4Enter the contacts of two academic referees early; they send their recommendation letters directly before the deadline.
- 5Submit before the February deadline to be considered for every scholarship; applications after it are reviewed as self-funded only, until the April deadline.
- 6If short-listed, take the remote interview in March, then confirm your commitment in May and sign the student agreement by the end of July.
Program timeline
Scholarship deadline of the 2026-2028 call, the most recent one published with an exact day
Feb 6, 2026
October 2026
Call for applications for the 2027-2029 intake opens, exact day to be confirmed
10 November
Email to Jean Monnet to be considered for an Eiffel scholarship nomination, as published for the 2025-2027 call
Deadline for scholarship consideration, 11:59 pm UTC
February 2027
Notifications of ineligibility
January to March 2027
Short-list notifications, remote interviews and the Selection Committee meeting
March 2027
Selection outcome notified
End of March 2027
Appeal period closes; extended deadline for self-funded applicants, 11:59 pm UTC
April 2027
Commitment deadline, and results for self-funded applicants
May 2027
Student agreement signed
End of July 2027
Studies begin in Saint-Étienne
September 2027