IMLEX is a two-year Master of Science built by four universities: the University of Eastern Finland, University Jean Monnet in Saint-Étienne, KU Leuven, and Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan. It puts imaging, lighting and computer science together around extended reality, virtual reality and robotics.
Everyone follows the same route. Studies open in Joensuu in September with preparatory courses in photonics, information technology, imaging and robotics, then move to France for computational imaging and vision, to a lighting summer school on KU Leuven’s Ghent campus, and to Japan from October of the second study year. The fourth semester is a 30 ECTS thesis hosted by a partner university or an industrial partner, in a degree totalling 120 ECTS.
Graduates hold a joint Master of Science from the three European universities plus a national Master of Engineering from Toyohashi University of Technology. The University of Eastern Finland coordinates the consortium and runs admissions; Chiba University, Utsunomiya University and the University of Ottawa are academic associate partners.
Benefits & funding
- Full Erasmus Mundus (EMJM) scholarships go to the best applicants, with no separate scholarship application to file.
- The scholarship pays the participation costs, which include tuition fees and library and laboratory costs.
- It adds a subsistence allowance of EUR 1,400 per month for the whole programme, for a maximum of 24 months.
- Full insurance coverage and the costs of compulsory programme activities are included.
- Scholarship terms are identical for every recipient, whatever their nationality.
- Students with a disability may receive an extra contribution for needs linked to their condition.
- Without a scholarship there is no consortium fee for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland; other students pay EUR 9,000 per academic year.
- Partial or full consortium fee waivers are offered to the best applicants who do not receive a scholarship.
- Self-funded students may also draw on Erasmus+ mobility funding for one or two semesters and on grants such as Manutech-SLEIGHT.
- No application fee is collected.
Eligibility
- A bachelor’s degree from an internationally recognised institution, representing at least three years of full-time study.
- The degree should be in information technology, computer science, physics, mathematics, electronic engineering, photonics or a closely related field.
- Good grades, with enough relevant coursework completed at an excellent level.
- Preferred background subjects: mathematics, physics, data structures, algorithms, programming, imaging, XR, computer graphics, electronics and lighting.
- English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 92 for tests taken before 21 January 2026, or overall 4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026 onwards; IELTS Academic 6.5; PTE Academic 68; C1 Advanced at grade C; C2 Proficiency at grade C1.
- Certificates are valid for two years and are accepted from 2 December 2024 onwards.
- No English certificate is needed if the bachelor’s degree or higher was taught in English in an EU/EEA country or in a listed English-speaking country such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland.
- Open to applicants of every nationality.
- No age limit, and no work experience requirement, though work experience is assessed separately when an applicant has it.
- Students still finishing a bachelor’s degree may apply and send verified documents by the later document deadline.
Can you apply?
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Application process
- 1Apply between 2 December 2026 and 13 January 2027 through the Finnish Studyinfo portal — one round a year, and no separate scholarship form.
- 2Upload the bachelor’s degree certificate with an English translation, the official transcript of records with an English translation, and the English language certificate.
- 3Add two recommendation letters (no fixed template), a motivation letter answering the questions IMLEX sets, a CV in chronological order, and a copy of your passport or ID card.
- 4Record a motivation video of at most two minutes and one gigabyte.
- 5The first evaluation round scores the written file out of 90 points; a second round adds up to 10 points for the video.
- 6IMLEX may invite top applicants to an online interview to verify their skills and motivation.
- 7Results are sent by mid-April 2027 at the latest; scholarship holders confirm within 14 days of the offer, other admitted students by 13 July 2027.
- 8Send verified educational documents to the University of Eastern Finland by 31 May 2027, or by 30 July 2027 if you were still graduating when you applied.
Program timeline
Application period opens on Studyinfo
2 December 2026
Application deadline
13 January 2027
Selection results sent, at the latest
Mid-April 2027
Verified educational documents due at the University of Eastern Finland
31 May 2027
Study place confirmation deadline for admitted students without a scholarship
13 July 2027
Verified documents due for applicants who were still graduating
30 July 2027
Studies begin in Joensuu, Finland
Early September 2027