Master Program in Information, Communication and Audiovisual Media Technologies (TICMA)

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The TICMA master program is offered by the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTD) of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. This department hosts a rich variety of different research groups covering diverse research areas. Thereby, the ICTD is in a unique position to offer advanced training in a broad range of different research areas. In particular, the master comprises three specializations: Software engineering for audio and visual Media (EIMA), Artificial Intelligence and Computational Neuroscience (C&C), as well as Information Transmission and Communication Networks (TIXAC). In all specializations the student follows courses corresponding to 40 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits and writes a master thesis corresponding to 20 ECTS credits. This academic course organization corresponds to a research master modality and is aimed, for example, at students that consider to subsequently apply to the PhD program of the ICTD. For the academic year 2009/2010, the professional master modality is not opened. The official language of the master is English. All courses are held in English, and the thesis must be written in English. All courses are held in the afternoon. By default the courses and the thesis work are carried out during one academic year divided into three trimesters. However, also a division into two years is possible for students that work part-time.

The master thesis is an integral part of the master. During the work on the underlying master thesis project the student will be integrated in the corresponding ICTD research group and will be supervised by a senior member of the group. Therefore, before applying to the master the student is required to: 

1. Get an overview of the different ICTD research groups
2. Get an overview of exemplary master project proposals offered by these groups
3. Contact one or more research groups directly in order to
1. see whether the group can offer the student a specific project that meets his or her interest
2. see whether the student has the appropriate academic background and technical skills from his or her previous undergraduate studies which are necessary to successfully carry out the thesis project. These requirements will vary between the different research groups and potentially even between different thesis projects in the same group. In exceptional cases, in which the student has in principle an appropriate general academic background but is still lacking only a few but nonetheless essential skills, the designated supervisor might require the student to take levelling courses from the undergraduate studies of the ICTD which are held in Spanish or Catalan.
3. see whether the group can potentially offer the student a financial grant. (See here for other potential sources of financial support.)
4. Send a short letter to the academic coordinator of the master that motivates why the student chose a particular research group and potential master thesis project. This letter should state whether levelling courses are required. Although this letter of motivation is not a formal enrollment requirement, we strongly recommend all candidates to send such a letter. It should be send as plain text via email to the academic coordinator.

If you encounter any problem during the steps I-IV, please contact the academic coordinator anytime.

Contact

Secretary: 

University Pompeu Fabra
Tanger Building
Secretariat Dept. ICT. secretaria.dtic@upf.edu 
Tanger, 122-140 (Office Nº 55.205 - 2n. floor)
08018 Barcelona, Spain.
Phone: +34 - 935.42.23.25 / 29.27
 

Office Hours:
Mornings: Monday to Friday 9:30 to 14:00
Afternoons: Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 17:00
During christmas break (approximately mid December and first week of January) and summer break (approximately mid June to mid September): Monday to Friday only 9:00 to 14:00