Frequently Asked Questions (Academic Course 2021-22)
General questions about the degree
- Is the UMAI degree adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)?
- What is the length of the UMAI degree?
- In which language is the UMAI degree taught?
- How much does it cost to complete the full UMAI degree?
- What kind of studentships are there to support studying the UMAI degree?
- Are there any job prospects for UMAI graduates, or is the degree solely geared towards continuing to PhD studies after its completion?
- How many years has the UMAI degree been taught?
- Does the UMAI degree constitute the training period for the PhD in Artificial Intelligence?
- What kind of research activity does the departament (DIA) carry out?
- Is the UMAI a presence master?
Questions about access and admission
- What is the pre-registration period for the UMAI degree?
- Is it possible to join the degree in February?
- What previous degrees must I hold in order to be able to register for the UMAI degree?
- What criteria are used for selecting and admitting students onto the UMAI degree?
- In case I need a pre-admission letter in order to apply for a studentship associated with the UMAI degree, who should I ask?
- What are the “training complements” and who must attend them?
- Am I considered to be a MSc student if I register for the training complements?
- May I attend UMAI modules and seminars while the training complements are carried out?
- Is there a limited number of vacancies for new admissions?
Questions about the structure of the degree
- Is it possible to take the modules in the second semester?
- Are all UMAI modules and seminars optional?
- How does one register for the seminars?
- How many seminars should one attend in order to pass the seminars module?
- How is the supervisor for the Master’s Final Project (MFP) appointed?
- Is it possible to have more than one supervisor for the MFP?
- In which research groups and their lines of research should one base the MFP on?
- When may one carry out the defence of the Master’s Final Project?
- What does the defence of the Master’s Final Project involve?
- When is the registration and defence of the MFP carried out?
Questions by students from outside Madrid
- How much is the cost of living in Madrid?
- Where can I find accomodation in Madrid?
- How can I get to the ETSIInf?
- What documentation do I need to get a student visa in Spain?
1. Is the UMAI degree adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)?
The UMAI degree is, effectively, the adaptation of the MSc in Artificial Intelligence, which had been taught since the academic year 2006-2007, to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The UMAI degree was approved by the ANECA on the 13th of January 2010, and by the Dirección General del Consejo Universidades (Directorate General for the University Council) on the 28th of January 2010.
2. What is the length of the UMAI degree?
The UMAI is taught in two semesters, that is, one academic year. The first semester is devoted to lectures (the student must attend seven), while the second semester is devoted to seminars (the student must attend, at least, six) and to the development of the Master’s Final Project.
3. In which language is the UMAI degree taught?
The languages used to teach the UMAI are Spanish and English. Currently, five of the nineteen modules and twelve of the fifteen seminars are offered in English. The seminars taught by visiting professors will be mostly taught in English across the several academic courses.
The modules offered in English will be taught in that language if there is at least one student enrolled in that module who does not speak Spanish. Otherwise, if all students are Spanish speakers, the module will be taught in that language.
4. How much does it cost to complete the full UMAI degree?
The total cost of the UMAI degree (reference price for the academic year 2020/21) is 2.734,85€, which includes the 60 ECTS (45,02€ per ECTS). The degree certificate cost is 176,27€.
The price per ECTS for non-EU students is 84,07€, as established by the UPM from the academic year 2017/18.
5. What kind of studentships are there to support studying the UMAI degree?
The Department of Artificial Intelligence of the UPM annualy announce the call for José Cuena Awards aimed at students (up to a maximum of 8) who are starting their studies on the Master's Programme in Artificial Intelligence. The award (600 Euros) requires from the student to be a new full-time student in the MSc in AI of any nationality and to have passed the 7 subjects enrolled in the first semester and obtained the highest qualification (GPA of the 7 subjects).
The link contains more information about postgraduate studentships announced by the ETSIInf the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM grants for Latin American students), the Comunidad de Madrid (Madrid Community), and other national and international grants.
Additionally, the research groups to which the teaching professors of the degree belong announce studentships associated with research projects in which they participate, which allow students to carry out their Master’s Final Project and/or later the PhD with funding.
6. Are there any job prospects for UMAI graduates, or is the degree solely geared towards continuing to PhD studies after its completion?
Despite the fact that the UMAI degree constitutes the training period for the PhD in Artificial Intelligence, this is not the only purpose of the degree, and an alternative consists of finding a job in R&D companies and institutions, a career path that numerous DIA postgraduate students have already followed.
7. How many years has the UMAI degree been taught?
The academic year 2010-11 will be the first in which the UMAI degree is taught. The UMAI degree is the adaptation of the MSc in Artificial Intelligence, which had been taught since the academic year 2006-2007, to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The MSc in Artificial Intelligence, in turn, stemmed from the PhD courses in the Programme Ciencias de la Computación e Inteligencia Artificial (Computer Sciences and Artificial Intelligence), which had been organised since 1985 in the ETSIInf of the UPM.
8. Does the UMAI degree constitute the training period for the PhD in Artificial Intelligence?
Yes, any student who sucessfully completes the UMAI degree will fulfill the requirements for accessing the research period of the PhD in Artificial Intelligence.
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9. What kind of research activity does the departament (DIA) carry out?
The department (DIA) is prominent in respects of regional and national level research. Several aspects deserve mention: The department participates in research projects funded by the EU (IST, Movility DRIVE, HCM/TMR, etc.), national bodies (INEM, CAM, CYCIT, DGICYT), and other Spanish companies and organisations; it is the eighth department in the university in terms of research projects (80 projects in 2007). According to the study elaborated in 2009 by the Instituto de Estudios Documentales sobre Ciencia y Tecnología(IEDCYT), the Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales (CCHS) y el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas(CSIC) entitled Science Production Indicators in the Community of Madrid during the period 2004-2008, the DIA is mentioned as the UPM Department with the highest number of scientific publications with high impact during that period.
The department has been running for more than 20 years, in which time 135 PhDs were awarded, 19 of which obtained the Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado (Extraordinary PhD Award) by the university. The PhD in Artificial Intelligence has received the Mención de Calidad (Quality Award) by the Ministry for Education and Science in five of the last eight years.
10. Is the UMAI a presence master?
Although the UMAI is a presence master, the second semester, during which students are expected to attend seminars and develop and defend their master’s final project, can be completed as distance learning via videoconferencing.
11. What is the pre-registration period for the UMAI degree?
The pre-registration period for the UMAI degree, for the academic year 2020-21, starts on February 1st and will end on May 31st 2020.
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12. Is it possible to join the degree in February?
It is not possible to join the degree in the second semester (February).
13. What previous degrees must I hold in order to be able to register for the UMAI degree?
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Bachelor of Science in Informatics Engineering
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Bachelor of Science in Computing and Mathematics
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Bachelor of Science in Computing and Business Administration and Management
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Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
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Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
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Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
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…
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Any bachelor’s degree within the field of engineering with a predominantly technological profile (telecommunications engineering, industrial engineering, aeronautical engineering, biotechnology, agricultural engineering)
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Bachelor’s degrees in mathematics or physics specializing in computation
14. What criteria are used for selecting and admitting students onto the UMAI degree?
The reference elements which will be considered by the Academic Board of the MSc (CAMIA) in the students’ selection process are: the University where the student comes from, the studied degree and the student's resume/CV and/or academic record. The documentation that will be requested from the student will be: a photocopy of the national identity card, the academic certification and the resume/CV.
15. In case I need a pre-admission letter in order to apply for a studentship associated with the UMAI degree, who should I ask?
To request a pre-admission letter for the UMAI degree, the student shall contact the Administrative Secretariat of the UMAI (Dª. Victoria Centeno Montero, masteria.dia@fi.upm.es). Once it has been verified that the student fullfils the access requirements and that the documentation provided at pre-registration is correct and complete, the pre-admission letter will be sent to the student via post and e-mail. The aforementioned letter does not guarantee the student's admission. The student must go through a selection process in case the demand is greater than the number of available vacancies for the new academic year.
16. What are the “training complements” and who must attend them?
The students whose degree is not in computer science but similar (Technical Engineering in Telecommunications, Superior Industrial Technical Engineering, Industrial Technical Engineering, BSc degree in Mathematics, Physics or any other speciality in computers) and wish to register for the UMAI degree must attend up to 30 ECTS on “training complements”. CAMIA will determine which modules the student must be taught as his/her training complements, selected from the degree in Ingeniería Informática (Informatics Engineering) or the degree in mathematics and informatics taught by the ETSIInf of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM).
17. Am I considered to be a MSc student if I register for the bridge complements?
The “bridge complements’ student” can be simultaneously attended with the master modules. more info
18. May I attend UMAI modules and seminars while the bridge complements are carried out?
No. Students may not register in any of the UMAI modules, seminars or the Masters’ Final Project until they have successfully completed the bridge complements.
19. Is there a limited number of vacancies for new admissions?
The number of available vacancies for new admissions will be 60 for the academic year 2019/20.
20. Is it possible to take the modules in the second semester?
No. The modules shall only be taught in the first semester, while the seminars shall only be taught in the second semester.
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21. Are all UMAI modules and seminars optional?
All modules in the UMAI degree are optional. Seminars "Research Methodology", "Project Management and Risk Control" and "Legal and Ethical Aspects of AI", while all other seminars are optional. However, the student must register for some of the seminars if he/she has not selected any of the modules in a given subject of the UMAI degree.
22. How does one register for the seminars?
The registration for the seminars is done as a single module registration worth 10 ECTS. Specifying which seminars will be attended is not required at the time of registration. Seminars must be also enrolled in the regular (annual) enrollment period.
23. How many seminars should one attend in order to pass the seminars module?
Seminars have a total of ten ECTS assigned to them. Taking into account that each seminar is worth 1.66 ECTS, the student must attend six seminars in order to successfully complete the associated module.
24. How is the supervisor for the Master’s Final Project (MFP) appointed?
The allocation process of the Master's Final Project, approved by the CAMIA in its ninth ordinary meeting on 15/12/2011 is as follows:
1. - Students may contact the master's professors and agree on the topic of their MFP.
2.- Through an application form proposed by the DIA, students can input their preferences on the proposed MFP performed annually by the teachers of the master (mid-December to mid-January). They identify, if desired, in order to a maximum of 5 proposals that attract them.
3.- In the case that a student does not have ideas regarding their MFP, or if not assigned any of the selected (several students can select the same proposal), the student must make a proposal, classifying it in one of the courses offered in the master and must indicate up to three professors that can exert as directors.
25. Is it possible to have more than one supervisor for the MFP?
Co-supervision of a MFP (by two professors) is allowed, but only after a request, sufficiently justified, is made to CAMIA. It is mandatory that at least one of the professors belongs to the teaching staff of the UMAI degree.
26. In which research groups and their lines of research should one base the MFP on?
The professors in the UMAI degree belong to ten solid research groups of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM).
27. When may one carry out the defence of Master’s Final Project?
Even though the student may register for the MFP without having completed the UMAI modules and seminars, in order to carry out the defence of the MFP before the appropriate panel it is necessary that the student has obtained the 45 ECTS corresponding to the modules and seminars.
28. What does the defence of the Master’s Final Project involve?
The defence of the MFP will consist of an oral presentation about the work by the student, lasting a mininmum and maximum period of 20 and 40 minutes, respectively, followed by a period of questions from the members of the panel lasting a maximum of 20 minutes.
29. When is the registration and defence of the MFP carried out?
The MFP can be enrolled in the regular or extended enrollment periods, and can be defended at any time during the corresponding year or semester. Students have at their disposal in the web the relevant application forms. In order to defend the MFP, the student must have surpassed the 7 subjects and the master seminars. The student must take into account the need to provide certain documentation (see the master website) prior to the date of the defense of the MFP.
30. How much is the cost of living in Madrid?
As a rule of thumb, it is possible to find shared rooms in flats from around 150 Euros per month. The cost of renting an appartment (a flat with only one room) starts from 400 Euros per month. These prices depend, naturally, on the area, and utility costs (water, electricity, telephone, community, etc.) are not included. Note to foreign students: the Spanish Government requires proof that the living costs can be met before a visa to reside in Spanish territory is granted. This can be done by having a given amount of money in a bank account, or by proving that a studentship was granted. We suggest that you contact, sufficiently in advance, your nearest embassy or consulate.
31. Where can I find accomodation in Madrid?
The UPM does not own student dormitories, but for those students who are interested to request it, the University offers the possibility to help students in finding accommodation in shared flats for students through the Students International Assistance Service SIAS: sias@fi.upm.es.
Madrid is an expensive city for housing, so the student should calculate an approximate price of 350€ per month, per room in shared apartments, plus a certain amount as a deposit. This Price varies depending on the city area.
32. How can I get to the ETSIInf?
The ETSIInf is situated on the outskirts of the city, in the municipality of Boadilla del Monte and, more specifically, in the Montegancedo campus. The campus can be reached by car, tram and bus. The location map and information about the several public bus lines that serve the School are available on the Web: http://www.fi.upm.es/?pagina=166.
33. What documentation do I need to get a student visa in Spain?
Depends on the country of origin but, in general, the documentation required is:
Letter of admission in the masterMedical insurance. It can be issued by any company (not necessary to be a Spanish one), but it must have the permission to operate in Spain and meet the Schengen requirements. A document certifying accommodation in Spain. If the student will reside in the home of a relative, it shall notify it in a police station and send the document to the student candidate. The ETSIInf has an office for international students (SIAS, sias@fi.upm.es) that guides the search for acommodation for foreign students. Certificate of the structure of the master (request it on masteria.dia@fi.upm.es)
For any additional questions you may have, you can contact the International Office of the FI (Paloma Vivas, International-office@fi.upm.es).