Master project (PDM)

1. Generalities

USEFUL INFORMATION from SAC

At the Section of Mathematics, the Master project lasts 17 weeks.

It starts on the first day of the semester. The start date of the PDM cannot be changed. When you register on ISA, the system will automatically give you the end date of the PDM.

The PDM is placed under the responsibility of a professor or MER who teaches a course in the corresponding Master’s program (Math, Ing Math, CSE or statistics).

The PDM cannot be done in industry. You must be supervised by an EPFL professor.

The SMA imposes a deadline for registering to the Master Project. For projects in the Fall semester, the deadline is Friday August 16th, 2024, while for projects in the Spring semester it is Friday January 31th, 2025. Please register on IS-Academia, print out the registration form, ask the supervisor to sign it and hand in or send by email the signed form to the SMA office before the deadline (to [email protected] for Math, to [email protected] for Ing.Math, to [email protected] for CSE and to [email protected] for Statistics).

In addition, students wishing to do their Master Project outside EPFL have to follow the SMA instructions for exchanges and the SAC ones. The form “Master out EPFL” needs to be submitted to the SMA for approval.

The 2023 Graduation Day will take place on Saturday 7th October, 2023.

2. Choosing a Master Project

• Some SMA professors have an updated list of  project proposals.

• Other professors prefer that the students contact them directly.

• Students in Math and Applied Math need a supervisor (Professor or MER) from within SMA. The supervisor for students in CSE is an EPFL Professor or MER who is giving a course within the program. The supervisor for students in Statistics is affiliated to the master program in statistics.
  Exceptions are to be requested to the deputy director.

3. Registration by step

1. Read the document carefully: information for the students, professors.

2. Choose your topic and contact the professor in charge in order to specify the goals.

3. If the master project is made in abroad, it’s possible to receive financial compensation. See this page and follow the procedure. Complete this step before the end of May (PdM-Fall) or the end of November (PdM-Spring).

4. Register the Master Project on IS-Academia, set the project’s dates (with course registration module), and print the form. Ask the supervisor to sign the form and hand it to the SMA within the deadline indicated at point 1.

5. Become a member of “International SOS” for medical assistance during your Master project abroad. This is mandatory when doing your Master project abroad.

4. Report and Grading

• The student submits a written report in a pdf file to be sent by email to the SMA, the supervisor and the external expert.
• The student presents and defends his project in front of the supervisor and an external expert.
• The date of the defense and the expert are decided by the supervisor.
• The deadline is available on the academic calendar.
• After the oral exam, the supervisor registers the mark on the IS-Academia portal.
• A poster presenting the work has to be sent by email to the SMA within two weeks after the master project report has been submitted to the Section.

5. Useful Documents

• Ordinance on the Evaluation of Bachelor and Master Studies at EPFL (in French)
• Internal directive concerning examination exams at EPFL (in French)
• Intellectual Property at the EPFL
• Information for students, professors and companies
• Moodle : Assessement for PDM