International Master in Embedded Systems Security - IMESS (formerly MISTRE Valence)

Summary

With the current growth of the market for "smart objects" and IOT, there is also a growing need for engineers specialized in the design of safe and secure embedded systems, and who can handle the challenges relating to hardware design, software design, and their interactions. The master IMESS offers a curriculum perfectly suited for students who want to work either in engineering or in research, in the field of secure and safe embedded systems.

Why choose this Master Program?

• Opens up both to industry careers and research careers
• Connected with both industry and several research laboratories, allowing for many job and PhD opportunities
• Lots of high-quality classes and practical work
• A European hub of the worldwide CSAW competition
• A deep integration with both international and French students
• One-year long program; mandatory funded internship
• Fully taught in English

Who can apply?

Students in Electronic Engineering / Computer Engineering / Computer Science

What are the contents?

• 1st semester: 330 hours of class - 30 ECTS

With 100 hours of Laboratory and 60 hours of team project work.

• 2nd semester: Graduation Project – 30 ECTS

Internship in a lab or a company. Grenoble INP - Esisar hosts the LCIS laboratory dedicated to design and systems integration. For more information, please click here.

>> Apply online here <<

Want to explore some careers after IMESS?

Amir, from Iran, graduate from the 2018/2019 program and now Postdoctoral researcher at ETS University (Montreal).

"The IMESS Master program actually has been suggested to me by one of my professors. I was excited to enrol since it had two good qualities: good courses to prepare one after graduation to look for good positions either in industry or in the academia, and all this in a one-year period. It was initially tough to handle all of it in a one-year period, but fruitful in the end. 
 We had plenty of lab works, some good projects to work on and an internship at the end. I myself liked a lot the practical aspects of the program. You are not only focused on theories (though you learn theoretical concepts you have to know nonetheless – and they are not just a few), but you also have to implement them. This shows how strong the program is. Almost every course has laboratorial works as well. "

Apply now

Minimum requirements

Admission to the master is open to students:

• who have completed 1st master year or a 4-year Bachelor in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering
• who have a minimum B2 level in English language.

Courses prerequisites

• Computer Engineering: Digital Design (VHDL/Verilog, FPGA), Embedded Programming, Processor Architecture
• Computer Science: C and Java programming language

2026 September intake

Application between
December 1^st 2025 & March 29^th 2026

Application process

• ID Document
• CV and motivation letter
• Two recommendation letters
• Transcripts (copy of your last diploma obtained, transcripts of the two previous academic years and of the present academic year)
• Proof of B2 level in English (previous studies in English or English language certificate)

Application files will be assessed by an admissions committee. The deadline for applications is March 29^th, for the April 30^th admission committee. 
 
Beware: you are also required to complete your application through the Etudes en France platform (please consult the visa section below). The Etudes En France portal operates independently from our school. Please check the Etudes en France portal for more information on requirements.

You will be notified of the results of your application after the admission committee, and you will be able to read the decision taken on your admission status on your FSA account.
 

Scholarships

As an IMESS student, you may be eligible for financial support through the IMESS Master’s programme, the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), or the French government.
Two main types of funding are available: IDEX-funded scholarships and Grenoble University Scholarships, each with specific eligibility criteria. More information here. 

Please be aware that the number of university scholarships is very limited. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to apply for as many funding opportunities as possible, both locally and internationally, as the scholarships available are significantly fewer than the number of applicants. We also recommend exploring grant programmes in your home country, as well as opportunities offered by international organisations or embassies.
If your application to the IMESS Master’s programme is successful, we will reach out to inquire whether you wish to be considered for a scholarship.
 

Visa

If you are not living in France, you must fulfill the process required by Etudes en France. This is mandatory to obtain your entrance visa.
For more visa information, please click here. For general information on how to access higher education opportunities in France, check the Campus France website.

*Tuition fees 

• EU, EEA (European Economic Area) or Quebec students: €1,484
• Non-EU students: €5,171

The institution applies the rules incurring the payment of differentiated fees by non-EU students.
The registration fees can be paid in installments rather than all at once at the start of the academic year.

In addition, the admitted students will receive information about the scholarships available to Grenoble INP-UGA students.

Contacts

Program

Please note: the program indicated below is the curriculum for IMESS up until the academic year 2024-2025. The program will change for the coming year 2025-2026; but details of the new program have not yet been finalized. The program's objectives, though, will stay the same.

You are advised to read the given program as an indication of what can be learnt at IMESS, not as a definitive contract of what will be taught at IMESS in 2025-2026.
 

General organization:                           
 

1st Semester:                                                             

Advanced Processor Architecture and SoC Design - 5 ECTS                                              
Verification and Test of Safe and Secure Embedded Systems - 5 ECTS
Embedded Systems Security - 5 ECTS
Dependability and Security of Computing Systems - 5 ECTS                              

2nd Semester:

International mobility

International exchange students are allowed to attend this master's program, within the limits of available places.
For more details please click here

Scholarships

• France Diplomatie to find the scholarship programs offered by governments (Foreign government: Check with your home country's Education Ministry / French government: Information is available on French embassies' and consulates'  websites in your home country).
• CampusBourses a grant search engine allowing you to find scholarships for which you may be eligible, according to your profile.

•  IDEX Scholarship

 
- You can apply for this scholarship programs during completion of your application file for IMESS.
- We will submit your application for you to IDEX scholarship program. The best candidates will be selected according to their academic results (1 or 2 scholarships awarded per year).

Careers

Examples of industrial job opportunities:

• Embedded Software/Hardware Engineer or Developer
• Hardware Cybersecurity Engineer
• Distributed Systems Engineer

Examples of PhD titles:

Example of thematics:

• Hardware/Software Embedded and Communicating Systems
• Hardware/Software Security or Safety
• Distributed Systems Design
• System Control