Software and computer systems are ubiquitous in today’s world, found in smartphones, vehicles, home devices, and every aspect of entertainment. This thematic cluster offers students the opportunity to advance their knowledge in many key areas of modern technology design, including AI and machine learning, software design and maintenance, software quality engineering, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, and more. Through a blend of coursework and hands-on practices, students will gain valuable skills relevant to today’s evolving tech landscape, prepared for addressing the engineering, development, and research challenges of software and computer systems. Note that the following courses are advanced specialized courses destined for students in their final year of an engineering degree program or pursuing graduate studies in various fields.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following 

This cluster will appeal to students interested in industrial and systems engineering as well as Industry 4.0. The Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering houses Polytechnique Montréal’s Industry 4.0 laboratory, and the faculty members teaching the five courses are members of this laboratory. Industrial engineering research at Polytechnique aims to provide training to address the full complexity of technological, economical, social, organizational and environmental issues by offering the opportunity to study in multidisciplinary fields. Note that the following courses are advanced specialized courses destined for students in their final years of an engineering degree program or who are currently pursuing graduate studies in various fields.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following

Engineering physics bridges the gap between physics and engineering by utilizing fundamental principles and phenomena for the development of radically new technologies solving outstanding challenges in the fields of energy, communications and processing, and biomedicine.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following

The Energy Systems Cluster at Polytechnique Montréal offers one of Canada’s premier specializations in power and energy systems engineering, delivering a unique blend of academic excellence and industrial relevance. Our program benefits from internationally recognized faculty members specializing in power systems, smart grids, and renewable energy integration, supported by strong partnerships with major utilities and leading equipment manufacturers. The cluster leverages Polytechnique’s research excellence in simulation technologies and grid modernization, while fostering international collaborations with renowned institutions worldwide. The Energy Systems Cluster provides a solid foundation for both industry careers and advanced research opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of electrical power engineering. This program is particularly well-suited for final-year electrical or mechanical engineering students with a strong background in circuit theory and control systems.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following

The Sustainable Development thematic cluster deals with the broad crossdisciplinary issues related to sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the social responsibility of engineers and working in a multidisciplinary environment. Concepts studied include lifecycle analysis, energy conversion, and circular flow, all of which are essential components of sustainable engineering. Note that the following courses are advanced specialized courses destined for students in their final years of an engineering degree program or who are currently pursuing graduate studies, all disciplines.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following

Polytechnique has become a hub of biomedical engineering activity, supported by an internationally recognized translational institute, TransMedTech, established academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a research alliance with Montréal hospital networks, and a critical mass of researchers. This cluster targets students looking to learn about and take part in emerging-technology development in the field of biomedical engineering. Note that the following courses are advanced specialized courses destined for students enrolled in their final years of a biomedical, computer, electrical, mechanical or physics engineering program.

Students must take 12 to 15 credits among the following

• Registered in a recognized engineering degree program in a university where the language of instruction is not French*, and which is a partner institution to Polytechnique Montréal.
• Minimum academic average: 2.5/4.
• Registered in final years of an engineering degree or currently pursuing graduate studies in a discipline that is related to one of the thematic clusters as described in the Study section.
• Be officially selected as a candidate by your university/institution’s International Relations and/or Exchange Program Coordinators.
• English Requirements:
  An English language proficiency certificate is not required, but students must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to succeed in university level engineering courses and assignments in English.
  Recommended levels:
  ■ IELTS Academic (6.0), ■ TOEFL iBT (75), or ■ Duolingo English Test (115)
  Other accepted tests are listed here: English-Accepted Tests

Please consult with your university/institution’s International Relations and/or Exchange Program Coordinators to determine your specific eligibility.

*If your university/institution’s main teaching language is French, you are not eligible for the International Thematic Clusters in Engineering program. Instead, please refer to Polytechnique’s admission criteria for Exchange Programs.

Fall term - For all Clusters

Nomination period: January 15 to March 15

• Each candidate must be nominated for only one International Thematic Clusters.  
• Your university/institution must use the following nomination template, complete and send it to this email address: etudiant.echange@polymtl.ca before March 15

Application period: February 1 to April 1

• Admission to the International Thematic Clusters program is for the Fall term only (August to December) and/or for the full academic year (August to May - Software and Computing Cluster only)
• Students who are nominated by their home university/institution will receive a link to submit their application (students submit applications themselves) 

Winter term - Only for  Software and Computing Cluster

Nomination period: Until September 15

• Each candidate must be nominated for only one International Thematic Clusters.  
• Your university/institution must use the following nomination template, complete and send it to this email address: etudiant.echange@polymtl.ca before September 15

Application period: August 1 to October 1

• Students who are nominated by their home university/institution will receive a link to submit their application (students submit applications themselves) 

A complete admission dossier must include the following:

1. Application form (available online; you‘ll receive a link to access the form once your nomination has been confirmed)
2. An original transcript of all your engineering studies (with a simple translation if the document is in another language than French or English)
3. Photocopy of your passport identification page
4. Photocopy of your birth certificate with both parents’ complete names (with an official translation if the document is in another language than French or English)

^{NOTE: Only use the links sent to you, and not the regular online Polytechnique admission application. Likewise, use the link sent to you to send your required documents (do not send them to the Registrar’s Office), nor should you pay fees. Entry into the International Thematic Clusters program is not processed like a regular program admission.}

The International Thematic Cluster program description above outlines which courses you may choose from. Courses may be selected within a single Thematic Cluster to obtain a certificate of completion in a chosen specialty. Courses may also be selected across different Thematic Clusters or from the French course catalogue to accommodate home university requirements. Course descriptions can be found on our Triennial Plan page. 

French as a Second Language Courses

• Exchange students can sign up for one French language course per semester, taught at the Université de Montréal. In order to do so, Polytechnique students must register through the Inter-University Transfer Authorization application (AEHE) platform (after a placement test). The procedure is described here. Question about the Inter-University application process may be addressed to : horsetablissement@polymtl.ca
• For additional information about UdeM’s French as a Second Language program courses, click here.

Laboratory Internship

During your ITC term, you’ll also have the possibility to complete a short Laboratory internship (3 to 6 credits). See procedure below. For a full research project term, please visit the section Study + Research or the Research Internships page. 

• To enroll in a laboratory internship during your exchange program—whether it lasts one or two semesters—you must obtain a CAQ for studies and a study permit. Individuals entering Canada as visitors are not permitted to undertake such an internship. Upon your arrival in Canada, before leaving the airport, you must ensure that your study permit includes a condition authorizing you to work on campus during your stay.
• To complete a laboratory internship during your exchange, you must first find a supervisor for your intended project.
• Please consult the list of professors’ expertise to identify two or three professors working within your field of interest. As a next step, we recommend you send an email to the professor of your choice, introducing yourself, highlighting your achievements, and summarizing the type of project that you’d like to work on with them. Ensure you mention what aspects of the professor’s work appeals to you and meets your academic goals, to demonstrate your knowledge of their field and their work. Don’t forget to inquire as to whether they’re available to supervise you. In response, the professor will let you know if they’re interested in working with you, and if not, may refer you to other professors better suited to your interests. 
• 1 internship credit is equivalent to 45 work hours. Upon conclusion of your internship, you will be required to write a technical internship summary that meets your supervisor’s guidelines.
• In your admission application, on your list of courses, indicate your intention to complete an internship – either a 6-credit internship (SL06) or a 3-credit internship (SL03), in addition to the other courses you want to complete.
• Students must complete the registration form and email it to admission.echanges@polymtl.ca.

What is a credit “worth”?

• University credit is a measurement of effort or work, that the student must dedicate to a given academic activity.
• At the Undergraduate level (Bachelor’s and certificates), a credit represents 45 hours of work that the student must commit to a learning activity, divided over the 15 weeks of a given term. So, a term where a student takes 15 credits represents roughly 45 hours of effort or work, for an average student. The aforementioned hours are comprised of theoretical learning (in class lectures), practical or applied learning (labs or hands-on seminars), and time for independent study or review.
• As a general rule, 1 Polytechnique Montréal credit is equivalent to 2 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System).

How many courses should I take?

Exchange students must register for a minimum of 12 credits. The normal workload for a Bachelor’s-level student at Polytechnique Montréal is 15 credits (which translates to 5 courses per term).

What are the various levels of academic study?

The Bachelor’s of Engineering program last four years and grants the earner the title of Certified Engineer from Engineers Canada. 

A Master’s at Polytechnique is a graduate-level course of study that is accessible once a Bachelor’s degree has been earned. Note that a Master’s is not equivalent to a European Master’s Degree.

• Undergraduate (1er cycle): Bachelors (leads to an Engineering Degree – not equivalent to France’s Baccalauréat)
• Graduate (2e cycle): Master’s (not to be confused with a European Master’s Degree) and DESS - Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées (in English: Specialized Graduate Diploma)
• Graduate (3e cycle): Doctorate

Prerequisites

Polytechnique Montréal does not require that exchange students prove they have the appropriate prerequisites for a given course. To succeed academically during your time here, it’s up to you to ensure you have adequate knowledge of and familiarity with course content or material. To determine if you are adequately prepared for a course, you should examine prerequisite course content for your selected International Thematic Cluster.

Official transcript

• The international exchange program coordinator at your home institution will be able to download your transcript as soon as it is available on our Alfresco server.

• At the end of January, transcripts will be issued for exchange students that began their classes in the autumn term. 

• Grades from language courses taken at the Université de Montréal are transmitted to Polytechnique at the end of the semester, and are integrated into your overall Polytechnique transcript. Rest assured that your transcript will be sent as soon as possible.

Extend your stay

Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend the period of your exchange at Polytechnique after your admission. You must choose the duration of your exchange when you submit your application for admission. Please note that if you want to participate in an exchange program for one year, you must apply for the French exchange program or in the Software Cluster program.

To request a residence form or learning agreement to be completed by Polytechnique Montréal, please submit your request on the registrar's portal.

On the platform, click on “Form to be completed.” You will then be able to submit your document online for the registrar's office to complete.

Please allow 10 days for processing.  A fee of $10 applies to dual degree students for each form requiring the Registrar's seal.

See all details on administrative fees.

Please note that an official certificate of enrollment can be downloaded free of charge from each student's file