Preparatory work for the master thesis --- MEMO-F-403

Academic Year 2025-2026

Presentation of the course

List of topics

• Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer-aided verification and synthesis techniques
• Cryptography and computer security
• Scheduling & Real-time Systems, Operating Systems (J. Goossens)
• Web & Information Systems
• Operational Research and Decision making
• Algorithms and Combinatorics (J. Cardinal)
• For further topics in algorithms, please contact prof. Stefan Langerman

Form

What do we expect for this course

• 5 ECTS

• A report

  • Deadline: 15 May 2026; 23h59 (strict)
  • For the August exam session, the deadline is 14 August 2026, 23h59 (even stricter than the previous one)
  • An electronic copy should be sent to the advisor (promoter). No copy should be sent to the course's coordinator.
    This electronic copy should also be submitted to Université Virtuelle
  • General outline (to be specified with your advisor):
    • Approximately 20 pages of text (not including figures, normal fonts)
    • The front page must contain the title, your name and the name of your advisor (very important!!)
      As this is an introductory report, not the final thesis, there is no compulsory front page template. Nevertheless, if you like, you can use this LaTeX template, with this ULB seal. Then pdflatex makes this pdf of it.
    • Description of the state of the art
    • Description of the project's objectives
    • Bibliographic list, sufficiently complete and exhaustive
  • If you have questions about the contents of your report, please discuss them with your advisor, not with the coordinator.

• A presentation

  • An oral presentation in front of your advisor using slides or a poster
  • Submit poster, slides through Université Virtuelle
  • Also transfer a copy of your presentation to your advisor.
  • Deadline: 22 May 2026; 23h59
  • For the August exam session, the deadline is 21 August 2026, 23h59
  • The time of each presentation is strictly limited to 7 minutes
  • (The following are guidelines, not strict rules) 5 to 7 slides (count on at least one minute per slide, except for slides with simple, easy to understand figures)
  • The presentation must include the situation in the domain and the objectives and plan of your project

Typst , an alternative to LaTeX

Criteria for evaluation/grading

• (a) the quality of the presentation, for 20% of the total
• (b) the quality of the bibliography, i.e., the reading: the relevance of the articles read, the completeness of the collection, the understanding of the material, the own initiative in the exploration of the literature
• (c) the quality of the report (clarity of presentation, language, correct and adequarte use of scientific terminology, spelling, writing style, use of LaTeX/word/..., the presence and presentation of figures, illustrations, examples...)
• (d) The contacts advisor-student: scientific and general attitude

Other information

• Course report (Fiche)
• General rules about the exam (in French) Check (search) for the Master's thesis (le mémoire). Also pay attention to the sections on plagiarism.