Programme Overview
The cutting-edge Master’s Degree Programme is meticulously designed to cultivate advanced expertise in the design and development of sophisticated software systems, integrating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and immersive technologies such as Extended Reality (XR), metaverses, and advanced user interfaces. It caters specifically to students and professionals – including those without prior ICT backgrounds – who aspire to master state-of-the-art skills within this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
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The cutting-edge Master’s Degree Programme is meticulously designed to cultivate advanced expertise in the design and development of sophisticated software systems, integrating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and immersive technologies such as Extended Reality (XR), metaverses, and advanced user interfaces. It caters specifically to students and professionals – including those without prior ICT backgrounds – who aspire to master state-of-the-art skills within this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The curriculum strikes a deliberate balance between foundational knowledge, advanced technical skills, applied practice, and ethical reflection. The training methodology is based in project-based learning, active methodologies and learning by doing.. Learners benefit from experiential education through industry internships, applied case studies, and collaborative projects conducted within specialised XR laboratories equipped for headset-based design, programming, and 3D modelling. This integrated approach ensures that graduates are comprehensively prepared to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges in diverse professional contexts.
Students will progress through a wide variety of courses, including introductory modules (Foundations and Applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality, Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D Modelling), advanced subjects (Immersive Simulation and Physics Engines, AI-Driven Adaptive Environments, Mixed Reality and Advanced Interfaces), and cross-disciplinary areas (Innovation, Ethics and Regulation in Immersive Technologies, Innovation Management and Tech Transfer). The programme also emphasizes practice through Virtual Reality Hardware and Systems, playful, collaborative and social environments, and culminates in a final Dissertation/Project.
The curriculum is further enriched by interdisciplinary courses covering the social sciences, including governance, psychology, economics, and legal frameworks relevant to emerging technologies. Dedicated modules explore the societal implications of immersive technologies, addressing topics such as digital rights, inclusivity, responsible innovation, and the ethical governance of new digital environments. This comprehensive framework fosters critical thinking, civic responsibility, and alignment with fundamental values such as human dignity, democracy, equality, and the rule of law –ensuring that graduates emerge not only as highly skilled professionals, but also as conscientious and globally engaged citizens.
Delivered over two years, the Master’s Degree Programme (120 ECTS) is jointly designed by the project consortium and simultaneously delivered on campus by three different universities: ISTEC (Lisbon, Portugal), EUNEIZ (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain), and UNINT (Rome, Italy). Students can decide in which city they prefer to attend lessons.
Courses
Year 1
Scientific Research Seminar
Playful Collaborative and Social Virtual Environments
Artificial Intelligence for Immersive Systems II
Virtual Reality Hardware and Systems
Immersive Simulation and Physics Engines
Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D Modelling
Foundations and Applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality
Human-Computer Interaction and Usability
Principles of Artificial Intelligence for Immersive Systems
Cybersecurity in Virtual and Augmented Environments
Year 2
AI-Driven Adaptive Environments
Innovation Management and Tech Transfer for Immersive Systems
Dissertation / Project
Innovation, Ethics and Regulation in Immersive Technologies
Mixed Reality and Advanced Interfaces
Please note: While the master programme has been designed as a coherent and unified one, it is important to acknowledge that variations may occur depending on regional and national regulatory frameworks. For the specific academic offer please explore the programme of each university specified below.
Faculty
The programme is delivered by a distinguished faculty comprising internationally acclaimed scholars, industry leaders, and pioneering researchers in the fields of Immersive Technologies design, development, and application. This eminent team brings together academic rigour and practical insight, fostering a learning environment driven by innovation, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Internships and International Opportunities
The programme offers strong pathways for professional development through internships with leading industry partners and hands-on training in state-of-the-art laboratories. Students also benefit from an internationally connected environment that supports student mobility among the partners institutions, encourages cross-cultural collaboration, and helps develop the global mindset essential for success in today’s interconnected world.
Career Pathways
Graduates will be equipped to pursue careers as XR technologists, computer engineers, AI specialists, cybersecurity professionals, designers of advanced interfaces and digital twins, and developers of immersive systems. They may work in research, development, advanced design, and IT system management. They may be freelancers, employed in manufacturing or service companies, or hold roles in public administration. Main sectors include hardware/software, automation, robotics, consulting, and IT services.
