[See below important comments by the translator, Alexander Gelbukh, marked in yellow. These are my personal comments and are not part of the original document.]

[Do read the call, understand the instructions, and follow them exactly! Fortunately, most people don’t, which makes the work of the selection committee easy.]

[This text is not an official document (no guarantee of any kind); for formal purposes refer to the original document linked from the CIC official website. However, do read my comments here, you will find them useful. If you still want to see the original text (but read this page first!), here is the live web version and here is a cached version (maybe outdated).]

CALL
MSc in Computer Science
Spring 2020

 

Presentation

The National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), via the Computer Research Center (CIC-IPN), calls to those interested in pursuing studies in the Master's program in Computer Science, face-to-face modality, to start in the January-June 2020 school term on the following bases:

The CIC IPN offers the Master in Computer Science (hereafter referred to as MCC) program, a full-time program designed to train MSc capable of developing scientific research and/or advancement of technology in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

The MCC program provides a solid and international quality training recognized and endorsed by the National Graduate Program of Quality (PNPC) of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT).

Complete information on the MCC Curriculum can be found at the link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/mcc. 

Admission profile

The MCC applicant is a professional graduated from a BSc degree in the field of ICT with solid knowledge that allows him or her to address the analysis, design, development, implementation, and administration of computer systems. In addition to this, you must have mastery in the following tools: differential and integral calculus, discrete mathematics, algebra, linear algebra, probability, structured programming, data structures, abstract data types and computer organization.

The applicant must be distinguished by his or her creativity and ability to generate new knowledge to be applied in solving problems, and feel motivated to cultivate his or her vocation for research, science development, and technological innovation.

Typically, to the program apply professionals from the area of ​​physical-mathematical sciences graduated from the careers of electronic engineering and communications, computer science, computer systems, robotics and mechatronics, telematics and others related to ICT.

Graduation Profile

The graduate of the Master in Computer Science has the critical capacity, skills and abilities that will allow him or her to perform basic and applied research in solving problems, as well as the ability to adapt and improve technology with an innovative approach, generating high value-added products in the field of ICT, to contribute to national development.

Based on the development of leadership and collaborative skills in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams, the graduate can work in public and private sector organizations, standing out for his or her ability to communicate his or her views and establish links of shared responsibility in teams work, aspects which, combined with the knowledge gained in the program are demanded by the sector of ICT.

[Most importantly, our graduates are expected to enter our PhD program.]

Admission requirements

To enter the MCC graduate program, the applicant must comply with the requirements established in the IPN Postgraduate Studies Regulation (REP-IPN), chapter I, articles 7 (sections I, II, IV, V) , 10, 11 and 12. For more information, the REP can be consulted through the following URL: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/REP/.

The requirements are as follows:

1. To hold an official degree or certificate of completion of undergraduate studies, or equivalent document for applicants who have completed studies abroad.                 

2. To pass the admission process established in this call, demonstrating ability to continue his or her studies at the Master's level, through reaching the minimum score established by the Admission Committee for this process.                 

3. To prove with a minimum grade of eight or its equivalent the level of knowledge of the English language, in two of the following skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression or oral expression, or their equivalents, taking as a basic criterion level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​or similar, endorsed by the Directorate of Training in Foreign Languages ​​of the IPN.

4. Not to have been definitively expelled from any program of the Institute, by resolution founded and motivated by the Academic College, unless it has been revoked by said collegiate body.                 

5. To express, through a letter of reasons and during an interview with the Admission Commission, the interest you have in entering the Master's degree studies and developing your research work in one of the lines promoted by the Computing Research Center.                  

Credit Revalidation

Those applicants interested in obtaining a revalidation of credits from postgraduate learning units previously studied must submit the application to the Board of Teachers in accordance with the provisions of articles 15 and 17 of the IPN Postgraduate Studies Regulation.

Admission process

The Admission Process begins with the online registration of the applicant. Subsequently, the academic and accreditation files must be sent, and finally the attendance to an interview with the Admission Commission is required, which includes the evaluation of academic and psychometric aspects. The complete process is described in the following steps:

[Please send things by the deadline, even if incomplete or incorrect. In this case, is better to send incomplete or incorrect application / file in time, than to send it perfect when it is too late. Incomplete or incorrect application can be completed or corrected later.]

Step 1: Fill in an admission application.

[In this next form, there is a question on how you knew about the program. Please indicate my name there: Prof. Alexander Gelbukh.]

[See my translation and explanation of the steps (though it might be somewhat outdated) before you fill in the next form.]

The applicant must fill in their application to start the admission process, through the web application available in the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/registroA20/.

Once your application is registered, the applicant will obtain a registration identification key (regID), which will be used later both for sending the files and for obtaining feedback on the progress of the ongoing admission process.

To track the progress of the application, the applicant must access the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/seguimientoA20MCC/. [There you will see whether your application is received, which of the required documents were accepted, and which documents were missing or were not accepted and thus need urgent correction. Ask your advisor for interpretation of the information there.]

Step 2: Send the Academic File.

The applicant must send the Academic File in the form of a PDF file, which must contain the compilation of the digitized versions of the following documents of the applicant:

a. Undergraduate certificate where the GPA and the finishing of the program are specified. [This is your BSc transcript.]                          

b. Bachelor's degree and professional ID. [This is your BSc diploma. In some countries, only one of the documents (a) or (b) exists; then that one should be enough. See a note below for international applicants.]                  

c. Unique key of the Population Registry (CURP). [This will be obtained when you come to Mexico; no need to submit it now.]                   

d. Birth certificate.                  

e. Curriculum vitae.                  

f. Letter of reasons to enter the program. [Explain in free form why you decided to study here. E.g., you have read my papers and were impressed and motivated by them. It is a plus for you if you explicitly mention that you are already familiar with our publications.]                    

g. Letter signed by the applicant in which he or she states that he or she has not been expelled from an IPN graduate program. [You can use this template.]                  

h. Application form for admission with a small-size photo. This form must be generated through the online registration indicated in Step 1. [Sign this form where at the bottom it says "FIRMA DEL ASPIRANTE" ("SIGNATURE OF THE APPLICANT"), scan it, and submit the scanned image. If you don’t have a scanner, then take a photo of your signature and paste it into the PDF file or its screenshot image.]

The applicant must send [the sooner the better, to detect any problems in time and be able to correct these before the deadline; plus, since the visa paperwork takes much time, the sooner you get your admission the better the chances for you to get your visa in time and to buy your ticket cheaper] an email with one PDF file named MCC01-regID.pdf [change here regID to the number on your application form, e.g., MCC01-1234.pdf], which must contain the Academic File, to the account admision@cic.ipn.mx, with the email subject MCC01-regID, where regID corresponds to the identifier obtained from the online registration process. The Department of Education Technology staff will provide acknowledgment of receipt and feedback about the information received in said file.

[Whatever you send to them, always send it with a copy to your advisor -- me in this case.]

[It is better if you send me your docs before sending your docs to them, for me to advise you on whether your docs are OK. However, if we don’t communicate before the deadline, then please go ahead and send the docs in time, even if incomplete or incorrect.]

Note in the case of foreign applicants.

Proof of studies abroad such as the Bachelor's degree, transcript, as well as birth certificate [3 documents: diploma, transcript, birth certificate], must be submitted with their translation into Spanish and duly legalized (apostilled). The sending of the professional ID does not apply to foreign applicants. The sending of the CURP is not mandatory for foreign applicants, who, if admitted, will receive this code as part of the process of their immigration status update once they enter to Mexico.

[For application, you may send the documents without legalization (apostille), which can be provided later upon acceptance. Send what you can (before the deadline!); later you can complete or correct it.]

[Please send all documents that are not in English or Spanish, always along with translation. At the moment of application, you can provide your own homemade translation into English, and the official translation into Spanish can be provided upon acceptance. In your own translation, you can translate the important / relevant parts, for us to understand what the document says.]

For more information on procedures and procedures for foreign applicants you can see the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/aspirantesExtranjeros/. [This page seems to have information you need after admission. It is good for you to read it now and start preparations, but it seems to have nothing that you need to understand at the moment of submission.]

Step 3: Schedule attending to an information session.

[Foreign applicants will do this via internet. However, if you do not understand Spanish, ask the committee whether it makes sense for you to participate in these sessions. In addition, if you already have chosen the Laboratory to which you apply, attending these sessions does not make much sense; ask the committee if you still need to attend. I think in the past all foreign applicants skipped this step. However, re-check it with the committee.]

A very important part of the Admission process are the information sessions, which are intended to publicize the characteristics of each postgraduate program, as well as the specific lines of research (LEI) developed in it.

To schedule the assistance, the applicant must consult the available dates and may reserve their place for any of them through the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/informativas/

Step 4: Attend the interview with the Admission Committee.

The applicant must hold an interview with the Admission Committee, which will be divided into two parts, for which he or she must attend the facilities of the CIC IPN, according to the date and time schedule, which will be indicated through of the contact email and can be consulted in the "Admission Process" section of the official portal of the CIC-IPN.

The first part of the interview with the Admission Committee is an interview of a technical-academic nature that will be carried out with teachers, which aims to identify the compatibility of previous training, such as the exercise of their professional and school practice, with the Master's program in Computer Science.

In a second part of the interview, you must perform three psychometric tests, the application of which will be carried out by psychology professionals, in order to identify the compatibility between your psychological profile and the admission profile of the master's degree program, in order to favor success in your academic training.

The estimated time of these tests is 4 hours. It is recommended to have had enough rest the night before and have had breakfast beforehand.

In the case of those applicants residing abroad or outside the metropolitan area of ​​Mexico City, the interview with the Admission Commission will be conducted through the videoconferencing system via the Internet. The scheduling of said appointment will be agreed directly with the applicant via email.

Step 5: Send the Accreditation File.

The Accreditation File must be integrated into a PDF file with the compilation of the scanned versions of the following documents:

i. Proof of the knowledge of the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE-General Test) or Postgraduate Admission Exam (EXADEP). Valid are certificates with a maximum age of up to 5 years at the end of the registration period.                   

ii. Document proving mastery of at least two abilities in English language with reference to the level B1.                               

The applicant must send the Accreditation file as a PDF file with the name MCC02-regID.pdf, as an attachment to email, to the account admision@cic.ipn.mx with the subject MCC02-regID, where regID corresponds to the identifier obtained from the online registration process, according to the dates established in this call.

[Whatever you send to them, always send it with a copy to your advisor -- me in this case.]

About the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE), and the Postgraduate Studies Admission Exam (EXADEP).

[EXADEP is a Spanish-language version of the GRE, probably somewhat easier.]

[As you can see below under the admission criteria, only the quantitative reasoning score of the GRE will be considered; the qualitative reasoning and writing scores of the GRE test will be completely ignored, so you may not waste effort on these two sections. One of our students was admitted with no problems having the scores 0 (qualitative) – 170 (quantitative) – 0 (writing). I do not know how EXADEP is structured but there should be some equivalent of those sections in it.]

To schedule and sit for the GRE or EXADEP exam, you must book an appointment and sit for the exam through the official Educational Testing Service (ETS) portal. The information to carry out GRE can be consulted at https://www.ets.org/gre, while the information regarding EXADEP can be consulted through https://www.ets.org/exadep.

In the case of both exams, GRE and EXADEP, it is mandatory to indicate the institution code of the IPN:

Code: 7509
Country:  Mexico
Institution: National Polytechnic Institute (CIC IPN)

It is important to verify that the date of delivery of the results of these exams is prior to the deadline for the delivery of the accreditation file (see section Important Dates of this call).

About Accreditation of English language proficiency in at least two skills based on Level B1 of the common European framework of reference for languages.

The applicant may prove English proficiency through one of the following options:

a. Through the accreditation of any of the English language proficiency certifications endorsed by the IPN Foreign Languages ​​Training Directorate (DFLE-IPN), which can be:

i. Cambridge PET                    

ii. Cambridge IELTS                  

iii. Trinity College ISE                

iv. TOEFL ITP [I recommend you to request and keep a hard copy certificate. They seem to be reluctant to send certificates to other countries, so if you can, request them to send your certificate to a friend of yours in the US.]                

v. TOEFL IBT [See my note above about the TOEFL certificate.]                  

vi. TOEIC [I’ve heard that this one is more difficult, but the results are given in one day.]                

vii. CENNI             

For information about the minimum required score, as well as the validity recognized for each certification, it is recommended to consult directly the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/refDFLE/. [The certificates are accepted only if they are not older than some number of years, even if the certificate itself does not indicate any expiration date -- see the mentioned page for details.]

[For ETS exams, such as TOEFL, I advise you to send the scores to us via the ETS system by indicating the institution code: B770, country: Mexico, institution: CIC IPN Instituto Politécnico Nacional. This is in addition to keeping just in case a hard copy certificate.]

[For all other documents, for admission you send only scanned copies, and you can present the original hard copy by the time of your enrollment. However, in the case of the English test (maybe except for TOEFL), you may have to send us the hard copy original certificate of your English test as a part of your admission process. Ask the committee whether this is still required and whether they can proceed now with a scanned copy, so that you will bring the original hard copy later.]

b. A second alternative to prove this requirement is the presentation by free demand of the language proficiency exam for postgraduate admission to the IPN (2 to 4 skills), which can be done through any of the Foreign Language Centers (CENLEX-IPN).

To opt for this option, the applicant must follow the procedure described on the CENLEX web page of their choice:

For the CENLEX Zacatenco: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/examenZacatenco/

For CENLEX Santo Tomás: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/examenStoTomas/                        

The minimum passing grade in the English language proficiency test applied by CENLEX-IPN is eight (8), which must be obtained in at least two skills.

c. A third alternative to prove this requirement is through the documentation that proves previous studies of the English language, which must have been carried out in an institution endorsed by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP).                  

d. If the applicant is a native English speaker, you must send the supporting documentation in order to perform the corresponding validation.                 

e. A further alternative for the accreditation of the English language is to request, through the DTE, the registration for the presentation of the corresponding exam in the Center for Foreign Languages ​​(CENLEX-IPN) Zacatenco according to the dates described in the section of important dates of this convocation.                  

To opt for this option, the applicant must register their exam application in the DTE, for which they must submit a copy of an official identification (INE, passport, or professional certificate) in accordance with the dates established in this call, and later pay the fee.

The minimum passing grade in the English language proficiency test applied by CENLEX-IPN is eight (8), which must be obtained in at least two skills.

In order to verify compliance with this requirement, the applicant must present the original document of the proof of accreditation issued by the institution, which must be current at the date of enrollment, and will be received for submission to the Directorate for Training Validation in Foreign Languages ​​of the IPN (DFLE-IPN).

[Note that you will need to provide hard copy original certificate in all cases. I am not sure at what part of the process you do it: hopefully, you provide now a scanned copy, and later bring in person the hard copy, as is the case with all other documents, but ask the committee: in the past they requited applicants to send us the hard copy before admission. As to TOEFL, it seems that the requirement for the hard copy can be relaxed; ask the committee (or me) if you don’t have the hard copy of the TOEFL certificate. For all other cases (except the TOEFL), you do need to provide the hard copy.]

Requirements for obtaining the degree

Enrolled students must comply with the provisions of article 48 of the Regulation of Postgraduate Studies of the IPN in relation to the requirements for obtaining the degree, as established by agreement of the Board of Teachers, namely:

I. To be enrolled in the Master's program in Computer Science.                                  

II. To comply with your final individual program of activities.                 

III. To have developed a Master's thesis with the characteristics indicated in the current Regulation of Postgraduate Studies of the IPN.               

IV. To pass the degree exam.               

Publication of the Results

The Admission Committee will evaluate each of the applicants' files and determine those that will be admitted to the Master's Degree in Computer Science. The list of admitted applicants will be published in the “Admission Process” section of the official portal of the CIC IPN. The ruling will be final.

Accepted applicants must attend the induction sessions according to the schedule published in the “Admission Process” section of the official portal of the CIC IPN. These sessions may be attended remotely through the webcast service for those applicants residing abroad or outside the metropolitan area of ​​Mexico City.

For foreign applicants. To expedite the immigration procedures of foreign applicants, the Admission Committee will promptly notify the applicant about the outcome of the admission process.

Selection criteria

In the selection process of the applicant, the following will be considered:

• The score obtained by the quantitative reasoning ability in the EXADEP exam or in the GRE exam. [Only the quantitative reasoning score is considered; the qualitative reasoning and writing scores of the GRE test will be completely ignored. I do not know how EXADEP is structured but there should be some equivalent of those sections in it.]

• Compliance with the level of English language proficiency.                                                  

• The result of the academic interview with the Admission Committee.

• The result of the psychological interview with the Admission Committee.

• The timely delivery of the Academic and Accreditation files.                      

Donations

The admitted applicants must formalize their registration to the program without any mandatory payment, but with the possibility of making the voluntary contribution as a donation for opening the file, to the account indicated by the corresponding academic unit. Donation collection accounts must correspond to the departments of the National Polytechnic Institute authorized for this purpose.

Maximum Enrollment

The maximum planned enrollment of students for admission to the Master of Computer Science for the first semester is 25 students, which will be covered only from those applicants who meet the requirements of the process of admission.

While the Master of Computer Science program is a full-time program, up to 10% of accepted applicants may choose to register as part-time students, who must be available to attend program activities for a minimum of 20 hours per week and attend the courses at regular scheduled times each semester.

Scholarships and Supports

The Master in Computer Science is attached to the National List of Quality Postgraduate Programs of CONACyT [Mexican Ministry of Science], within which it is listed under the highest level of quality as an International Competition Program.

Students enrolled in the Master's Program in Computer Science (MCC) of the CIC-IPN may apply for a monthly support grant corresponding to 4.5 Units of Measurement and Update (UMA) [about USD 550, more than enough to live in the country (renting a modest room) given the current prices; see calculations in my presentation on http://www.gelbukh.com/calls/CIC-scholarships-2018.pdf], provided that they meet the requirements established by the Regulation of CONACyT scholarships.

[Most important requirement is the sufficient average score (CGPA) from the previous degree: typically, the arithmetic average score in your transcript should to be at least the average of the maximum possible score and the minimum pass score in your university. In some countries, the scores are counted differently; contact me if in doubt, or if you don’t have sufficient score.]

The CONACyT may grant said scholarship, subject to its budget availability, to those students with full-time dedication within the postgraduate program for a maximum period of 4 semesters, in accordance with the current regulations of the CONACyT itself. Therefore, students accepted under the part-time modality may not apply for the CONACyT scholarship.

For more information, consult the link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/becasCONACYT/.

In addition to the CONACyT scholarship, the IPN provide medical service coverage before the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) during the period of postgraduate studies, with the corresponding permanent social security number.

Induction course

The CIC-IPN offers an induction course to its Master's programs lasting six weeks. This course aims to prepare applicants to enter our program on various topics related to computer science.

This course consists of four modules: 1) Discrete Mathematics, 2) Object Oriented Programming, 3) Probability, and 4) Algorithms.

This course is free and optional, so studying and passing it has no value as a selection criterion for entering our program. For more information consult the following link: http://www.cic.ipn.mx/cursoIngreso/.

Important dates

Semester 2020 A

Activity Period / Date

Registration of the application for admission

From October 7 to November 9, 2019

Sending the Academic File

From October 7 to November 9, 2019

Sending the Accreditation File

From October 7 to December 6, 2019

Information Sessions [attending via Internet, or maybe skip this]

October 18 and 31, November 8 and 9, 2019

Open Labs

November 7, 8 and 9, 2019

Registration for the English exam of the CENLEX of the IPN (free demand) [only for those who opts for this option]

Consult directly in the preferred CENLEX

Completion of the English exam in the CENLEX of the IPN (free demand) [only for those who opts for this option]

Consult directly on the selected CENLEX

Registration for the English exam of the CENLEX of the IPN (managed by CIC) [only for those who opts for this option]

Until November 5, 2019

Completion of the English exam in the CENLEX of the IPN (managed by CIC) [only for those who opts for this option]

November 11, 2019 10:00 a.m.

Academic Interview with the Admission Committee for Foreigners (via Skype)

November 7 and 8, 2019

Academic Interview with the Admission Commission for national applicants

October 16, 30, November 13 and 27, 2019

Psychological Interview with the Admission Committee [by Skype for foreigners]

November 11-15, 2019

Induction course [by Skype for foreigners, or maybe skip this]

October 14 to November 30, 2019

Publication of foreign aspirant results [My guess that if you miss some deadline, they may give the result later rather than reject you.]

November 13, 2019

Publication of national aspirant results

December 13, 2019

Postgraduate enrollment in the IPN

January 13-17, 2020

Start of the semester

January 20, 2020

 

Further information

For information related to academic aspects:

Dr. Francisco Hiram Calvo Castro, MCC Program Coordination, Tel. +52 (55) 57296000 ext. 56516, Email:  mcc@cic.ipn.mx

For information via telephone related to administrative aspects:

Lic. Diana Julieta Díaz Díaz, Department of Educational Technologies, Telephone +52 55 5729 6000 ext. 56501, Email: admision@cic.ipn.mx

Unforeseen situations

The academic and administrative processes related to this call and the completion of postgraduate studies at the National Polytechnic Institute, are carried out without distinction, whether for reasons of gender, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinions, national, ethnic or social origin, wealth, birth or any other situation. All this in order to ensure equity, equality and non-discrimination.

Any situation arising during the admission process or contemplated in this call, will be resolved with full adherence to the Regulation of Postgraduate Studies by the competent authority as appropriate.