MSc Mechanical Engineering
Advanced Composite Engineering and Science (M-ENG ACES)

This specialism develops skills for providing innovative and optimized solutions in the design and manufacturing of composite materials for research and in industry.

The performance of fibre-reinforced organic-matrix composites and structures are influenced by the constituting materials and the processing stage. Composite mechanical design can be efficiently and optimally performed when one has a good understanding of  manufacturing influences and constraints. Therefore, the courses offered in this program will provide a theoretical and experimental emphasis on the relationships between constituents, processing and structural design.

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2. Advanced Composite Engineering and Science is one of four specialisms available as part of the MSc Mechanical Engineering programme.

The language of instruction is English across the two years.

This MSc programme is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Contribution to sustainable development goals

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30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year - 2023/24

 

Autumn Semester Courses	ECTS	Spring Semester Courses	ECTS
Continuum Mechanics	5	Engineering Materials	5
Fluid Mechanics	5	Constitutive Laws	5
Algorithmics for Engineering Modelling	4	Structural Mechanics	5
Numerical Methods	5	Computer-aided Design	5
Vibrations and Differential Equations	5	Mechanical Design	5
Business Environment	4	Conferences and Initiation to Research	3
Modern Languages *	2	Modern Languages *	2
Conferences	0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English'

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

M2 Year - 2023/24

Autumn Semester Courses	ECTS
Composite Constituents and Processes	4
Composite Characterization	4
Composite Processing Modelling 1	4
Composite Structures	4
Composite Processing Modelling 2	4
Multi-Physics Modelling for Processes	4
Project	4
Modern Languages *	2
Conferences	0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English'

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 

Spring Semester	ECTS
Master thesis / internship	30

 

Examples of previous internships in industry:

• Product design of a composite motorcyclist protection
• Sol-gel functionalization by nano-particle entrapping: a formulation for transparency
• Edge sealing and release agent optimization for aeronautic composite processes

 

Examples of previous internships in research labs:

• Composite design with multi-objective optimisation
• In-situ compression of carbon-fibre reinforcements in X-Ray tomography
• Modelling and characterization of thin film piezoelectric materials

Skills developed

• Simulate and optimize composite mechanical design and manufacturing using numerical tools
• Model materials’ behavior and physics involved in composite processes
• Characterize and manufacture composite materials

 

In addition to the above specialism-specific skills, students will also develop more general skills:

• Identify models, perform simulation and analyse results
• Communicate comprehensive results in a meaningful way
• Undertake bibliographic surveys of international research and professional literature
• Manage or be part of a project

Download syllabus | M-ENG ACES 2022/2023

• Year M1
• Year M2

Faculty and Research Facilities

Focus on unique resources

• Apply online on the eCandidat platform
• 2023/24 intake: applications closed
• 2024/25 intake: applications will open in October 2023

Application process

Application rounds

• Applications are reviewed in rounds. M1 applicants may apply in any of the three M1 rounds, and M2 applicants in either of the two M2 rounds. Applications should be submitted on the eCandidat platform as early as possible, but before the deadlines below;
• Applications are not considered 'complete' until all required elements are submitted. Only complete applications received by the round's deadline will be considered in that round;
• The admissions board reviews applications at the conclusion of each round and notifies each applicant of the outcome of their application;

Accepting your place

• Successful applicants must accept their place on the eCandidat platform by the deadlines below;
• The first installment of tuition fees must be paid by the deadlines below to definitively secure the applicant's place on the programme.

Important dates for the 2023 intake

	M1 | Round 1	M1 | Round 2	M1 | Round 3	M2 | Round 1	M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by	14 December	28 February	30 April	30 March	30 April
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by	27 January	24 March	26 May	28 April	26 May
Accept your place by	14 February	10 April	11 June	11 May	10 June
Pay your first tuition installment by	31 March	25 May	15 June	30 May	15 June

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the first year (M1)

• International students with a bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology) or equivalent, in a field related to Science and Technology
• French and European students with a 'license' qualification or equivalent.
• Students must have graduated from the above before the end of August in order to enrol in a Master's Programme at Centrale Nantes in September.
• Applicants must have a good level in Mathematics and be fluent in English - written and spoken. An applicant whose native language is not English is required to pass a recognised international test of English*:
  • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60,
  • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
  • IELTS - 6.5 or higher,
  • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
• Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
• Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.

Admission requirements for the second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year MSc's programme can apply for the second year MSc programme.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.

Required documents

When applying for a Centrale Nantes MSc Programme you will be asked to provide the following documents:
 

• Your official transcripts
• A CV/Resume and cover letter
• Your diploma
• Proof of English proficiency
• Two letters of recommendation
• Your passport or other form of official identification

Your documents must be uploaded in English or French. If the original version of your documents is not in one of these two languages, a certified translation by a sworn translator is required.

Apply online

Apply online on the eCandidat platform
 

How to use the eCandidat platform:

 

• Download the user guide
• Connect to eCandidat: https://ecandidat.ec-nantes.fr
• Use the flag (page top right) to select your language.
• Start off by creating your account.
• No application fees.

Your application in 5 easy steps:

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

master.admission@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Chinese students: lichunlai@ec-nantes.cn
Indian students: application@galaxy-edu.com

Fees for non-European students:

• Master 1 year: €9,000
• Master 2 year: €6,000

A reduction of €1,500 for the first year of study is granted to non European international students who make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

Fees for European students:

Scholarships

Career Prospects

• Sectors: Aeronautics, Automotive, Transportation, Wind and Marine Energy, Materials Producers, Consulting
• Fields: Mechanical Engineering, Design, Materials, Advanced Processes, Manufacturing, Research and Innovation
• Positions: Mechanical Engineer, Process Engineer, Design Engineer, Research and Innovation Engineer (post PhD), Consultant
• Companies: Airbus, Daher, Renault, Faurecia, Solvay, CETIM, Owens Corning, GE Renewable Energy, Multiplast

Where are they now?

Read what our students and graduates have to say about the programme:

 

 

Virtual Tour