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

This specialism is no longer available after the 2025/26 academic year

Programme Objectives

This specialism in Mechanical Engineering 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. In addition to theoretical concepts, the course is designed to be practical, thanks to laboratory work and access to experimental platforms for the transformation and characterisation of composite materials.

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. It comprises three study semesters followed by a paid Master's thesis / internship in the final semester.

Our Master's programmes in Mechanical Engineering are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

See our other Master's programmes in Mechanical Engineering

Contribution to sustainable development goals

Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Course Content

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year - 2024/25

 

M1 Year - 2024/25

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	5	Mechanical Design	5
Tools and Methods for Research 1	4	Business Environment	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' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

M2 Year - 2024/25

M2 Year - 2024/25

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' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes

 

M2 Year - 2024/25

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

NB Internships undertaken in France are strictly regulated and are only open to current full-time students of an accredited educational institution. Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular employees (such as social protection and redress mechanisms). For internships that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.

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 | Mechanical Engineering - Advanced Composite Engineering and Science

• Year M1
• Year M2

Facilities and Partnerships

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Mechanical Engineering programme relies on the Centrale Nantes’ faculty, staff and research facilities of the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM).

Focus on unique resources

Composite Materials and Processes Platform

This experimental equipment makes it possible to produce organic composites and to characterize materials in physical terms. The platform provides the right conditions for the world-class research activity conducted in the field of mechanics of materials and processes.

Learn more

Dynamic Testing Resources and Expertise (PREED Platform)

Through this facility, our industrial partners can benefit from the tools and skills of our researchers in terms of thermomechanical behavior of materials applied to real situations.

Whether for academic or industrial research, PREED provides valuable input into optimal product design.

Learn more

After the MSc

Where are our Mechanical Engineering graduates now?

Survey conducted in 2024 of our 2022 MSc Mechanical Engineering graduates, 76% of whom are currently in employment and 15% pursuing a PhD.

Image transcript

Job/PhD search duration:

• 74% find their first job in 3 months or less
• 100% secured their PhD in less than 3 months

Country of origin

• France - 19%
• Asia Pacific - 32%
• Europe other - 10%
• Middle East - 32%
• Africa - 6%

Current country of residence

• France - 90%
• Europe other - 6%
• Americas - 3%

 

• 64% earn a starting salary in excess of €40K
• 25% are undertaking their PhD in the laboratory where they interned for their Master's thesis
• 100% have a permanent work contract
• 70% recommend the programme

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

Where are graduates from this Master's programme working?

• In France: FAIRMAT, Sonimat, Plastic Omnium, IPC, SPIE, Seres technologies, Capgemini Engineering, EDF, Akka Technologies, IRT Jule Verne, Ariane Group, Roctool, Faurecia, Alstom, A2MAC1, MaiaSpace, DGA
• Elsewhere in Europe: Plastic Omnium - Belgium, FIDAMC - Spain, Mercedes Benz - Spain, Vestas - Denmark, Cevotec - Germany, Goodyear - Luxembourg
• Further afield: Premier Composite Technologies - Dubai, Future Pipe Industries - Saudi Arabia, Beijing Benz Automotive - China, Grasim Epoxy Division - India, GE Renewable Energies - India, Huf Group - India, Synergem - India, Gurit - India

Where are graduates from this Master's programme pursuing their PhD?

• CIFRE PhD: Safran Group, Ariane Group, Airbus Toulouse,
• ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Polytech Montreal (Canada), Polytechnique (France), Centrale Nantes, ISAE ENSMA (Poitiers), IMT Nord Europe, IRT Jules Verne, University of Burgundy, Univ. Paris Saclay, Arts et Metiers ParisTech, UTT (Troyes, France)

Meet the Programme Supervisors

Sébastien Comas-Cardona, M2 Programme Supervisor ACES

Sébastien Comas-Cardona has been a Professor at the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM) since 2014. He was awarded a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (USA) in 2000 and a Ph.D. in Composite Materials at the University of Lille (France) in 2005.

Current research interests: fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites, structural composites, processing, modelling and experimental characterization.

What our students / graduates say

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

• 
  Aniket, MSc Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2018

  August 2, 2023

  "The rigorous courses helped me in adapting easily to a larger industry covering plastic products, all the while staying confident of my competencies ..."
• 
  Nihad, MSc Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2018

  August 2, 2019

  "I really appreciated the quality of education, the syllabus, the innovative research laboratories and the world-class professors who were available for assistance and guidance ..."