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

Available for M2 entry only in 2025/26

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

Admissions

 

• Apply online on the eCandidat platform
• 2025/26 intake: M2 applications open on 15 February

Application process

Application rounds

• Applications are reviewed in 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.

Deadlines for the 2025-26 intake

	M2 | Round 1	M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by	31 Mar	28 Apr
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by	25 Apr	23 May
Accept your place by	25 May	15 Jun
Pay your first tuition installment by .... to qualify for a reduction in tuition fees (international non-European students)	25 May *	N/A
Pay your first tuition installment by .... with no reduction in tuition fees	15 Jun	15 Jun

Early Bird Applications:

• * A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year MSc programme can apply for the second year MSc programme. Applicants must be fluent in English - written and spoken:

 

• An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a certificate, which is no older than three years, for a recognised international test of English*:
  • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60, TOEFL Home edition is accepted,
  • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
  • IELTS - 6.5 or higher, IELTS Online test is accepted
  • 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.

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 - at least one of which must be from an academic professor.
  Letters must be provided on letterhead paper, signed, stamped and with the official contact details of your referees.
• 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.

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

admissionaec72615-d511-4bd8-acd7-0d49735762fe@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Tuition fees and financing

Tuition Fees

International students (non-European)

Tuition fees

Study year	Tuition fees
M2 Year | 2025 - 2026	€8,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2025) *

Early Bird Applications:

• * A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

European students

€254 per year
 

Financing your studies

Scholarships

Different scholarships may be available for students enrolling in a MSc Programme at Centrale Nantes. Learn more

Other ways to help you finance your way through your studies:

 

• Paid 6-month internship
  You will be paid for your 6-month Master's thesis / internship in France. For internships undertaken in France 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.
• Work alongside your studies
  You are entitled to work part-time alongside your studies, to earn some extra money. This option is available for both European and non-European students, but different rules apply. Learn more
• Help with your rent
  French and international students are eligible to receive financial support (known as APL in French) from the CAF (Caisses d'Allocations Familiales). The CAF is a French government organism that covers part of the monthly cost of rent paid for student accommodation – the allocated amount depends on the type of accommodation and on your income. Learn more (in French)

Find out from Aishwarya what it's like to study on the MSc Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes.

Video transcript

Meet our students: Aishwarya, from India, Master Mechanical Engineering (M-ENG ACES)

I'm Aishwarya Chandrasekaran. I come from India and I'm an M2 student of Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes.

Why did you decide to join Centrale Nantes?

They are renowned for their engineering programmes and their strong community with industry. While I was going through the administration process for admission, I met some international officers. They were so kind and generous. They have very good international community, so why not give it a try? I chose Centrale Nantes for that also.

How is the programme going so far?

Initially the programme was a bit hectic because I wanted to get adapted to the country, the culture and when I arrived it was during COVID. So, I wanted to get used to all of those things. The syllabus was a bit hectic, but the faculty members were so kind and helpful.

What do you want to do in the future?

In the immediate future, I want to take some time off and then step into the composite processing or production line. In the future, I want to work in bio-composites to make the world at least a bit plastic-free.

Any advice for future applicants?

I would definitely recommend thoroughly the Advanced Composites programme for their research programme and the curriculum and their faculty members. They have the leverage in industrial opportunities and the networking was really good. You could meet many people out of the college, out of the groups etc. And when it comes to Centrale Nantes, they have CNA - the alumni groups - who will definitely work with and help you in every aspect. As the tagline says [said] "Shake the Future": if you want to do it, do take the big step, come and join Centrale Nantes!

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

Embrace tomorrow's opportunities

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)

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 ..."

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.

Why choose this MSc?

Five reasons why you should choose the MSc in Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes:

 

• Hands-on composite materials and processes
• Make a career in innovative materials
• Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students
• Centrale Nantes is ranked 102nd in the world for Mechanical Engineering in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Accredited Master of Science (MSc) preparing for a PhD in France or abroad or for direct entry into the workplace

Centrale Nantes houses 17 buildings on a 40-acre green campus. In addition to the standard facilities of a university campus (classrooms, media library, computer rooms, etc.), it is home to 13 research platforms, some of which are unique in France, and modern and varied sports facilities, the Centrale-Audencia-Ensa incubator and vibrant student life. Facilities on the Centrale Nantes campus:

Watch the video for a bird's eye view of campus:

Video transcript

Welcome to one of France’s most prestigious engineering schools.

This is where we prepare the world of tomorrow - a sustainable world where research and teaching inspire each other, where we contribute each and nervy day to meeting the challenges of energy transition, the factory of the future and healthcare.
Welcome to a school which offers more than 400 course combinations, q school where students play an active role in decision making, a diverse school with over 70 nationalities on campus.
Welcome to Centrale Nantes.

Virtual Tour

Explore the campus with its classrooms, research platforms, student life and sports activities: Take the virtual tour