MSc Civil Engineering
Materials and Structures in their Environment (C-ENG MSE)

This specialism aims to develop scientific and technological knowledge on materials and structures in both the public works and industrial sectors. It is characterized by a high degree of scientific specialisation. The programme focuses on the following specialised areas: numerical modelling, constitutive laws, structural reliability, advanced experimental techniques, durability, modern concrete, geomechanics and earthquake engineering.

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2. The language of instruction is English.

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

Two tracks are on offer in the M2 year. This means that students follow a set number of core courses and then have a choice of three courses from either track 1 or 2.
 

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	Physical Modelling	4
Fluid Mechanics 1	5	Constitutive Laws	5
Algorithmics for Engineering Modelling	4	Imaging in Civil Engineering	5
Numerical Methods	5	Geotechnical Engineering	5
Vibrations and Differential Equations	5	Concrete and Structures	5
Business Environment	4	Mathematical Methods in Civil Engineering	4
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

Core courses for all students:

Autumn semester courses	ECTS
Numerical Analysis	5
Mechanics of Porous Media	5
Statistics of Materials and Structural Reliability	4
Project	2
Modern Languages *	2

 

plus, Track 1 courses

Autumn semester courses	ECTS
Homogenization Methods in Heterogenous Media	4
Design and Behaviour of Modern Concrete	4
Durability and Structural Maintenance	4

 

or Track 2 courses

Autumn semester courses	ECTS
Theory of Structures	4
Earthquake Engineering	4
Large Infrastructures of Energy and Transport	4

* '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 / research labs:

 

• Permeability evolution of granular soils in an internal erosion context (GeM Institute)
• Improving the spatial monitoring of rainfalls for flood assessment (GeM Institute)
• Performance assessment of inerter-based vibration absorbers for deep water fixed-based monopile wind turbines (INNOSEA SAS)
• Structural Analysis and Design of a Tensegrity Footbridge (EIFFAGE BIEP)
• Use of crushed sand in hydraulic concrete (Eurovia)
• Study of the absorption/adsorption of sulphates in synthetic C-(A)-S-H during the external sulphate attack on cementitious material (GeM Institute)
• Behaviour of reinforced concrete structures under real fire conditions (IRSN)

Skills developed

• Organize and carry out research work to understand a physical phenomenon or a new problem in civil engineering
• Organize, complete and validate an engineering approach to address a specific problem

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

• Act with professionalism, be rigorous and autonomous
• 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 | C-ENG MSE 2022/23

• M1 year
• M2 year

Faculty

Partner companies

CEA, Cerema, EDF, Egis, EIFFAGE, Eurovia, INNOSEA SAS, Verbund.
With internship and employment opportunities.

International research collaboration

Focus on research facilities

Sustainability and Green Building Platform

These facilities provides researchers and companies with exceptional experimental and digital resources.
In order to meet the challenges of environmental civil engineering, the platform brings together simulation tools adapted for design and management of the lifecycle of structures.

Learn more

Biaxial machine

Biaxial testing machine adapted to the spatio-temporal monitoring of deformations and flows in a granular material under mechanical and hydraulic loading conditions.
This machine is used, for example, to identify hydro-mechanical instabilities in soils.

Learn more

• 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 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: Civil Engineering, Sustainable Design,  Engineering and Environmental Geology, Consulting
• Fields: Civil Engineering, Design, Research and Development
• Positions: Civil Engineer, Environmental Engineer, R&D Engineer

Where are they now?

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

Thiền, MSc Civil Engineering Graduate, Class of 2020

Can you describe your experience of the programme?
"In the first semester, the program builds a good foundation of mechanics and computational methods which are quite hard, but on the other hand are really important. In the second semester, students are given insights into different aspects of Civil Engineering. From there, the third semester offers some important courses and students have the right to choose between two paths which are structure-oriented or material-oriented. Finally, students will have 6-month internship to apply what they have studied. My classmates found their internships all over France and Europe."

Why did you choose Centrale Nantes?
"I chose to study in Centrale Nantes because of its international environment and a well-structured master program. I had planned to do a PhD afterward, and the courses fit well with what I wanted to study."

What was your career plan when you joined the programme?
"My plan was to search for a PhD position in road materials in a European laboratory after finishing my master. Luckily, I had a perfect offer right after my master defense. I am now entering the third year of my PhD program."

Mir Hamza, MSc Civil Engineering Graduate, Class of 2021

Why did you choose Centrale Nantes?
"For me choosing Centrale Nantes was due to the fact that it is one of the premier and renowned French institutes that started English Master’s programs."

What was your career plan when you joined the programme?
"Prior to my master’s degree I planned to work as a Engineer in a Design Office. It was during the master’s that I was inspired from some of the research work at the school and I understood it’s importance for the community. My Master’s Degree at Centrale Nantes inspired me to pursue a PhD and work as a researcher throughout my life." 

What are you doing now?
"Upon returning to Pakistan after my Master’s Degree, I was lucky to find a Junior Engineer job at Pakistan Engineering Services. I am assisting the Dam’s Expert of the firm with the geotechnical studies required for design and feasibilities."

Any advice for future students?
"Nantes has some interesting vibes that make a person fall in love with the city as soon as he/she arrives. The tram takes you almost everywhere with splendid views of Erdre river. The city clubs are alive with students from everywhere in the world. Apart from having the nicest restaurants and cafés the city hosts a lot of touristic events throughout the year. "

How would you describe Centrale Nantes in 3 words?
"International - Friendly - Study"  

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