ECTS
60 credits
Duration
1 year
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The Bachelor's degree in Physics is a three-year course that represents the first stage in higher education. It is open to students with a scientific baccalaureate, and provides them with fundamental knowledge of general, theoretical and experimental physics, from classical to modern physics, as well as mathematics and computer programming, with progressive specialization in L3 towards Fundamental Physics or Physics and its Applications. The CUPGE Physics and Mathematics pathway (Cycle Universitaire Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles) from L1 to L3 offers in-depth bi-disciplinary training. A brief presentation of the various Physics degree courses can be downloaded here: Licence Physique presentation.
The Cycle Universitaire Préparatoire aux Grandes Ecoles (CUPGE) Physique et Mathématiques (Physics and Mathematics University Preparatory Cycle for the Grandes Ecoles) is an ambitious course in the Physics Bachelor's degree, aimed at motivated students who are planning to enter engineering schools by application at the end of L2, or by competitive examination at the end of L3, or to continue their studies in a demanding course in fundamental physics. This selective course includes an additional UE each semester (around 50 hours of teaching), and therefore requires a faster pace of work.
The CUPGE Physics and Mathematics course is combined with two other CUPGE courses, offered by the Mathematics degree program (CUPGE Mathematics and Physics) and the Mechanics degree program (CUPGE Mechanics), to cover the possible Major/Minor combinations for certain competitive entrance exams. These courses therefore offer fundamental teaching in three major scientific disciplines: Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, which form a fundamental foundation for continuing to learn, analyze and innovate in the rest of your academic and professional career.
Objectives
The program enables students to progressively master the basic concepts of physics and the use of mathematical and numerical tools to analyze, describe and model a physical system. They also develop critical thinking skills, and the ability to conduct independent experimental projects and communicate their results orally and in writing, in French and English. These are the knowledge, skills and know-how required for further study in the Montpellier Fundamental Physics and Applications Master's program, or more generally in all Physics Master's programs or at the interfaces, in France and abroad. The program also enables students to go on to study at an engineering school, either on the basis of their qualifications or through a competitive examination, or to enter the job market directly at the end of L3, for example through a competitive administrative examination.
CUPGE specific :
- Benefit from in-depth bi-disciplinary training integrated into the LMD structure (internationally recognized), with the possibility of obtaining a bachelor's degree in Physics, reinforced by courses in Mathematics and Mechanics, in order to pursue a Master's degree in Physics under the best possible conditions;
- Better prepare for the competitive entrance exams for engineering schools that recruit through a competitive entrance exam reserved for university students in L3 (GEI competitive entrance exam schools: Polytechnique, Mines ParisTech, Ponts ParisTech, Telecom ParisTech, Arts & Metiers ParisTech, SupAéro, ESPCI, other Mines, etc.; schools in the Centrale/Supelec group).
Know-how and skills
Students on the Fundamental Physics pathway learn to master all the concepts of classical physics (mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism...) and modern physics (quantum mechanics, special relativity, corpuscular physics...), as well as the theoretical formalization of a physical system. The CUPGE Physics and Mathematics pathway enables students to acquire additional disciplinary skills in Mathematics and Mechanics, which are required to sit the competitive entrance exams for some of the top engineering schools at the end of L3.
Generally speaking, the jobs held by our students are in many areas of public or private economic and industrial life (research, development, design, control, production, teaching). They occupy managerial, executive and engineering positions.
Program
Courses are delivered in the form of lectures (CM), tutorials (TD) and practical work (TP). The lectures are shared with the Physics, Mechanics or Mathematics courses, depending on the discipline. For practical work, students from the three CUPGE courses are grouped together in L1 and L2, forming a group of around thirty students. Practical work is carried out in groups of 20 students.
The course is taught by research professors who incorporate the latest developments in their disciplines into their teaching. Students are therefore in direct contact with the world of research, and benefit from the presence of research laboratories: L2C and LUPM in Physics,IMAG in Mathematics and LMGC in Mechanics.
S5L3PHYCHOIX
4 creditsChoice of 2 out of 4
The origin of the elements: a cosmic journey
2 credits18hNanoscience and Nanotechnology
2 credits18hPhysics Computing
2 credits18hLife Physics
2 credits18h
English S5
2 creditsAnalytical and Quantum Mechanics
7 credits63hDifferential Calculus and Differential Equations
6 creditsWave Optics and Electrodynamics
7 credits63hExperimental physics S5
4 credits36hFluid mechanics
5 credits
Statistical Physics
5 credits45hRelativity and Subatomic Physics
6 credits54hExperimental Physics S6
4 credits36hHydrodynamics
3 credits27hS6 Tutored Projects
4 credits36hSimulation tools
3 credits27hQuantum Mechanics
5 credits45hComplex Analysis
6 credits
Admission
Access conditions
Access to the third year is open to candidates holding 120 credits from a Physics or Physics-Mathematics bi-Licence degree, or after validation of a diploma in the corresponding field, e.g. CPGE specialties MP, PSI. Students holding other diplomas may also apply. Their applications will be examined by the admissions committee.
How to register
Applications for admission must be made via the eCandidat online application . For foreign students from outside the EU, depending on their nationality of origin, applications may be processed by CampusFrance.