Science, Health

L2-L3 LIFE SCIENCES

Life Sciences
  • Target level of study

    BAC +3

  • ECTS

    180 credits

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Training structure

    Faculty of Science, Faculty of Pharmacy

  • Language(s) of instruction

    French

Presentation

The Life Sciences bachelor's degree is a generalist course, covering all the disciplines involved in the study of living organisms: animal and plant biology, cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, genetics, plant and animal physiology, infectiology, immunology, ecology, evolutionary biology, etc...

Theory is supplemented by laboratory work (biochemistry, bacteriology, animal and plant physiology, in vitro cultures, dissections, etc.) and/or field work (sampling, etc.).

The curriculum also includes a methodology component: scientific method and reasoning, data analysis, scientific report writing, observation drawings, acquisition of techniques and tools (microscopes, for example).

Complementary disciplines necessary to the training of any scientist are also taught: mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science as tools for the biologist, earth sciences, and general and scientific English.

The program begins in L1 with a single Life Sciences - Health and Environment (LSHE) portal, with options that enable students to personalize their path. Specialization courses are then offered in L2 or L3.

The 3-year Bachelor's program includes lectures, tutorials, practical work and, depending on the course, an internship organized as a teaching unit (UE). Each UE is assessed by continuous assessment and/or a final exam at the end of the semester. A Bachelor's degree entitles the holder to 180 credits.

Graduates will be able to work in a variety of fields: agri-food, pharmaceuticals, biotechnologies, environment, research, teaching, etc.

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Objectives

A generalist, multi-disciplinary degree, the Life Sciences bachelor's degree is designed to provide comprehensive training in the life sciences. The curriculum combines fundamental and theoretical teachings, with an apprenticeship in methodological tools.

The SV bachelor's degree provides an integrated vision of biology. It focuses on the environment, biodiversity, biomedical research, plant improvement and health, and understanding the fundamental mechanisms of living organisms.

The specialization of courses enables students to move into different areas of biology.

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Know-how and skills

  • Disciplinary skills :
    • Mobilize the fundamental concepts and technologies of molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, immunology, classification of living organisms, developmental biology and evolution to address a problem in the field or analyze a research or presentation document.
    • Mobilize the fundamental concepts of ecology and ecosystems to situate biological and physiological issues.
    • Understand, identify and independently carry out the various stages of an experimental approach.
    • Identify, select and apply a combination of analytical tools (current techniques, instrumentation) adapted to characterize organisms (from the biomolecule to the individual in all its complexity) and their functioning at different levels of analysis (intracellular metabolism, biology and physiology of complex organisms, interactions between individuals and groups, interactions with the environment).
    • Interpreting and analyzing experimental data for modeling purposes.
    • Validate a model by comparing its predictions with experimental results, and assess its limits of validity.
    • Identify sources of error to calculate the uncertainty of an experimental result.
    • Manipulate fundamental mechanisms at the microscopic scale, model macroscopic phenomena, link macroscopic phenomena to microscopic processes.
    • Use data acquisition and analysis software with a critical eye.
    • Mobilize the concepts and tools of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science in the context of life science issues.
    • Identify specific regulations and implement the main preventive health and safety measures.
  • Pre-professional skills :
    • Situate your role and mission within an organization to adapt and take initiatives.
    • Identify the process of producing, disseminating and promoting knowledge.
    • Respect the principles of ethics, professional conduct and environmental responsibility.
    • Work as part of a team as well as independently and responsibly on a project.
    • Identify and situate the professional fields potentially related to the skills acquired in this field, as well as the possible pathways to access them.
    • Characterize and promote your identity, skills and professional project in a given context.
    • Step back from a situation, assess yourself and challenge yourself to learn.

 

  • Cross-disciplinary and linguistic skills :
    • Use digital reference tools and IT security rules to acquire, process, produce and distribute information, and to collaborate internally and externally.
    • Identify and select various specialized resources to document a subject.
    • Analyze and synthesize data for further processing.
    • Develop arguments with a critical mind.
    • Use the different registers of written and oral expression of the French language with ease.
    • Fluency in written and spoken comprehension and expression in at least one modern foreign language (scientific English is strongly recommended).

 

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International training

Training with formalized international partnerships

International dimension

It is possible to spend part of your studies abroad under the ERASMUS program and various other programs (e.g. ERASMUS-MUNDUS, BCI (Quebec), etc.). However, you need to plan ahead and prepare your application carefully.

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Organization

Knowledge control

Full or final continuous assessment, depending on the UE.

Success rate :

40-50% in L1, 60-80% in L2, depending on the course, 80-90% in L3, depending on the course.

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Special features

Accommodations are available for top-level sports students, students with disabilities or students who work outside the classroom; see the FDS website for details.

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Program

The 1st year, L1 Life Science, Health and Environment (LSHE), is a core year, during which the fundamental subjects for learning biology are taught (basic concepts in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics), as well as scientific method and reasoning. It is possible to choose options (1 in the first semester, 2 in the second) to personalize your course. It is also possible to enter preparatory courses for health studies (medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, odontology, etc., L1 LAS), or for competitive entrance exams to agronomy or veterinary schools (PCAV course).

In the2nd year (L2), it is possible to retain a generalist approach to biology, with options to begin specialization, or to enter a specialized pathway in scientific ecology and evolutionary biology (BE pathway).

In the3rd year, you can specialize by joining one of the 8 courses offered by the Biology-Mechanisms of Life (Bio-MV) department: animal physiology and neuroscience (PAN pathway), biochemistry (Bioch pathway), molecular biology and cell biology (BMC pathway), microbiology (Mic pathway), plant biology and agri-environment (BiPAgro pathway), biotechnologies, biotraceability and bioresources (BBB pathway), or teaching professions (BioME pathway, but also SVT-CME pathway within the ST license).

The list of Teaching Units for each year and portal is available on the Faculty of Science website.

NB: there are constraints on places in the courses and for certain optional UEs, linked to our capacity to accommodate students (staff and premises).

It is also possible to take additional courses (with a maximum of 36 ECTS per semester) or, in certain cases, to have an associative commitment validated as an additional course.

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Select a program

Admission

Access conditions

Enrollment possible with a baccalaureate or equivalent, or as part of a reorientation. In all cases, applications are made via the Parcoursup platform. The intake capacity, excluding repeaters, is 680 students each year. The number of applications received via Parcoursup exceeds 5,000.

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Target audience

For entry into Licence 2, depending on the course: 

Registration is possible from an L1 SVSE obtained at the FdS of the University of Montpellier, or from an equivalent L1 obtained outside the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Montpellier (or equivalent higher education: preparatory school, possibly DUT, or even BTS). For all applicants, whether from the L1 SVSE, CPGE or PASS programs, or from outside the FDS, the registration procedure is carried out via the Faculty of Science's e-candidat portal.

Acceptance is not automatic: it is decided on the basis of the student's application by a pedagogical committee, and depends on the capacity of the course in question. The Université de Montpellier's SV bachelor's degree is highly attractive, and generally exceeds its capacity.

For entry into Licence 3, depending on course:

Automatic enrolment from a L2 SV in the same course obtained at the FdS of the University of Montpellier, or possible from a L2 in the training fields of the targeted course obtained outside the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Montpellier or equivalent in higher education. The registration procedure is carried out via the Faculty of Science's e-candidat portal.

Acceptance is not automatic: it is decided on the basis of the student's application by a pedagogical committee, and depends on the capacity of the course in question. The Université de Montpellier's SV bachelor's degree is highly attractive, and generally exceeds these capacities.

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Capacity

160 students for the BE course

440 students in L2 for courses in the Bio-MV department

420 students in L3 for courses in the Bio-MV department

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Necessary prerequisites

The life sciences bachelor's degree is open to baccalaureate holders and holders of a DAEU B (diplôme d'accès aux études universitaires - option scientifique).

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Recommended prerequisites

A general baccalaureate with scientific options is strongly recommended to have every chance of success. For baccalaureate holders with no scientific options, or those with a technological baccalaureate, an upgrade is recommended.

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And then

Further studies

Depending on their chosen path, the vast majority of students go on to one of the many professional or research-based Master's degrees in the life, health, agrosciences and environmental sciences. They can also opt for MEEF masters, which prepare students for the teaching exams.

The program also enables students to enter engineering schools and pursue studies in the medical or pharmaceutical fields. It gives access to the B competitive entrance exams for the grandes écoles (ENSA: École nationale supérieure d'agronomie; ENV: École nationale vétérinaire).

 

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Studying abroad

It is possible to spend part of your studies abroad under the ERASMUS program and various other programs (e.g. ERASMUS-MUNDUS, BCI (Quebec), etc.). However, you need to plan ahead and prepare your application carefully.

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Bridges and reorientation

Throughout the three years of the bachelor's degree, there are numerous gateways to and from other bachelor's degree courses and other curricula (IUT, BTS, CPGE, engineering schools, etc.). Specific UEs also enable students to move on to health studies (medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dentistry, etc.), see LAS.

A specific pathway (PCAV) is offered from L1 for those wishing to prepare for engineering school entrance examinations (concours commun polytechnique, agronomy and veterinary school entrance examinations).

There are also gateways in L3 to professional licenses (biotechnologies, plant production, health products and cosmetics, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, health).

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Professional integration

Those who choose the vocational route immediately after graduation are mainly destined for jobs in research and development (R&D), scientific leadership or naturalist expertise. For example, in the pharmaceutical or agri-food industries, they may work as research managers, biologists or quality-safety officers; in the scientific field, they may work as project managers for museums, departmental or regional nature parks, or as animators; they may become technicians carrying out impact studies or censuses.

The SV bachelor's degree also gives access to state and local civil service entrance examinations (categories B or C).

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