ECTS
60 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPAgro) track within the Bachelor of Life Sciences (L-SV) program provides an initial multidisciplinary education in the concepts and methods of biology in the fields of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and biotechnology, with a gradual specialization in plant sciences. This program aims to provide an understanding of how plants function and their ability to adapt to their environment. It equips students with fundamental knowledge of model organisms and species of agronomic interest, enabling them to address current challenges in crop production, input management, and the design of tomorrow’s plant agroscience. A distinctive feature of the program is its strong ties to Montpellier’s plant biology research community—the largest in France—which enables a pedagogical approach that integrates research into the curriculum. Training through basic or applied research is facilitated by a long, mandatory internship at the end of the third year of the Bachelor’s program—a rarity in a Bachelor’s curriculum—which equips students to prepare for their post-Bachelor’s careers. The presence on the Montpellier campus of major plant biology research organizations (INRAE, CNRS, IRD, CIRAD), plant research stations, and companies in the agroscience field provides a vast pool of potential internships tailored to the career goals of most students. There is a large network of Master’s and doctoral students in the field of agrosciences at the Montpellier campus.
75%
Success Rate
Objectives
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPAgro) track aims to train plant biologists who have mastered the conceptual foundations of functional biology, with a view to pursuing further studies in the field of Plant Sciences at the advanced master’s level (and potentially a Ph.D. in this field) or in the field of Agrosciences, particularly plant experimentation. The mandatory internship allows students to gain initial professional experience, which helps them plan for their post-bachelor’s career path.
Expertise and Skills
Subject-specific skills:
- Understand the molecular and cellular basis of how cells function
- Mastering the Basics of Genetics
- Gain an understanding of the biochemical, molecular, and physiological foundations of plant development (from seed to harvest)
- To acquire an understanding of the biochemical, molecular, and physiological foundations of plant autotrophy
- Understand the essential tools of functional plant biology: mutagenesis, plant transgenesis, forward and reverse genetics, and their applications.
Transferable skills:
- Understand and apply a rigorous scientific and experimental approach: hypothesis, experiments (replicates), observation, interpretation, conclusion (deduction, induction of a general model)
- Know how to conduct a literature review, be able to analyze scientific data, trace its sources, and evaluate it critically
- Knowing how to read publications in English
- Acquire the fundamentals of scientific writing and oral presentation, and learn to engage in critical debate.
- Developing a career plan, writing a resume and cover letters
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Gain initial experience in entering the workforce
Organization
Program
The BiPAgro track of the Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences begins in the second year (L2) and spans four semesters (L2 and L3), each comprising course units (UE) that, upon successful completion, earn ECTS credits. In the second year (L2), courses are largely shared with those of other tracks within the Bachelor’s in Life Sciences program offered by the Department of Biology and Mechanisms of Life. In the third year (L3), specific Plant Biology course units allow students to specialize in the field of plant science.
Students may be admitted to the program in their second or third year, following an evaluation of their application by an academic committee.
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
4 creditsFundamentals of Plant Physiology
4 creditsDescription of Variability 1
2 creditsMicrobiology 1
4 creditsFundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology
4 creditsBiochemistry, 3rd Semester
4 creditsChemistry for Biologists 2
3 creditsEnglish S3
2 creditsEU SV Selection
Choose 1 out of 5
Fluid Biophysics
3 creditsFood-Nutrition-Health
3 creditsBiotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
3 creditsBiochemistry
3 creditsAnimal Behavior - Ethology
3 credits
ASTRE's Scientific Approach to the Ecological Transition
2 credits
Choose one of the following two options:
CHOICE HAV415V
3 creditsEnglish S4
2 creditsBioInfo
2 creditsCellular and Molecular Biology 3
4 creditsPlant Biomolecules: Diversity and Applications
3 creditsIntroduction to Evolution
2 creditsPhysiology of Major Body Functions
4 creditsPersonal and Professional Project
2 creditsMetabolic Biochemistry
Genetics 1
Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions in Plants
3 credits
CHOICE HAV418V
3 creditsEnglish S4
2 creditsBioInfo
2 creditsCellular and Molecular Biology 3
4 creditsMicrobiology 2
Plant Biomolecules: Diversity and Applications
3 creditsIntroduction to Evolution
2 creditsPhysiology of Major Body Functions
4 creditsPersonal and Professional Project
2 creditsMetabolic Biochemistry
Genetics 1
Admission
Admission Requirements
Admission must be based on completion of a first-year bachelor’s degree (L1) through the SVSE portal at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Montpellier, or on completion of an equivalent first-year bachelor’s degree (L1) from an institution other than the University of Montpellier (or an equivalent higher education program: preparatory school, DUT, BTS).
Applications can be submitted through the following platforms:
- French and European students: Follow the application process on the University of Montpellier's e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature/
- International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure:https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Registration Procedures
Applications must be submitted through the eCandidat application platform of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier (https://sciences.edu.umontpellier.fr/venir-etudier-a-la-faculte-des-sciences/). Applications are reviewed by an academic committee, which decides on admission.
Mandatory Prerequisites
Have earned 60 ECTS credits from the first year of the L1 SV program or the equivalent
And then
Continuing Education
Continuing Studies in the L3-BiPagro Program
Continuing Your Education Abroad
ERASMUS programs allow students to spend one or even two semesters abroad and earn credit toward the BiPAgro program, provided that the courses taken at the foreign university have been approved by the BiPAgro program coordinators.
Employment Placement
The vast majority of students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in SV-BFP (formerly BiPAgro) continue their academic studies in a Master’s program at the University of Montpellier (approximately 50%) or in Master’s programs offered at other French universities (Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg). Most of these students enroll in Master’s programs in Biology and Agrosciences, but an increasing number are choosing a dual degree by also pursuing a Master’s in Bioinformatics. A few students enroll in agricultural engineering schools (Montpellier SupAgro’s SAADS program, Agrocampus Ouest, and INSA Lyon).
For those who do not wish to continue their studies, positions as technicians at plant research stations or research laboratories are available.