ECTS
60 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The course " Prépa Concours Agro Véto " (PCAV, https://prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/) is a specific training course offered during the first two years(L1 and L2, 120 ECTS) of the Bachelor's degree course " Sciences de la Vie " at the Faculty of Sciences, component of the University of Montpellier. It depends on the "Biology-Mechanisms of Life" department (Bio-MV, https://biologie-mv-fds.edu.umontpellier.fr/).
Its objectives are to acquire a solid base of multidisciplinary scientific knowledge with a focus on biology(L2 level), as well as to prepare students for the B competitive entrance exams to national agronomy schools and veterinary schools (national competitive exams organized by the Service des Concours Agronomiques et Vétérinaires - https://www.concours-agro-veto.net/ and accessible from 2021 onwards to students who have already completed or are enrolled in L2).
The PCAV course is a reinforced L1 and L2 course (30 to 34 ECTS per semester) and is offered to a small number of students (30 maximum per level) selected on the basis of applications in order to allow a high rate of supervision and continuous assessment. The application for admission to L2 PCAV is made via the e-Candidat software platform of the Faculty of Sciences(https://sciences.edu.umontpellier.fr/venir-etudier-a-la-faculte-des-sciences/). The quality of the school and academic record, and the maturity of the training project and/or professional project described in a detailed letter of motivation, are important selection criteria.
The teaching offer of the PCAV course is spread over the first 4 semesters of the license (L1 and L2). It includes disciplinary teaching units, in particular in Life Sciences, but also in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, as well as cross-disciplinary teaching in methodology and languages. This foundation is completed by specific modules for reinforcement in chemistry and preparation for the oral exams of the B competition.
The PCAV program is designed to prepare students to enter national agronomy schools and veterinary schools, but other studies are possible thanks to the validation of the 120 ECTS of the program, in particular, further studies in L3 in life sciences.
Regarding the specialties to be chosen in high school in preparation for further study in the PCAV program and preparation for the B BIO and B ENV competitive exams, the "Life and Earth Sciences" or "Biology-Ecology" specialty is strongly recommended. Reinforced teaching in mathematics and physics-chemistry will also be favorable.
Objectives
The course "Prépa Concours Agro Véto" is a specific training course offered during the first two years of the Life Sciences degree course and having for objectives :
- The acquisition of knowledge and skills in Life Sciences(L2 level) on any organism (animals, plants, fungi or bacteria) and at various scales (from molecules to cells, to the physiology of organisms and the biology of populations up to the scales of communities, ecosystems, biomes)
- The acquisition of transversal scientific knowledge and skills in chemistry, mathematics, and physical sciences that are important for the continuation of a scientific curriculum and the exercise of a profession related to
- Preparation for the written and oral exams of the national agronomic and veterinary schools(B BIO and B ENV exams, organized by these schools).
Know-how and skills
The skills that will be acquired by following this course are:
- Consolidate a thorough knowledge of biological processes at different scales, the basis of an L2 level; master the key concepts
- To enrich this knowledge with an opening towards the applications of this knowledge, biotechnologies, the problems of climate change and erosion of biodiversity, the relations between science and society...
- Master the key concepts and methods of chemistry, mathematics, physics, allowing a multidisciplinary approach to life sciences
- Manipulate this knowledge to scientifically analyze specific experimental results, interpret them critically and discuss them in retrospect
- Understand and apply the process of scientific analysis and experimentation, particularly in the context of diagnosing a problem, proposing an intervention, implementing it and evaluating its effects (a process common to agricultural engineers and veterinarians)
- Communicate the synthesis of this work in writing and orally in a clear and rigorous manner
- Carry out this work in an organized manner and independently, individually or in groups
Organization
Program
The PCAV course is organized over the 4 semesters of L1 and L2 of the "Life Sciences" license.
Its training offer includes:
- cross-disciplinary teaching modules, common to certain other Life Sciences degree courses, in particular concerning biology (from molecules to ecosystems), support courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, languages (English) and methodological courses.
- specific teaching units, specific to this course: reinforced biology, reinforced chemistry and preparation for the written chemistry test of the B ENV competitive examination (in L1 and L2 PCAV, for all students in the course), preparation for the "Sciences and Society" oral test (L2 PCAV), preparation for the "Interview with the jury" oral test (L2 PCAV) (these oral tests being common to the B BIO and B ENV competitive examinations).
The list of teaching units is available on the Faculty of Science website
Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
4 creditsBasics of plant physiology
Description of variability 1
2 creditsMicrobiology 1
4 creditsBasics of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Biochemistry S3
4 creditsEnglish S3
2 creditsFluid biophysics
3 creditsChemistry Agro Vet
3 creditsCHOICES1
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 4
Food-Nutrition-Health
3 creditsBiotechnologies and the challenge of sustainable agronomy
3 creditsChemistry of the living
3 creditsAnimal behavior - Ethology
3 credits
BioInfo
2 creditsCellular and Molecular Biology 3
4 creditsInterview preparation for competitive exams
3 creditsOral preparation Sciences and Societies
3 creditsIntroduction to evolution
2 creditsPhysiology of major functions
4 creditsPersonal and Professional Project
2 creditsEnglish S4
2 creditsMetabolic biochemistry
Chemistry written test training
4 creditsGenetics 1
Admission
Conditions of access
Students who have validated the L1 of the PCAV course are expected to continue in L2 PCAV (except in special, exceptional individual circumstances).
How to register
The composition of the application file to be submitted is published during the appropriate period on the e-Candidate page of the Faculty of Science and on the website of the course(https://prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/). The selection will be based on the quality of the school and academic record, and on the maturity of the training project and/or the professional project described in the letter of motivation.
Target audience
Access to the L2 course of the Prépa Concours Agro Véto is done via the eCandidat software platform of the Faculty of Sciences, and is selective. Taking into account the specificities of the course, the opportunities (number of places in the competitions) and the logistical and human means available, a selection of 30 applications will be made by the selection committee mandated
Necessary pre-requisites
- General Scientific Baccalaureate, with a specialization in "Life and Earth Sciences" at least in Première class, (or equivalent baccalaureate before the 2021 reform) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in "Life Sciences" or "Biology" (possibly obtained in equivalence of another course: BCPST preparatory class...)
or
- Technological Baccalaureate " Sciences and Technologies of Agronomy and Life " (STAV) (or equivalent baccalaureate before the reform of 2021) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in " Life Sciences " or " Biology " (possibly obtained in equivalence of another course : preparatory class BCPST...)
Recommended prerequisites
- General Scientific Baccalaureate, with specialization in "Life and Earth Sciences" in Première and Terminale classes, "Mathematics" and "Physics-Chemistry" in Première class (or equivalent baccalaureate before the 2021 reform) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in "Life Sciences" or "Biology" with courses related to the training project or professional project
And then
Further studies
The PCAV program is designed to prepare students to enter national agronomy schools and veterinary schools via the Concours B(https://www.concours-agro-veto.net/). Other courses of study are possible -sometimes on application, please contact the head of the year-:
- Continuation in L3 "Life Sciences" and obtaining the degree of licence in another course of the establishment, in particular within the department Bio-MV: consult the site of the department https://biologie-mv-fds.edu.umontpellier.fr/ or more generally the offer of formation of the University of Montpellier
- Continuation in L3 "Life Sciences" and obtaining the degree of licence in another establishment,
- admission to engineering schools based on applications or competitive examination
For more information, visit the PCAV website: https: //prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/
Bridges and reorientation
In particular, reorientations between "Life Sciences" degree courses are possible between L1 and L2.
Professional integration
The PCAV program is not a professional training program as such. However, given its nature, an important indicator is the rate of admission to Concours B for students following the course. The following results concern the Concours B organized by the Competitive Examination Service between 2015 and 2020 (end of L3):
- B-BIO: 15 to 22 PCAV students admitted per year, i.e. 80 to 100% of the PCAV students registered for the competitive examination (national average of admission is approximately 55% of those registered)
- B-ENV: 0 to 2 PCAV students admitted per year (9 students/18 in 2019), i.e. generally 5 to 15% of PCAV students registered for the competition (national average of admission about 15% of registered students)
For more information, visit the PCAV website: https: //prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/