L2 - Agro-Veto Competition Preparation

  • ECTS

    60 credits

  • Training structure

    Faculty of Science

  • Language(s) of instruction

    French

Presentation

The "Prépa Concours Agro Véto" (PCAV, https://prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/) course is a specific training program offered during the first two years(L1 and L2, 120 ECTS) of the "Life Sciences" bachelor's degree program at the Faculty of Sciences, part of the University of Montpellier. It is part of the "Biology-Mechanisms of Life" teaching department (Bio-MV, https://biologie-mv-fds.edu.umontpellier.fr/).

Its aim is to provide a solid foundation of multi-disciplinary scientific knowledge, with a focus on biology(L2 level), and to prepare students for the B competitive entrance exams to national agronomy and veterinary schools (national competitive entrance exams organized by the Service des Concours Agronomiques et Vétérinaires - https://www.concours-agro-veto.net/ and accessible from 2021 to students who have already completed or are enrolled in L2).

The PCAV pathway is a reinforced L1 and L2 pathway (30 to 34 ECTS per semester) offered to a small number of students (maximum 30 per level) selected on the basis of a portfolio to ensure a high level of supervision and continuous assessment. Applications for admission to the L2 PCAV are made via the Faculty of Science's e-Candidat software platform(https://sciences.edu.umontpellier.fr/venir-etudier-a-la-faculte-des-sciences/). The quality of the applicant's school and academic record, and the maturity of the training and/or professional project(s) described in a detailed letter of motivation, are important selection criteria.

The PCAV curriculum is spread over the first 4 semesters of the degree (L1 and L2). It includes disciplinary teaching units, particularly in Life Sciences, but also in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, as well as cross-disciplinary teaching in methodology and languages. This core curriculum is rounded out by specific modules to reinforce chemistry and prepare for the oral exams of the B competitive entrance examination.

The PCAV pathway is designed to prepare students to enter national agronomy schools and veterinary schools, but the 120 ECTS required to complete the program will enable students to pursue other studies, in particular L3 in life sciences.

With regard to the specialties to be chosen at high school in preparation for further study in the PCAV pathway and preparation for the B BIO and B ENV competitive entrance exams, the "Life and Earth Sciences" or "Biology-Ecology" specialty is strongly recommended. Enhanced courses in mathematics and physics-chemistry will also be favorable.

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Objectives

The Prépa Concours Agro Véto course is a specific training programme offered during the first two years of the Life Sciences degree course:

  • The acquisition of disciplinary knowledge and skills in Life Sciences(L2 level) on all organisms (animals, plants, fungi or bacteria) and at various scales (from molecules to cells, to the physiology of organisms and the biology of populations, right up to the scales of communities, ecosystems and biomes).
  • Acquire cross-disciplinary scientific knowledge and skills in chemistry, mathematics and the physical sciences, which are important for further scientific studies and careers in related fields.
  • Preparation for the written and oral exams for entry to the national agronomy and veterinary schools(B BIO and B ENV exams, organized by these schools).
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Know-how and skills

The skills that will be acquired by following this course are :

  • Consolidate in-depth knowledge of biological processes at different scales, the basis for an L2 level; master key concepts
  • Enrich this knowledge with an openness to the applications of this knowledge, biotechnologies, the problems of climate change and the erosion of biodiversity, the relationship between science and society...
  • Master key concepts and methods in chemistry, mathematics and physics, enabling a multidisciplinary approach to life sciences.
  • Manipulate this knowledge to analyze specific experimental results scientifically, 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).
  • Transmit the synthesis of this work in writing and orally in a clear and rigorous manner
  • Carry out this work in an organized and autonomous manner, individually or in groups
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Organization

Program

The PCAV pathway is organized over the 4 semesters of L1 and L2 of the "Life Sciences" bachelor's degree.

Its training offer includes :

  • cross-disciplinary teaching modules, common to certain other Life Sciences degree courses, in particular concerning biology (from molecules to ecosystems), supporting courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, languages (English) and methodology.
  • specific teaching units, specific to this pathway: 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 pathway), preparation for the "Sciences and Society" oral test (L2 PCAV), preparation for the "Interview with the jury" oral test (L2 PCAV) (these oral tests are common to the B BIO and B ENV competitive examinations).

The list of Teaching Units can be consulted on the website of the Faculty of Science

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  • Cellular and Molecular Biology 2

    4 credits
  • Basics of plant physiology

  • Description of variability 1

    2 credits
  • Microbiology 1

    4 credits
  • Fundamentals of Animal Physiology and Immunology

  • Biochemistry S3

    4 credits
  • English S3

    2 credits
  • Fluid biophysics

    3 credits
  • Chemistry Agro Vet

    3 credits
  • CHOIX1

    3 credits
    • Your choice: 1 of 4

      • Food-Nutrition-Health

        3 credits
      • Biotechnologies and the challenge of sustainable agronomy

        3 credits
      • Life chemistry

        3 credits
      • Animal behavior - Ethology

        3 credits
  • BioInfo

    2 credits
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology 3

    4 credits
  • Interview preparation

    3 credits
  • Sciences et Sociétés oral preparation

    3 credits
  • Introduction to evolution

    2 credits
  • Physiology of major functions

    4 credits
  • Personal and Professional Project

    2 credits
  • English S4

    2 credits
  • Metabolic biochemistry

  • Chemistry written test practice

    4 credits
  • Genetics 1

Admission

Access conditions

Students who have completed L1 of the PCAV course are eligible to continue in L2 PCAV (except in exceptional individual circumstances).

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How to register

The composition of the application file to be submitted is published during the appropriate period on the Faculty of Science's e-Candidate page and on the course website(https://prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/). Selection will be based on the quality of the school and academic record, and on the maturity of the training and/or professional project described in the cover letter.

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Target audience

Access to L2 of the Prépa Concours Agro Véto course is via the Faculty of Science's eCandidat software platform, and is selective. In view of the specific features of the course, the opportunities available (number of places in competitive entrance exams) and the logistical and human resources available, a selection of 30 applications will be made by the selection committee appointed by the Faculty of Science.

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Necessary prerequisites

  • General Scientific Baccalaureate, with specialization in "Life and Earth Sciences" at least in Première class, (or equivalent baccalaureate before 2021 reform) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in "Life Sciences" or "Biology" (possibly obtained in equivalence with another course: BCPST preparatory class, etc.).

or

  • Baccalauréat Technologique " Sciences et Technologies de l'Agronomie et du Vivant " (STAV) (or equivalent baccalauréat before the 2021 reform) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in "Sciences de la Vie" or "Biologie" (possibly obtained in equivalence with another course: BCPST preparatory class, etc.).
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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 2021 reform) AND L1 level (60 ECTS) in "Life Sciences" or "Biology" with courses related to training or professional project.
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And then

Further studies

The PCAV course is designed to prepare students for entry to national agronomy schools and veterinary schools via the Concours B route(https://www.concours-agro-veto.net/). Other courses of study are also possible - sometimes subject to application, please contact the year coordinators for further information:

  • continue on to L3 "Life Sciences" and obtain a bachelor's degree in another of the school's courses, in particular within the Bio-MV department: consult the department's website https://biologie-mv-fds.edu.umontpellier.fr/ or, more generally, the Université de Montpellier's range of courses.
  • continue in L3 "Life Sciences" and obtain a bachelor's degree from another establishment,
  • admission to engineering schools by application or competitive examination

For more information, visit the PCAV website: https: //prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/

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Bridges and reorientation

In particular, it is possible to transfer from one "Life Sciences" degree course to another between L1 and L2.

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Professional integration

The PCAV program is not a professional training program as such. However, given its nature, an important indicator is the admission rate to Concours B for students following the course. The following results concern the Concours B examinations organized by the Competitive Examinations Department between 2015 and 2020 (examinations at the end of L3):

  • B-BIO: 15 to 22 PCAV students admitted per year, i.e. 80 to 100% of PCAV students registered for the competitive entrance exam (national average of around 55% of registrants).
  • 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 admission average around 15% of registrants).

For more information, visit the PCAV website: https: //prepa-agroveto.edu.umontpellier.fr/

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