ECTS
180 credits
Duration
3 years
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The CPES is a selective 3-year program leading to a Bachelor's degree, co-organized by a university and a high school. The program is multi-disciplinary and of a very high scientific level, with an introduction to research in the first year.
The "Modeling and Numerics in the Life Sciences" pathway aims to train life science specialists with complementary skills in numerical methods (mathematics and computer science) to tackle the challenges of science in the era of massive data and complex systems.
The advantages of the training
- High-level, multi-disciplinary scientific training closely linked to research
- Supervision by teachers from preparatory classes and university lecturers
- The vast majority of courses are taught in small classes during the first two years
- Numerous project-based courses designed to develop autonomy and critical thinking; research-related projects or internships from the first year onwards.
Objectives
At the end of the three-year training program, students continue on to a Master's degree with a sought-after dual skill set. The aim of the program is to provide them with the skills they need to aim for a career in public research or corporate R&D departments, after completing the Master's degree or a doctoral thesis.
Know-how and skills
The CPES provides students with a complete undergraduate education in biology. This is complemented by training in mathematics and computer science, focusing on the modeling of natural phenomena, digital simulation, the analysis of large datasets, artificial intelligence and the programming of computer tools.
Organization
Alternation methods
The CPES is not available as a sandwich course.
Program
The CPES is the result of a partnership between the University of Montpellier (Faculty of Science) and the Lycée Joffre (preparatory class teachers). During the first two years, students are supervised by teachers from the preparatory classes and teacher-researchers from the university, and share their time between the two establishments (80% at the lycée and 20% at the university in the first year, 50% on each side in the second year). In the third year, students join an existing Bachelor's degree at the Faculty of Science, while retaining a specific pathway enabling them to develop their complementary skills in mathematics and computer science.
Cross-disciplinary courses in foreign languages (English) and general culture, as well as an introduction to the major economic and geopolitical issues of the contemporary world (in the first year), are also offered.
Each year, a research discovery project or internship takes place at the end of the academic year. These courses enable students to discover the issues involved in research careers, to take part in existing research projects and to apply the numerical and modeling methods taught throughout the course. In addition, part of the teaching is carried out through project-based learning, involving independent or group work.
Select a program
Licence 1 CPES Modeling and Numerics in Life Sciences
Chemistry S1 (Joffre)
3 creditsMathematics S1 (Joffre)
5 creditsModern Language S1 (Joffre)
2 creditsFrom cells to organisms
4 creditsContemporary World Issues S1 (Joffre)
2 creditsComputer Science S1 (Joffre)
4 creditsDeepening CPES Computer Science S1
2 creditsDeepening CPES Mathematics S1
2 creditsBiology S1 (Joffre)
4 creditsGeneral Culture S1 (Joffre)
2 credits
Deepening CPES Mathematics S2
2 creditsExploration of the brain
4 creditsContemporary World Issues S2 (Joffre)
1 creditsMathematics S2 (Joffre)
5 creditsProject CPES Sc vie S2
2 creditsComputer Science S2 (Joffre)
4 creditsBiology S2 (Joffre)
6 creditsDeepening CPES Computer Science S2
2 creditsGeneral Culture S2 (Joffre)
2 creditsModern Language S2 (Joffre)
2 credits
Licence 2 CPES Modeling and Numerics in Life Sciences
Mathematics S3 (Joffre)
2 creditsBasics of plant physiology
Complements to general mathematics CPES S3
2 creditsAdvanced CPES Mathematics S3
2 creditsBasic ecology: concepts and methods
4 creditsComputing S3 (Joffre)
2 creditsCPES Computer Science S3
2 creditsBasics of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Biochemistry and microbiology TD TP CPES S3
2 creditsEnglish CPES S3
1 creditsBiology S3 (Joffre)
6 creditsGeneral Culture S3 (Joffre)
1 credits
Biology S4 (Joffre)
6 creditsGeneral Culture S4 (Joffre)
1 creditsCPES Computer Science S4
2 creditsPhysiology of major functions CPES
2 creditsMathematics S4 (Joffre)
2 creditsChoice CPES SV S4
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
Advanced CPES Mathematics S4
2 creditsIntroduction to evolution
2 creditsIT S4 (Joffre)
2 creditsEnglish CPES S4
1 creditsMetabolic biochemistry
Genetics 1
CPES Sc vie S4 project
2 credits
Admission
Conditions of access
For entry to the first year of the program:
- Baccalauréat diploma or equivalent
- Minimum level of French B2
- For baccalaureate holders or future baccalaureate holders from France, the European Union, the European Economic Area (E.E.E.), the Swiss Confederation, Monaco or Andorra: application via the Parcoursup platform
- For applicants of foreign nationality, who are not preparing a French or European baccalaureate and who are not citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area (E.E.E.), the Swiss Confederation, Monaco or Andorra and residing in one of the countries with a Campus France area: apply via the Campus France website in your country of residence.
- For other applicants who do not meet the criteria described in the previous two points: apply via Parcoursup.
Applications from external students for entry to L2 or L3 CPES are made via the e-candidat platform.
How to register
First-year enrolments are accepted via the Parcoursup procedure or Campus France's Etudes en France platform, depending on the target group. External students must be accepted for L2 or L3 via the e-candidat procedure.
Target audience
The program is aimed at motivated high-school graduates with an interest in the application of mathematics and computer science to the experimental sciences, and who are ready to invest in a training program that is close to research and original. The program seeks a wide range of profiles, and pays particular attention to social and geographic diversity, especially for scholarship holders.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees include a contribution to student and campus life (CVEC) and registration fees, at the same level as those charged for a Bachelor's degree at a public university. French higher education grant holders are exempt from the registration fee.
Necessary pre-requisites
The CPES is aimed at baccalaureate holders with a scientific background from secondary school. Specialization in mathematics and life sciences (SVT or biology-ecology) is strongly recommended. However, it is not necessary to have taken computer science courses.
And then
Further studies
The aim of the CPES is to enable students to pursue a research-oriented Master's degree (which can then be followed by a doctoral thesis), with a multi-disciplinary component.
Within the University of Montpellier, CPES graduates can naturally turn to multi-disciplinary Masters programs or those with a strong digital component, such as the Biology-Health, Biology-Ecology-Environment, Eco-Epidemiology, Environmental Management, Bioinformatics, etc. (non-exhaustive list). Many other Masters programs outside Montpellier or abroad are looking for multi-disciplinary profiles like those of CPES graduates.
Bridges and reorientation
It is always possible to join the Life Sciences Bachelor's degree during the course (end of first semester of L1, end of L1, end of L2).
Professional integration
As an undergraduate course, the CPES is not designed to offer professional integration after 3 years of training, which must take place after a further two years (Master's years), i.e. at Bac +5.