ECTS
60 credits
Duration
1 year
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The Plant Biology for Agro-Environment (BiPAgro) track within the Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences (L-SV) 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 enables students to acquire fundamental knowledge of model organisms and species of agronomic interest in order 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 the plant biology research community in Montpellier, enabling a pedagogical approach that integrates learning through research. Training through basic or applied research is provided via a mandatory long-term internship at the end of the third year—a rarity in a bachelor’s program—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.
Program available through Accès Santé (L.AS).
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 graduate studies in Plant Sciences at the master’s level (and eventually a Ph.D. in this field) or in 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.
CHOICE 1
3 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
Plant Development
7 creditsCommunication Skills and Scientific English
4 creditsEnglish S5
2 creditsMolecular Biology
5 creditsBiotechnology S5
4 creditsFunctional Genetics
5 credits
Fundamentals of Agroecology
3 creditsAutotrophy
8 creditsGreen Internship
Plant Genetic Engineering
6 creditsProject or Internship
3 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
Student who has completed the second year of a bachelor's degree (L2) or its equivalent
Applications must be submitted through the e-candidat portal 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.
International students from outside the EU: Follow the “Études en France” procedure: https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Target Audience
Students may apply from any L2 SV program in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier that includes the “Fundamentals of Plant Physiology” course unit in Semester 3, or from an L2 SV program that includes coursework in molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, and physiology, including at least one course unit in Plant Physiology or equivalent training at the higher education level: BCPST preparatory school, DUT in General Biology with an agronomy track or IAB, or BTS in agronomy/crop production (however, students holding a BTS are advised to apply at the L2 level rather than the L3 level).
Mandatory Prerequisites
To be eligible for admission to the L3 SV-BiPAgro program: students must have earned 120 ECTS credits at the L2 SV level with coursework in molecular and cellular biology and plant physiology or agronomy
Recommended Prerequisites
For admission to the L3 SV-BiPAgro program: Microbiology, Genetics
And then
Continuing Education
The L SV-BiPAgro track provides preferential access to the four Master’s programs in Plant Sciences offered by the Biology-Agrosciences track: BiPA, IPM, BAPT, and MEV (details on the University of Montpellier’s Faculty of Sciences website: https://biologie-mv-fds.edu.umontpellier.fr/) or to enroll in various Master’s programs in Biology at major universities, thereby paving the way toward a Ph.D. Continuing on to certain agricultural schools (through parallel admissions based on application materials and/or interviews) is also a possibility. This track therefore offers various pathways to executive training programs that prepare students to design and implement scientific projects.
This program also prepares students to take civil service exams or apply for technician positions in public and private laboratories specializing in plant research, a sector that is currently experiencing rapid growth.
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.