ECTS
60 credits
Duration
1 year
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Language(s) of Instruction
French
Overview
The second year of the IMHE Master’s program builds on the fundamental and applied knowledge and related skills introduced in the first year. Students interact with numerous researchers who come to present their research on topics such as the molecular mechanisms of interactions between microorganisms and hosts (using a wide variety of models), the role of microorganisms in ecosystems, and their utilization.
The program is designed to teach students the scientific research process. Students work with bibliographic resources (research, comprehension, critical analysis, and synthesis of the literature) and pedagogical communication methods. During their second year of the master’s program, they complete a 6-month internship at a public or private research laboratory or in a company, culminating in the writing of a thesis and an oral defense before a panel of experts.
Several course units are dedicated to career readiness, during which students work on their professional and personal goals.
Organization
Open on an alternating basis
Contract Type | Apprenticeship Contract |
|---|
The periods during which the work-study student is on campus at the university are: S37 through S42 and S45 through S50 in Semester 1, and S1 through S10 in Semester 2. The rest of the year, the work-study student is at the company.
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Required |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | 6 |
Internship Abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | 6 |
Program
Students in Track 2 (selected based on application materials) have the opportunity to earn a dual degree by completing four additional course units worth 5 ECTS each offered by the IAE de Montpellier (two course units in the first year of the master’s program and two in the second year, for a total of 20 ECTS).
The Role of Microorganisms in Ecosystem Functioning 2
3 creditsEnglish
3 creditsCHOICE 1
6 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
CHOICE 5
6 creditsChoose 2 out of 6
Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology
Critical Analysis and Synthesis of Scientific Articles
6 creditsThe Role of Microorganisms in Ecosystem Functioning 1
3 creditsInteractions Between Microorganisms and Their Hosts
6 creditsResearch Project
3 credits
OPTION 2
30 creditsChoose one of the following two options:
CHOICE 3
30 creditsChoose 2 out of 2
Professional Networks and Projects
3 creditsM2 Lab Internship
27 credits
CHOICE 4
30 creditsChoose 2 out of 2
M2 Internship at a Company
25 creditsDevelopment and Implementation of R&D Projects
5 credits
Admission
Admission Requirements
The M2-IMHE program is open to students who have successfully completed the M1-IMHE program, but may also admit other students who have successfully completed an M1-level program that includes microbiology course units. In particular, it is designed to provide specialization in microbiology for students in medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, as well as for engineering students at schools specializing in life sciences and agronomy (such as Montpellier SupAgro) or at veterinary schools.
Registration Procedures
Applications can be submitted through the following platforms:
- French and European students: Applicants must submit their application through the e-candidat portal: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
Mandatory Prerequisites
Master's-level microbiology (equivalent to M1-IMHE), and undergraduate-level biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology.
Recommended Prerequisites
A basic level of computer skills and English is recommended.
And then
Continuing Education
Upon completion of the M2, students take the entrance exams for doctoral programs, notably GAIA, which oversees the master’s program, or may enter the corporate R&D sector; these career paths are made possible by the continuity between the two M1 tracks.
Continuing Your Education Abroad
Thanks to the network of international collaborations maintained by the Montpellier laboratories and the numerous ties between the Master’s program’s teaching teams and foreign laboratories, both M1 and M2 internships can be completed abroad (primarily in Europe and North America, but also in Asia, Africa, and Latin America). This provides students with the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. at the host laboratory where they completed their internship or to join international Ph.D. programs. This opportunity is not limited to students completing their Master’s internship abroad; it is also widely available to those completing their internships in Montpellier or at other research centers in France.
Employment Placement
The IMHE program offers students the opportunity to pursue a variety of career goals, with a high placement rate for students entering doctoral programs (40 to 50 percent, depending on the year) or securing professional opportunities in the private sector immediately upon graduation.
The careers that result from this program are:
- Faculty Member and Researcher
- Research and Development Engineer
- R&D executives in the fields of plant protection, agri-food, health, and microbial biotechnology
- Experts and Program Officers
- Teacher and Trainer
The fields of employment in microbiology are wide-ranging, covering health, agriculture, food, cosmetics, health and safety, the environment, biotechnology, and more...
Specific courses provide students with the foundational knowledge and essential tools they need to enter the workforce.