• Target level of study

    Master's degree

  • ECTS

    120 credits

  • Duration

    2 years

  • Training structure

    Faculty of Science, Faculty of Pharmacy

Presentation

The Master's degree in Chemistry is offered by the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier. Our program strives to respond as effectively as possible to major societal challenges and industry expectations in key sectors related to chemistry, while taking into account their future development.

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  • 93%

    Success rate

The advantages of the training program

LMD4 accreditation, 2015-2019:

  • Stable enrollment: an average of 264 students per year
  • Attractiveness: 43% of students are recruited from outside UM
  • Employment rate: 86% within 6 months of graduation
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Objectives

The Master's degree in Chemistry offers a multidisciplinary program that allows future graduates to acquire specific skills and knowledge in modern chemistry in order to enter the business world as executives or to pursue a career in research through a doctoral program.

Our program is structured around seven M1 and M2 tracks, namely:

  • Biomolecular chemistry
  • Theoretical chemistry and modeling
  • Cosmetics engineering
  • Flavor and fragrance engineering
  • Materials chemistry
  • Separative chemistry, materials, and processes
  • Materials science

Our training program is based on the nationally and internationally recognized scientific excellence of the research teams at the four research institutes of the Balard Chemistry Cluster (Max Mousseron Biomolecules Institute IBMM; Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute ICGM; European Membrane Institute IEM; Marcoule Separative Chemistry Institute ICSM).

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Know-how and skills

The master's program aims to provide skills in the latest developments in the design, synthesis, formulation, and advanced characterization of organic and inorganic materials, biomolecules, flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics. Our training program also ensures an understanding of the phenomena that underlie their activity in targeted applications.

To offer our students the opportunity to specialize in a specific field of chemistry in line with local, national, or international chemical activity, we offer a range of specializations allowing them to focus on the following sectors:

  • Health
  • Sustainable development and the environment
  • Separative and nuclear chemistry
  • Biomolecular chemistry and life sciences chemistry
  • Cosmetics, Flavors, and Fragrances Engineering
  • Analytical chemistry and product and process control
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Organization

Open alternately

The ICAP Cosmetics and ICAP Flavors and Fragrances programs offer work-study training starting in the first year of the master's degree.

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Internships, supervised projects

Internship

Mandatory

Internship abroad

Possible

Each of the Master's degree programs in Chemistry offers training supported by internships and/or supervised projects in M1 and M2. More details are provided in the associated program descriptions.

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Program

The Master's degree in Chemistry is structured around seven M1 and M2 courses.

Biomolecular Chemistry. This program offers multidisciplinary training in organic chemistry focused on the life sciences. The curriculum focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and study of the biological properties of essential biomolecules such as nucleosides, oligonucleotides, saccharides, peptides, proteins, and biopolymers.

Theoretical chemistry and modeling. Theoretical chemistry and molecular modeling are playing an increasingly important role in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and materials science. This discipline of chemistry provides conceptual tools, qualitative models, and quantitative data that enable theoretical chemists to contribute to the development of innovative, tailor-made chemical systems.

Cosmetics Engineering. This program aims to train future engineers specializing in scientific fields relevant to research and development in the cosmetics and wellness industries. Admission is subject to selection. This program is also open to students pursuing a double degree in "Technology and Science Management" (MTS), with a specialization in "Information Systems Management" (MSI) from the Montpellier Institute of Business Administration (IAE, University of Montpellier).

Flavor and Fragrance Engineering. This program, which is subject to selection, is a two-year professional training course divided into four semesters, offered in partnership with industry to train chemists specializing in the flavor and fragrance sectors. The program is open to students from the first year of a master's degree onwards on a work-study basis (apprenticeship or apprenticeship contract). Students who wish to do so can apply for a double degree in "Technology and Science Management" (MTS), with a specialization in "Information Systems Management" (MSI) fromthe IAE (UM). Applications for the double degree withthe IAE are subject to selection.

Materials chemistry. This program offers training that allows students to acquire skills in the fields of materials chemistry and its interfaces for research or in industrial sectors related to sustainable development, energy, health, and the environment. The program introduces the concepts and tools used in the design and development of various types of materials, their characterization, and their applications in the aforementioned fields. The training received allows students to integrate academic research with research developed in an industrial setting.

Separative chemistry, materials, and processes. This program provides students with training in the concepts and tools used in solution chemistry, extraction and separation chemistry, development, and materials and process science, in the context of research and development activities, particularly in relation to the nuclear fuel cycle and the recycling of strategic metals.

Materials science. This materials science program is part of international partnerships between partner universities, industry, and research centers. The program awards 120 ECTS credits and courses are taught in English. It covers R&D in functional materials in the fields of energy storage and conversion, catalysis, and thin films. It gives industrial partners access to cutting-edge characterization using large-scale instruments (neutron and synchrotron radiation).

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Select a program

Materials Chemistry (MAT P1)

The "Materials Chemistry" program offers training that allows students to specialize or acquire new skills in the fields of materials chemistry and its interfaces for research or in industrial sectors related to sustainable development, energy, health, and the environment. The program introduces students to the concepts and tools used in the design and development of various types of materials, their characterization, and applications in the above-mentioned fields. The training received allows students to integrate both academic and industrial research.  

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Cosmetics Engineering (ICAP P1)

The Cosmetics Engineering program aims to train future engineers specializing in scientific fields relevant to research and development in the cosmetics and wellness industries.

Graduates join companies in France andabroad to fill management positions in the main sectors of these industries. These include roles such as R&D manager, project manager, business development manager, evaluation manager, regulatory affairs manager, purchasing manager, quality control manager, production manager, project leader, etc.

Graduates can pursue a career in entrepreneurship.

The structure of the Cosmetics Engineering program provides scientific training that allows students to continue their studies toward a doctorate.

A high-level and unique program, the Cosmetics Engineering course offers students who wish to do so a double degree in "Technology and Science Management" (MTS), which is part of the "Information Systems Management" (MSI) program at the Montpellier Institute of Business Administration (IAE) at the University of Montpellier.

The program is offered as initial training with a 5- to 6-month internship per year, but also as a work-study program. Recruitment is subject to selection.

The courses are taught by academics and professionals from the relevant industries. The program is based on strong partnerships with numerous players in the cosmetics industry for teaching, internships, and jobs, and is a member of cosmetics industry associations.



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Theoretical chemistry and modeling

Theoretical chemistry and molecular modeling play an increasingly important role in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and materials science. This discipline of chemistry provides conceptual tools, qualitative models, and quantitative data that enable theoretical chemists to contribute to the development of innovative, tailor-made chemical systems.

See the full page for this route

Biomolecular Chemistry (BM)

The program offers multidisciplinary training in organic chemistry focused on life sciences. Teaching centers on the synthesis, characterization, and study of the biological properties of essential biomolecules (nucleosides, oligonucleotides, saccharides, peptides, proteins, biopolymers, etc.).

 

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Materials science exploiting large-scale facilities – MaMaSELF (MAT P3)

The development of new technologies and materials plays a key role in contributing to the technological and scientific competitiveness of highly industrialized countries around the world. This implies new and additional requirements for scientists and engineers in these fields. This two-year Master's degree in Materials Science is part of international partnerships developed with a strong symbiosis between partner universities, industries, and research centers. This program awards 120 ECTS credits. It covers R&D in functional materials in the fields of energy storage and conversion, catalysis, thin films, etc. It offers excellent academic or industrial career opportunities for Master's students in an international environment, with all courses taught in English. It strongly promotes industrial partnerships to access cutting-edge materials characterization backed by large instruments such as neutron and synchrotron radiation.

The development of new technologies and new materials plays an important key role contributing to the technological and scientific competitiveness of highly industrialized countries worldwide. This implies new and additional exigencies for scientists and scientific engineers in the field of scientific and industrial competitiveness. This two-year Master's course in Materials Science is implemented in an international partnership with a teaching program delivering 120 ECTS units. It stands for the R&D of functional materials in the field of energy storage and transformation, catalysis, electro- and photocatalysis, thin films, etc., developed in a strong symbiosis between partner universities, industry, and research centers. It offers excellent scientific and industrial career opportunities for Master's students in an international environment, with all lectures given in English. It strongly supports industrial partners in gaining access to state-of-the-art characterization of materials at large-scale facilities using neutron and synchrotron radiation.

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Flavors and Fragrances (ICAP P2)

TheICAP Flavors and FragrancesMaster's degree is a two-year professional program, divided into four semesters, offered in partnership with industry, to train chemists in the flavors and fragrances sector, which has strong recruitment potential.

The program is open to students in their first year of master's studies on a work-study basis (apprenticeship or professional training contract). Students who wish to do so can apply for a double degree in "Technology and Science Management (MTS)" as part of the "Information Systems Management (MSI)" program at the IAE "Institut d'Administration des Entreprises de Montpellier" at the University of Montpellier. Applications for the dual degree with the IAE are subject to selection.

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Separative chemistry, materials, and processes (MAT P2)

This program provides training that introduces students to the concepts and tools used in solution chemistry, extraction and separation chemistry, development, and materials and process science, in the context of research and development activities, particularly in relation to the nuclear fuel cycle and the recycling of strategic metals.

See the full page for this route

IDIL - Chemistry for healthcare, protection, and nutrition applications

The Inter Disciplinary - In Lab' project is the graduate program of the University of Montpellier. Funded by the Investment for the Future Program 3, it responds to the call for projects "Structuring Training through Research in Excellence Initiatives" (SFRI).

The Master's in Chemistry for Healthcare, Protection, and Nutrition Applications program focuses on the essentials that guarantee the very existence of humanity, and goes even further by organizing the crucial aspects of a healthy, sustainable life in harmony with the environment. Chemistry is at the heart of the vital concepts of sustaining, protecting, and nourishing human beings. This program offers you the opportunity to respond to these challenges with a multidisciplinary education in chemistry, enriched by biology and pharmaceutical sciences on the one hand, and chemical engineering and materials science on the other.

Examples of teaching units:

- Prodrugs and bioprecursors

- Nanotechnologies and multifunctional targeting

- Chemobiology

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Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Development MESD

The Master's Degree in Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Development (MESD) offers an advanced training program related to membrane science and engineering at the interface between materials science and chemical engineering, focusing on specific application areas: Energy, Food, Bio and Health, and Water.

See the full page for this route

Admission

Admission requirements

Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:

French and European students: follow the "Mon Master" procedure on the website:https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/

French and European students: follow the "eCandidat" procedure on the website: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature/

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Target audience

Access M1: L3 major in Chemistry, with specific variations depending on the program; more details on the target audiences are provided in the associated program descriptions. Recruitment is selective and open nationally and internationally (via "études en France," Campus France).

Admission to M2 – based on application: M1 with a major in chemistry, physical chemistry, physical and chemical sciences, process engineering, pharmacy, etc., depending on the program; more details on the target audience are provided in the associated program descriptions.

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Capacity

160 in M1

160 in square meters

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Mandatory prerequisites

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Chemistry/Biology, Physical and Chemical Sciences, Process Engineering, and other equivalent degrees.

More details on prerequisites are provided in the associated course descriptions.

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Recommended prerequisites

 

Where applicable, details of the recommended prerequisites are provided on the associated course sheets.

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And after

Continuing education

  • Doctoral dissertation
  • Master's degree for acquiring dual skills
  • IAE
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Continuing studies abroad

  • Doctoral dissertation
  • Master's degree for acquiring dual skills
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Gateways and reorientation

Where applicable, details on transfer pathways and reorientations are provided on the associated course sheets.

 

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Professional integration

To give students the opportunity to specialize in a specific field of chemistry in line with their career plans, various specializations are offered, allowing them to focus on the following sectors:

  • Health
  • Sustainable development and the environment
  • Separative and nuclear chemistry
  • Biomolecular chemistry and life sciences chemistry
  • Cosmetics, Flavors, and Fragrances Engineering
  • Analytical chemistry and product and process control

The Master's degree in Chemistry therefore provides access to careers as a scientific executive in research, research and development, production or quality control, technical sales executive, etc.

For example, students trained in the various Master's Chemistry programs will be able to access positions such as:

- Chemical engineer, materials chemist, or process chemist responsible for production, analysis, quality control, or project management;

- R&D engineer in a design office or in the chemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, recycling, environmental, medical device, or contrast agent industries;

- Product application specialist, process engineering design manager, manufacturing manager, chemical analysis manager, analytical platform manager, process engineering specialist, industrial risk specialist;

- Researcher/R&D or research engineer (after completing a PhD, which this program prepares students for): conducting scientific studies and implementing technological projects.

Pursuing doctoral studies is possible for those aiming for careers as university professors, researchers, research engineers, etc.

 

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