ECTS
120 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
The Master's degree in Water and Agriculture is part of the Master's degree in Water Sciences (website: https: //www.master-eau.fr/eau-et-agriculture).
It offers multi-disciplinary scientific training dedicated to water management issues related to agricultural activities in both North and South. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world's freshwater withdrawals. Agricultural pollution, mainly non-point source pollution, is responsible for long-term degradation of water quality. The challenges associated with agriculture are therefore multiple, both for the environment and for uses: quantitative, qualitative, multi-actor and multi-scale.
In the context of global change - notably climate change, erosion of biodiversity, growing food needs - the implementation of practices that are more respectful of the environment (water, soil, biodiversity...), the search for non-conventional resources through the reuse of treated wastewater, for example, and the adaptation of cropping systems are all possible courses of action.
They require high-level management training in these issues, with a mastery of processes, tools and methods specific to agro-hydrosystems.
Objectives
The main objective is to train managers of water resources and/or agro-hydrosystems, based on a scientific foundation in water sciences and agronomy, and a mastery of specific or multi-disciplinary tools and methods.
Know-how and skills
Interdisciplinary skills: integrative vision of water management issues from local to global scales
Disciplinary skills :
- Define and analyze complex agro-hydrosystems using modeling, experimental, participatory, analytical and geomatic scientific methods.
- Define the contours of a question on a given issue, on a scientific front, in the fields of water-soil-plant, water-agriculture, agri-environment; design appropriate approaches or solutions.
- Mobilize the academic knowledge required for project exchange.
Cross-disciplinary technical skills
- Use information and communication technologies and data analysis methods
- Develop skills in documentary and investigative research, and in interpreting documents by combining oral, graphic and written expression.
Cross-functional organizational skills
- Work independently: prioritize, manage time, self-evaluate, develop a project
- Implement a project: define objectives and context, carry out and evaluate the action.
- Define a problem; construct and develop an argument, an approach; draw up a synthesis.
Interpersonal and language skills :
Language skills
- Communicate orally and in writing in French and English.
Interpersonal skills
- Leading a team of technicians or managers
- Teamwork: integration, positioning, cooperation
- Integrating into a professional environment: identifying and communicating skills, situating a company or organization in its socio-economic context, identifying resource people and the various functions of an organization, situating oneself in a hierarchical and functional environment, respecting procedures.
International training
Double degrees, joint degrees, Erasmus MundusInternational dimension
Hosting Erasmus students (partnership agreements with UM, Institut Agro, AgroParisTech)
Double degree with the University of Barcelona
Organization
Knowledge control
Continuous assessment with a variety of methods depending on the teaching unit (orals, study reports, quizzes, proctored exams, work reports, scientific articles).
Open on a sandwich basis
The work-study program is organized in 3- to 5-week blocks (training establishment/employer structure). In M1, full presence within the structure from mid-April to the end of August. In M2, full presence at the company from end-February to end-August.
Internships, tutored projects
Internship | Mandatory |
---|---|
Length of internship | 8 |
Internship abroad | Possible |
M1 internship: 2 months in a company, public institution or laboratory, in France or abroad.
M2 scientific project (6 weeks): personalized project, individually or in groups, with pedagogical support from a teacher or researcher, leading to the writing of a review article. For work-study students, this project is adapted to the tasks expected by the host organization.
M2 internship: 6 months in a company, public institution or laboratory, in France or abroad.
Program
M1 welcomes up to 15 students.
M1 courses are either common to other Water master's courses, or specific to the Water and Agriculture course.
In M2, the majority of teaching is specific to the course, with a few modules at the interface with other courses. Students from engineering programs (including those run by the French Ministry of Agriculture, via AgroParisTech and L'institut Agro) and from other Master's programs join the class.
The teaching units are led by recognized specialists in the topics covered. Lecturers and researchers from partner organizations (INRAE, IRD, CIRAD) make a major contribution to teaching, which also benefits from the input of numerous professionals (design offices, development companies, ASAs, international organizations, etc.).
All courses are taught on the Montpellier campuses (University, Montpellier Supagro, AgroParisTech - Lavalette site), with the addition of a one-week field placement (Salon-de-Provence) at the start of M2, occasional field trips and participation in scientific or professional events.
Select a program
M1 - Water and Agriculture (EA)
M1 - Water and Agriculture (EA) - APPRENTISSAGE
CHOICE 2
2 creditsProject management 1
2 creditsWater and agriculture: scientific issues and challenges
3 creditsCHOICE 1
9 creditsChoice of 3 out of 7
Bibliographic project
3 creditsSoil hydrodynamics
3 creditsFree surface hydraulics
3 creditsThematic English 1
2 creditsEau et production végétale - Water and crop production
3 credits
M2 - Water and Agriculture (EA)
CHOICE 1
6 creditsChoice of 2 out of 5
Numerical modeling methods
2 creditsMass & heat transport - Geothermy / Transport modeling
3 creditsProject management-2
3 creditsIrrigation and development
3 creditsScientific writing
3 credits
Evaporation, from the plot to the agricultural watershed
3 creditsHydraulic transfer processes and simulation
3 creditsReUSE, irrigation and water quality
2 creditsGeoprospective, Water and Landscape
3 creditsHydrological modeling of cultivated basins
3 creditsScientific Project 1
2 creditsBiogeochemistry of pollutant transfer in cultivated environments
3 creditsOperation and management of irrigated systems
3 creditsUE M2 field placement: elementary management processes
3 credits
CHOICE 22 ECTS
22 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
M2 Internship - EA
22 creditsM2 Research Internship - EA
20 creditsM2 Research Internship - EA
22 credits
UE CHOICE 5 ECTS
5 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
CHOICE 5 ECTS
5 creditsCHOICE 4-2-1
3 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Preparation M2R - EA
3 creditsWater and climate change
3 creditsPreparation M2R - EA
3 credits
CHOICE 4-2-2
2 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Events project / Call for tender
2 creditsWater and Development
2 creditsWater and the South
2 credits
International Field Schools - North & South
5 credits
Scientific Project 2
3 credits
M2 - Water and Agriculture (EA) APPRENTISSAGE
CHOICE 1
6 creditsChoice of 2 out of 5
Numerical modeling methods
2 creditsMass & heat transport - Geothermy / Transport modeling
3 creditsProject management-2
3 creditsIrrigation and development
3 creditsScientific writing
3 credits
Evaporation, from the plot to the agricultural watershed
3 creditsHydraulic transfer processes and simulation
3 creditsReUSE, irrigation and water quality
2 creditsGeoprospective, Water and Landscape
3 creditsHydrological modeling of cultivated basins
3 creditsScientific Project 1
2 creditsBiogeochemistry of pollutant transfer in cultivated environments
3 creditsOperation and management of irrigated systems
3 creditsUE M2 field placement: elementary management processes
3 credits
UE CHOICE 5 ECTS
5 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
CHOICE 5 ECTS
5 creditsCHOICE 4-2-1
3 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Preparation M2R - EA
3 creditsWater and climate change
3 creditsPreparation M2R - EA
3 credits
CHOICE 4-2-2
2 creditsChoice: 1 of 3
Events project / Call for tender
2 creditsWater and Development
2 creditsWater and the South
2 credits
International Field Schools - North & South
5 credits
Scientific Project 2
3 creditsM2 Apprenticeship - EA
22 credits
Admission
Access conditions
Hold a validated L3 level (entry to M1) or M1/2ᵉ year engineering school (entry to M2).
Evaluation of applications based on motivation and previous experience. Academic results assessed in the core areas of the course.
How to register
Main registration in one of the 3 co-accredited institutions. Free administrative registration in the other partner establishments.
Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:
French & European students :
- For M1, follow the "My Master" procedure on the website: https: //www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For M2, students must submit their application via the e-candidat application: https: //candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
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
Holders of a bachelor's degree in one of the following scientific fields: Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering Sciences, etc. Returning students are also given careful consideration. A strong interest in agronomy or agricultural development is essential.
Tuition fees
standard
Capacity
15 in M1
21 in M2
Necessary prerequisites
Scientific culture at undergraduate level.
Cross-disciplinary skills (writing, office automation)
And then
Further studies
Possibility of pursuing a doctorate.
Studying abroad
mobility opportunities (double degree with the University of Barcelona), Erasmus+, doctorate abroad
Professional integration
This course has a national and international outlook and is aimed at professions such as :
- Managers responsible for designing, operating, advising and promoting :
- quantitative water management (irrigated perimeters, rain-fed agrosystems, resource exploitation and development);
- water quality management for environments and resource basins;
- integrated water resource management (agencies/basin associations, local authorities)
- Careers in innovation, research and expertise (international organizations) after doctoral studies (CIFRE contract, doctoral contract)