Fast-Track Engineering Programme

Follow our fast-track engineering programme to gain the highly sought-after diplôme d'ingénieur (Master's level) in just two years.

Centrale Nantes trains 420 students per year within its three-year general engineering programme leading to the highly sought-after 'diplôme d'ingénieur' equivalent to a Master of Science and Engineering.

Our fast-track programme gives international students who are qualified to bachelor level the opportunity to gain the same qualification in two years.

Learn more about the engineering programme

Programme benefits

• Know how to tackle complex engineering problems and develop all-important soft skills
• Gain professional experience with 33 weeks of internship
• Earn a highly-sought after engineering qualification
• Enjoy exciting career opportunities
• Learn a new language and discover France
• Study on a green campus close to the centre of one of France's best student cities
• Join the strong alumni network

Video: Meet Viola, who came to Centrale Nantes from Uganda with a Campus France and an industry scholarship. Find out why she chose our Fast Track Engineering programme and what she plans to do next.

Video Transcript

Fast-Track Engineering Programme, with Viola Kirenda

My name is Viola Kirenda. I'm Ugandan and I'm currently enrolled at Centrale Nantes in my second year of the Fast Track engineering programme. 

Why did you choose Centrale Nantes?

Prior to coming to Centrale Nantes, I pursued a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering. After graduating with my bachelor's, I actually did four years of work in the civil engineering field. During that time, I felt like I could do more as an engineer, so I wanted to improve my technical skills. I went on the hunt to find a school abroad and I fell upon Centrale Nantes. 

What has been your experience of the Fast-Track engineering programme?

The Fast Track engineering programme is a two-year programme whose first year is actually taught in English. There are very many general engineering courses which I found interesting since, at the time, I was not very focused on a particular specialisation. The administrative process to enroll at Centrale Nantes was very understanding of my situation when I had a delay with my tuition, but even with this they did not reject my application and they actually waited for me until I could come to Centrale. I found this very interesting and very kind. I could not not come to Centrale Nantes. The first year of the Fast Track programme is equivalent to the second year of the French engineering programme. At the end of the second year, one graduates with the 'diplôme d'ingénieur', equivalent to a Master's of Engineering, that is highly sought after by French companies. Another thing I'd like to mention is that I'm in my second year of the Fast Track engineering programme and I'm taking on a specialisation in Advanced Modelling and Analysis of Structures. 

What about life on campus?

One thing that I found very interesting, on top of the different nationalities, is that Sport is scheduled on the timetable. During my bachelor's I didn't really have sports scheduled, but because this is the French culture and the French love to be active and sporty, it made sense. I really appreciate that it gives the opportunity for people who are not very active to take on this spirit. And, secondly, at Centrale I get the opportunity to improve my French. However, I also do English classes, but because I come from an anglophone background, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to learn Spanish, German or Italian. 

What are your plans for the future? 

School gets done in about a month's time and I'm excited to share that I just got confirmation for my internship that I'm going to do with a company here in France. This internship is an R&D position, which perfectly matches with my future ambitions. I'd like to work in research and development, and hopefully in about two or three years, I'll pass on to a PhD. 

Any advice for future applicants?

Do not be afraid that the school is in France and that you have to speak French. There are actually very many courses that are taught in English, as well as the first year of Fast Track engineering programme. Even if the second year is taught in French, in the first year you take French courses so, by the time you reach the second year, you will be able to follow. Secondly, the engineering programme, as it is, is a very rigorous programme so, I would say work hard and you'll be able to succeed. 

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

Diverse, rigorous and forward-thinking because they're teaching the engineers of the future. 

Course Content

Year 1

Broad-based multi-disciplinary engineering and scientific courses, taught in English throughout.
 

2024/25 Academic Year

Autumn Semester Courses	Spring Semester Courses
Algorithms & Programming	Databases
Optimization techniques	Data Science & Machine Learning
Finite Elements	Numerical approximation for PDEs
Numerical Analysis	Biological and medical aspects of human health
Signal and Systems	Mobile Robots
Civil Engineering	Fluid Mechanics
Linear Algebra	Management
Energetics	Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
English	English
French	French
Sport	Sport

The year concludes with a two-month internship in a laboratory or in industry from May to July (by 26 July latest).

Download Year 1 syllabus
 

Year 2

In year 2, students focus on a technical discipline with their choice of specialisation from around 20 on offer within the engineering programme, combined with a professional option, which focuses on a particular sector of activity or function. A 6-month internship* in industry is then undertaken from early April to late September.

NB* Internships undertaken in France are strictly regulated and are only open to current full-time students of an accredited educational institution. Interns are entitled to all the rights guaranteed to regular employees (such as social protection and redress mechanisms). For internships that exceed two months in duration a minimum level of remuneration is set by the government, at approximately €600 per month. In some professional branches, this amount may be higher.
 

• See full details and syllabii of the second year specialisations and options

  NB: project-based specialisations and the doctorate specialisation are not available within the fast-track programme.

French language tuition:

A one-month intensive summer school at Cavilam is included in the programme. This, together with French language tuition in the first year helps to prepares students to follow second year courses taught in French. It is a requirement for graduation that students achieve at least an operational B2 level certification in French: 750 for TFI, 450 for TCF, DALF C1, or equivalent.

Internships: We provide careers guidance to help you find the two internships to be completed during the programme. The second year internship must be completed in a company in order to meet graduation requirements.

Admission

• Applicants must either hold a bachelor degree in Science, Technology or Engineering, or be in their final year of a bachelor degree, which must be gained prior to the start of the Fast Track Programme.
• Evidence of strong foundations in Mathematics and Physics.
• English proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

How to apply

• Apply online by 15 May: https://urlr.me/vBNLM (applications open on 30 October)
• Your application must include the following documents to be considered:
  • Bachelor degree certificate (if already obtained)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • academic transcripts documenting your Bachelor grades
  • a statement of purpose
  • English proficiency test certificate (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)
  • a recommendation letter

Tuition fees

€24 000 covering the two year programme.

What our students say

Yutong, Fast Track Graduate, Class of 2021

I really appreciated the elite education system of the French engineering school, because their courses cover a wide range of specialties, and they focus extremely on practical operations during teaching. For the fast track program, we can also save a year compared with French students, so finally I chose this program. Personally, I think what this engineering program has brought to me is far more significant than a degree certificate. During this period, although our courses were exceptionally hard, I still mastered the French language. In addition, in order to look for an internship, I have submitted more than 150 applications. Finally, I found my dream data scientist internship at the French National Gendarmerie. Now, in order to continue my scientific research in the field of natural language processing, I decided to do a PhD at the University of Lyon, in the department of computer science. Although this engineering program is definitely under great pressure, this unique experience has helped me enormously improve my ability to face the challenges in the future, this is the most important.

After the programme

Career and further study prospects

• 80% of our engineering programme graduates secure employment within 2 months of graduation.
• Read what our engineering programme graduates have to say.

Image Transcript

• €37 890 Average starting salary in France (excluding bonuses)
• €39 590 Average starting salary - all countries (excluding bonuses)
• 80% of graduates find their first job in under 2 months
• 89% satisfied or very satisfied with their first job
• 87% fixed-term contracts
• 20% work abroad
• 96% managerial position

65% work in companies where ecological transition issues are a major concern
 

Company size:
 

• Less than 10 employees: 3.6%
• Between 10 and 249 employees: 16.1%
• Between 250 and 4999 employees: 45.5%
• More than 5000 employees: 34.8%