MSc Mechanical Engineering
Advanced Composite Engineering and Science (M-ENG ACES)

Programme Objectives

This specialism in Mechanical Engineering develops skills for providing innovative and optimized solutions in the design and manufacturing of composite materials for research and in industry.

The performance of fibre-reinforced organic-matrix composites and structures are influenced by the constituting materials and the processing stage. Composite mechanical design can be efficiently and optimally performed when one has a good understanding of manufacturing influences and constraints. Therefore, the courses offered in this program will provide a theoretical and experimental emphasis on the relationships between constituents, processing and structural design. In addition to theoretical concepts, the course is designed to be practical, thanks to laboratory work and access to experimental platforms for the transformation and characterisation of composite materials.

The programme of study lasts two academic years - denoted by M1 and M2 and is taught in English. It comprises three study semesters followed by a paid Master's thesis / internship in the final semester.

Our Master's programmes in Mechanical Engineering are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

► See our other Master's programmes in Mechanical Engineering

Contribution to sustainable development goals

 
SDG 9 - INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SDG12 - RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

► Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals
Course Content

30 ECTS Credits per semester.
Language of instruction: English
 

M1 Year - 2024/25
 
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS Spring Semester Courses ECTS
Continuum Mechanics 5 Engineering Materials 5
Fluid Mechanics 5 Constitutive Laws 5
Algorithmics for Engineering Modelling 4 Structural Mechanics 5
Numerical Methods 5 Computer-aided Design 5
Vibrations and Differential Equations 5 Mechanical Design 5
Conferences and Initiation to Research 4 Business Environment 3
Modern Languages * 2 Modern Languages * 2
Conferences 0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
M2 Year - 2024/25
Autumn Semester Courses ECTS
Composite Constituents and Processes 4
Composite Characterization 4
Composite Processing Modelling 1 4
Composite Structures 4
Composite Processing Modelling 2 4
Multi-Physics Modelling for Processes 4
Project 4
Modern Languages * 2
Conferences 0

* 'French as Foreign Language' except for French native speakers who will study 'Cultural and Communicational English' or Spanish (depending on sufficient demand).

NB Course content may be subject to minor changes
 
Spring Semester ECTS
Master thesis / internship                                    30
 

Examples of previous internships in industry:

  • Product design of a composite motorcyclist protection
  • Sol-gel functionalization by nano-particle entrapping: a formulation for transparency
  • Edge sealing and release agent optimization for aeronautic composite processes
 

Examples of previous internships in research labs:

  • Composite design with multi-objective optimisation
  • In-situ compression of carbon-fibre reinforcements in X-Ray tomography
  • Modelling and characterization of thin film piezoelectric materials

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.
Skills developed
  • Simulate and optimize composite mechanical design and manufacturing using numerical tools
  • Model materials’ behavior and physics involved in composite processes
  • Characterize and manufacture composite materials
 

In addition to the above specialism-specific skills, students will also develop more general skills:

  • Identify models, perform simulation and analyse results
  • Communicate comprehensive results in a meaningful way
  • Undertake bibliographic surveys of international research and professional literature
  • Manage or be part of a project

Download syllabus | Mechanical Engineering - Advanced Composite Engineering and Science

Watch the Campus Channel Replay:


Facilities and Partnerships

Faculty and Research Facilities

This Mechanical Engineering programme relies on the Centrale Nantes’ faculty, staff and research facilities of the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM).

Focus on unique resources

Composite Materials and Processes Platform

This experimental equipment makes it possible to produce organic composites and to characterize materials in physical terms. The platform provides the right conditions for the world-class research activity conducted in the field of mechanics of materials and processes.
 

Dynamic Testing Resources and Expertise (PREED Platform)

Through this facility, our industrial partners can benefit from the tools and skills of our researchers in terms of thermomechanical behavior of materials applied to real situations.

Whether for academic or industrial research, PREED provides valuable input into optimal product design.
 
Admissions
 
  • Apply online on the eCandidat platform
  • 2024/25 intake: applications closed
  • 2025/26 intake: applications open in autumn 2024 
 
Application process

Application rounds

  • Applications are reviewed in rounds. M1 applicants may apply in any of the three M1 rounds, and M2 applicants in either of the two M2 rounds. Applications should be submitted on the eCandidat platform as early as possible, but before the deadlines below;
  • Applications are not considered 'complete' until all required elements are submitted. Only complete applications received by the round's deadline will be considered in that round;
  • The admissions board reviews applications at the conclusion of each round and notifies each applicant of the outcome of their application;

Accepting your place

  • Successful applicants must accept their place on the eCandidat platform by the deadlines below;
  • The first installment of tuition fees must be paid by the deadlines below to definitively secure the applicant's place on the programme.

Deadlines for the 2024-25 intake

M1 | Round 1 M1 | Round 2 M1 | Round 3 M2 | Round 1 M2 | Round 2
Submit your complete application by ... 13 Dec 20 Feb 28 Apr 31 Mar 28 Apr
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by ... 25 Jan 15 Mar 23 May 25 Apr 23 May
Accept your place by ... 8 Feb 29 Mar 6 Jun 9 May 6 Jun
Pay your first tuition installment by .... to qualify for a reduction in tuition fees (international non-European students) 25 Feb   * 15 Apr ** N/A 25 May *** N/A
Pay your first tuition installment by .... with no reduction in tuition fees 25 Mar 15 May 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun

Early Bird Applications 2024-25
  • * A reduction of €1,500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • ** A reduction of €500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the second admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • *** A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the first year (M1)

  • International students with a bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology) or equivalent, in a field related to Science and Technology
  • French and European students with a 'license' qualification or equivalent.
  • Students must have graduated from the above before the end of August in order to enrol in a Master's Programme at Centrale Nantes in September.
  • Applicants must have a good level in Mathematics and be fluent in English - written and spoken. An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a certificate, which is no older than three years, for a recognised international test of English*:
    • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60, TOEFL Home edition is accepted,
    • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
    • IELTS - 6.5 or higher, IELTS Online test is accepted
    • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
  • Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
  • Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.


Admission requirements for the second year (M2)

Students who have successfully completed a first year MSc programme can apply for the second year MSc programme. Applicants must be fluent in English - written and spoken:
 
  • An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a certificate, which is no older than three years, for a recognised international test of English*:
    • TOEFL - IBT 80, or ITP 550, paper-delivered test 60, TOEFL Home edition is accepted,
    • Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher,
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
    • IELTS - 6.5 or higher, IELTS Online test is accepted
    • TOEIC - 800 or higher.
  • Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your university) are eligible without passing such a test, but providing the results of a recognized international test can add value to the application.
  • Students who completed their studies in the countries listed below are exempted from submitting a language certificate: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, English-speaking Canada, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Liberia, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

*no other test is recognised.

Language of instruction

Fully taught in English.
Required documents

When applying for a Centrale Nantes MSc Programme you will be asked to provide the following documents:
 

  • Your official transcripts
  • A CV/Resume and cover letter
  • Your diploma
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Your passport or other form of official identification

Your documents must be uploaded in English or French. If the original version of your documents is not in one of these two languages, a certified translation by a sworn translator is required.

Apply online
Apply online on the eCandidat platform
 

How to use the eCandidat platform:

 

Your application in 5 easy steps:

Contact and admissions support

Master Admission Office

master.admission@ec-nantes.fr
Tel: +33.2.40.37.68.36 / 33.2.40.37.68.51

Chinese students: lichunlai@ec-nantes.cn
Indian students: application@galaxy-edu.com

Tuition fees and financing

Tuition Fees

International students (non-European)

M1 Year                                        €10,000 *                       
M2 Year | 2024 - 2025 €6,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2024) **
M2 Year | 2025 - 2026 €8,000 - (students starting their M2 year in 2025) **

Early Bird Applications
  • * A reduction of €1,500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • * A reduction of €500 for the M1 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the second admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.
  • ** A reduction of €1,500 for the M2 study year is granted to non European international students who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme.

European students

€243 per year
 

Financing your studies


Scholarships

Different scholarships are available for students enrolling in a MSc Programme at Centrale Nantes:
 
  • Centrale Nantes Elite Scholarship
  • Government scholarships
  • Inter-government scholarships
  • Industry scholarships
  • Scholarships from organisations
  • European Programmes

Other ways to help you finance your way through your studies:

 
  • Paid 6-month internship
    You will be paid for your 6-month Master's thesis / internship in France. For internships undertaken in France 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.
  • Work alongside your studies
    You are entitled to work part-time alongside your studies, to earn some extra money. This option is available for both European and non-European students, but different rules apply. Learn more
  • Help with your rent
    French and international students are eligible to receive financial support (known as APL in French) from the CAF (Caisses d'Allocations Familiales). The CAF is a French government organism that covers part of the monthly cost of rent paid for student accommodation – the allocated amount depends on the type of accommodation and on your income. Learn more (in French)

Find out from Aishwarya what it's like to study on the MSc Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes.


 
Video transcript

1. What's your name and where do you come from?
I'm Aishwarya Chandrasekaran. I come from India and I'm an M2 student of Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes.
2. Why did you decide to join the MSc Programme in Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes?
They are renowned for their engineering programmes and their strong community with industry. While I was going through the administration process for admission, I met some international officers. They were so kind and generous. They have very good international community, so why not give it a try? I chose Centrale Nantes for that also.
3. How was the programme for you? What did you enjoy or find challenging?
Initially the programme was a bit hectic because I wanted to get adapted to the country, the culture and when I arrived it was during COVID. So, I wanted to get used to all of those things. The syllabus was a bit hectic, but the faculty members were so kind and helpful.
5. What are your plans now? and for the future?
In the immediate future, I want to take some time off and then step into the composite processing or production line. In the future, I want to work in bio-composites to make the world at least a bit plastic-free.
6. Any advice for future applicants?
I would definitely recommend thoroughly the Advanced Composites programme for their research programme and the curriculum and their faculty members. They have the leverage in industrial opportunities and the networking was really good. You could meet many people out of the college, out of the groups etc. And when it comes to Centrale Nantes, they have CNA - the alumni groups - who will definitely work with and help you in every aspect. As the tagline says [said] "Shake the Future": if you want to do it, do take the big step, come and join Centrale Nantes!
7. Centrale Nantes in three words?
Embrace tomorrow's opportunities

Why choose this MSc?

Five reasons why you should choose the MSc in Advanced Composite Engineering and Science at Centrale Nantes:

 
  • 1 - Hands-on composite materials and processes
  • 2 - Make a career in innovative materials
  • 3 - Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students
  • 4 - Centrale Nantes is ranked 125th in the world for Mechanical Engineering in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
  • 5 - Accredited Master of Science (MSc) preparing for a PhD in France or abroad or for direct entry into the workplace
After the MSc

Career Prospects

  • Sectors: Aeronautics, Automotive, Transportation, Wind and Marine Energy, Materials Producers, Consulting
  • Fields: Mechanical Engineering, Design, Materials, Advanced Processes, Manufacturing, Research and Innovation
  • Positions: Mechanical Engineer, Process Engineer, Design Engineer, Research and Innovation Engineer (post PhD), Consultant

Where are graduates from this Master's programme working?

In France: FAIRMAT, Sonimat, Plastic Omnium, IPC, SPIE, Seres technologies, Capgemini Engineering, EDF, Akka Technologies, IRT Jule Verne, Ariane Group, Roctool, Faurecia, Alstom, A2MAC1, MaiaSpace, DGA
Elsewhere in Europe: Plastic Omnium - Belgium, FIDAMC - Spain, Mercedes Benz - Spain, Vestas - Denmark, Cevotec - Germany, Goodyear - Luxembourg
Further afield: Premier Composite Technologies - Dubai, Future Pipe Industries - Saudi Arabia, Beijing Benz Automotive - China, Grasim Epoxy Division - India, GE Renewable Energies - India, Huf Group - India, Synergem - India, Gurit - India

Where are graduates from this Master's programme pursuing their PhD?

CIFRE PhD: Safran Group, Ariane Group, Airbus Toulouse,
ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Polytech Montreal (Canada), Polytechnique (France), Centrale Nantes, ISAE ENSMA (Poitiers), IMT Nord Europe, IRT Jules Verne, University of Burgundy, Univ. Paris Saclay, Arts et Metiers ParisTech, UTT (Troyes, France)

► Find out what our Master graduates are doing now
What our students / graduates say

Read what our students and graduates have to say about the programme:

Meet the Programme Supervisors

Sébastien Comas-Cardona, M2 Programme Supervisor ACES

Sébastien Comas-Cardona has been a Professor at the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM) since 2014. He was awarded a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (USA) in 2000 and a Ph.D. in Composite Materials at the University of Lille (France) in 2005.

Current research interests: fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites, structural composites, processing, modelling and experimental characterization

Christian Burtin, M1 Programme Supervisor Mechanical Engineering

Patrick Rozycki

Patrick Rozycki, Programme Supervisor Mechanical Engineering

Patrick Rozycki is a professor in Rigid Bodies Dynamics, Crash and Impact and Composite Materials at Centrale Nantes. His research mainly involves identifying and modelling composite behaviour from quasi-static to dynamic loading, including environmental effects (temperature and air conditions).

He is the Assistant Dean of Studies for Master Programmes and Programme Supervisor for the Master of Science programmes in Mechanical Engineering
Campus facilities
Centrale Nantes houses 17 buildings on a 40-acre green campus. In addition to the standard facilities of a university campus (classrooms, media library, computer rooms, etc.), it is home to 13 research platforms, some of which are unique in France, and modern and varied sports facilities, the Centrale-Audencia-Ensa incubator and vibrant student life. Facilities on the Centrale Nantes campus:

  • 45 classrooms
  • 6 lecture theatres 
  • 13 computer rooms (with nearly 180 fully equipped PCs and extended opening hours)
  • 1 media library
  • 5 research institutes
  • Sports and cultural facilities: 1 gymnasium, 1 multisport/dojo hall, squash courts, 1 piano room
  • 1 student house
  • Student halls of residence and accommodation support
  • 1 online platform for students, Onboard, with timetables, grades, attendance management, distance learning and teaching resources,
  • 1 Moodle platform (Hippocampus) with collaborative functionality available to faculty and students (additional resources, working groups, forum, online assessments, etc.).
  • Students also have access to meeting rooms / learning innovation / videoboxes equipped with video projectors, cameras, interactive whiteboards, etc., for their classes, presentation preparation, project work, etc.
  • 1 lifelong email address and an individual digital workspace and storage space, with remote 24H access.


Virtual Tour

Explore the campus with its classrooms, research platforms, student life and sports activities: Take the virtual tour

Published on March 27, 2017 Updated on June 13, 2024