Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Choose your programme

The three-year programme comprises two years of core curriculum courses and a final year with a choice of four academic focus areas: Mechanical Engineering, Fluids and Energy, Civil Engineering or Signal Control and Robotics.

Get hands-on industry exposure

In line with the school's values a third of the programme focuses on business sciences, social sciences and languages with a strong emphasis on developing professional and even entrepreneurial skills. Students will gain invaluable hands-on experience through two work placements - a six-week internship at the end of year 2 and a 16-week final year internship in a company - which can be undertaken in France or overseas. Coursework also includes regular contact with industry via industrial study projects and engineering projects. External speakers and industry experts play active role in the curriculum, particularly in the final year academic focus areas.

Study in English

The language of instruction is English. Whilst there is no prior requirement to speak the French language for admission to the Bachelor programme, French language classes are provided to give students the means not only to get by in French in their daily lives, but also to fully benefit from internship opportunities in France. Students are expected to obtain a B1/B2 level in French upon completion of the programme (B1 minimum required).

Year 1

AUTUMN SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	Hours
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Analysis I		24
Linear Algebra I		24
Algorithmics		24
Intro. to Scientific Computing		24
	12	96
PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
CAD & Design		24
Statics		22
Introduction to Physics I: Optics		24
Matter & Materials		24
	12	94
LANGUAGES & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
French as a Foreign Language I or Modern Language I		32
Business English I		16
Professional skills I		24
Pre-professional activities I		36
	6	108

30 ECTS, 298 teaching hours

SPRING SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	Hours
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Analysis II		24
Linear Algebra II		24
Scientific Programming		24
Data structure management		24
	12	96
PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
Dynamics and Vibrations		22
Introduction to Physics II: Electromagnetism		22
Electrical Engineering basics		22
Product Design Methodology		24
CAD & Design – Reverse engineering		12
	12	102
LANGUAGES, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS & SOCIETY
French as a Foreign Language II or Modern Language II		32
Business English II		16
Professional skills II		24
Pre-professional activities II		36
Sustainable Engineering I		24
	6	132

 
30 ECTS, 330 teaching hours

Year 2

AUTUMN SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	HOURS
MATHEMATICS, NUMERICS & CONTROL
Analysis III		24
Probability & Statistics		24
Automatic Control		24
Industrial Automation Systems		24
	12	96
MECHANICS AND ENERGY
Thermodynamics I		24
Vibrations		24
Structural Mechanics		24
Heat Transfer I		24
	12	96
LANGUAGES & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
French as a Foreign Language III		40
Business English III		20
Social Sciences III		24
Pre-professional activities III		36
Engineering Project I		24
	6	144

 
30 ECTS, 336 teaching hours

SPRING SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	HOURS
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Numerical Analysis		24
Introduction to Data Science		24
	4	48
PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
Manufacturing		24
Industrial Engineering		24
Mechanics of Deformable Bodies		24
Fluid Mechanics		24
	12	96
LANGUAGES, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS & SOCIETY
French as a Foreign Language IV		40
Business English IV		20
Social Sciences IV		24
Pre-professional activities IV		36
Sustainable Engineering II		24
Engineering Project II		36
	9	180
INTERNSHIP
Non-skilled internship	5	-

30 ECTS, 324 teaching hours

Year 3

AUTUMN SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	Hours
ACADEMIC FOCUS I
Courses according to choice of Academic Focus Area (ME, FE, CE, SIGCORO) see below*	12	96
ACADEMIC FOCUS II
Courses according to choice of Academic Focus Area (ME, FE, CE, SIGCORO) see below**	12	96
INDUSTRIAL PROJECT
Industrial Project I		24
	2	24
LANGUAGES & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
French as a Foreign Language V		32
Business English V		16
Social Sciences V		24
Pre-professional activities V		24
	4	96

30 ECTS, 312 teaching hours

SPRING SEMESTER

 

	ECTS	Hours
ACADEMIC FOCUS III
Courses according to choice of Academic Focus Area (ME, FE, CE, SIGCORO) see below***	15	132
INDUSTRY AND RESEARCH
Industrial Project II		24
Research Methodology and Practice		24
	3	48
LANGUAGES
French as a Foreign Language VI		12
	1	12
INTERNSHIP
Final internship	11	-

 
30 ECTS, 192 teaching hours

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

FOCUS I

• Continuum Mechanics - Advanced | 24 hrs
• Industrial engineering - Advanced | 24 hrs
• Forming Processes | 24 hrs
• Material Science | 36 hrs

FOCUS II

• Finite Element Method I | 36 hrs
• Project management | 24 hrs
• Numerical methods for the analysis of experimental full field data | 24 hrs

FOCUS III

• Material selection | 24 hrs
• Finite Element Method II - Transient problems | 24 hrs
• Manufacturing II - Industrialisation | 24 hrs
• CAD & Design - Virtual reality | 12 hrs
• Composite Structures | 24 hrs
• Introduction to biomechanical engineering | 24 hrs

Fluids and Energy (FE)

FOCUS I

• Thermodynamics II | 24 hrs
• Fluid mechanics II | 24 hrs
• Gas dynamics | 24 hrs
• Incompressible aerodynamics | 24 hrs

FOCUS II

• Introduction to turbomachinery | 24 hrs
• Introduction to combustion | 24 hrs
• Heat transfer II | 24 hrs
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) | 24 hrs

FOCUS III

• Applied fluid mechanics | 24 hrs
• Basics of CFD | 36 hrs
• Wind engineering | 24 hrs
• Renewable energies | 24 hrs
• Basics of Ship design | 24 hrs

Civil Engineering (CE)

FOCUS I

• Soil and Rock mechanics | 36 hrs
• Mechanics of Civil Engineering Materials and Structures | 24 hrs
• Structural Design | 24 hrs

FOCUS II

• Building Physics | 24 hrs
• Practical design / Applications | 48 hrs
• Building Technology | 24 hrs

FOCUS III

• Structural Dynamics | 24 hrs
• Geotechnical Engineering and Natural Risks | 36 hrs
• Modelling of Structures by FEM and BIM | 36 hrs
• Complex Infrastructures | 36 hrs

Signal, Control and Robotics (SIGCORO)

FOCUS I

• Computer Programming and Data Analysis | 24 hrs
• Complex Analysis | 24 hrs
• Electrical Engineering | 24 hrs
• Robotics I | 24 hrs

FOCUS II

• Signal Processing | 24 hrs
• Feedback Control Systems | 36 hrs
• Embedded Systems | 24 hrs

FOCUS III

• Optimization | 24 hrs
• Statistics | 24 hrs
• Robotics II | 24 hrs
• Image Processing | 24 hrs
• Electronics | 24 hrs

Special study arrangements

• Elite athletes and performers / Students involved in a national association
  Provisions can be made for students who are elite athletes, performers or those involved in a national association, to enable them to successfully pursue their dual objectives (study and sports/arts/associative).
• Illness or accident In the event of long-term illness or accident
  Special arrangements can be made to enable the student to attend the study programme for longer than planned.
• Disability and impairment
  Special arrangements can be made to accommodate students with a disability or serious impairment, with regard both to the student's educational needs and his or her ability to be on campus.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Open to students preparing a high school diploma in science or equivalent, or having obtained this qualification within the last 12 months.
• Applicants must be under 26 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to the programme.

What are the selection criteria?

Basic criteria

• Academic results - based on a GPA conversion (60%). NB two-years of academic records must be provided and show courses in mathematics and/or sciences
• Mathematics/science grades (20%)
• Proficiency in English (20%) * with a minimum score of TOEFL: 78 / TOEIC: 800 / IELTS: 6.0 / Cambridge B2 First Test - 173 or higher / Cambridge C1 Advanced Test - 160 or higher,
   

NB No proficiency requirements in the French language

* Applicants who carried out their studies in English (you must provide an official confirmation letter from your high school) are eligible without passing proficiency 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.

Selection process

Applicants are selected based on their application form, and take account of the applicant’s academic performance, his/her attitude and progress in class, his/her motivation, the relevance of his/her career plans, extra-curricular activities, and his/her level of proficiency in English. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview via videoconference.

The purpose of the interview is to confirm information provided in the application and to assess:
 

• Motivation to follow the programme;
• Extra-curricular activities;
• Intellectual curiosity;
• Potential and ability to adapt to a new environment;
• Language proficiency in English.

How to apply

• Apply online: https://ecandidat.ec-nantes.fr
• Applications open from 30 October 2024
• Closing date: 10 June 2025 at the latest. Applications will close once the 20 places for international students have been allocated, so early applications are recommended.
• Admissions contact: admissionc6df1038-ed30-49d3-ba63-50295559529d@ec-nantes.fr

Application Process

1. Applications should be submitted on the eCandidat platform as early as possible
2. Applications are reviewed upon submission of complete applications. Once your complete application has been received you can expect to receive a response within 2 to 3 weeks informing you whether or not you proceed to the next stage.
3. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview via videoconference.
4. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by email within 10 days.

* Early Bird Applications - Applicants who submit their complete application before the deadlines below may qualify for a tuition fee reduction:
 

• Before 28/3/2025 - A reduction of €1,500 for the first year of BSc study is granted to international students (including Europeans) who apply during the first admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme. French students applying via Parcoursup are not eligible.
• Before 9/5/2025 - A reduction of €500 for the first year of BSc study is granted to international students (including Europeans) who apply during the second admissions round and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme. French students applying via Parcoursup are not eligible.

Required Documents

You will need to submit the following documents as part of your application:

• Curriculum Vitae and cover letter in English.
• A certified copy in English or French of your secondary school diploma; or failing that, the current year's enrolment certificate for the final year of high school studies and academic transcripts.
• Copy of an identity document (e.g. passport).
• English test score (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS). NB Not required for native speakers of English.

Visa requirements

If you are a non-EU student you must apply for a long-stay student visa in order to follow this programme.

Learn more:

• Campus France website
• France Visa website

Please ensure that you apply to the nearest French consulate or embassy as soon as possible and no later than three months before your expected date of arrival.

Tuition Fees

• €12,000 per annum. Tuition fees are guaranteed for the duration of the programme.
• Early Bird Applications:
  • A reduction of €1,500 for the first year of BSc study is granted to international students (including Europeans) who apply before 28/3/2025 and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme. French students applying via Parcoursup are not eligible.
  • A reduction of €500 for the first year of BSc study is granted to international students (including Europeans) who apply before 9/5/2025 and make their first tuition payment within one month of being offered a place on the programme. French students applying via Parcoursup are not eligible.

Scholarship opportunities

• Elite Scholarships may be awarded based on scientific excellence criteria. The award is for the duration of the 3-year programme (provided that the student does not repeat a year) for a maximum annual amount of €6000.
• Opportunities within the framework of certain international agreements, may be available for periods of international mobility within the programme.

Contribution to sustainable development goals

1 - A choice of four academic focus areas in year 3:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Fluids and Energy
• Civil Engineering
• Signal Control and Robotics

 2 - Academic excellence

• Top 300 for Engineering in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024 (3rd school in France)
• 125th in the world for Mechanical Engineering in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

3 -  Fully taught in English for a cohort of international students

• Language of instruction - 100% English
• Learn French - language classes provided throughout the three years.
• 40% international students and 87 nationalities on campus

4 - Strong links with industry

• Hands-on experience through two internships
• Regular contact with industry via industrial and engineering projects.
• Industry experts play an active role in the curriculum

5 - Fully accredited degree preparing for Master's studies

• Pursue your studies with an international master's programme in France or elsewhere.
• Centrale Nantes offers 5 Master of Science (MSc) programmes, all of which are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Pursue your studies

Graduates of the BSc in Engineering can pursue their studies with an international master's programme in France or elsewhere. They are ideally placed to continue their studies at Centrale Nantes on one of our 5 Master of Science (MSc) Programmes, all of which are fully accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. These programmes are taught in English with a choice of 10 different specialisms. Centrale Nantes is also involved in seven Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees.

With a choice of four academic focus areas in year 3, students are prepared for the challenges of the following Master of Science programmes:
 

Watch the video for Lydia's feedback on pursuing a Master's degree at Centrale Nantes after her Bachelor of Science

Watch the video for Yudisteer's feedback on pursuing a Master's degree in Data Science in the USA after his Bachelor of Science

Video transcript

Yudhisteer: from Mauritius. Bachelor of Science in Engineering

My name is Yudhisteer and I graduated from Centrale Nantes with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 2020.

Why did you decide to join Centrale Nantes?

Mainly for three reasons. For the first reason: it’s because Centrale Nantes is one of the top engineering schools in France. Secondly, I got a full scholarship to attend the school. And, thirdly, the course is a general foundation course so it allows you to learn many fields before you specialise in a specific field if you’re going for Master’s studies.

What did you enjoy the most about the course?

I like that the first two years you got to learn a lot about mathematics and physics, which is actually very useful for me right now because I’m doing my Master’s. Also, you have teachers who have a lot of experience in industry, so they teach you a lot of practical aspects of the industry after your studies where you’re going to work. And, thirdly, I like that sports are mandatory in France. So I got to earn about squash and ultimate Frisbee and I enjoyed these sports.

What about student life on campus?

Student life is great. There are a lot of sports clubs and student organisations, which you can participate in. Every year you have a careers expo where you can go and meet people and network with them. Nantes is a small town and everything is close-knit. Everything is close by and you can visit by tram. Overall, it’s a very good student community.

What are you doing now?

For my final year internship, I returned to Mauritius, where I did my internship in the textile industry. I started as an industrial engineer but, shortly after, I discovered my passion for using data science tools to solve problems. I stayed in the company and worked as a data scientist for two years. My job was to use machine learning and AI to automate processes. Currently, I’m doing ma master’s at the University of Rochester in New York state. I’m doing a master’s in Data Science.

What are your plans for the future?

After finishing my Master’s, I want to work in the US. I want to work in the autonomous vehicle industry as a computer vision developer. At some point I want to do an MBA. Hopefully, one day I’ll open my own company.

Centrale Nantes in 3 words?

• Intense
• Innovative
• Impactful

Career Prospects

Students benefit from individual careers guidance from the Student Life Team at Centrale Nantes. Face-to-face or online careers sessions, mentoring sessions with graduates, webinars, online forums, etc. help future graduates to find their path.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering prepares its students for direct entry into the workforce. Excellent careers prospects await graduates in startups, SMEs, mid-sizes and large groups alike across varied sectors of activity:

• Transport - automotive, aeronautical, naval and railway
• Building, public works and sustainable construction
• Energy, water and environment
• Food and beverage industries
• Health, biomedical
• Robotics and telecommunications
• Defence
• Maritime industry (offshore, MRE)

Examples of job opportunities:

• Works coordinator: The works coordinator is a supervisor on the building sites. Throughout a project, he or she is responsible for ensuring that the work is carried out properly by all the external service providers selected. The works supervisor ensures good contact and communication between all the service providers in the field, and coordinates the tasks under the authority of the works manager. Their daily work consists of managing the technical resources required for the construction of a project, as well as the human and financial resources needed to ensure that the project runs smoothly.
• Structural draughtsman: The job of structural draughtsman consists in making a project imagined by an architect a reality by adding calculations made by the design engineers. He/she draws up the various plans and diagrams of the future structure. It is up to him/her to choose the most appropriate scale and not to leave out any detail in the representation of the various structures. He/she is also a mediator between the designers of the project and those who carry it out, when sometimes the design proves to be impossible as it stands, and requires certain modifications.
• R&D technician: The R&D technician participates in the various development phases of a research and/or development project (carrying out tests, measurements and analyses, making 3D projections, first-level maintenance of laboratory equipment).
• Technician / Methods manager: The main objective of the methods manager is to optimise production by allocating the necessary resources (equipment, methods, human resources, etc.). The methods manager validates and improves the manufacturing process.
• Robotics integrator: The robotics integrator studies, integrates and develops robotic solutions for existing processes or those under development.
• Operational manager of an energy production site
• Assistant CFD calculation engineer in a design office or research laboratory
• Assistant design engineer for energy systems

• 
  Juan-Nicolas | BSc Bachelor Science in Engineering, Class of 2026

  October 7, 2024

  "One of the main reasons why I chose to study at Centrale Nantes is its academic excellence and its international openness... this institution offers you a high quality education, giving you the basis for a successful future and opens the doors to discover different cultures ..."
• 
  Tadeo | BSc Bachelor Science in Engineering, Class of 2026

  October 7, 2024

  "The university offers excellent facilities and its students make use of them by organising sporting and social events regularly. Also, there is a residence for first-year students that is located right next to the campus, so that they can walk to class."
• 
  Inès | Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Class of 2027

  September 30, 2024

  "I chose this course for the academic reputation of the Ecoles Centrale, which is one of the most comprehensive and formative ... opening up numerous job prospects. What's more, the bachelor's degree is taught in English, which was a major factor in my choice, as it opens doors for me internationally.Student life was also a major factor..."

Centrale-Audencia-ensa incubator

The Centrale-Audencia-Ensa incubator is an entrepreneurship support programme which aims to boost the creation of innovative companies in the Pays de la Loire region. The incubator is open to students and graduates of the three schools with a mature project (solution, market, team) to develop.

The unique collaboration between three nationally and internationally recognised educational and research establishments, in the fields of engineering, management, communication, design and architecture, provides exceptional conditions for the development of incubated projects. The Centrale-Audencia-Ensa incubator is fully in tune with the dynamics of the Nantes and Loire region thanks to its strong involvement in a particularly innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 

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Hydrodynamic and Ocean Engineering Tank

Amongst the largest in Europe, Centrale Nantes' ocean test facilities include a towing tank, a hydrodynamic and ocean engineering tank, a shallow water tank and a recirculating canal. The ocean engineering tank measures 50m long by 30m wide by 5m deep and is equipped with a segmented wave maker. It is used, for example, to study deep water offshore systems, seakeeping trials for ships, study of the performance of wave power systems and floating wind turbines.
 

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Engine Test Benches

These test facilities allow experimental characterization and numerical modeling of complex energy systems. This research is accompanied by a societal challenge: reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and polluting emissions.
 

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Sustainability and Green Building Platform

This platform provides researchers and companies with exceptional experimental and digital resources.

In order to meet the challenges of environmental civil engineering, the platform brings together simulation tools adapted for design and management of the lifecycle of structures.
 

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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.
 

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Virtual Tour