École centrale de Nantes

At undergraduate-level, two programmes are offered: a four-year BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) Big Data & Management co-created with Audencia to offer a joint programme in engineering and management which is fully taught in English; and a one year Foundation Master's programme which prepares bachelor-qualified students to meet the challenges of Centrale Nantes Master's programmes.

Centrale Nantes trains 420 students per year within its general engineering programme leading to the 'diplôme d'ingénieur' equivalent to a Master of Science and Engineering. This qualification is awarded to students after a total of five years of higher education. The admissions process is highly selective. French students with excellent high school results spend two years in the intensive 'classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles' preparing for the 'concours' - competitive entrance examinations to French engineering schools. Successful candidates then undertake three years of study at Centrale Nantes - corresponding to the senior undergraduate year and two graduate years. International students can join the engineering programme via the fast-track programme, or a double degree or exchange with one of Centrale Nantes partner institutions, or can apply via the CASTing entrance examination.

Students follow a multi-disciplinary core curriculum in their first year, followed by a choice of specialisation in each of their second and third years: Advanced Modelling and Analysis of Structures; Aeronautics; Civil Engineering; Computer Science; Data Analysis and Applications in Signal and Image Processing; Digital City; Digital Sciences for Life Sciences and Healthcare; Embedded Control and Power Grids; Energy Production and Management; Engineering Science for Housing and Urban Environment; Environment, Mobility, Health; Industrial Engineering; Mathematics and Applications; Mechanical Engineering for Materials and Manufacturing Processes; Net-Zero Emissions; Ocean: Hydrodynamics and Marine Engineering; Product Engineering; Propulsion and Transport; Robotics; Scientific Challenge 2024; Virtual Reality.

In their final year students also follow a professional option, honing in on a particular sector of activity or company function: Business Finance; Disrupt'Campus Nantes; Engineering and digital sciences for art, culture and heritage; Engineering for Ecological Transition; Entrepreneurship; Healthcare Engineering; International Business Development; Management, Leadership, Communication; Personal Project; Research and Development; Science and Music;

Throughout the engineering programme there is a strong emphasis on business and social sciences as well as first-hand professional experience through internships. Students also study two modern languages, sports and leadership.

Centrale Nantes offers 6 Masters of Science, Technology and Health - in marine technology, mechanical engineering, control and robotics, civil engineering, city and urban environment, and industrial engineering. A number of specialisms are proposed within each Master programme, taught in English:

• Marine Technology: Hydrodynamics for Ocean Engineering; Atlantic Master on Ship Operation & Naval Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering: Advanced Manufacturing; Computational Mechanics; Energetics and Propulsion; Advanced Composite Engineering and Science
• Control and Robotics: Signal and Image Processing; Advanced Robotics; Embedded Real Time Systems; Control Systems;
• Civil Engineering: Materials and Structures in their Environment
• City and Urban Environments: Atmosphere, Water and Urban Environment; Ambiances, Architecture, Urbanity
• Industrial Engineering: Agile Factory Management; Smart and Connected Enterprise

An EMJMD is a prestigious, integrated, international study programme, jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions. EMJMDs award EU-funded scholarships to the best student candidates applying under annual selection rounds.[3] Centrale Nantes is involved in four EMJMDs:

• Electric Vehicle Propulsion and Control (E-PiCo) - coordinated by Centrale Nantes
• Japan-Europe Master on Advanced Robotics JEMARO - coordinated by Centrale Nantes and Keio University, Japan
• EMship Advanced Design Master (EMship+)
• Master in Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment (REM+)

Opportunities exist for PhD study across numerous fields at Centrale Nantes in collaboration with two doctoral schools: ED SPI (Sciences for Engineering) for which Centrale Nantes is the support institution and MathSTIC (Mathematics and Information and Communication Sciences and Technologies). Scientific production each year, on average, leads to 30 to 35 doctoral theses.

Centrale Nantes is a public institution and as such falls within the scope of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The Ministry prepares and implements policy on the development of higher education and in the field of research and technology, and is responsible for the allocation of state resources and funds.

As one of the Ecoles Centrale Group alongside CentraleSupélec, Centrale Lyon, Centrale Lille, Centrale Marseille and Centrale Beijing, Centrale Nantes offers students the possibility of an exchange with another Centrale establishment.

In 2014 the Alliance Centrale - Audencia - ensa Nantes was created, bringing together Centrale Nantes, Audencia Business School and l'Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes. This strategic alliance brings together engineering, business studies, architecture and design. This alliance led notably to the creation of the Centrale-Audencia-ensa business incubator. The double degree programmes in 'Engineering and Management' and 'Engineering and Architecture' were also launched as part of the alliance.

Centrale Nantes has numerous additional French academic partners, listed below:

• Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique
• IMT Atlantique
• Ecole Navale
• Ecole Supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers
• ITII

Student mobility is fostered by Centrale Nantes' participation in international networks - T.I.M.E., RMEI, Magalhaes and Heritage Network.

Centrale Nantes has a history of active participation in Erasmus+ Programmes: with notably four Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Programmes and numerous mobility programmes for higher education staff and students under key action 1. Within Key action 2, Centrale Nantes is and has been involved as a partner and or co-ordinator of numerous programmes.

Centrale Nantes currently has 178 academic partners across 48 different countries.

Centrale Nantes works hand-in-hand with its industrial partners.

For students these close links come in various forms: company visits, internships, projects, participation in examination boards, sponsorship of options, participation of external speakers in courses, conferences, partner days, interview simulations, job or internship offers. The frequent interaction between students and companies greatly contributes to the professional integration of graduates. The school also forges close links with companies and networks in West of France (start-ups, SMEs, professional branches, Chambers of Commerce and Industry etc.).

Centrale Nantes' industrial partners include Airbus Group, Amazon, Bouygues Télécom, Cap Gemini, Orange, Naval Group, Michelin, Safran, Sopra Steria, Stelia, SNCF, to name but a few.

• High Performance Computing Institute (ICI)
• Jean Leray Mathematical Institute
• Laboratory of Digital Sciences of Nantes (LS2N)
• Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM)
• Research Laboratory in Hydrodynamics, Energetics & Atmospheric Environment (LHEEA)
• Urban Architecture Nantes Research Centre (AAU)

• Ocean test facilities: Among the largest in a university setting in Europe, including a towing tank, a hydrodynamic and ocean engineering tank, a shallow water tank and a recirculating canal.
• SEM-REV Offshore test site: The first European site for multi-technology offshore testing that is connected to the grid.
• Dynamic and Static Test Centre (CRED): Testing the thermomechanical behaviour of materials applied to real situations
• Engine test benches: For the experimental characterization and numerical modelling of complex energy systems.
• Supercomputer: One of the most powerful in its category in France (Tier-2).
• Composites Platform: This experimental equipment makes it possible to produce organic composites and to characterize materials in physical terms.
• Rapid Manufacturing Platform: Bringing together several manufacturing processes: additive manufacturing, machining, forming, welding, bioprinting.
• Robotics Platform: Three fields of robotics are explored via the platform: production, land and air mobile robotics, and humanoid robotics and natural interactions.
• Structural Testing Floor: Bringing together simulation tools adapted for design and management of the lifecycle of structures.
• Smart Factory Platform: A reconfigurable production platform demonstrating factory of the future concepts.
• Virtual Reality: This immersive room is equipped with a passive 3D projection system for real-time complex model simulation.
• Wind Tunnels: An atmospheric wind tunnel and an aerodynamic wind tunnel.

In line with its commitment to integrated laboratory/industry research, Centrale Nantes is actively involved in the creation of international chairs with its partners:

• ESI Group on Advanced Numerical Methods
• Mann+Hummel on Clean Energy Vehicles
• TNO on Coastal Atmosphere
• Renault - LMS, A Siemens Business on Combustion Engines
• EADS on Composites for Aeronautics and Space
• Faurecia on Composites for Automotive Applications
• PSA Group on Digital Simulation
• Renault on Electric Vehicles
• EDYCEM on Innovative Concrete
• Naval Group (Joint Laboratory of Marine Technology - Centrale Nantes, University of Nantes) on Naval Military Technologies
• Bureau Veritas on Ships of the Future
• RTE on Smart Grids