Presentation

Programme strengths

A specific feature of this programme compared to other similar ones in France is that it stresses the close coupling between hydrology and climate. This has been identified as one of the main reasons for its current popularity. A second plus point is the considerable time devoted to the cryosphere in the programme. This is consistently identified by students and is a major specificity of research in Grenoble.

Whether or not students go on to doctoral studies, the professions targeted by this programme concern environmental monitoring and forecasting in varied contexts (air quality monitoring associations, local authorities, consulting companies).

International dimension :

The program has a strong international focus, with teaching mostly in English and research internship opportunities abroad. Several foreign students are welcomed onto the programme every year, often as part of research agreements with our international partners.

Partnerships:

Accredited establishment(s)

• Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble

Partner laboratories

• Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement - LGGE
• Laboratoire d'étude des Transferts en Hydrologie et Environnement - LTHE
• Centre d'Etudes de la Neige - CEN
• Irstea - Centre de Grenoble

Other partners

• Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble - OSUG

Programme

Water, climate, environment portal 1st year

• Semester 7
  • -UE Climate and environmental variability 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Organic geochemistry: pollutants, modeling 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Scientific & professional communication 24h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Hydrology and hydraulics 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Meteorology: 1D and synoptic 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Fluid mechanics 24h - 3 ECTS credits

  1 option (s) to choose from 1

  • -UE Intro workshop - professional project 6h - 3 ECTS credits
• Semester 8
  • -UE Remote sensing and GIS project 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Pollution atmosphérique : principes et méthodes expérimentales 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Lautaret field workshop: snow & atmosphere interface 6 ECTS credits

  2 option (s) to choose from 4

  • -UE Field workshop hydrology and hydrometeorology 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Instrumentation and metrology 48h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Climate archives 21h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Environmental flows 57h - 3 ECTS credits

Master 2nd year

• Semester 9

  5 option (s) to choose from 13

  • -UE Models for the physico-chemistry of the atmosphere 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 1 24h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Atmospheric boundary layer : from fundamentals to air quality 2 24h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Cryosphere 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Climate and anthropogenic impact 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Hydrology of continental systems 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Dynamics of geophysical fluids 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Radiative transfer and remote sensing 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Numerical modeling workshop 8h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Wave dynamics 24h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Ocean dynamics 24h - 3 ECTS credits
  • -UE Inverse methods and assimilation 42h - 6 ECTS credits
  • -UE Geostatistical 42h - 6 ECTS credits
• Semester 10

  1 option (s) to choose from 2

  • -UE Research internship
  • -UE Company internship

Practica, projects, and missions

In M1, an internship module of 6 ECTS is mandatory. This internship takes place over 6-8 weeks in June-July; the defence is in September and the internship is validated in S4 (internship semester). This internship can take place in either a laboratory or a company. This arrangement gives students enough time for a significant internship, which can be extended over the whole summer.

In M2, an internship of one semester (24 ECTS, which supplements the 6 ECTS described above) is mandatory. This internship takes place in a research laboratory (in Grenoble or elsewhere). More and more students are choosing to carry out their M2 internship abroad, a choice that we strongly support. Laboratory internships are supervised in the host laboratory by an internship tutor and monitored by the programme managers. Every internship gives rise to an individual written thesis and a public defence (except in rare cases of confidentiality).

Registration and scholarships

Entrance requirements

The M1 is open to students who have obtained a national diploma equivalent to a bachelor degree (licence) in a field compatible with that of the Master, or via a validation of their studies or experience.

Entry to the M2 may be selective. It is open to candidates who have completed the first year of a Master in the field, subject to a review of their application. 

 For candidates whose country of residence is not included in the "Studies in France" portal (PEF) scheme, the calendar for the eCandidat application campaigns is available here.

Public continuing education:

You are in charge of continuing education:
• if you resume your studies after 2 years of interruption of studies,
• or if you followed training under the continuous training regime one of the previous 2 years
• or if you are an employee, job seeker, self-employed.

If you do not have the diploma required to integrate the training, you can undertake a validation of personal and professional achievements (VAPP).

Prerequisites

Natural candidates for this course include students with bachelor degrees (licence) in Earth Sciences, especially if their studies included a fairly large physics component.

However, due to the highly multidisciplinary nature of the course, it is also perfectly suited to students with bachelors in Physics, Mechanics, Physics-Chemistry, and even Chemistry.

A small but non-negligible number of students come from engineering schools, seeking studies in more "research" oriented topics. 

Target group

• Students in initial training who have obtained a bachelor degree (licence) in Earth, physical, or mechanical sciences. 
• Students from engineering schools (in particular ENSE3, G-INP) who seek studies in more "research" oriented topics concerning the atmosphere, the climate and hydrosystems. 
• Foreign students wishing to pursue their studies in the fields of the atmosphere, the climate and hydrosystems.
• Students in continuing education wishing to pursue advanced studies in the fields of the atmosphere, the climate and hydrosystems.

And after

Further studies

Doctoral thesis, in the field of Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences.

Doctorate in a foreign university.

A reorientation to the Hydro-resources Programme is possible up to the end of the M1. A reorientation to the international Hydrohazards Programme is also possible, at the end of S1.

Sectors of activity

Competitive examinations for careers in research (researchers), education-research (teacher-researcher) (CNRS, University, CNAP, IRD and research organisations abroad) after pursuing doctoral studies.

Whether or not students go on to doctoral studies, the professions targeted by this programme concern environmental monitoring and forecasting in varied contexts (air quality monitoring associations, local authorities, consulting companies).

Vocational placement