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Master in Earth, planetary and environmental sciences

Master in Earth, planetary and environmental sciences

Système Climatique : Atmosphère, Hydrosphère, Cryosphère 1st and 2nd year

Presentation and goals

The Climate System: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere course aims to study the processes operating in the climate system and their interactions. Understanding past and present climate and predicting future changes requires a precise knowledge of these processes. This Course addresses all the surface components of the Earth, the atmosphere, the continental surfaces (water, cryosphere, biosphere) and the ocean. It draws on a variety of disciplines and skills, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, geosciences, geography, and computer science.

The course trains generalist experts and has a research focus, but also responds to the growing needs of local authorities and companies in the field of the environment, for example in air quality, hydrology, or remote sensing. The teaching relies heavily on the specificities of Grenoble's research laboratories in the field of climate, atmosphere and cryosphere and glaciology (IGE, LEGI, INRAE, CEN). The observation made today is that 70% of the students pursue a PhD after this master (reflecting individual choice rather than any selection). The tools used in the courses, workshops and projects are in fact also the tools used in the professional world, or in the process of being used. The course's greater openness to the professional world is achieved through the introduction of professionally oriented courses, as well as by taking care in the general modules to systematically make the necessary links with "business" applications: climate variability and intermittency of renewable energy resources.

The course includes fieldwork (1 compulsory week + 1 optional week + occasional days), numerous practical assignments (e.g. 1 week in atmospheric chemistry) which allow theoretical knowledge to be put into practice.

Finally, the course includes two internships in a laboratory or in a company, of one's choice. These internships take place between M1 and M2 (6 weeks minimum but 2-3 months recommended) and at the end of M2 (5 months minimum). For those interested in an even stronger involvement in research (2 internships of 5 months over the two years), the Research Intensive Track associated to the Climate System Course may be an option, provided that you already have a master's or professional experience.

 

Note that in the first semester, there are 30 ECTS of compulsory courses in the program, which is sufficient to obtain validation of the semester, the two options proposed are for special cases and not necessarily open every year. In the second semester, the remote sensing and GIS course is marked as optional but is strongly recommended unless you already have a strong competence in the field or a specific professional project that justifies other module choices.

This Master Course gives you the opportunity to apply to the UGA Graduate School and one of its 15 thematic programmes that add an interdisciplinary component to your studies. Terra is the thematic programme closest to this Course. The objective of the thematic programmes is to offer students an interdisciplinary study programme combining academic teaching and training through laboratory research. The programme brings together students from different majors, master's courses or engineering programmes and works together in specific courses. Participation in the @UGA Graduate School is for two years (M1 and M2) and may open the possibility of obtaining an academic scholarship for two years for the best international students (non-French baccalaureate holders).

More information on the Graduate School website

Presentation

Presentation

Further information

A specific feature of this program 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 program. 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 program concern environmental monitoring and forecasting in varied contexts (air quality monitoring associations, local authorities, consulting companies).

International dimension :

Internationally-oriented programmes

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

Research internships may be held abroad.

 

Partnerships:
Accredited organizational unit(s)
  • Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble
Partner laboratories

Programme

Programme

Program under construction - awaiting CFVU vote

Practica, projects, and missions

Internship: Mandatory
Duration: master 1st year : 6-8 weeks ; master 2nd year : 5-6 months
Internship abroad: In France or abroad
  • In 1st year, 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 2nd year, 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 2nd level 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

Registration and scholarships

Access condition

  • The 1st year 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 2nd year 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

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)

Candidature / 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

You want to apply and sign up for a master ? Please be aware that the procedure differs depending on the diploma you want to take, the diploma you have already obtained and, for foreign students, your place of residence.Let us be your guide – simply follow this link

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

Expenses

Tuition fees 2020-2021 : 243 €

And after

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 program is possible up to the end of the 1st year. A reorientation to the international Hydrohazards program is also possible, at the end of the semester 7.

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 program concern environmental monitoring and forecasting in varied contexts (air quality monitoring associations, local authorities, consulting companies)