Classe préparatoire intégrée Food Sciences · Life Sciences
This programme is taught in French.
field(s) of training :
Science, Technology, Health
diploma level :
Two-year degree
duration of the program :
2 years
Course overview
You’ve just graduated from high school and wish to enter an engineering school? You’re interested in life sciences and all their branches? The Engineering School of the University of Caen Normandy (ESIX) offers preparatory classes to prepare students to enter one of its engineering courses. The Preparatory Class for Food Sciences aims at joining the engineering course in Food Sciences. You can attend this preparatory class whether within:
- The bachelor’s programme in Life Sciences, to benefit from various courses in all branches of biology
- The bachelor’s programme in Health Sciences, to apply your scientific knowledge and skills in human or animal health
You can enter the Preparatory Class right after graduation: this two-year full-time programme focuses on mathematics, physics, chemistry and biotechnology (biotechnologies and technologies related to food science). As soon as you’re registered, you obtain the statute of engineering student of the ESIX. If you complete the preparatory class, you will automatically enter one of the engineering courses of the ESIX, without taking exams! Depending on your professional project, you can also enter other engineering schools, depending on their admission processes, or continue in the university with a bachelor’s and then a master’s programme.
To put it simply, a preparatory class is the best way to enter the ESIX engineering school and its course specialised in food sciences!
Highlights
The preparatory class for Food Sciences trains you in food sciences, by reinforcing basics skills in life sciences, physics and chemistry and mathematics. As such, you will acquire a scientific, technical, human, industrial and managerial culture, necessary to enter and make the best of more specialised courses in the engineering school.
By choosing the preparatory class for Food Sciences, you choose
- Support: the programme offers personalised tutoring during the two years. You will benefit from tailored-to-your-needs solutions to make sure you feel included and succeed in your studies!
- Adaptability and security: the programme is linked to the bachelor’s programme in Life Sciences: if you have difficulties during the course or if your professional project evolves, you can automatically switch programmes and join this bachelor’s programme, without taking exams or having to retake a semester or a year.
Welcoming international students
Since 2019, the University of Caen Normandy has been awarded the "Bienvenue en France" label by Campus France, highlighting the quality of the university's welcome for international students.
Application requirements
Entry requirements
To enter this master’s, you should graduate from a high school diploma (equivalent to the French baccalaureate) with majors in:
- Mathematics (compulsory)
- Physics and Chemistry
- Life and Earth Sciences
Applicants must provide:
- Grades in Mathematics and other scientific subjects
- Cover letter and resume
If your application is successful, you will be summoned to written tests and an interview with the teachers. The written exams will be multiple choice tests:
- in Mathematics (45 minutes)
- in Applied Sciences (45 minutes)
- in English (30 minutes)
Specific conditions
Entry requirements for Year 2
If you have completed Year 1 of this master’s programme, you will enter Year 2 automatically.
If you have completed Year 1 in another scientific course, such as another preparatory class, or any scientific programme, you can also enter the preparatory class on Year 2. You should provide:
- Academic records of your preparatory class or other programme
- High school diploma results
However, note that there are very limited places for students wishing to join the preparatory class in Year 2: only 2 or 3 students will enter the class.
Apply and register
The registration process takes place in 3 steps:
Application process
Admission and registration requirements may vary depending on your nationality, country of residence, foreign secondary school leaving certificate, and the nature of your programme of study. Discover how to apply to the University of Caen Normandy.
Course structure
Courses
- Take place on site in Campus 2 (Caen) of the University of Caen Normandy
- Amount to 600 hours per year, 30 hours per week; in addition to these hours, you may attend extra tutoring in mathematics and physics
Course units
The curriculum of the preparatory class is based on that of the bachelor’s in Life Sciences. Moreover, you will attend extra mathematics courses in order to acquire the level required by engineering schools. In Year 1, you will attend courses in:
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
In Year 2, you will go deeper into these subjects with courses in:
- Genetics
- Reproduction and development
- Molecular biology
- Plant and animal physiology
- Microbiology
- Ecology (populations and ecosystems)
Besides, some courses will focus on transferrable skills such as:
- English
- Scientific culture
- Methodology
- Professional project
Coursework and assessment
The course lasts 2 years and is divided in 4 semesters, each comprising several courses units. In each course unit, you will be graded through coursework, on a scale from 0 to 20, 20 being the best grade. Grade compensation is organized without eliminatory marks and on the basis of the general average obtained in every course unit:
- Over each semester
- Over the 2 semesters of year 1.
The 2 semesters do not compensate each other in year 2.
To successfully complete a semester, you must have an average mark of at least 10 points out of 20. If you have not completed your semester, you can retake some course units you failed (to be determined with the teachers); you do not have to retake the courses in which you have obtained at least 10 points out of 20.
Language
French
Learning outcome
By the end of this course, you will be able to
- Adapt to university requirements and engineering schools’ techniques
- Master scientific basis in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Biology
- Develop scientific methodology, project management, and autonomy: carry research, collect data and formulate relevant conclusions
- Display writing and oral skills to communicate and work in team, in French and, to a certain extent, in English
- Understand challenges in the food industry to have a better vision of possible careers
Further study
The preparatory class for Food Sciences aims at entering the engineering programme in Food Sciences, offered for example by the ESIX Normandy. However, you can also access other engineering courses or master’s in biology.
Careers
The engineering cycle is a 5-year long programme: 2 years in a preparatory class and 3 years in an engineering school. Once you’ve completed engineering school, you can work as a scientific engineer in food industry, for example in positions such as:
- Research and development engineer
- Production engineer
- Quality engineer
- Hygiene, security and environment engineer
- Food process engineer
- Project manager or industry manager
- Professional in the creation and management of industrial sites in food industry
Food industry is a very comprehensive industry, with notable opportunities in:
- Branches: meat, diary, marine, plant, health, animal feeding…
- Services: quality, production, research & development, business, distribution, logistics, consulting…
Address
Université de Caen Normandie
ESIX Normandie · École supérieure d'ingénieurs
Boulevard Maréchal Juin · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5
France
Course leader
formation : Marina Cretenet · marina.cretenet@unicaen.fr