Masters Degrees in Engineering Materials, France

Labelled by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), AMIS is a Master program in Advanced Materials for Innovation and Sustainability which explores the theme of “Substitution of critical or toxic materials in products for optimized performance”. It also covers the topics of “Material chain optimization for end-of-life products” and “Product and services design for the circular economy” - all of which are central themes of the AMIS. The primary focus of the AMIS program is metal and mineral raw materials. Bio-based and polymer materials are studied in view of their substitution potential. Other materials are also analyzed in the context of multimaterial product recycling. In addition, the AMIS program includes a solid package of courses and project work in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Program structure

Mobility is integrated within the two-year program, during which students study at two of the consortium partner universities. Upon completion of the program, graduates are awarded 120 ECTS and a double degree delivered by two of the five partner institutions where they studied. Students begin the Master program at Grenoble INP, Aalto University or T.U. Darmstadt. In their second year, students specialize in another partner university:

• To attend the specialization year offered at the University of Bordeaux, prospective students must attend the first year at either Aalto University or the Technical University of Darmstadt.

Year 2 specializations are the following:

• University of Bordeaux: Advanced Hybrid Materials: Composites and Ceramics by Design
• T.U. Darmstadt: Functional Ceramics: Processing, Characterization and Properties
• Aalto University: Nanomaterials and interfaces: Advanced Characterization and Modeling
• University of Liège: Nanomaterials and Modeling
• Grenoble INP: Materials Interfaces: Surfaces, Films & Coatings

SEMESTER 1 TO 4 CONTENT

Master 1: Basic level competencies.

Mandatory courses in:

• Fundamentals of materials science
• Applied materials
• Modelling tools and materials
• Innovation, business and entrepreneurship.

Joint collaboration courses with AMIS partners:

• Inno project I: business model development and the commercialization process of new technologies.
• Summer camp: a week intensive course working in teams on industry case studies to create and produce new ideas, innovative technologies, improved products or services.
• Internship: work experience in a company or research organization to develop a solution-focused approach by translating innovations into feasible business solutions and commercializing new technologies.

Master 2: Specialization year.

Mandatory courses in:

• Advanced functional materials with a specialization in material interfaces, nanomaterials, ceramics or hybrids.

Joint collaboration course with AMIS partners:

• Practical work on various industrial projects integrated with innovation and entrepreneurship contents.
• Inno project II: a specialized approach on business model development and commercialization process of new technologies.

Master thesis:

• A research and development experience in material science jointly supervized by the home university professors and the host partners. The results of the Master thesis will be defended during a presentation. Certain subjets may lead to setting up a business or a spin-off.

Strengths of this Master program

• Develop expertise in the field of innovative and sustainable advanced materials.
• Meet, study and work with relevant academic and non-academic contacts in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Gain a holistic view on value and process chains.
• Acquire transferable skills through modern teaching methods. These transferable skills include: entrepreneurship, negotiation techniques, intellectual property, problem solving, working cooperatively and creatively, co-designing, and life cycle approaches.

After this Master program?

As a resource engineer, students may continue in the following fields:

Freelance and entrepreneurship:

• Create a business or become a consultant

Resource industry:

• SMEs in chemistry, exploration, green energy, machinery and plant construction, metal working industry, ceramics, environmental economy (R&D, product development, management, production, marketing and sales)

Research:

• Universities, research institutions, lecturer or managerial position
• Circular economy
• Production, analytics, management, marketing and sales

And also:

• Science journalism, consulting, project development and management, advisor to policy makers, administration, specialist agencies and media.

The AMIR Master program focuses on the raw material value chain, with particular emphasis on recycling. The two main objectives are:

• Educate students to become highly-skilled European professionals with expertise in various types of materials. This expertise will enable them to develop, at a large and ambitious scale, new methods for material recycling. In addition, the AMIR program includes classes on transferable skills such as innovation, ethics, intellectual property, life cycle assessment, sustainability and advanced research strategies.
• Develop a deep entrepreneurship mind-set with the help and expertise of associated businesses, incubators and innovation services as well as a large panel of industries.

Program structure

Semesters 1 and 2

The first year of the Master program takes place at the University of Bordeaux in partnership with the research and technology organization, Tecnalia. Students learn about general and technical aspects of the raw material value chain (general chemistry, material science, lifecycle of materials) as well as about the main outcomes of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): sustainability, intellectual transformation, value judgments (ethical, scientific and sustainability challenges), creativity, innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship. 

Semesters 3 and 4

The third semester (Master 2) is dedicated to a specialization in one of the partner universities. This part of the program offers the possibility to follow selected advanced materials classes for various applications (energy, e-mobility - magnets, transport, environments - catalysis, etc.).

The specializations are:

• Darmstadt: material design for recycling
• Liege: metallurgy and metals recycling
• Madrid: mineral recycling for construction and other sectors 

The program is completed with a three to six months’ internship (Master thesis).

Strengths of this Master program

• AMIR graduates are international entrepreneurs and innovators, able to work anywhere in Europe and beyond.
• High-level education and research environment.
• Practical insights with advanced research labs.
• High-quality internships.
• Mandatory international and intersectoral mobility.
• Supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and the International Master program of the Bordeaux “Initiative of Excellence” (IdEx).

After this Master program?

The AMIR program benefits from a strong academic, research and industrial network.

After graduation, students are fully prepared to integrate the working environment as professionals in the recycling sector (process optimization, materials design, plant administration, project management, etc.) whether it be in the industrial field or governmental organizations. Possible sectors include: information and communication technologies, building construction, energy, machinery tools, mobility.

Graduates also obtain the necessary skills and knowledge to set up their own company or work in sales and marketing.

Finally, further doctoral studies are another possibility and students may apply for Ph.D. programs in Europe, including those offered in the framework of the European Multifunctional Materials Institute (EMMI : http://www.emmi-materials.eu).