Your Educational Path

A three-year disciplinary program is offered in the Civil Engineering DER.

• The LDD3 SPI is a multidisciplinary L3-level program shared by the three Teaching and Research Departments (DER) of Engineering Sciences at ENS Paris-Saclay.

• The first year of the Master’s program at the DER in Civil and Environmental Engineering (GCE) includes specialized coursework as part of the degree.

• The second year of the master’s program is designed to prepare students for a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. The decision to pursue this “research-oriented” second-year master’s program will be made by the student and approved by the DER. Two Master’s 2 programs are offered within the DER, focusing on Building Envelopes and Sustainable Construction, and on Materials and Structures.

Since ENS Paris-Saclay also admits students directly into the first year of the Master’s program, course equivalencies for the first year of study are granted to students in the three-year program.

In addition to the three years of intensive disciplinary training, a dedicated year allows students to tailor their academic path.

• Research and Higher Education Track - The FESup Master’s 2 year is designed to prepare students for higher education in Civil Engineering. It combines an advanced scientific and technological curriculum with training in pedagogy. This year also prepares students for the SII-Construction agrégation.
• Research and International Track - The ARPE year allows students to conduct an extended, immersive research project in a foreign laboratory.
• Interface Track - To develop multidisciplinary skills, students can complete one or two additional years of study at the L3 level or higher in a field other than Civil Engineering. This track may be part of a dual-degree program with other institutions.

Throughout the four-year program, students in the DER Civil Engineering track develop complementary skills.

Research Skills

Two research experiences are required to earn the ENS Paris-Saclay degree. These two projects, combined with the “research” Master’s 2 year, prepare students for a Ph.D.

An initial immersive research experience (PEIR) is completed during the Master’s 1 year. It consists of a two-semester project supervised by a researcher from the Paris-Saclay Mechanics Laboratory at ENS Paris-Saclay.

The second immersive research experience generally consists of a 4-month internship in an academic or R&D laboratory completed at the end of the first year of the master’s program.

Higher Education Competency

Starting in the LDD3 SPI, ENS students pursuing the Civil Engineering specialization carry out a knowledge dissemination project. Under the guidance of a mentor, they learn and then share knowledge on a current topic in civil engineering.

During the first year of the Master’s program, a teaching practice module is offered as part of the DER GCE. Students thus learn how to design a teaching session, which they will then deliver to high school students or civil engineering undergraduates.   

Students can also participate in tutoring programs offered by the school or complete a module focused on knowledge dissemination.   

International Competence

Since proficiency in English is necessary for international scientific or technical communication, each student must obtain two certifications. The IELTS certificate attests to proficiency in general English. The SWAP (Scientific Writing Assessment Program) certification ensures preparation for international scientific publication. Students prepare for the IELTS certification during the LDD3 SPI course and for the SWAP certification during their first year of the Master’s program at the DER GCE.   

In addition to these certifications, students must complete an international experience, typically during their internship at the end of the first year of the master’s program (or through an ARPE year).   

Interdisciplinary Competence

The first year of common training for the three DER programs offers interdisciplinary training in Engineering Sciences.

Students can also acquire skills in other disciplines by taking cross-disciplinary courses offered by the school, by completing a group interdisciplinary project, or by taking a MOOC in a field other than Civil Engineering.

The program offered within the DER GCE allows students enrolled in it to complete the majority of the degree requirements by the end of the first year of the master’s program, thereby enabling them to focus their planning for the final two years on the elements that distinguish their academic path, namely:

• The choice of a specific track year. Examples of ARPE tracks are available
• The choice of the M2R (second year of the master’s program designed to lead to a Ph.D.). In addition to the master’s programs for which the DER GCE serves as the reference, other thematic master’s programs are authorized by the DER as disciplinary M2R programs