Target level of study
Master's degree
Duration
2 years
Component
Faculty of Science and Technology
Language(s) of instruction
English, French
Internship(s)
Yes
Presentation
The Master’s program in Chemistry offers a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum covering the fields of materials chemistry, formulation, catalysis, and biorefinery. The curriculum covers fundamental concepts as well as industrial and environmental applications. With a focus on current societal challenges, it draws on theoretical, experimental, and technological instruction at the intersection of chemistry, physical chemistry, and the environment.
Thanks to the diversity of its tracks and the involvement of numerous professionals, the master’s program enables students to acquire an integrated view of the discipline and to understand the interactions between research, innovation, and sustainable development.
The program places a central emphasis on experimental practice, interdisciplinary projects, and internships in academic or industrial settings, thereby promoting professional development and international mobility.
Objectives
The Master's in Chemistry aims to train scientific executives and chemical engineers capable of designing, developing, and implementing innovative processes that respond to today's societal challenges: energy, environment, health, materials, and sustainable development.
Students acquire a solid mastery of analytical tools, synthesis and characterization of materials, as well as cross-disciplinary skills in project management, scientific communication, and industrial culture.
The program also aims to prepare graduates for academic research (pursuit of a doctorate) as well as direct entry into the workforce, by raising their awareness of regulations, safety, and environmental issues in modern chemistry.
Know-how and skills
For all tracks, the educational objectives are as follows: To master the key conceptual and experimental tools needed to understand, design, and characterize the complex chemical systems encountered in research and industry. Be able to independently manage a technical or scientific study within a given timeframe. Know how to analyze experimental data and clearly communicate the results and interpretations through presentations and summary reports. This practice is essential for executive training, where communication within the company plays a key role. Acquire a sufficient level of technical and scientific English to, on the one hand, follow courses in English and, on the other hand, write reports and give presentations in English.
International dimension
Training open to international students.
Training benefits
The Master’s in Chemistry offers a solid multidisciplinary education combined with a strong experimental component and an understanding of the challenges facing the industrial sector. The various tracks offered build on the scientific expertise recognized and developed at the University of Lille, particularly in the research laboratories affiliated with the CNRS, and benefit from the support of an industrial network at the regional, national, and international levels. These various tracks leverage local and regional expertise by utilizing high-performance technology facilities and multi-learning educational platforms available in laboratories and regional research consortia.
Organization
The curriculum offered by the Master’s in Chemistry is based on the following skill and knowledge blocks (SKBs) (which vary by track):
BCC - Preparing and Understanding Materials
BCC - Analyzing and Characterizing Materials
BCC – Communicating and Developing a Project
BCC - Designing Specialized Materials
BCC - Applying and Producing Highly Specialized Knowledge
BCC - Leading a Project or Addressing a Challenge in the Field of Materials
BCC - Communicating in a Foreign Language - Processing information in an international context
BCC - Gaining experience in industry and research
BCC - Knowing and understanding chemical specialties
BCC - Characterizing complex systems
BCC - Understand complex systems and develop formulated products
BCC - Master digital tools
BCC - Prepare clean catalysts on a large scale
BCC – Analyze and characterize materials
BCC - Synthesize and characterize catalysts
BCC - Design and model processes
BCC - Implement processes: Industrial Applications
BCC - Understanding how to produce different types of biomass
BCC - Mastering the various treatments (thermal and mechanical) applied during biomass processing
BCC – Mastering ad hoc catalytic tools to obtain target molecules or energy carriers
BCC – Defining and predicting the properties of molecules and materials
Open on a sandwich basis
Type of contract | Apprenticeship contract, Professional training contract |
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Courses
Internship | Mandatory |
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Two mandatory internships: one in S2 and one in S4.
Program
Select a program
Biorefinery
The Biorefinery course in the Master's in Chemistry program aims to train specialists capable of addressing issues related to biomass recovery, innovating in biomass conversion processes, and contributing to the replacement of processes that use fossil resources. They will provide solutions for the implementation of new reactions involving molecules derived from biomass processing. To do this, they will master:
- the composition of different types of biomass and how they are grown, crop rotation, etc.
- the principles of the bioeconomy in order to establish the "right" biorefinery for the local environment.
- the chemical, physical, and biotechnological means of transforming biomass (plants, wood, algae) into its constituent components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin),
- the valorization of the components and functional groups of these molecules into biofuels and/or chemical synthons.
Upon completion of this program, graduates can apply for a PhD or a position in industry.
Catalysis and processes
The Master’s program in Chemistry, specializing in Catalysis and Process Engineering, is accredited by the IAR and Euramaterials clusters. It was established in 2004 and has produced more than 240 graduates.
The program aims to provide students with dual expertise in catalysis and reactor engineering with a view to developing new, environmentally friendly processes for industry. Students are provided with a solid theoretical foundation and practical knowledge in catalysis, kinetics, and processes, equipping them with the tools needed to become agents of change in a highly technical environment where conventional resources and operating methods in the processing industry (energy, chemistry, food, textiles, etc.) are being reevaluated.
In this University Bachelor of Technology (B.U.T) program, research-based training is a key feature of the specialization, preparing students to quickly join a research team. As a result, many students (70%) go on to pursue a Ph.D.
Chemistry, analysis, instrumentation, and industry
The "Chemistry, Analysis, Instrumentation, and Industry" (CA2i) program is designed to train professionals with a master’s degree who have a solid background in the main areas of scientific instrumentation and the physical chemistry of materials used in the chemical industry, whether organic or inorganic.
It is also worth noting the multidisciplinary nature of this program, which will enable students to become familiar with the analysis of inorganic, organic, and biological materials.
Chemistry and formulation engineering
The program aims to prepare students for management positions in specialty chemical industries (functional raw materials) and formulation industries (detergents, cosmetics, paints, inks, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, etc.). The main raw materials used in formulations (surfactants, pigments and dyes, fragrances, viscosity-building agents, solvents, film-forming agents) are described in terms of their molecular structures, physicochemical properties, functional properties, and applications. Learning formulation chemistry is based on an in-depth understanding of the physicochemical phenomena underlying all formulated products beyond specific areas of application. It is illustrated by numerous practical scenarios in the form of practical work, projects, lectures given by industry professionals, and internships.
Polymer and materials engineering for the environment
The Polymer and Inorganic Materials Engineering (IPME) program trains materials specialists capable of working at every stage of a material’s life cycle: synthesis, processing, characterization, forming, recycling, and performance under real-world conditions.
Backed by renowned research laboratories and open to work-study programs, the program covers a broad spectrum of materials—polymers, ceramics, glass, metallic materials, and hybrid materials—directly linked to current challenges in energy, the environment, and sustainable development.
The M1 offers general training in materials science, while the M2 allows students to specialize in the field:
- polymers (design, recycling, performance, environmental behavior),
- or inorganic materials for energy (batteries, nuclear power, technological materials).
The courses are based on experimental, technological, and digital approaches, and also include interdisciplinary projects and internships in academic or industrial settings.
The program can be completed on a work-study basis over two years (M1–M2) or over one year (M2 only).
Integrated research for advanced chemistry and materials
The IRACM (Integrated Research for Advanced Chemistry and Materials) Master's degree, jointly accredited by Lille University and Centrale Lille, offers an advanced two-year program focusing mainly on physical chemistry, sustainable chemistry, and molecular chemistry, which are representative of current research interests in five laboratories at Lille University (LASIRE, UCCS, UMET, PC2A, and IEMN). The main objective of IRACM is to prepare undergraduate students for PhD programs, particularly within our university's research laboratories. The originality of IRACM lies in its pedagogical approach to research training: in addition to traditional classes devoted to the main fields of chemistry, students will gradually be immersed in our laboratories and will select optional courses in line with their own future research projects. From S1 to S4, students will have "integrated research classes" with special focuses on: Smart Macromolecular Systems, Physical Chemistry for Nanosciences, Chemical Strategies for Sustainability, and Photosciences. Student autonomy and initiative will be encouraged through MOOC classes, discussions around current trends in chemistry ("Hot Topics"), and challenge projects (bibliographic and lab activities). Two common threads will be followed from S1 to S3: one on the different applications of photosciences; and one around theoretical and technical skills necessary for 21st century chemistry, such as Scientific Programming, Computational Chemistry, and Artificial Intelligence for Chemistry. Participation in local congresses or symposia will be encouraged.
Admission
Admission requirements
For European and non-EEF students: Apply on the national platform: https://monmaster.gouv.fr
For EEF students: Studying in France
Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or equivalent
And then
Further studies
Master's students will be able to continue their studies at the doctoral level (SMRE Graduate School for ULille).
Professional integration
The level of professional integration of students graduating with a master's degree in Chemistry is excellent (~90%) and demonstrates the suitability of the program for careers in the following sectors: Research and Development, Industrialization and Methods, Production-Maintenance-Logistics, Environment, Quality-Safety, Sales and Marketing, and Teaching. Examples of positions held by our alumni: Design Engineer, Research Officer, Production Manager, Process Methods Engineer, Quality Engineer, Industrial Project Manager, Environmental Manager at an industrial site, etc.
To learn more about the professional integration of graduates from the University of Lille, consult the job directories published by theODiF (Training Department Observatory).
Job/occupation descriptions from the Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME) provide a better understanding of the occupations and the skills associated with them.
ROME referential
- H1206 - Management and engineering studies, research, and industrial development
- H1502 - Industrial Quality Management and Engineering
- H2301 - Operation of chemical or pharmaceutical production equipment
- H1402 - Management, Methods Engineering, and Industrialization
- H2504 - Team Management in the Manufacturing Industry