Université de Franche Comté

What you'll study

Instruction is organised to develop integrated scientific and applied skills across ecosystem structure and functioning, population and community ecology, paleoecology, ecotoxicology, epidemiology (zoonotic pathogen transmission), conservation biology, digital ecology and research protocol design. The course includes contributions from conservation practitioners and managers to situate training within real‑world project and decision‑making contexts. Students take part each year in at least one continuous week‑long field session plus several field schools focused on testing hypotheses about anthropogenic impacts in contexts such as the Massif Jurassien (peatlands, wood‑meadows, key patrimonial species).

Entry requirements

Applications are reviewed by the programme recruitment committee; some candidates may be invited to an interview. Selection criteria include coherence of prior training with the master’s objectives, academic level (grades, rank, honours), relevant internships or professional experience, motivation and career objectives, and recommendations. Applicants must submit a CV, copies of post‑baccalaureate diplomas, semester transcripts (at least up to first semester of L3), a motivation letter, two references (teachers and/or supervisors), and an assessment of English proficiency (TOEIC, certification, teacher letter or self‑assessment). Students already enrolled in a French university apply via MonMaster.

Career prospects

The programme prepares graduates to become scientific leaders in ecology, managers and policy officers for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management, and to enter doctoral studies. Employment sectors listed include administration, associations, environmental consultancies, and research. Typical employers and workplaces named are universities and research institutes (e.g. CNRS, INRAe, IRD), local authorities (departmental/regional councils, intercommunal bodies), national agencies and services (national parks, ONCFS, DREAL, DRAF), EPICs (ADEME, Office National des Forêts), bureaux d’études and NGOs.

Scholarships & funding angle

International mobility for M1 and M2 is encouraged and supported through mobility grants, the teaching team's international collaborations and university exchange programmes. The programme mentions mobility funding opportunities but specific scholarships or amounts are managed through the university and external schemes.