Programme of the ESB Engineering diploma in wood and biosourced materials science and technology
5 years of HE
5 years of HE
-
DURÉE
3 ans
-
ACCÈS
Bac +2
-
DIPLÔME
Bac +5
-
RENTRÉE
Septembre
-
LIEU
Nantes
General organisation
Teaching and hands-on periods.
The engineering programme uses both teaching periods devoted to a subject (theme) and hands-on periods.
- The teaching periods (ENS) correspond to the provision of knowledge delivered in Teaching Units (TU). Teaching can take various forms: lectures, practical work, tutorials, etc., either face-to-face or by distance learning (e-learning).
- Placement periods (MES) enable students to apply their learning through case studies, projects or workshops. In the case of apprenticeships, the practical work is carried out in the host company (ENT).
The programme includes modules in French and in English. The International Timber Trade’s speciality is fully taught in English.
Customised training
Allowing you to customise your study path is a key feature of the curriculum. During your studies, you can choose from a range of courses and study contexts to help you develop your career plans:
- a second modern language (Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, German or reinforced English),
- a choice of electives to develop certain skills according to your interests,
- Students are free to choose the subjects of certain semester projects,
- a major (a set of specialised TU) to enrich and diversify your educational profile (dual skills),
- the possibility of doing a gap year or a semester with an ESB partner, in France or abroad.
- Internships, which provide opportunities to validate your professional project.
Professional experience in a company (PE)
Work Experience periods in companies enable students to acquire skills linked to their academic training.
They take the form of work placements for students and in-company assignments for apprentices.
Job improvement – process | 1st year
In the 1st year, the in-company period gives you an insight into the industrial environment and the formalisation of a problem. You observe a workstation and suggest improvements.
Industrial study | 2nd year
In Year 2, you carry out an industrial improvement study of a process, product or service. During this in-company assignment, you will be tested on your ability to correctly pose a problem and propose solutions based on methodological work.
Final year project | 3rd year
You will complete an independent engineering assignment. All aspects of the course are brought into play to respond to an industrial problem: science, technology, economics, management, innovation, etc. This assignment is the subject of an end-of-studies professional report, which is presented to a jury.
Teaching programme
1st-year engineering
Firts semester – Designed to give students the knowledge and know-how required throughout the training programme: project management, familiarity with materials, circular economy basics, fundamental sciences, communications, etc.
Second semester – Prepares students for initial orientation choices. During this semester, students learn about the various specialities and digital tools. They carry out an initial circular economy project.
Course units (UEs) and related credits in the first-year engineering programme (60 ECTS credits)
SEMESTER 5
The basics
- Company integration (1 ECTS)
- Problem-solving methods (2 ECTS)
- Basic sciences (3 ECTS)
- Designing and completing a solution to a problem (4 ECTS)
Wood and biosourced materials
- Wood and natural fibre sciences (6 ECTS)
- Natural performance improvement (3 ECTS)
Circular economy 1 – supply and resources
- Forestry and forest products (3 ECTS)
Project 1 – Scientific project (3 ECTS)
Human and social sciences (2 ECTS) : inter-cultural opening, office software applications, introduction to neuroscience, communication and involvement
Foreign languages
- English (2 ECTS)
- Second foreign languages (1 ECTS): German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, etc.
SEMESTER 6
Circular economy 1 – generalities
- Sustainable management (3 ECTS)
- Inter-semester exchange between schools on the campus (1 ECTS)
Professional project
- Discovery of specialities: efficient use of forest production, production and processes, international timber trade, wood construction, research, innovation (4 ECTS)
- Wood challenge project (3 ECTS)
Engineering and digital technology
- Instrumentation and data processing (2 ECTS)
- Information processing (1 ECTS)
- CAD (2 ECTS)
Projects 2 : scientific, technological, or innovative project (3 ECTS)
Human and social sciences (2 ECTS)
Foreign languages
- English (1 ECTS)
- Second foreign languages (1 ECTS)
Professional experience in a company (7 ECTS)
- Student-engineers : 8-week traineeship
- Engineering apprentices : in their companies
2nd-year engineering
During these year, students develop their first minor to be chosen from 6 available specialities. Students also need to choose elective courses that will allow them to develop in-depth knowledge of wood science, engineering science, digital technology, production automation, etc.
Foreign exchange programmes are available during semesters 7 or 8 in the second year. ESB offers nearly 37 destinations including 4 dual degrees (Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, and Canada).
Course units (UEs) and related credits in the second-year engineering programme (60 ECTS credits)
SEMESTER 7
Circular economy 2 – Eco conception
- General eco-design (3 ECTS)
- Eco-design of biosourced composites (2ECT)
- Eco-optimisation through life-cycle analysis (3 ECTS)
- Eco-design linked to production (1 ECTS)
Circular economy 3 – Strategy and sustainable management
- Economy and management (1 ECTS)
- Marketing (1 ECTS)
- Supply chain (2 ECTS)
Elective courses (for a total of 8 ECTS):
- Elective courses (2 ECTS each): financial analysis and general economy, instrumentation and automation, wood sciences (anatomy, chemistry, physics), basic sciences (mathematics, mechanics), biorefinery, CAD/CAM, finite element modelling, wood-based composites, data programming, responsible design, virtual and augmented reality, entrepreneurship, robotics, new manufacturing technologies, electrical engineering.
- Minor 1 (4 ECTS) – free selection amongst the specialities
Project 3 (3 ECTS) :
- Research project
- Industrialization project
- Entrepreneurship
- Personal project
- Creative innovation
Human and social sciences (3 ECTS)
Foreign languages
- English (2 ECTS)
- Second foreign languages: German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, etc. (1 ECTS)
SEMESTER 8
Circular economy 3 – Strategy and sustainable management
- Sustainable management (1 ECTS)
- Global application (3 ECTS)
Elective courses (for a total of 12 ECTS):
- Elective courses (2 ECTS each)
- Minor 1 (4 ECTS)
Project 4 (3 ECTS) :
- Research project
- Industrialization project
- Personal project
- Creative innovation
Human and social sciences (1 ECTS)
Foreign languages
- English (1 ECTS)
- Second foreign languages: German, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, etc. (1 ECTS)
Professional experience in a company (8 ECTS)
- Student-engineers : 8-week traineeship
- Engineering apprentices : in their companies
3rd-year engineering
The 1st semester is totally dedicated to the professional project. Students choose a second minor and a major related to one or the other of the minors followed.
The second semester takes place entirely in a company, where the student carries out an end-of-study project.
Course units (UEs) and related credits in the third-year engineering programme (60 ECTS credits)
SEMESTER 9
Minor 2 (4 ECTS)
Major (22 ECTS)
Human and social sciences (1 ECTS)
English (3 ECTS)
SEMESTER 10
Business game (2 ECTS)
End of studies project (28 ECTS) carried out as part of a work-study program or an 20-week traineeship.
ESB specialities available in the second and third years
In the 2nd and 3rd year, the students choose the lessons necessary for their professional project grouped into minors and majors.
Efficient use of forest production
This speciality is aimed at students who wish to practice a profession at the forest/industry interface. Engineers who graduate from this programme are able to harvest forest products using a sustainable approach and make efficient use of this resource.
UE for the Efficient use of forest production minor (A1)
- Inventory
- Upstream organisation
UE for the Efficient use of forest production major (A1)
- Supply logistics
- Primary processing
- Harvesting & marketing
Production and processes
The engineers who choose this speciality are capable of managing the production of wood products and participating in their design. These engineers contribute to logistics and product development.
UE for the Production and processes minor (A2)
- Eco-design
- Technical data management ERP
- Machine investment
UE for the Production and processes major (A2)
- Purchasing & procurement
- Production management
- Industrial performance
- QSE
International Timber Trade
This speciality prepares engineers for international trade and negotiation and ensures they are capable of reformulating the client’s need and coming up with relevant solutions. They identify new markets in the international context and help the company’s offer to progress.
UE for the International timber trade minor (A3)
- Duties and regulations
- International finance
- International sales and purchases
- Wood recognition and classification
UE for the International timber trade major (A31)
- Business development
- Digital business
- International trade
- International wood exchanges
Low-carbon construction and housing
Engineers specialised in wood construction manage construction projects that use wood and/or biosourced materials. They are capable of integrating constructive solutions that use wood and wood-derived products in building.
UE for the Wood construction minor (A4)
- Engineering office design
- Construction project management
- Construction law
UE for the low-carbon construction and housing – design office major (A41)
- Comfort of the built environment
- Economy and usage
- Design office (
- Construction and digital technology
UE for the low-carbon construction and housing – project management major (A41)
- Comfort of the built environment
- Economy and usage
- Construction organisation and coordination
- QHSE
Innovation
Engineers who choose this speciality are trained to understand the corporate innovation process and implement innovative solutions in various processes: supply and procurement, production, marketing, distribution.
UE for the Innovation minor (A6)
- Innovation
- Technology
UE for the Innovation major (A61)
- Creation
- Innovation
Optional : Research
R&D engineers develop new materials or processes including wood or wood-derived materials. They manage research projects from the initial study phase through to the industrial application of the product.
UE for the Research minor (A5)
- Wood science
- Wood technology
UE for the Research major (A51)
- Analysis and modelling
- Communications
- Comfort of the built environment
- Circular economy
- Research ecosystem
- Experimental sciences
Non-ESB 3rd-year option
Engineering students (excluding apprentices) can complete their 3rd year in another institution in France or abroad.
3rd-year options or double degree in France
- Master of science management-engineering – Audencia (Nantes)
- Agro forestry engineer – Bordeaux sciences agro (BSA).
- Engineer – Architect in 5 years -– ENSAP Bordeaux
- Master of science management-ingénierie – Audencia (Nantes) – 4-year double degree
Internationally : 4 double degrees
- Civil engineering degree in wood industries – University of Bio-Bio (UBB) in Conception, Chile
- Engineering degree – UFPR in Curitiba, Brazil
- Master’s degree in wood technology – Bern University of Applied Sciences (BHF) in Biel, Switzerland
- Master’s degree in wood and bio-based materials engineering from the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics at Laval University (Canada)
