Master Génie mécanique, parcours : Conception mécanique pour le nucléaire

The Mechanical Design for the Nuclear Industry (CMN) track trains design engineers and future researchers able to design, size, justify and have manufactured mechanical structures and systems for nuclear facilities: Generation II-III reactors, Generation IV reactors and fusion machines.

It builds on the advanced mechanics, structural analysis and optimisation core of the Mechanical Engineering master's programme, complemented by nuclear-specific courses largely designed and taught by CEA engineers and researchers: behaviour of materials under irradiation, design and construction codes (RCC-MRx, pressure equipment), thermal-hydraulics and fluid-structure interaction, leak-tight bolted assemblies, component manufacturing (fuel rods, fusion components), transport issues and the safety approach.

Graduates are ready to work in design offices, structural analysis departments and R&D units of the nuclear sector, in both fission and fusion.

Students holding the first year of a master's degree in mechanics or mechanical engineering (in priority the M1 Mechanical Engineering of Aix-Marseille University) or final-year students of an engineering school with a mechanical focus, wishing to specialise in mechanical design for the nuclear industry (fission and fusion).

The track is open to initial training. It may also welcome, as continuing education, experienced engineers or senior technicians wishing to move into the nuclear sector [to be confirmed].

Master's-level training (validated M1) or engineering school with a mechanical / mechanical engineering focus.

Solid foundations in continuum and structural mechanics, strength of materials, finite element method, materials and heat transfer; practice of a CAD software and of a finite element code; strong interest in nuclear energy and its industrial challenges; English level B2 recommended.

The M2 year (60 credits) is organised in two semesters.

Semester 9 – courses (30 credits, mid-September to mid-January), structured in three knowledge and skills blocks (BCC):

• BCC 1 “Designing mechanical structures and systems” (15 credits): Advanced Mechanics (6 credits, shared with the CSM and CSC tracks); Nuclear Systems Design (6 credits: transport issues and introduction to the safety approach, Gen II fuel rod manufacturing, manufacturing of mechanical components for fusion, synthesis project); Nuclear Facilities Design (3 credits: systems engineering and project management, thermal-hydraulics and fluid-structure interaction).

• BCC 2 “Sizing mechanical structures and systems” (9 credits): Optimisation (3 credits, shared with the CSM track); Structural Sizing (6 credits: RCC-MRx code and pressure equipment, evolution of materials in nuclear environments, leak-tight bolted assemblies, numerical simulation lab on the fuel rod).

• BCC 3 “Professional development” (6 credits): English (3 credits); Discovering the nuclear sector (3 credits, shared with Polytech Marseille: introduction to Gen II-III reactors, introduction to Generation IV, introduction to fusion).

Semester 10 – practical experience (30 credits): research project in a laboratory (3 credits, January-February) followed by the M2 final internship in industry or in a research organisation (27 credits, from March to the end of August approximately).

Courses take place on the Château-Gombert campus (Marseille); the English course is delivered on the Saint-Jérôme site. Attendance at lectures, tutorials and labs is compulsory.

• SCIENCES, Marseille Chateau-Gombert

The track is backed by the mechanics laboratories of Aix-Marseille University and CNRS as well as by CEA research and development teams, which deliver a significant share of the courses and propose project and internship topics.

Semester 10 starts with a research project (3 credits, January-February) carried out in a university laboratory or a CEA unit, which prepares students for a possible PhD. The topics covered (behaviour of materials in nuclear environments, fluid-structure interaction, component sizing, numerical simulation of nuclear fuel, fusion components) lead to CEA PhDs, industrial (CIFRE) PhDs or doctoral contracts.

On completion of the track, students know:

• advanced mechanical models (non-linear behaviour, interfaces and contact, homogenisation, non-destructive testing);

• bases on optimisation methods;

• design and construction codes for nuclear components (RCC-MRx) and pressure equipment regulations;

• the evolution of materials in nuclear environments: irradiation, creep, fatigue, corrosion, ageing;

• the thermal-hydraulics and fluid-structure interaction concepts needed by a designer;

• the design and sizing of leak-tight bolted assemblies;

• the operation and architecture of Generation II-III and IV reactors and of fusion machines;

• manufacturing processes for fuel rods and for fusion mechanical components;

• nuclear material transport issues and the principles of the safety approach;

• the fundamentals of systems engineering and project management;

• technical and scientific English.

Graduates are able to design and size mechanical structures and systems for a nuclear facility in compliance with codes (RCC-MRx, pressure equipment) and safety requirements; to draw up a functional specification from a needs analysis and system requirements; to build numerical models (CAD, finite elements, fuel simulation) and detailed calculation notes justifying their design choices; to account for material evolution and fluid-structure interaction in the design; to select and specify manufacturing and inspection processes suited to nuclear components; to integrate the transport, safety and quality constraints specific to the sector; to organise and lead an engineering project, work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate results orally and in writing, in French and in English.

• Synthesis project (3 credits, semester 9, October to mid-January): group design project on a problem proposed by industrial partners, drawing on all the courses of the track; oral defence in mid-January.

• Research project (3 credits, semester 10, January-February): six- to seven-week immersion in a university laboratory or a CEA research unit, with a report and an oral defence.

• M2 final internship (27 credits, semester 10, March to end of August approximately, i.e. 5 to 6 months): engineering internship in a company or research organisation of the nuclear sector (research organisations, operators, reactor and equipment manufacturers, engineering companies and design offices, fusion projects), in France or abroad, with a report and an oral defence in September.

Internship search is supported by the teaching team: offers from lecturers and partners, CEA internship catalogue, the Nuclear Careers University (Université des métiers du nucléaire), and the university careers service (SUIO).

A significant share of the nuclear-specific courses is taught by CEA engineers and researchers, which anchors the training in industrial practice. Teaching combines lectures, tutorials and practical sessions on numerical simulation tools (computer lab), project-based learning (synthesis project) and professional situations (research project, internship). Some course units are shared with the CSM and CSC tracks of the Mechanical Engineering master's programme, fostering exchanges between students with different profiles. Attendance is compulsory for all sessions and checked by the lecturers.

The English course unit is delivered on the Saint-Jérôme site (Marseille).

• H1202 Conception et dessin de produits électriques et électroniques (fr)
• H1210 Intervention technique en études, recherche et développement (fr)
• H1206 Management et ingénierie études, recherche et développement industriel (fr)

• 200N Conception de produits (sans autre indication); design industriel (fr)
• 251N Etudes, projets, dessin en construction mécanique (fr)

The track meets the significant recruitment needs of the French nuclear sector (life extension of the existing fleet, new reactors, Generation IV reactors, fusion). Graduates work, in France or abroad, as:

• mechanical design engineer / design office engineer for the nuclear industry;

• structural and component analysis engineer (RCC-MRx, pressure equipment codes);

• materials and in-service behaviour engineer;

• manufacturing, industrialisation or inspection engineer for nuclear components;

• mechanical engineer in plant operation, maintenance or modification;

• mechanical safety or nuclear material transport engineer;

• project engineer or systems engineer;

• research and development engineer (after a PhD where relevant).

Typical employers: research organisations (CEA), nuclear plant operators (EDF), reactor and equipment manufacturers, engineering companies and design offices, fusion projects (ITER and its partners), safety and expertise bodies.

PhD in mechanics, materials or nuclear engineering (CEA PhD, industrial CIFRE PhD, doctoral contract in an AMU or CNRS laboratory). Specialised master's or complementary training in nuclear engineering, nuclear safety or industrial project management.

• CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission): main partner of the track, involved in the design of the curriculum; its engineers and researchers deliver a large share of the nuclear-specific courses and propose project, internship and PhD topics.

• Université des métiers du nucléaire (Nuclear Careers University): information on careers and dissemination of internship and job offers.

Small cohort allowing individual follow-up by the track coordinator and the teaching team; availability of CEA lecturers outside sessions for projects; close supervision of the synthesis and research projects by academic and industrial tutors; access to computer labs and simulation tools; attendance monitoring allowing early detection of difficulties.

Presentation of the track, its career prospects and the nuclear sector from the start of the year; regular exchanges with industrial lecturers and researchers about jobs and career paths; support from the university careers and guidance service (SUIO) and from the Nuclear Careers University; individual advice for the choice of the research project and internship according to the student's professional project (industry or PhD).

Dissemination of partners' internship and job offers (CEA internship catalogue, lecturers' network, Nuclear Careers University, SUIO); help with CVs and cover letters and interview preparation; contacts with sector recruiters at careers fairs and job days; the five- to six-month final internship is frequently a first step towards employment or a PhD.

As semester 9 is intensive and strongly rooted in the regional industrial network, international mobility is encouraged in semester 10: the final internship may be carried out abroad (research organisations, nuclear companies or international projects) with the agreement of the track coordinator. Students are supported by the university's International Relations Office for mobility grants.

• CMN track coordinator: Mihail GARAJEU mihai.garajeu@univ-amu.fr

• Head of the Mechanical Engineering master's programme: LAHELLEC Noël, noel.lahellec@univ-amu.fr

• Mechanics department administrative office: nassera.slimani@univ-amu.fr, Tel:+33412231001

• Faculty of Sciences registrar's office – Château-Gombert site: Tél : +33412231024 maria-cirila.munoz@univ-amu.fr

Direct admission, within the intake capacity, for students who have completed the M1 Mechanical Engineering of Aix-Marseille University.

For other applicants (M1 from another university, engineering students, continuing-education applicants): admission is based on the application file, possibly followed by an interview, through the university application platform (eCandidat). Files are assessed on the level in structural mechanics, numerical analysis and simulation, materials, and on the motivation for the nuclear sector.

Differentiated tuition fees apply to non-EU students from 2026-2027 (see the university website).