FAQ Preparation for Scientific Studies (PES)

This course is aimed at students from Terminale S who are likely to have difficulties in traditional scientific degrees. Students with an average of around 10/20 in scientific subjects are typically concerned.

Students who have completed their final year of high school other than S but who nevertheless wish to pursue scientific studies should apply for the AMNS (Année de Mise à Niveau Scientifique) program.

The two essential differences are the spreading of the courses over two years and a different pedagogical approach.

Two years to give time for an in-depth learning of the fundamental elements. All the UE of the first year of the classic licence are spread over 4 semesters instead of 2 and are validated progressively by continuous assessment and/or examination according to the subjects.

The teaching methods are adapted to better support students with classes of 30 students maximum, more interaction with teachers, active teaching methods (inverted classroom, project and problem-based learning, teamwork, digital activities, etc.).

As in a traditional degree, academic learning is accompanied by a methodological contribution (how to learn, how to improve memorization, etc.) and work on the personal and professional project of each student.

The PES-L1 in 2 years is aimed at students with a baccalaureate in science.

The program of the PES-L1 in 2 years is that of a 1st year of Licence de Sciences, spread over two years. At the end of the two years of PES, if the 60 credits (ECTS) of the first year of the Licence are validated, the students are admitted to L2, in the chosen course.

The AMNS is intended for general baccalaureate students who do not have a scientific degree and who wish to reorient themselves towards scientific studies.

The AMNS program is that of the Terminale S but adapted to the requirements of higher education. A few credits may be validated at the end of the year so that students can concentrate on the first year's subject matter.

To be admitted to the PES-L1en2ans you must follow the following steps:

1. apply on one of the three portals of the Faculty of Sciences of Aix Marseille University,
2. receive an admission notification (through Parcoursup),
3. complete your administrative registration at the Faculty of Sciences,
4. come to the beginning of the school year from Friday, September 4, 2020, take placement tests, and participate in a possible individual interview to discuss the orientation best suited to your profile

See the "Application - Admission - Registration" section on the PES homepage

Yes, the system is set up by the institution and is recognised by the CROUS. Students with scholarships are therefore not penalized because of the additional year which brings the duration of the degree to 4 years (instead of 3 in the usual curriculum).

The scholarship can be maintained by dispensation, with the support of the UFR Sciences.

It is not impossible, but it will be necessary to demonstrate a serious motivation to follow this scheme.

Students who have already followed an L1 in Sciences without validating it will be oriented towards a repetition (in one year) and not accepted in PES.

The PES opens in the three portals of the AMU Science Licence, on three sites (St Charles, St Jérôme and Luminy).

The choice of sites and portals is made on ParcourSup.

• René Descartes Portal: Mathematics - Computer Science - Mechanics - Physics; PES at St Charles and Luminy
• Marie Curie Portal : Physics - Chemistry - Engineering Sciences - Sciences and Technologies; PES 1 at Saint Jérôme and PES 2 at St Charles
• Louis Pasteur Portal: Life Sciences - Life and Earth Sciences - Chemistry - Health and Social Sciences; PES in St Charles and Luminy

The continuation of studies is done in L2 in one of the subjects of the chosen portal (see above).

The first year of the Licence is now called a "portal" because it brings together several teaching subjects in L1, before specialising from L2.

No. To access the second year of PES, a student must have validated the UE of the first year. If not, he/she must choose another course.

However, adjustments may be possible by decision of the jury at the end of the PES1, provided that more than 4/5 of the UE are validated.

As a reminder, the rules for the passage to the Licence are detailed on the page "Modality of Knowledge Control", in the chapter "Rules of progression".

Yes, depending on your file, you can consider applying to IUT, BTS, CPGE or take the GEIPI-Polytech competitive exams at the end of the first year of the Preparation for Scientific Studies.

No, you must first do a L2, but if you wish, it is advisable to do an internship in a company during the 4th semester of the PES-L1 in 2 years.

When your registration is finalized and after activating your Sesame account, you will have access to your ENT (digital work environment) which will allow you to consult your timetable regularly. You will also have access to an email address created by the university. Your email address will be in the form:

prénom.nom@etu.univ-amu.fr. This mailbox is essential, it is the one used by the administration, by your pedagogical managers and by your teachers to contact you. Either you regularly check this mailbox in univ-amu, or you transfer all the mails received at your univ-amu address to your usual mailbox. This setting is done in the parameters of your mailbox on the ENT (the cogwheel at the top right), go to "options" then "inbox rules" and set up the transfer following the instructions given here.