Second year

Common core

 Preceded by a three week prerequisite phase (beginning of September) for students admitted on individual qualifications and foreign students coming from partner institutions, the second year also starts off with a common core, lasting six months, to cover all engineering sciences relevant to the aeronautical and space sector:

  • electronics,
  • information technology (object-oriented design and programming),
  • automated systems, signal systems and processing (representation of systems and continuous linear controls, filtering, systems approach),
  • mechanics and thermodynamics (aerodynamics, aeronautical and space propulsion, structural mechanics, space mechanics, aircraft flight qualities),
  • scientific computation.

During this period, a long labwork course (TrEx) is conducted followed by a set of interdisciplinary applications in the form of design office work and aircraft (or launcher) preliminary project work.

 These courses taken together constitute the “scientific common core”.

 The non-science part of the common core comprises courses in communication, marketing and personal training, compulsory courses in English and another modern language, two seminars in general culture to be chosen from among twenty options and compulsory sport (three other disciplines tried out). 

One minor (Elective)

 The common core is followed by a minor to be chosen from among the ten following options: 

  • aerodynamics,
  • system controls,
  • economics,
  • energetics & propulsion,
  • information technology,
  • materials & structures,
  • modelling and control of uncertainty,
  • M³: methods & models for mechanics,
  • waves & signals,
  • physics & space. 

Short Project

 The year ends with a one month period (June) entirely devoted to a short Project.  

The projects for the 2nd year are conducted by groups of 4 students (more rarely 3 or 5) assigned under the various sections. Each section has a quota of subjects the supervisor selects from among the projects submitted by the students and those proposed by the Institute. A number of projects come under a set of transverse, interdisciplinary themes (Shell eco-marathon and microdrone projects, for example). The projects for the 2nd year also provide an opportunity to structure a team project management approach; this development is something that answers especially well to the wishes of companies. 

Industrial internship

 Between the 2nd and 3rd year, students have the opportunity to take part in a two-month industrial internship either in France or in another country. One possible alternative consists of a internship with a strong scientific or technical content, lasting for at least three months, as a replacement for the PIR.