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Parcours Ouvert

Overview

Program at a glance

 

Why choose this program?

The Parcours ouvert is an international undergraduate program in General Engineering, run simultaneously on all Icam campuses in France and abroad (Brazil, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The 4-year undergraduate engineering program will prepare you for a seamless transition directly into Icam’s Master’s Degree in General EngineeringAfter completion of the full 6 years at Icam, you will be eligible to graduate with a Diplôme d’Ingénieur in General Engineering, internationally recognized as a Master’s degree. 

The Parcours Ouvert was designed to respond to emerging industry trends, encourage R&D, and adapt to evolving student profiles. Industries are looking for engineers capable of:

  • greater creativity and innovation
  • complex problem-solving and critical thinking
  • and are entrepreneurial

The Parcours Ouvert also takes into account evolving learning trends. The Parcours Ouvert uses the Active Learning approach: Problem-Based Learning, Project-centered activities complete with labs, specialized instruction, and extensive international experience. You will develop your creative and collaborative skills, as well as your ability to adapt to new situations.

 

Program highlights

  • A pluridisciplinary course in general engineering covering 4 engineering and technical fields as well as management and social sciences that will prepare you to deal with large scale and complex engineering projects –  See academic fields below. 
  • Up to 15 months of internships, ensuring extensive exposure to industry and professional experience
  • Creativity and collaborative skills will be at the center of your work. From experimentation to conceptualization, you will design and develop solutions that will meet tomorrow’s technical challenges.
  • International exposure is addressed in two ways: 

1 – A minimum of 1 year, and up to 2 years, at one of the Icam campuses abroad at years 3 or 4.

2 – Regular feedback sessions with the other international campuses are scheduled throughout the program. This gives you the chance to discuss your problem-solving approaches and solutions. Furthermore, this international and intercultural exposure will prepare you to analyze situations thanks to a greater understanding of cultural norms and perspectives.

Who is it for?

  • For degree-seeking students holding a valid high school certificate or diploma from France or abroad
  • For incoming visiting students from partner universities or free movers who are looking for a unique learning experience at a French engineering school for 1 semester or a year

 

Location

  • French Icam campuses: Lille, Nantes, Paris, Toulouse
  • International Icam campuses: Brazil, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • *For students from countries where Icam is not present: First 2 years in France, then up to 2 years abroad at a different international Icam campus.

 

Language of Instruction

The first 2 years are taught in French; the last 2 years are in English on all Icam campuses. 

Requirements: minimum A2 in French (pre-intermediate), B2 in English (intermediate).

French as a second language classes are available to improve french proficiency.

 

Icam’s Active Learning Approach

The globally-conscious students in Parcours Ouvert are prepared to face the world’s complex challenges. In order to prepare you for the transition from the classroom to the workplace, the program focuses on competency-centered learning through active learning:

  • what do I already know ?
  • what do I need to know ?
  • how and where do I  access new information that may lead to the resolution of the problem?

The approach emphasizes the ability  to acquire and deploy the necessary skills that will enable you to identify and solve real-life problems. Assessment of what you as a student have learned is based on whether you have mastered a given competency.

Problem Based Learning [PBL]

This educational activity structures the typical academic week

    • Problem solving is done collaboratively – “…Together we go further”
    • Students generate learning outcomes through real-life situations
    • Students contribute to and benefit from enhanced group collaboration & communication
    • Students adapt to a variety of team working environments

Discover it in video:

and watch full webserie about Parcours Ouvert!
Project Based Learning

This pluridisciplinary learning approach places the students in realistic and complex situations where they are able to apply and develop the desired competencies while working on long-term and in-depth team projects. It calls upon the students’ understanding of a wide range of engineering, managerial and interpersonal skills.

The image below shows some examples of multidisciplinary projects that Parcours Ouvert students work on over the years.


Program Structure

4 years of undergraduate studies + 2 years of a master’s program

  • Areas of study: Mathematics, IT Engineering and Automatic Control, Mechanical and Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Energy and Environmental Engineering, and Materials Sciences, Management, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Organization, Humanities and Foreign Languages
  • After successful completion of the first 4 years, students may choose to transition into Icam’s Master’s Degree in General Engineering.
  • Visiting students may opt for a semester in year 3 or 4.

 

 

Field

Modules – Year 1

Hours (Semester)

Semester

Fall (F) /Spring (S)

Multidisciplinary Projet (Fall & Spring)

Analysis and optimization of a complex system

75

F, S

Mathematics, IT & Automatic Control

Algorithms

13

F, S

Databases

13

F, S

Algebra

24

F

Analysis

24

F, S

Mechanical Engineering

Functional Analysis

13

F

Study of Mechanical Connections

13

F

Theory of Mechanisms

24

F

Dimensional Analysis

13

S

Structural Resistance

24

S

Electrical Engineering

Functional Decomposition

13

F

Physical Measurements

13

F

Electricity and Magnetism

24

F

Signal Analysis

13

S

Optronics

13

S

Physics (magnetism)

8

S

Optics

8

S

Physics of components, Optoelectronics

8

S

Energy-Environment-

Materials Science

Materials

13

F, S

Energy

13

F

Flight Mechanics

13

S

Humanities

International Relations

16

F, S

Identities

12

F, S

Professional Communication

12

F, S

English

12

F, S

Second foreign language

12

F, S

Societal Evolution

13

S

Management, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Organization

Management

13

F

Intro Entrepreneurship

13

F

Industrial Management

13

S

Intro to Business Management

24

S

 

 

Field

Modules – Year 2

Hours (Semester)

Semester

Multidisciplinary Projet (Fall & Spring)

Design of a self-powered, remote-controled and programmable boat

54

F, S

Mathematics, IT & Automatic Control

Algorithms III

10

F

Analysis

24

F

Algebra

12

S

System Information Modelling (UML)

10

S

Dynamic Systems – Modelisation and Simulation

10

S

Mechanical Engineering

Design and sizing rules: frame and hull

10

F

Résistance des Structures et CAO

24

F

Technology, Power Transmission and CAD

14

S

Isostatism and Hyperstatism

10

S

Electrical Engineering

Analog signal processing

10

F

Electrical Design

10

F

Electronics (Analog)

16

F

Electronics (Digital)

8

S

Digital signal processing

10

S

Engine control module design

10

S

Energy-Environment-

Materials Science

Statique des fluides

10

F

Mechanical characterization of materials

10

F

Basics of fluid mechanics; Structures and elaboration of metallic materials

12

F

Polymers; Thermodynamics

10

S

Composites

10

S

Thermodynamics (propulsion)

10

S

Humanities

The End of Oil Dependence

10

F

Contemporary Questions

10

F

Art and culture

12

S

Cultures and Civilizations

12

S

Languages, communication and creativity

8

F, S

Intercultural project

14

F

English

12

F, S

Second foreign language

12

F, S

Cultural and Territorial Specificities

10

S

Management, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Organization

From the idea to the product

10

F

Tools for group dynamics

10

F

At work: motivation

14

F, S

Intro to Industrialization

10

S

Industrialization

10

S

Methods and Quality

10

S

 

Fields

Modules – Year 3

Hours (Semester)

Semester

Cross-disciplinary boat project

Construction of a connected and remote-controlled boat

55

F, S

Mathematics, IT & Automatic Control

Web fundamentals

10

F

Dynamic systems – Ball & beam

10

F

Dynamic systems

24

F

CS – Databases

10

S

CS – Dynamic web applications

10

S

Maths – Operational Research

10

S

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing technics / Kinetic

20

F

Initial tests – Experimental Design (with EEE)

10

F

Stress concentration

10

S

Structure / Elasticity

24

S

Electrical car design (sizing) (with EEM/EEE)

20

S

Electrical Engineering

Electrical sizing

10

F

Electrical engineering

20

F

Power electronics

20

F

Photovoltaic energy source – Ceramics (with EEM)

20

S

Energy-Environment-

Materials Science

Surface treatments, and aging materials

10

F

Fluid Mechanics

10

F

Microstructure of materials, Equilibrium Diagrams,

Fluid Mechanics

24

S

Humanities

In conquest of the poles

10

F

Epistemology

16

F

Second foreign language

12

F,S

Cultural & Artistic Activities

14

F,S

Towards energy transition

10

S

Language and Culture

12

S

CSR, Sustainable development, Ethics

16

S

Management, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Organization

Innovation to apply to the boat

10

F

Business strategy 1

10

F

Industrialisation 2

20

F

Business Strategy 2

10

S

Profiles and Communication

10

S

Methods and quality 2

24

S

 

 

Field

Modules – Year 4

Hours (Semester)*

*hours not definitive

Semester

Cross-disciplinary modules &

project

Cross-disciplinary Project: Housing of Tomorrow

55

F, S

Hackathon1 EEM/EEE/MIA – Connected energy/icebox challenge

40

F

Power and frequency control of the electrical grid (MIA/EEE)

15

F

Introduction to the Internet of Things – IoT (MIA/EEE)

15

F

Analyse Cycle Vie – Life Cycle Assessment

6

F

Recycling of materials, biomaterials (MEC/EEM)

9

S

Hackathon2 EEM/EEE/MIA – Insulation materials recycling

40

S

Mechanical Engineering

Structure

16

F

Structural frame for a building

8

F

Mechanical Dimensioning of the structure selected for the project

10

S

Finite elements

15

S

RDS – Compound stress

6

S

Fundamental Principles of Dynamics

9

S

Electrical Engineering

Introduction to Microcontrolers

8

F

Internet of Things

6

F

Local Energy Production : Solar Wind Hybridization

10

S

Smart grid

8

S

Internet of things – Introduction to automation

6

S

Energy-Environment-

Materials Science

Construction materials (including Cellular architecture, Composites )

15

F

Thermal transfers

12

F

Thermography

10

S

Thermal transfers (Radiance)

12

S

Humanities

Areas of tension (geopolitics, political risks)

10

F

Geopolitics (Powers, globalization, new areas)

12

F

Language and culture of the host country

12

F

Second foreign language

12

F, S

Cultural and art activities

12

F, S

Building a new city around an industrial project

10

S

Religion in the society

10

S

International Relations (States, MNC, NGO, …)

12

S

Management, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Organization

Project Budget (costs, resources, planning, risks)

10

F

Management (role of management in an organization)

10

F

Systematic Approach to an Organisation (Sociology of Organizations)

24

F

Negotiation (Dialogue & debate, pitching, verbal and non-verbal communication)

10

S

QSE systems ISO9000, 14000

10

S

Corporate Social Responsibility : comparative analysis of one country to another

10

S

International Law and Accounting

18

S

 

Admission and fees
  • Application deadline: March 15
  • Important dates: Interviews: April | Release of interview results: mid-May
  • Admission criteria: 
    • Parcours ouvert is open to international students with a valid high school leaving exam or equivalent diploma that gives them access to Higher Engineering Education: A Levels, IB, Abitur, Bachillerato, High School Diploma, etc.
    • Language requirement: B1 level in English is required for admission (equivalent to 700 on the TOEIC). An English proficiency certificate of less than 18 months is requested. 
    • Also open to exchange students from partner universities in years 4.

The application process is broken down into 2 phases:

Phase 1: Submission of application documents

Academic results (transcripts from the last 3 years) – applicants are evaluated within the context of their country’s education system.

Two recommendation letters 

A personal statement/motivation letter

Phase 2: Two interviews (in English) to assess the following:

The candidate’s motivation for studying at Icam

Their ability to succeed in our program

Each application is assessed individually and carefully by a panel of readers. The level in science, oral or written expression, and foreign languages is assessed by an admission board, and is based on the application documents submitted by the student. The admission board attaches great importance to the student’s interpersonal skills, extracurricular activities, their ability to live together, their motivation to become an engineer, professional goals and, of course, their motivation for choosing Icam.

  1.  
  •  
  • Tuition fees: 4 years of Parcours Ouvert: € 7,240 per year | Master’s program (2 years): €7,700 per year

Other miscellaneous charges also apply:

    • Contribution to campus life: 560€ per year (associations, organized student events by the student government, photocopies/prints and other related expenses)
    • Membership to the Icam Alumni association: 500€, a one-time fee valid for life
    • To calculate the cost of living in France, please refer to our sample budget.
    • Students may benefit from scholarships and grants, details of which are shown in this link.

How to apply

Send us your personal statement together with your transcripts from the last 3 years and 2 recommendation letters.