Program Overview

Program Overview

The M2 Climate, Land Use and Ecosystem Services program is a master's program that focuses on the interactions between terrestrial ecosystems and the climate system. The program aims to provide students with the scientific knowledge, know-how, and skills necessary to understand the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems in response to major drivers such as climate change, land-use change patterns, and ecosystem management technologies.

Objectives

The overarching objective of this MSc program is to provide students with in-depth knowledge of biosphere-climate interactions, methods to assess ecosystem services, and awareness of the panel of technological options available in terms of land-use planning management to promote sustainable development in rural and semi-urban areas.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this program will possess career prospects in various fields, including:

• Researcher or teacher-researcher after a doctorate
• Chargé(e) d’études after a master's degree
• Services agricoles, environnement, or développement durable
• Aménagement des collectivités or services de l’Etat
• Organisations and associations de développement agricole or de protection/conservation de la nature
• Bureaux d'études spécialisés dans l'évaluation des impacts environnementaux
• Entreprises du secteur privé, including production agricole

Fees and Scholarships

The amounts may vary depending on the program and personal circumstances. More information on tuition fees and scholarships is available.

Admission

The program has a limited number of available places (22). The public targeted by this program includes individuals with knowledge of biosphere-climate interactions from a biological and physical perspective.

Application Period

The application period is from February 2, 2026, to June 15, 2026.

Supporting Documents

The following documents are required:

• Rank of previous year and size of the promotion
• Motivation letter in English
• List of other masters requested (excluding Saclay)
• Professional project in English
• All transcripts of the years/semesters validated since the high school diploma at the date of application
• Certificate of English level (B2 or upper)
• Curriculum Vitae in English Additional supporting documents may include:
• Referring contact information (compulsory for non-international applicants)
• Letter of recommendation from a trainee
• Certificate of French (compulsory for non-French speakers)

Program Details

The master's program is organized into a first semester that provides skills, knowledge, and expertise, followed by a second semester of practical experience in an internship, culminating in the writing of a thesis and a defense. The program is taught in English.

Location

The program is located in Palaiseau.

Research Areas

The program focuses on terrestrial ecosystems, climate change, land-use change patterns, and ecosystem management technologies. The economic sectors targeted include agriculture, forestry, the agri-food sector, energy, and the bio-economy. The program is also relevant to policy-making in the area of environmental regulation and natural resources management, from local to global scales.