Master's in Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry and Materials Science

ITECH Lyon is an engineering school in France created and supported by professional federations and their companies. Since 1899, thanks to its multidsciplinary training adapted to the needs of companies, the school has trained engineers in the fields of polymers and their applications.

Master's of Engineering in Applied Chemistry

ITECH's engineering degree is a 3-year master's-level program accredited by the EUR-ACE (European Accredited Engineer) and the commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI).

The training is based on two main scientific fields: chemistry and physics-mechanics. The basic knowledge is introduced at the beginning of the curriculum (first year) and then applied to the technologies taught in the school's various majors (second and third year).

The majors

Students can follow one of the four majors completely taught in English during the second and third year of the engineering master's degree in Applied Chemistry:

• Formulation Chemistry
• Plastic Materials
• Textile Materials
• Leather Manufacturing

Hands-on training

ITECH is adamant in supplying students with a strong professional experience. On top of a multidisciplinary teaching, the institute adds a 10 month minimum of mandatory internships in companies.

Why choose Lyon?

Lyon is a dynamic and competitive city, voted 2nd best student city in France in 2021. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for cultural and artistic heritage. Lyon is renowned throughout the world thanks to its strong fields of expertise: research hubs, technologies.

But it is a cosmopolitan city where the common meets the unusual, that reveals unique world heritage sites as well some yet to be discovered by the general public. The city of Lyon helps students in proposing many services in order to facilitate access to culture and leisure. You must not forget that Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France.

The program

All four of ITECH’s majors are taught in English or French: Formulation Chemistry, Plastic Materials, Textile Materials, and Leather Manufacturing.

Formulation Chemistry

Students in this major learn to formulate paints and varnishes, inks, adhesives, and cosmetics. They select the different raw materials and develop the manufacturing process so that the final product meets the specifications both in terms of use and technical, regulatory, and environmental characteristics.

Plastics Materials

In addition to their knowledge of polymer raw materials, ITECH engineers master the eco-design of plastic parts and all the techniques for implementing and characterizing these materials (from the design of tools to the management of production in the transformation workshop).

Textile Materials

Thanks to their mastery of raw materials (natural, artificial, and synthetic) and of all the stages in the manufacture of a textile (spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing, garment making), ITECH engineers are able to develop innovative textile materials, orchestrate manufacturing and quality control, while always seeking the best environmental practices.

Leather Manufacturing

ITECH Lyon is the only school to train engineers in the field of leather. ITECH offers a comprehensive education covering the transformation of the material (from waste hides to the noble material) right up to its use (footwear and leather goods). Thus, ITECH engineers master all the stages of the industry, from chemical aspects to industrial processes.

What courses will you follow?

Students follow during the first year a core curriculum. It allows students to consolidate their scientific bases, to acquire the first notions in social sciences, humanities and economics for engineerings, and to discover the school's majors.

The second year is marked by the semester abroad in one of our partner universities and the assignment of majors. IIt is focused on polymer science, the consolidation of humanities and soft sciences, and the beginning of the specialization courses.

The third and final year allows students to carry out a team research project, and to deepen their knowledge of the major and the economic and soft sciences.

At the end of the master's degree, an ITECH engineer will have spent at least 11 months doing practical work in a company (thanks to the internships at the end of each year).

International experiences and internships

End of 1st year: International experience (6 weeks)

This international experience is prepared in advance in terms of an intercultural approach and the expectations regarding the content of the report are fully defined. This is an individual review of each student’s experience and acts as a basis for reflection during the intercultural lessons the following term.

End of 2nd year: Engineering internship (8 weeks)

Practical application with privileged trainee status allows students to come face to face with the realities of corporate life and become acquainted with companies’ material, economic and human requirements.

End of 3rd year: Final year project (5 months)

This is a project generally entrusted to young engineers. Students demonstrate that they are capable of acting autonomously and tackling complex subjects in situations that can, at times, prove complex. The project involves a minimum 5-month placement with a company or laboratory either in France or abroad.

Where can ITECH engineerings work?

Engineers specialized in formulation chemistry often work for manufacturers (notably paints and varnishes, inks, adhesives, and cosmetics) but they can also bring their skills to industries that use these products in many fields (transportation, medical, sports and leisure).

Engineers specialized in plastic materials work mainly for manufacturers of plastic parts used in all industrial sectors and more particularly in the automotive, packaging, and sports and leisure sectors.

Engineers specialized in textile materials work as much for manufacturers and users of traditional textiles (fashion, furniture, luxury goods) as for technical textiles (medical, composites, aeronautics, automotive, sports and leisure, personal protective equipment, etc.).

Engineers specialized in leather manufacturing work mainly in the luxury sector (tanneries): in the development or manufacture of exceptional leathers, as well as in the creation or production of leather goods (leather purchasing, quality, material development).

Employment after ITECH

Below you will find some statistics retrieved from the class of 2021:

Situation after 5 months

89% of graduates are in professional activity (13% of which are continuing their studies).

Activity sector

ITECH engineerings work in all types of companies: from packaging to luxury, including the automotive, sports, and cosmetics industries.

Job title

From R&D to quality control; from marketing to logistics or from entrepreneurship to production management... an ITECH engineer can perfrom a wide variety of functions in companies.

Salary of graduates

The gross annual salary of our graduates' first job.