Parcours Advanced Biology Training (ABT)

The Life Science degree of Nantes Université offers its students the Advanced Biology Training (ABT) program that allows them to follow scientific classes taught in English. At the same time advanced English lessons enable students to improve their command of the language.

This course provides the tools you need to approach the job application process with confidence in a country where English is the working language.

 

New for the 2025/2026 academic year: The Advanced Biology Training (ABT) programme is now available from the first year of undergraduate study!

A group of 36 students will be able to attend tutorials in English for four modules in the second semester of the first year of the Life Sciences degree (Microbiology, Biochemistry, Mechanisms of Evolution and Formal Genetics). They will also receive support from their English tutor to help them build their scientific vocabulary.

The ABT programme in the first year of the Science stream is a lighter version of the programme offered in the second and third years of the ABT stream, where entire modules are taught in English. This course therefore allows students to assess whether this teaching method suits them. Interested sixth-form students must apply through ParcourSup.

Features of the ABT programme in Year 2 :

Students receive extra tuition in English :

• Systematic training in both reading and listening comprehension takes place, in particular in the multimedia room.
• Preparing to write CVs and cover letters, as well as practising speaking on the phone or in meetings, also provides an opportunity to explore the vocabulary areas covered by the TOEIC.
• Disciplinary course in English:
  • The Microbiology module programme (lectures, tutorials, practicals) in Semester 3 is exactly the same as the one taught in French on the other courses.
  • The BESTLab module – Basic Experiments and Safety Tools in Laboratories – takes place in September. It is an introduction to laboratory experimental methods (1.33 hours of lectures, 2.66 hours of tutorials and 17 hours of practicals) and is delivered entirely in English.

Students benefit from in-depth scientific study through an additional 48-hour module (ABT tutored module) assessed in semester 4.
This course places a strong emphasis on independent study, with students working in pairs and receiving guidance from lecturers on their research. Students are required to produce a report and present it orally.

 

Features of the ABT programme in Year 3 :

5 modules are taught entirely in English during the first semester of the third year : Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Immunology, Biomolecules and their functions, Practical work (methods in cell and molecular Biology et methods in Biochemistry) and Virology and Mycology.
 
A course specifically designed for the TOEIC, in the fifth semester, part of the course is delivered in a multimedia room. The TOEIC certifies language proficiency and is an asset for entering the job market. Achieving a B2 level, according to the Common European Framework of Reference (see the link, in English), is a prerequisite for the validation of the ‘Advanced Biology Training’ module on the diploma supplement. Students must therefore achieve a minimum score of 785 on the TOEIC, or a minimum score of 87 on the TOEFL. If a student does not wish to take the TOEIC test or if the score achieved is insufficient, the student will complete their third year in the same way as students enrolled on other programmes (please refer to the specific section on validation requirements).

A series of lectures delivered in English by academic staff enables students to build on the linguistic and academic work undertaken during their course. These lectures form the basis for an individual oral assessment.

In the sixth semester, students on the ABT programme are strongly encouraged to undertake a work placement in a company or laboratory.

 

Requirements for obtaining ABT accreditation

L2 :

• Overall average of 12 or above
• Microbiology ABT of 10 or above
• English ABT of 10 or above
• Tutor-led module ABT of 10 or above

• Overall average of 12 or above
• English 5 ABT score of 10 or above
• English 6 ABT score of 10 or above
• TOEIC score of 785 or above, or TOEFL score of 87 or above, or an international exchange programme (one or two semesters) with courses taught in English.

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