It was a first: the 55 students of the Preparatory and Degree Cycle in Engineering and Health (Pdis) began their academic year on September 1st, 2025.
A first for the students and for Mines Saint-Etienne, which is inaugurating this demanding dual degree with the Faculty of Medicine of Jean Monnet University. This unprecedented programme offers a cross-disciplinary curriculum combining mathematics, physics, engineering sciences, and health sciences. It is part of the history of Mines Saint-Etienne, the first engineering school to have offered a dual Pharmacist-Engineer track, followed by a Physician-Engineer track in 2008.
This year, 72% of the recruited students are female and 100% hold a baccalaureate with honors.
Excellence was therefore at the forefront of this day, which opened with a word from the director. Jacques Fayolle emphasized the exemplary conduct expected of this cohort within the School and beyond. While great attention was given to the academic programme, the director highlighted the importance of finding balance in student life, between work and leisure.
The orientation continued in the heart of Saint-Etienne with a large-scale scavenger hunt organized by Claire Morin, a lecturer-researcher at the Centre for Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering. Many kilometers were covered throughout the city, culminating in a well-deserved meal. Satisfied, the students enjoyed their first mathematics class taught by Laurent Navarro.
Between rigor and conviviality, this first day set the tone for the year. We welcome the young students of this new Pdis programme.
