FAQ

No.
Prior exposure is a plus, but the program provides structured instruction on:

• national methodology,
• standards,
• the responsibilities of stakeholders,
• the procedures and tools for risk management.
  The specific objective is to make you operational regarding regulations upon completion of the programme.

Yes. Advance Master programmes welcome general engineers and graduates from various backgrounds, provided their professional project is consistent with the field of the Advance Master.

Yes, it is a strong advantage.
Experience in:

• environmental consulting firms,
• technical departments of local authorities,
• construction companies,
• engineering or wastewater treatment companies,

demonstrates your familiarity with the field, regulatory constraints, and project management—three pillars of the MS-SSP programme.

It is not mandatory for Bac+5 degree holders, but highly valued. For Bac+4 degree holders, at least three years of professional experience is required.

Yes.
The MS-SSP programme welcomes a wide range of profiles: civil engineers, chemists, building specialists, biologists, geotechnicians, risk professionals, etc.
The training is structured to provide the necessary fundamentals at the start of the programme, to align levels and enable everyone to follow the technical and regulatory modules effectively.

Yes. Advance Master programs are open to international candidates holding the equivalent of a 5-year or 4-year higher education degree, according to the admission criteria.

Advance Master programs are open to candidates with a Bac+5 degree (engineer, Master 2) or a Bac+4 degree with at least three years of professional experience.

The Advance Master (MS) programme is a post-Master’s level qualification accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles.
It is aimed at Master’s graduates or Bachelor’s graduates with experience, and offers highly specialized training, immediately valuable in the job market.

A good command of French is necessary to follow the courses. International candidates must demonstrate a minimum B2 level.

The training begins every year in October.

The programme is open to:

• For young graduates holding:
  • an engineering degree (generalist or specialized: biology, chemistry, environment, civil engineering, processes…)
  • a scientific Master of Science in Engineering (Master 2)
  • a Master of Science in Engineering (Master 1) supplemented by 3 years of professional experience
• For professionals undergoing career change or advancement, in the following sectors:
  • environment,
  • risk management,
  • planning,
  • geotechnics,
  • chemistry, civil engineering…
• For holders of an equivalent foreign degree.

It is not mandatory.
However, specifying areas of interest demonstrates that you have considered your professional project.
The final topic is developed with the school and the company.

It includes the following steps:

1. Application Submission
2. Application Review
3. Interview
4. Provisional Admission
5. Company Search (if professional training contract)
6. Funding Validation
7. Final Admission

The jury relies on three main criteria:

1. Your analytical potential (scientific, technical, or regulatory).
2. Your motivation to engage with environmental and territorial challenges.
3. The coherence between your background/experience and the needs of the SSP sector.

It is not about being an expert upon entry, but about demonstrating your capacity to become one.

Clearly describe:

• the site’s context,
• your specific role,
• the methodology employed,
• the results obtained,
• your technical and human lessons learned.

Even a modest project is an excellent indicator of your ability to work on real-world industry challenges.

Yes. Enrollments are intentionally limited to ensure individualized support.

Yes. You may apply again by strengthening your application or professional project.

CV, transcripts, copies of diplomas, proof of experience, and administrative documents requested in the application.

This is a 45-minute interview designed to assess the consistency of your professional project, your motivation, and your suitability for the programme.

• Applications are open from November to the end of August.
• Term begins: October.

Ideally, as soon as applications open, because support for finding a company begins upon eligibility.

Yes, through continuing education or as part of a skill development project supported by your employer.

All three themes are represented.
Depending on the host organization, the projects may involve:

• diagnostics and characterizations,
• the design or monitoring of remediation work,
• the redevelopment of industrial brownfields,
• the definition of regional strategies,
• the management of health and environmental risks.

The MS-SSP program covers the entire value chain of SSP projects.

Yes. Eligible candidates receive support:

• assistance with revising CVs and cover letters,
• access to a network of partner companies,
• distribution of offers,
• coaching for company search,
• support until contract signing.

No.
You are first provisionally admitted, then assisted in finding your host company.

Yes, and it is very common.
Local authorities, EPCIs, public agencies, or developers seek profiles capable of:

• managing studies,
• supporting development projects,
• managing complex contaminated sites,
• processing regulatory files,
• liaising with consulting firms.

This type of mission is perfectly aligned with the objectives of the MS-SSP programme.

Yes. The Advance Master is based on a work-study program or a long-term corporate assignment.

Final admission is subject to the signing of an agreement or a contract with a company.

An alternating schedule with extended periods allowing for strong technical immersion, varying depending on the companies but generally 1 to 3 weeks school / 3 to 6 weeks company.

Work-study students primarily join:

• specialized SSP consulting firms,
• environmental remediation companies,
• social housing providers,
• local authorities,
• public bodies (ADEME, DREAL),
• urban planning agencies,
• industries with environmental liabilities to manage.

The ecology-technology-territory interconnectedness is very prominent.

Long-term internship, professionalization contract, or employee contract, depending on profiles and situations.

Specific rules apply, particularly concerning access to the professionalization contract depending on status.

Yes. Personalized support is offered to identify suitable solutions.

Yes, for candidates meeting the legal criteria (age, status, length of stay in France for non-EU citizens).

Depending on your status:

• OPCO (work-study contract or skills development plan),
• company funding,
• Pôle Emploi assistance,
• regional aid (depending on the region),
• individual funding.

• Individual: around 10,000 €
• Company-sponsored: 12,000 € to 12,500 €

Yes.
The programme includes:

• visits to polluted sites,
• practical scenarios,
• demonstrations of remediation processes,
• observations of in-situ operations or on technical platforms.

Fieldwork is essential to understand the real complexity of SSP projects.

Yes, several key tools are introduced:

• modeling software,
• risk analysis tools,
• mapping,
• GIS,
• monitoring or reporting tools.

The objective is to ensure immediate operational proficiency.

Yes. Each training course is regularly updated to keep pace with scientific, technical, and regulatory developments.

Yes.
Practical sessions cover:

• sampling,
• field investigations,
• the use of diagnostic tools,
• reading analysis results,
• interpretation of management scenarios.

The objective: to become autonomous in the analysis of a polluted site.

Each programme is structured into modules or educational groups, combining instruction, practical application, and a professional project.

Yes. The programme is demanding and requires regular commitment in addition to work placements.

It is a collaborative applied project that leverages acquired skills and prepares for project management.

The programme is structured into 5 main modules (GP 1 to GP 5):

1. Spatial Planning & Regulations
2. Characterization Methods & SSP Diagnostics
3. Geoprocesses for Depollution / Valorization
4. Associated Risk Studies
5. SSP Project Management

It also includes:

• a capstone project,
• practical case studies,
• a professional internship,
• a professional thesis evaluated by a jury.
  

A corporate assignment addresses an operational company need; a professional thesis formalizes a problem statement and an in-depth analysis, assessed by a jury.

To train SSP project managers capable of:

• Understanding and managing all phases of a depollution or rehabilitation project.
• Mastering the regulatory, normative, and economic framework of the sector.
• Choosing and implementing the appropriate diagnostic, characterization, and treatment methods.
• Interacting with all stakeholders: consulting firms, contracting companies, local authorities, developers, operators…
• Integrating health, environmental, social, and territorial challenges.

Projects applied to real-world SSP challenges:

• soil and aquifer assessments,
• measurement campaigns and characterizations,
• pollutant transport modeling,
• risk assessments,
• selection and design of remediation techniques,
• preparation and monitoring of remediation projects,
• techno-economic analyses,
• preparation of studies and regulatory reports.

The professional thesis focuses on a real-world case provided by the host company.

An active pedagogy: case studies, a guiding project, professional speakers, practical workshops, site visits.

Yes. Many candidates use the program to transition into a new field of expertise.

Yes.
The acquired skills are sought after in:

• the European programmes related to the environment,
• cross-border projects,
• major NGOs or environmental institutions.

International experience is not mandatory but constitutes a significant advantage.

Yes. The training develops technical, methodological and managerial skills that enable progression to leadership positions.

Yes.
The MS-SSP program trains professionals capable of overseeing a project comprehensively.
Many graduates currently work in:

• Client-side project management for local authorities,
• Project management assistance for public/private entities,
• Assistance in managing depollution or rehabilitation projects.

Graduates become:

• Pilote de projets Sites et Sols Pollués
• Studies & Diagnostics Engineer
• Risk and Environmental Engineer
• Remediation / Geoprocesses Engineer
• SSP or AMO Consultant
• Project Manager for Local Authorities & Developers

They work within:

• Design & Engineering Firms
• Remediation and Construction Companies
• Local Authorities & Developers
• Complex Industrial & Land Sites
• Public Agencies and Organizations (ADEME, DREAL…)

The sector is experiencing strong growth, driven by land, regulatory, and environmental challenges.

Very high. Most graduates find employment within months of completing their training.

Yes. Mines Saint-Étienne assists international students with their arrival and integration procedures.

Yes, provided they have previously completed one year of studies in France (Law of March 7, 2016).

Yes.
Graduates can pursue careers in:

• UN Environment,
• OECD,
• environmental NGOs,
• European programmes,
• agencies specializing in pollution, risk management, or urban planning.

The MS-SSP programme is an excellent springboard for these organisations.

Yes, regularly.
The SSP sector is undergoing significant international structuring, and many international students train in France to acquire specialized expertise in diagnostics, risk management, and depollution.

It depends on the programme. Some MS courses include international projects, conferences or theses that can be conducted abroad.

No, but the program regularly hosts international speakers and case studies related to global contexts.

Yes. The program welcomes international students holding an equivalent degree (Master 2, Master 1 + experience, Master of Science in Engineering degree).

Proficiency in French is required, as the courses and assignments are predominantly in French.

Yes.
They are even at the heart of the programme.
Key institutional stakeholders are involved to share:

• the latest regulatory developments,
• experience sharing,
• territorial challenges,
• industry best practices.

These interactions provide a very concrete understanding of market requirements.

Yes: expert conferences, professional workshops, themed days, workshops, site visits.

Yes, thanks to the alternating schedule and the flexibility provided for working professionals.

Yes. Graduates can join the Mines Saint-Étienne network and its thematic communities.

Libraries, workspaces, technology platforms, catering, student life, sports facilities.

Learners benefit from:

• structured courses on the national SSP methodology,
• practical workshops,
• real-world case studies,
• contributions from public bodies,
• individualized support during the professional thesis.

The goal is to master regulations in their logic and operational application.

Yes. The support includes:

• academic tutoring,
• assistance with company placement,
• company monitoring,
• supervision of the professional thesis,
• support with administrative procedures.