IDIL: INTERDISCIPLINARY IN LAB

The goal of teaching in English is to make the University of Montpellier’s programs more attractive to international students. A special financial aid program has been established to encourage new international students to enroll:  

• 4-month living stipend; 
• mobility grant to cover the cost of transportation; 
• French as a Second Language classes. 

IDIL students participate in a laboratory immersion program each year, lasting between 3 and 6 months, depending on their field of study. This format allows them to gain exposure to their future professional environment as early as possible in their training. 

To promote learning, the number of traditional classroom hours has been reduced, and subject-specific concepts are now taught by a “mentor” before and during the internship. 

Practical sessions, known as “In Lab,” are also conducted by research teams in the laboratory over the course of one or two days, with the aim of teaching a specific technique, method, or concept directly in the setting where the research is being conducted. 

All internships are paid, either through the IDIL program in the first year or by the host laboratory in the second year. 

Throughout the master’s program, students are mentored by two researchers or Professors, who help them develop and advance their research projects. 

The academic advisor is available only during the first year to guide students in their career planning, serve as a liaison with their mentor, and advise them on selecting their “à la carte” course units. Thus, starting in the first year, students develop a career plan called a “personal project,” which serves as a roadmap for personalizing their education.  

The mentor supports the student throughout these two years of internship and provides all the supplementary coursework necessary for learning their primary discipline, known as “CORE.” Beyond supervising the internship, the mentor commits to integrating the student into their research team and involving them in the life of the laboratory. Thanks to their mentor, the student builds a relationship of trust with their host laboratory, where they can envision themselves pursuing their research toward a Ph.D. 

The IDIL graduate program aims to promote a multidisciplinary approach by developing a new vision of education and research, based on issues or themes situated at the intersection of several research areas. 

Students may choose their specializations from the core courses (known as “CORE”), as well as an introductory course in another discipline within the IDIL program (a course known as “NON CORE"). They also have access to methodological and professional training to develop their soft skills. 

In the second year, students from all tracks work in groups onmultidisciplinary projects that bring together their respective disciplinary skills and expertise. The goal is to develop multidisciplinary research projects.  

To strengthen bonds among students across different tracks, the IDIL graduate program has launched an innovative student community initiative inspired by the House Cup from the famous “Harry Potter ©” franchise. Students are randomly assigned to one of three houses—red, yellow, or green—which will compete throughout the year to win the “IDIL House Cup.” 

In addition to fostering a sense of belonging to the University of Montpellier and the IDIL graduate program, this outreach initiative helps build trust among students and cultivates their interdisciplinary mindset, preparing them to undertake the multidisciplinary project they will be required to complete by the end of their program.