École Centrale de Lille facts for kids
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| Type | Public, graduate engineering |
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| Established | 1854-1872 |
| Students | 1300 |
| Location |
Villeneuve-d'Ascq - European Metropolis of Lille
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50°36′23″N 3°8′11″E / 50.60639°N 3.13639°E |
| Research labs | 7 |
| Affiliations | Centrale Graduate School Community of Universities and Institutions (COMUE) Lille Nord de France ASTech aerospace cluster I-Trans railways cluster |
The École Centrale de Lille (which means "Central School of Lille") is a top engineering school in France. It helps students become skilled engineers. The school started a long time ago, in 1854, as the École des arts industriels et des mines de Lille. It was later reorganized in 1872. It is now part of a group of well-known schools called the Centrale Graduate Schools.
Students at École Centrale de Lille can earn several important degrees:
- Ingénieur Centralien de Lille: This is a Master's degree for engineers. It is recognized across Europe with the EUR-ACE label.
- Masters Recherche & Doctorat: These are advanced studies that lead to a PhD (Doctorate) degree.
- Mastères Spécialisés (MS): These are special Master's degrees for specific areas of engineering.
- They also offer online courses in managing projects.
The school teaches and does research mainly in French and English. Students from many different countries come to study here.
Most of the 1,300 engineering students live in special buildings close to the school's research labs. The school is on a science and technology campus called Cité Scientifique. This campus is shared with about 20,000 students from the University of Lille. The school is located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, which is part of the larger European Metropolis of Lille in the Hauts-de-France region.
Contents
History
The École Centrale de Lille was first started in 1854. It was called the École des arts industriels et des mines de Lille. In the same year, Louis Pasteur became the head of the science university in Lille. He helped start new ways of doing research with companies. Scientists like Charles Frédéric Kuhlmann also supported this work.
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Louis Pasteur, a famous scientist who worked in Lille
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Charles Frédéric Kuhlmann, a scientist and professor
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The school building around 1860
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An old school building from 1854 to 1875
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The Institut industriel du Nord building from 1875 to 1968
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The IDN tower in 1991
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The Centrale Lille faculty tower since 1968
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Between 1854 and 1871, the number of students grew. They studied for two years to become engineers. To get into the school, students needed to have a baccalaureate degree.
In 1872, the school changed its programs to be three years long. It became known as the Institut industriel du Nord. It focused on areas like civil engineering (building things), mechanical engineering (machines), chemistry, and manufacturing. Later, in 1892, they added full courses in electrical engineering. Teaching about car design started in 1899. By 1914, more than 200 students graduated each year. Studies in aerodynamics (how things move through air) began in 1930. In 1957, the school started focusing on automatic control and computers. Later, they added courses in computer science, supply chain management, materials science, micro-electronics, and telecommunications.
Since the early 1900s, students have had to pass a difficult exam to get into the school. This exam is taken after they complete special undergraduate studies.
The school was first located in the center of Lille from 1854 to 1875. Then, it moved to bigger buildings with special labs in 1875. In 1968, it moved again to the modern campus of the Lille University of Science and Technology. This campus is in the suburbs of Lille.
How to Get In
To join the Centralien engineering Programme at École Centrale de Lille, you usually need to have studied science for two or three years in college. You also need to pass one of these:
- An admission exam called CASTing for a 2-year program.
- A tough French national exam called concours Centrale-Supelec for a 3-year program.
- A special application for "double degree" programs through TIME. This lets you study in France and another country for a total of four years.
- Other special application processes for international students from partner universities.
The Centralien Programme usually takes three years to complete. It leads to a Master's degree and includes international experience. This means students get a lot of college credits (over 300 ECTS credits) in the European education system.
Students in the TIME double degree program spend two years at École Centrale de Lille. They also spend two years at a partner school, earning two Master's degrees.
About 18% of the students at École Centrale de Lille are from other countries. All students in the Centralien Programme get to experience international work. They can do internships in companies around the world. They can also study abroad for a year or join the 2+2 year TIME double degree program.
Besides the Centralien Programme, the school offers other Master's degrees in science and engineering. These are for students who finished their undergraduate studies at other schools. You can also join a Master's research program (M2R) if you want to focus on research linked to the school's labs.
To get into one of the 6 Masters programs, your application is reviewed based on your school grades. The Masters/Research (M2R) program gives you 60 ECTS credits. It can be a good start if you want to pursue a PhD. These Masters programs can also be combined with the Centralien Programme to earn two degrees.
You can also apply for one of the 6 Specialized Masters programs. These are for advanced studies in specific engineering and management fields. To apply, you usually need to already have a Master's degree in a different science field. These specialized courses are taught in English or French. They give you 75 ECTS credits.
École Centrale de Lille is also part of the important International Master's Program in Turbulence. This program is very selective and takes two years. Students earn a Master's degree in Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence.
Research
École Centrale de Lille is part of the European Doctoral College Lille Nord de France. This college helps about 400 students earn their PhDs every year. École Centrale de Lille offers PhD degrees in 7 different engineering science areas.
Students who want to get a PhD should usually have a Master of Sciences/Research degree first. They can do their PhD research in the school's labs. This research can be academic or sponsored by companies.
If you are a PhD student or a visiting researcher, you can contact one of the 7 research labs at École Centrale de Lille.
Here are the main research areas:
- Automatic Control, Computer Science and Signal Processing
- Mechanical engineering, fluid mechanics & civil engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Power Electronics
- Electronics, Microelectronics, Nano-technologies
- Chemical engineering, Catalysis and Solid Chemistry
- Systems Engineering & Manufacturing
- Materials Science & Processing
Alumni
The Association des Centraliens de Lille is a group for people who have graduated from the school. This group supports the school and its graduates. They organize events, conferences, and help raise money for the Centrale-Initiative Foundation.
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Louis Dollo (1877), a scientist who studied dinosaurs like the Iguanodon
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Jacques Vandier (1895), who invented car brakes and clutches
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Eugène Lefebvre (1898), the first pilot in the world to die in a plane crash
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Etienne Dormoy (1906), who designed the first airplane to get a special approval in the US
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Jean Hubert (1906), an aircraft engineer who helped design a plane that flew across the North Atlantic Ocean
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Pierre Picavet (1912), who invented a special way to hang cameras for taking pictures from kites
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Lucien Chenard (1920), who was the CEO of the Chenard et Walcker car company
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Pierre Bataille (1946) and Jacques Bataille (1944), who invented Poclain hydraulic excavators
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Michel Lucas (1965), who helped create new banking computer systems for Crédit Mutuel
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Robert Castaigne (1968), a top financial officer for the TotalEnergies oil company
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Marc-Philippe Daubresse (1976), a French politician and government minister
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Hubert Sagnières (1980), the CEO of Essilor, a company that makes glasses
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Notable Teachers
Many important scientists and thinkers have taught at École Centrale de Lille:
- Claude Auguste Lamy: A chemist who discovered the element thallium in 1862.
- Joseph Valentin Boussinesq: A mathematician and physicist known for his work in fluid mechanics.
- Victor Henry: A linguist who studied languages.
- Alfred Mathieu Giard: A physicist who worked in bio-engineering.
- Bernard Brunhes: A physicist who discovered how the Earth's magnetic field can flip.
- Gaston du Bousquet: Taught about steam locomotive engines.
- Camille Matignon: A chemist who studied heat and chemicals.
- Henri Padé: A mathematician known for his work on Padé approximants.
- Albert Châtelet: A scientist and politician.
- Joseph Kampé de Fériet: Taught about fluid dynamics and information theory.
École Centrale de Lille as a Center for Engineering
École Centrale de Lille plays a key role in engineering education and research:
- International Education and Double Degrees:
- It is part of the Centrale Graduate School network, which allows students to study in different schools.
- It is also part of the Top Industrial Managers for Europe (TIME) network. This allows students to earn two degrees by studying in Europe and other parts of the world.
- Important Role in Lille:
- It works closely with the University of Lille on Master's programs and research labs.
- It partners with other specialized schools nearby, like the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Lille for chemical engineering.
- It has joint programs with business schools like ESC Lille Graduate School of Management for entrepreneurship.
- Leading Role in Europe for PhD Studies and Research:
- It is part of the European Doctoral College Lille Nord de France, which supports many PhD students.
- The school has its own research labs that work with other institutes.
- It is a member of important research groups like CARNOT ARTS and CARNOT IEMN.
- It works with other research institutes on topics like transportation and fluid mechanics.
- It also does joint research in computer science and intelligent transportation systems.
See also
In Spanish: École centrale de Lille para niños
