The 2025–2026 application campaign is now open.
Please note that the document entitled “continuation of studies approval” (avis de poursuite d’étude) is optional, not mandatory.
If this document is not available and the online platform requires it in order to validate your application, you may simply upload a blank page in its place.
Certificates of student engagement or professional activity are required only if applicable.
If you are not concerned, please upload a blank page stating “not applicable”.
In the absence of grades for course units (UE) related to animal or human physiology, please enter “999” in the corresponding field.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024–2025
Information meeting and academic registration for M1: Monday, 2 September 2024, at 2:00 pm (Berthollet Lecture Hall).
Attendance is mandatory.
The Master’s in Integrative Biology and Physiology (BIP) aims to train physiologists capable of integrating the latest advances in cellular and molecular biology with the study of the whole animal, in order to understand both functional complexity and pathological dysregulation.
Integrative biology and physiology are essential to interpret and synthesise the vast amount of data produced by modern high-throughput analytical technologies.
This programme provides students with comprehensive expertise in physiology, with specialised pathways closely linked to local research structures, thereby enabling graduates to pursue doctoral studies or to access high-level professional positions.
The scientific objectives of the research-oriented track are to help students, through guided autonomy, build a solid foundation of knowledge and a specific area of expertise.
This allows them to understand the complementarity between different levels of analysis — molecular, cellular, and integrated — at both fundamental and clinical levels, while developing practical skills and technical proficiency in designing, organising, conducting, and communicating scientific research.
In the second year (M2), students can specialise in one of the main thematic fields developed in Lyon:
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Environmental and Muscle Physiology (EMP) – environmental physiology, ecophysiology, and neuromuscular physiology
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Cardiac and Nutritional Physiopathology (RCMN)
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Animal Experimentation (RAPC)
These M2 tracks share a high degree of mutualisation (around 60% of the 60 ECTS credits), as recommended by the HCERES report, while maintaining specific modules to ensure high-level specialised training, clarity, and strong appeal within the targeted disciplinary areas.
The common physiology courses for these tracks are taught during the first year (M1).
The EMP and RCMN tracks prepare students for doctoral studies, particularly within the interdisciplinary doctoral school in Health Sciences (EDISS).
Graduate outcomes include approximately 60% continuing to a PhD, 10–20% pursuing complementary studies to gain dual expertise (for instance in management, business, or economics), and 10–20% entering the workforce directly as research engineers or sales engineers.
These tracks have also led to professional opportunities (around 20%) for students with backgrounds in medicine, pharmacy, or veterinary sciences.
The RAPC track aims to facilitate rapid entry into the professional world, focusing on the interface between fundamental and applied research, developed through collaboration with the regional industrial network in the field of animal experimentation.
This track has demonstrated a very high employment rate (>90%), with graduates working as preclinical research study directors, R&D project managers, research engineers, and managers of experimental platforms.
It also offers the possibility of pursuing a PhD for students wishing to specialise further in R&D or fundamental research (approximately 5–10%).
Since 2008, the joint accreditation of this programme with VetAgro Sup has added a veterinary clinical research component, enabling fifth-year veterinary students to follow a “veterinary pathway”, corresponding to the regulatory role of designated veterinarian (vétérinaire référent).
The Master’s degree offers progressive specialisation over four semesters (M1 to M2), following a structure that features strong mutualisation with several other Master’s programmes at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1.
The first semester (S1) of the M1 and part of the second semester (S2) are common to all pathways, allowing students to access any of the M2 specialisations.
The first semester includes 30 mandatory ECTS credits, of which 90% are shared with the Neurosciences programme.
It comprises both “toolbox” courses (methodology, statistics) and disciplinary courses covering physiology and neuroscience — such as Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Differentiation and Physiology of Excitable Cells, and Experimental Practices in Physiology and Neuroscience.
These courses provide students with essential knowledge of physiology, from whole-organism functioning down to cellular and molecular levels.
Core units (Semester 1):
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Integrative Physiology (6 ECTS)
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Physiology of Ion Transport (6 ECTS)
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Methodology and Statistics (6 ECTS)
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Models and Methods in Physiology (6 ECTS)
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Applied Physiology in Pharmacology (6 ECTS) or Endocrine Physiopathology (6 ECTS)
In the second semester, 12 ECTS (40%) are common to all pathways of the programme and shared with the Neurosciences Master’s degree (English, Internship, and Human Development modules), as well as with other Biology programmes.
The mandatory internship must be completed in a laboratory or company, and is assessed through a written report and an oral defence.
Through elective courses, 18 ECTS of specialised units allow students to deepen their foundational knowledge in animal and human physiology, first introduced in S1, while progressively orienting their studies toward the M2 specialisations.
Optional courses also provide an opening to emerging topics, such as Immunometabolism and Physiology of Ageing.
The teaching units (6 ECTS) of the core curriculum (semester 2) are:
The optional teaching units (6 ECTS) to be chosen (2 units to be selected from 3) in semester 2 are:
- Metabolic and Nutritional Regulations and Adaptations (March–April)
- Physiology of Environmental Adaptations (March–April)
- Physiopathology of the Muscle Cell (April–May)
The optional 3-ECTS teaching units to be chosen (2 to be selected from the list) are:
- Physiopathology of Cardiovascular Regulations
- Scientific Project Design
- Neurobiology of Behaviour
- Immuno-metabolic Pathologies
- Comparative Physiology of Ageing
In M2, in Semester 3, 6 ECTS are common to three of the four pathways, provided as “tool” modules (English, statistical methods), while 24 ECTS are specific to each track.
The specialised modules of each track provide advanced, high-level training and, in some cases, are shared with other programmes such as the Molecular and Cellular Biology Master’s degree or the STAPS Master’s degree – Movement, Performance, Health, and Innovation track.
In Semester 3, disciplinary courses also include pre-professional components, such as teaching practice, scientific presentations, or collaboration with partner companies (particularly for the RAPC pathway).
Semester 4 is entirely dedicated to a laboratory or company internship, which is common to all pathways.
After completing the Master’s degree:
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After an M2 with a Research internship: students often continue towards a PhD (doctoral studies with a research contract – ADR).
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After an M2 with a Professional internship: students typically move directly into employment.
Career paths:
With a Master’s degree, graduates can access engineering-level positions
- in both the private and public sectors, within a wide range of industries:
- health, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agri-food, local authorities, preclinical research, and nutrition.
With a PhD, graduates can pursue careers in research and higher education.
Latest OVE survey (graduates 2009–2013): 320 respondents out of 447 graduates:
36% employed,
48% pursuing further studies.
Survey at 30 months (Class of 2013):
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Among 69 students enrolled in research-focused M2 programmes (including 38 in the BIP track): 73% continued their studies, 25% were employed, and 1.7% were seeking employment.
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Among 31 students in professional M2 programmes (including 20 in the BIP track): 20% continued their studies, 80% were employed, with 65% on permanent contracts (CDI).
