COAStal managemenT and vulnerabilities (COAST)
Aix-Marseille University
Reference Teacher: François Sabatier (Cerege, AMU)
Teacher(s): François Sabatier, senior lecturer, Cerege, AMU / Edward Anthony, university professor, Cerege, AMU / Christophe Morhange, university professor, Cerege, AMU / Hélène Bruneton, senior lecturer, Cerege, AMU / Vincent Moron, university professor, Cerege, AMU / Anne Cadoret, senior lecturer, TELEMMe, AMU / Florent Lombard, senior lecturer, ESPACE, AMU / Samuel Robert, CNRS Research Director, ESPACE, AMU / Ricard Pascale, CNRS research fellow in law, UMR DICE 7318, AMU / Kalliopi Baïka, senior lecturer, Centre Camille Julian, AMU
The programme equips students with strong skills in coastal geomorphology, environmental diagnostics, and coastal territory management, while also developing the ability to design adaptation and resilience strategies for coastal areas. The course addresses key themes related to the transformation of coastal environments, including sea-level rise, coastal conservation, beach erosion, integrated coastal zone management, and coastal adaptation to climate change. It provides students with the analytical tools necessary to understand the dynamics of coastal systems and to support decision-makers in the design and monitoring of territorial diagnostics. In a research-oriented perspective, the programme also encourages critical reflection on the tensions between development, environmental protection, and sustainability transitions in coastal areas. Teaching combines theoretical courses, fieldwork, methodological training, modelling approaches, and case studies focusing on French, Mediterranean, and international coastal environments.
The COAST Master’s programme provides advanced training in coastal systems and their management in the context of global environmental change. It focuses on the analysis of coastal processes, coastal vulnerability, and the development of sustainable strategies for coastal adaptation and resilience. The programme prepares students for careers in research institutions, public administrations, consultancy firms, and NGOs involved in coastal and marine management.
The teaching staff is complemented by professional practitioners, who contribute to approximately 20% of the courses, bringing applied perspectives from the socio-economic and institutional sectors. These contributors include experts from organisations such as Plan Bleu, the Conservatoire du Littoral, the Calanques National Park, CEREMA, the French Biodiversity Agency (Office Français de la Biodiversité), NGOs, and other public institutions.
The COAST Master’s programme lasts two years. During the first semester of the first year (M1), students take a general core curriculum focused mainly on research methodologies and specific courses in the COAST programme. The second semester includes additional thematic courses and ends in April to allow students to devote time to their first research dissertation.
During the second year (M2), the first semester is devoted to advanced courses in the COAST programme. In the second semester, students carry out a supervised team project in January and February, simulating the working environment of a consulting company, before beginning their research internship and Master’s thesis from March to September.
The COAST programme is delivered by a teaching team primarily composed of faculty members and researchers specialising in coastal environments. The programme particularly relies on the expertise of researchers from the CEREGE, TELEMMe, and ESPACE research units (CNRS – Aix-Marseille University), ensuring a high level of scientific specialisation.
In addition to classroom courses, the programme includes summer schools, field placements and participation in scientific conferences.
Students will acquire advanced knowledge of coastal geomorphology, coastal environmental dynamics, and the impacts of climate change and human activities on coastal systems. They will develop a comprehensive understanding of coastal risks such as shoreline retreat, sea-level rise, storm surges, and dune mobility, as well as of governance frameworks related to coastal management and marine conservation, including Marine Protected Areas and integrated coastal zone management.
Students will be able to conduct environmental diagnostics of coastal territories using geographical methods and spatial analysis tools such as GIS. They will learn to analyse coastal risks, evaluate coastal protection strategies, and contribute to the design of adaptation measures to climate change. Students will also develop the ability to use numerical modelling tools and spatial data to support coastal management and decision-making processes.
The programme develops students’ critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyse planning documents and public policies related to coastal management, evaluate the sustainability and effectiveness of coastal protection measures, and assess the environmental and social implications of coastal development strategies. Students will also learn to critically interpret scientific data and territorial diagnostics in order to support informed decision-making.
Students will develop the ability to communicate scientific and technical analyses both orally and in writing. They will learn to present research results, territorial diagnostics, and project proposals to academic audiences as well as to institutional stakeholders and decision-makers. The programme also encourages collaborative work and professional interaction in multidisciplinary and international environments. Master’s theses and oral defences are conducted in English.
The programme strengthens students’ capacity for autonomous learning, research, and collaborative work. Students will develop analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and data interpretation skills, enabling them to adapt to evolving scientific and professional contexts related to coastal and environmental issues. The programme also prepares students to work in an English-speaking academic and professional environment.
Holder of a bachelor’s degree in geography or a related discipline, subject to review by the equivalency committee. Solid academic level throughout the geography bachelor’s degree program. The application presents a coherent and motivated study and/or professional project, in line with the content and objectives of the selective program applied for, and demonstrating that the applicant has a good understanding of the program.
Teaching combines lectures, seminars, field trips, summer schools, and project-based learning in order to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Fieldwork plays a central role in the programme, allowing students to observe coastal processes directly and to apply research methods in real-world environments. Students also participate in supervised group projects, internships, and research immersions within partner laboratories.
The programme benefits from strong interactions between academic staff and professionals involved in coastal management, risk prevention, and marine conservation. Guest lecturers and practitioners regularly contribute to the teaching activities, providing insights into the practical challenges of coastal governance and environmental management. COAST also promotes a strong cohort dynamic through interactions between first- and second-year students, collaborative activities, and student-led initiatives such as the management of the programme’s LinkedIn page.
Assessment is carried out at the level of each course unit and organised according to blocks of knowledge and competencies (BCC), combining continuous assessment and final evaluations such as written exams, oral presentations, project reports, fieldwork activities, and the defence of research dissertations, using the French grading scale (0–20) with possible conversion to the ECTS grading scale.
The programme aims to provide students with advanced scientific and professional skills enabling them to analyse coastal dynamics, assess coastal risks, and design sustainable management strategies for coastal environments. It prepares students to work in research institutions, public administrations, consultancy firms, and non-governmental organisations dealing with coastal and marine issues.
The programme benefits from a strong network of academic and institutional partners, including research laboratories such as CEREGE, ESPACE, and TELEMMe, as well as public institutions such as the Conservatoire du Littoral, Cerema, the City of Marseille, the Aix-Marseille Metropole, and Plan Bleu. https://formations.univ-amu.fr/pdf/5HGA-PRHGA5AF-fr.pdf
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The programme also offers mobility opportunities through Erasmus+ and CIVIS partnerships, including funding for short research stays abroad during the Master’s thesis. Additional mobility grants may be available through the OCEAN ( https://institut-ocean.univ-amu.fr/fr) and ITEM (https://institut-item.univ-amu.fr/fr) institutes.
The expected learning outcomes can contribute to the achievements of the following goals: Goal 14: Life below water, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 4: Quality Education
– Applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree in Geography are eligible to apply for the Master’s programme. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in related fields such as marine sciences, earth sciences, spatial planning, political science, law, or engineering may also apply.
– Applications are submitted through the national application platform MonMaster and are assessed based on the applicant’s academic record.
https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/master/universite-d-aix-marseille/geographie-amenagement-environnement-et-developpement-10
– Applicants holding a degree from another discipline or seeking specific admission procedures may consult additional information at: https://allsh.univ-amu.fr/fr/formation/scolarite
– International students applying from outside France must follow the :
https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/candidature-enseignement-superieur-france
– For continuing education applicants, enrolment is managed by the Continuing Education Office (UFR ALLSH). https://allsh.univ-amu.fr/fr/formation/formation-continue
The programme includes nine specialised courses:
Experimental approaches to coastal processes through field methods, including remote sensing, hydrodynamic measurements, topographic surveys, and numerical modelling.
Spatial and economic dynamics of coastal areas (urbanisation, tourism, industry) and planning tools such as GIS and legal frameworks.
Physical processes shaping coastlines, including sediment transport, erosion, and accretion in beaches, dunes, estuaries, and rocky coasts.
Impacts of climate change and human activities on coastal systems, vulnerability to sea-level rise, and adaptation scenarios.
Analysis of anthropogenic pressures such as urbanisation, tourism, fisheries, and energy development, and associated management tools.
Evaluation of coastal protection strategies including hard engineering, beach nourishment, and nature-based solutions.
Integrated coastal zone management approaches and the analysis of public policies and strategic planning frameworks.
Governance, effectiveness, and social acceptance of Marine Protected Areas in biodiversity conservation.
Introduction to numerical models (such as Delft-3D and Mike21) used to simulate coastal evolution under marine forcing and climate change.
Selected scientific articles, policy reports, and reference books in coastal geomorphology, coastal management, ocean conservation and climate change adaptation will be provided during the courses.