The TAMARIN track of the Master's program in Urban Planning and Environments (VEU) offers specialized training in the analysis and support of territorial, energy and ecological transitions, particularly in island and tropical contexts.

Rooted in the field of science, technology and health, the training adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining sustainable urban planning, energy planning, risk management, sustainable mobility and digital tools (Geographic Information Systems (GIS), modeling, multi-criteria analysis).

In addition to theoretical and applied teaching, the program gives a central place to territorial simulation workshops, group projects and case studies in real conditions, which allow students to develop practical skills in diagnosis, negotiation, facilitation or project management.

The curriculum is strengthened by a strong research focus and professional immersion through internships. It prepares students for careers in territorial engineering, ecological transition, urban planning, and supporting public policies in complex and vulnerable environments.

Educational objectives:

The Master's program in Urban Planning and Environments, TAMARIN track, aims to train professionals capable of analyzing, designing and managing territorial projects that integrate the challenges of ecological transition, adaptation to climate change and resilience, particularly in island and tropical contexts.

More specifically, the training aims to:

• Developing interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of land use planning, sustainable urban planning, energy planning, risk management, mobility and the urban environment;
• Mastering territorial analysis toolsincluding geographic information systems (GIS), spatial modelling, multi-criteria analyses, vulnerability assessments and prospective approaches;
• Understanding and evaluating territorial public policies, from a perspective of decision support, support for the energy transition and local adaptation;
• Mobilizing cross-functional skills in project management, facilitating participatory processes, territorial negotiation, conducting studies and writing operational documents;
• Developing a reflective and critical stance on contemporary issues of urban development and territorial transformations, particularly in island environments;
• Linking training and research through supervised projects, applied internships and a research paper, in connection with laboratories (notably the PIMENT laboratory) and local stakeholders.

Training opportunities:

The Master's program in Urban Planning and Environments (VEU), specializing in TAMARIN (Territories, Planning, Mobility, Adaptation, Resilience, Insularity), is fully aligned with the strategic directions defined by the University of Reunion's 2026-2030 framework document. It provides a relevant and structured response to the institution's stated priorities regarding adapting its training programs to territorial challenges, professionalizing its curricula, and enhancing its international reach.

This program aims to train professionals capable of supporting territorial and energy transitions in complex island contexts. It addresses key themes such as energy efficiency, sustainable urban planning, sustainable mobility, risk adaptation, and climate change, using a systemic and interdisciplinary approach. The emphasis on overseas territorial dynamics, vulnerability assessments, foresight, and the operationalization of public policies reflects a strong focus on the needs of the territory.

The TAMARIN program features a clear structure, organized around major challenges (mobility, energy, risks, urban planning), with clearly defined skills in each module and specified professional contexts for application. It integrates instruction in English, digital tools, simulation workshops, extended internships, and a competency-based approach. The link between training and research is strengthened (significant investment from the faculty of the PIMENT laboratory), as are partnerships with local socio-economic stakeholders (numerous professionals are involved in internships, workshops, and certain modules).

The TAMARIN track of the Master's program in Cities and Urban Environments stands out due to several strengths that enhance its attractiveness and relevance, both academically and professionally:

• A strong connection to island and tropical territories allows the VEU master's program at the University of Reunion Island to be distinguished from other VEU master's programs in mainland France., with a rare specialization in the challenges of transition, adaptation and resilience in overseas environments.

This approach responds to strong local and international demand in areas vulnerable to climate change.

• An interdisciplinary and systemic approachThis program, which combines territorial, environmental, and technical sciences while integrating social, economic, and regulatory dimensions, is designed for diverse profiles and encourages an integrated vision of contemporary urban challenges.
• An active and professionalizing teaching approachBased on simulation workshops, field projects, real-world case studies, and role-playing exercises, these formats allow students to develop skills directly applicable in a professional context.
• A strong backing of research, notably through the PIMENT laboratory and scientific projects related to energy and territorial transitions. Students benefit from supervision by dedicated teacher-researchers and are introduced to applied research throughout their studies.
• Strong partnerships with local stakeholdersThese partnerships, whether institutional (local authorities, urban planning agencies), technical (design offices, public operators) or associative, support internships, professional interventions and educational projects.
• Enhanced cross-functional skills, particularly in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial modeling, multi-criteria analysis, territorial scenario planning, enabling graduates to be quickly operational in the job market.
• Training adapted to the challenges of ecological transitionwith a clear thematization (mobility, energy, climate, risks, sustainable city) and a capacity to train managers capable of acting in the areas of planning, evaluation and management of territorial projects.

Total hours worked: 808 hours

The Master's program trains professionals and researchers capable of analyzing, designing, implementing, and evaluating urban projects that integrate energy, environmental, and social considerations. It develops skills in:

• scientific and methodological (research, diagnosis, data processing)
• “technical” detectors. (spatial modelling, digital tools, environmental assessment),
• operational issues. (sustainable urban planning, public policies, urban services)
• professional (workshops, projects, internships, seminars).

The training is based on an active learning approach which:

• It alternates between lectures, tutorials, real-world workshops, modeling, seminars, and tutored projects.
• This is part of a strategy of professionalization and strong local roots.
• articulates diagnosis, design and implementation,
• It employs an interdisciplinary approach combining urban planning, environment, energy and economics.
• relies on shared modules that promote interdisciplinary openness.

Objectives:

• Developing a scientific and professional approach to planning: acquiring research methods, data processing, and territorial analysis. Training to prepare for local government competitive examinations. Completion of supervised projects (Research and Development (R&D) I to III) to initiate and deepen an applied research approach.
• Mobilizing cross-functional and digital skills: developing skills in data science, professional English, and complex systems modeling. Participation in joint seminars to promote interdisciplinary learning. Further development of advanced modeling tools (Drinking Water Supply (DWS) networks, foresight).
• Diagnosing territorial vulnerabilities and environmental challenges: identifying natural, energy and environmental risks. Ecological, energy and territorial diagnosis, particularly in island contexts. Analysis of environmental impacts via life cycle analysis and strategic assessment tools.
• Designing and managing sustainable development projects: learning urban planning tools, energy planning, and urban renewal. Training in consultation, mediation, and dispute resolution. Developing skills in urban project management, in connection with the city's public policies.
• Leveraging spatial and digital tools for territorial modeling: mastery of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I & II, spatial analysis, and BIM-CIM (Digital Modeling)) and advanced CIM. Using these tools to model territorial dynamics and aid in decision-making.
• Managing urban services from a sustainable perspective: introduction to the management of essential services: water (urban hydraulics), mobility, waste treatment, urban pollution. Developing a systemic understanding of the city through its functions and networks.
• Experimenting with urban planning project approaches: supervised workshops, real-world application in specific areas. Leveraging acquired knowledge to collaboratively develop diagnoses, strategies, and intervention scenarios. Participation in the Building and Environmental Sciences Conference.
• Gaining professional experience through internship and dissertation: long-term placement (internship) in a public, private or non-profit organization. Writing an applied research paper or final year project, validating all the skills

The skills acquired during this training are in line with those of the RNCP record 

The program includes two internship periods spread throughout the cycle: a three-month internship in the first year of the Master's program (M1), followed by a six-month internship in the second year (M2). Students can complete these internships within the same organization or in different organizations, depending on their career goals. These internships can take place in applied professional settings (local authorities, consulting firms, agencies, companies) as well as in research laboratories, in order to encourage exposure to a wide range of career opportunities.

The training also incorporates two educational approaches focused on project management:

• On the one hand, there are the Workshops: these are collaborative projects carried out in partnership with a professional organization (local authority, consulting firm, institution) that formulates a specific brief. The students, divided into groups, respond to this brief independently and are placed in a competitive situation, in a bidding process. One workshop is organized in the first year of the Master's program (M1) and another in the second year (M2), focusing on different themes and working with different clients each year.
• On the other hand, there is the Research and Development (R&D) Initiation Project: this is an individual project begun in the first year, which the student develops throughout the program. This project allows for in-depth personal reflection on an issue related to sustainable development, energy transition, or territorial vulnerability, in connection with the themes of the master's program.

Finally, project-based learning is an integral part of the master's teaching practices: many courses are based on applied projects, individual or collective, with a professional or scientific aim, promoting autonomy, creativity and the ability to solve concrete problems.

Registration fees are set annually by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space and are available on our institution's website: Register at the University of Reunion

• Having a good academic record, or even demonstrating progress during higher education studies
• Demonstrate consistency between the candidate's academic project and training
• Demonstrate analytical and writing skills
• To be autonomous, involved and rigorous
• Promoting the diversity of one's experiences and career path

• Particular attention will be paid to the grades from the different years of the candidate's post-secondary education.
• A cover letter and a career plan consistent with the training are expected.
• The cover letter submitted by the candidate will be an opportunity for them to demonstrate their writing skills by highlighting the tools and concepts related to the training program.
• Any annual evaluations of the candidate by their professors will be an asset.
• The CV will allow the candidate to highlight the specific features of their career path

• Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Energy Transition and Environment track
• Geography and Planning
• Geography and Environment
• Urban Planning and Development
• Economics and Management / Engineering Sciences / Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences (sociology, economics, political science), provided there is a strong quantitative or territorial component

Depending on the student's situation, applications for admission to the first year of the Master's program (M1) follow three specific procedures (the national platform MonMaster, Études en France, Validation of Acquired Experience). For more information, please consult the university's student services page. Enroll in the first year of a Master's program

Baccalaureate + 3 or equivalent

The VEU master's program, TAMARIN track, is primarily aimed at students holding a bachelor's degree in civil engineering (urban planning, energy transition and environment track), planning, urbanism, environment, geography, or related disciplines such as sociology, political science or territorial economics, provided that their track includes a significant component in modeling, GIS, mathematics or physics.

The recruitment targets profiles motivated by the challenges of ecological transition, territorial planning and vulnerability management, with a marked appetite for interdisciplinarity and the mobilization of analytical tools and territorial decision support.

The training can also accommodate people resuming their studies or undergoing professional retraining via the Validation of Professional and Personal Experience (VAPP) or Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) schemes.

35 seats

The admission dates for the first year of the Master's degree (M1) are set nationally each year and are available on the platform. My Master

For admission to the second year of the Master's program (M2), the schedule is determined by the institution. It is available on the student services page of the university website: Students re-registering

Success rates are high: between 90 and 100% depending on the cohort in the first year of the Master's program, and 100% in the second year over the last 5 years. Failures are generally due to a lack of internships.

The 2023 survey on the employment of graduates from the Master's program in Urban Planning and Environments shows positive results, with a response rate of 39%. At six months, 50% of the 2021/2022 graduates were employed, a rate that reached 89% at 18 months for those from 2020/2021. More than half (57,14%) were satisfied with the alignment between their studies and employment, and the transition from fixed-term contracts to permanent contracts after 18 months indicates stable employment. Graduates found a variety of jobs, particularly in public administration and the energy sector, demonstrating the Master's program's effectiveness in preparing students for diverse career paths.

The Master's program is primarily geared towards professional integration, and the majority of graduates enter the job market directly upon completion of the program. However, the strong involvement of faculty members in the curriculum allows students to gain exposure to the world of research, and for those who wish, to undertake research internships during their studies. Each year, some students choose this path. For example, in 2024, a doctoral project was initiated under a CIFRE (Industrial Agreement for Training through Research in Companies) with the Réunion Social Housing Company (SHLMR). That same year, a doctoral student from the Master's program defended their thesis, which was funded by the Department of Réunion. In 2025, a new application was submitted to the Réunion Region for doctoral funding.

The sectors of activity and types of employment targeted by this training correspond to those listed in the RNCP record

In the territorial or state civil service, or mixed-economy companies (SEM), local public companies (SPL), public agencies:

• Urban planning or development consultant
• Energy Transition Project Manager
• Sustainable Development Project Manager
• GIS/Territorial Data Analyst
• Territorial urban planner
• Urban planning manager
• Mobility/Travel Project Manager
• Urban policy project manager
• Housing/Habitat Studies Officer
• Climate plan (PCAET) / energy / biodiversity project manager
• Urban planning or renewal project manager
• Sustainable Urban Project Coordinator
• Project manager in a local mixed-economy development company (SEM) or local public companies (SPL)
• Head of territorial or land strategy

In a design office, agency or consulting firm:

• Sustainable development consultant
• Urban planning consultant / urban planning project manager
• Energy transition consultant
• Territorial Data Analyst
• Environmental project or research officer
• Expert in public policy evaluation
• Project manager for development projects (Joint Development Zone (ZAC), eco-district, mobility)