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Architecture, fashion, design, visual and graphic arts, cinema, comics... France has about a hundred art schools, more than 450,000 jobs in culture and industry and 100,000 craftsmen specialized in fields such as jewellery, silversmithing, watchmaking, woodworking, graphic arts, performing arts, etc....

CHOOSE AN ESTABLISHMENT

There are several types of institutions that teach artistic disciplines. The most emblematic are the Écoles des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts schools), with a project-based pedagogy that promotes the development of one's artistic identity and a critical view of creation in general.

 

Schools of applied arts (or "decorative arts") offer more technical and specialized education, emphasizing expertise and innovation.

 

Universities often offer artistic courses and are less selective, but the content of the courses is more theoretical, and is mainly suitable for those who wish to focus on teaching.

 

There are also many private schools, some of which are highly recognized by professionals and often occupy the first places in the rankings. They offer highly specialized teaching (illustration, animation, storyboard, video games, web design, etc.), have quality equipment, and their professional network promotes rapid integration into the world of work. However, training is more expensive, generally between 6,500 and 8,500 euros per year.

STUDY AT THE FINE ARTS SCHOOL

France has about 40 national higher arts schools, known as schools of fine arts (Écoles des Beaux-Arts). These are public schools under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture. Entry is on a different exam for each school, and is extremely selective.

 

The curriculum prepares students for design-creation professions (painter, photographer, designer, illustrator, etc.) and is structured as follows:

 

DNA: National Diploma of Art (Bac +3, Licence degree)

DNSEP: National Superior Diploma of Plastic Expression (bac +5, master's degree)

The first year is common to all. In the 2nd year, the student chooses a speciality (art, communication or design). The 2nd and 3rd years alternate courses, workshops, seminars and personal projects.

 

For students pursuing a DNSEP degree, the 4th and 5th years offer a freer organization of work, where the student develops his own artistic project as well as a thesis at the end of his studies.

 

DNA and DNSEP are taught 100% in French.

 

Post-master or doctoral degrees are also available.

 

For more information, see the ANdÉA website (National Association of Higher Art Schools).

STUDY AT A HIGHER SCHOOL OF APPLIED ARTS

There are 7 Schools of Applied Arts (ESAA) in France, a public and very selective institution.

 

Attention, reform in progress!

 

The National Diploma of Arts and Design Professions (DN MADE) has been a new three-year diploma since 2018. It will replace, at the beginning of the 2019 academic year, the MANAA (Upgrading in Applied Arts), BTS (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur) and DMA (Diplôme des Métiers d'Art) programmes. This diploma confers the degree of licence (Bac +3) and allows a direct professional integration or a continuation of studies in DSAA or DNSEP. There are 14 different specialities. It prepares students for careers in more specialized fields such as graphic arts, set design, jewellery, artwork, costumes, musical instruments or animated films.

 

More information on DN MADE

 

The application is made via the new Parcoursup platform. Consult our article about this, to find out how to proceed.

 

The DSAA (Diplôme Supérieur des Arts Appliqués) is a master's degree (bac +5). It requires 2 years of training and prepares you for the professions of designer, stylist, interior designer, etc. The diploma is divided into 4 categories: space, graphics, product and fashion.

 

The DN MADE and DSAA are taught 100% in French.

STUDY IN A PRIVATE ART SCHOOL

Private art schools can offer equivalent diplomas to public schools. Tuition fees are higher (generally from €6,500 to €8,500 per year). Although in general it is advisable to give priority to training courses that are recognised by the State and/or by professional organisations, it is mainly the reputation of institutions in the professional world that gives credit to their training courses. It is therefore advisable to consult the opinions of professionals, and rankings on sites such as www.letudiant.fr or etudiant.lefigaro.fr

 

Private schools more often than public schools offer training in English.

I AM APPLYING DIRECTLY TO THE INSTITUTION

For the above-mentioned training courses, you must apply directly to the institution. Find out how by reading our article: 'I have been accepted'.

 

Please note that for many of them, entry is by competition. 

STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY

The University offers more theoretical art courses at the undergraduate, professional degree (Bac +3), master (Bac +5) and doctorate (Bac +8) levels.

 

The objective of these training courses is to acquire a solid general and artistic culture and tools for reflection on the art world. Among the different courses offered, there are: performing arts, plastic arts, art history and archaeology, musicology, cultural mediation, visual communication, etc....

 

All universities (with the exception of Panthéon Assas) are connected to the “Études en France” platform. To apply, consult the tutorial corresponding to your level of education:

 

START WITH AN ART AND DESIGN PREPARATORY CLASS

The CPGE (Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles) is a two-year course given in high schools in France. It is accessible after the baccalaureate, and prepares students to take the entrance exams to art schools.

 

The preparatory class does not lead to a diploma, but gives the right to European credits and allows an entry to the University in L3. Registered in the LMD system, the preparatory class validates ECTS (120 maximum at the end of the 2 years) which allows equivalences to be obtained in the event of reorientation.

 

More information on the art and design preparatory class.

 

For the preparatory class, apply on Parcoursup!

 

CPGEs are taught 100% in French.

CAMPUSART

CampusArt is a network of 120 French higher education institutions offering training in art, design, fashion, music, architecture, 3D,... led by the Agence Campus France in Paris, with the support of the Ministries of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Culture, as well as ANdÉA (Association nationale des écoles supérieures d'art).

 

The CampusArt network offers students from all over the world a choice of artistic training courses at the preparatory classes FLE + Art, Licence, Master, post-Master and Doctorate level, adapted to the expectations of the international public. These courses, more than 400 to date, offered mainly by public or private higher schools of art and architecture and universities, are presented on the site in the catalogue accessible from the home page.

Are you interested in studying art, design or architecture? CampusArt allows you to apply online quickly, to more than 70 schools with a single application!

 

 

 

Applications are generally open from November to February. Pre-selection interviews take place soon after. Institutions give a pre-registration response in March.

 

In addition to your application on CampusArt, you must also apply on the “Études en France” platform. You will have to follow the appropriate schedule for your choice of studies.

 

Some institutions are visible on CampusArt and not on “Études en France”, don't panic. You can take a look at the list of the connected establishments to the “Études en France” procedure here.

 

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