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Architecture Schools and Programs in France

Architecture Studies in France

In France, architecture is taught outside the universities, in a small network of specialised schools called écoles nationales supérieures d'architecture (ENSA). Only graduates who complete the full route can register with the professional body, the Ordre des architectes, and take on building projects in their own name. The route takes at least six years.

According to the Ministry of Culture, about 20,000 students are studying architecture in its schools, and 30,500 architects were registered with the Ordre des architectes in 2023.

How the degree is organised

Studies follow the European bachelor's, master's and doctorate structure, in three cycles described by the Ministry of Culture:

  • First cycle, three years: the diplôme d'études en architecture (DEEA), which confers the grade of licence (bachelor's level)
  • Second cycle, two years: the diplôme d'État d'architecte (DEA), which confers the grade of master
  • Third cycle, three years: the doctorate in architecture, awarded jointly with universities

The DEA allows graduates to work as salaried architects in design, consultancy, urban planning and technical studies. To practise independently, a further qualification is needed: the HMONP (habilitation à l'exercice de la maîtrise d'œuvre en son nom propre). It takes one year, with at least 150 hours of theory and at least six months of professional practice, and can be taken at any point in a career. The HMONP allows registration with the Ordre des architectes.

After the DEA, schools also offer one- to two-year specialisation diplomas (DSA) in four fields: urban project, project management for clients, major risks and heritage. The schools have set up 35 double-degree tracks with engineering schools and universities, for example architect-engineer, architect-urban planner and architect-designer.

Where it is taught

Campus France describes the ENSA as a network of 20 public schools overseen by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education. Two other institutions belong to the same network and award equivalent degrees: the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris, which is private, and the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) in Strasbourg, where all architecture students follow a combined architect and engineer track.

The schools are spread across the country, with several in the Paris region and others in cities such as Nantes, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Rennes. The ENSA de Bretagne in Rennes, for example, reports 608 students on its website (October 2026), of whom 291 are in the DEEA and 254 in the DEA, and runs a double master's with the engineering school INSA Rennes.

SpainExchange lists two universities in France under architecture: the American University of Paris (AUP) and the Université de Rennes. Neither is part of the ENSA network, so neither awards the DEEA or the DEA. They are options for related study. AUP, an English-language university with 25 majors, has no architecture major; its Art History major covers visual and material culture from the ancient to the modern period. Students who want the French architect's diploma should apply to one of the schools of architecture.

Admission and language

Foreign students who want to enter the first year of a school of architecture use the DAP (demande d'admission préalable), the preliminary admission request. It is mandatory for non-European students. Campus France explains that the "yellow file" is the one for schools of architecture. For entry in 2027-28, DAP registration runs from 1 October to 15 December 2026.

Students who live in one of the 75 countries and territories covered by the "Études en France" procedure complete the DAP online on that platform; others apply through the French embassy in their country. The CampusArt platform also accepts applications for architecture at different levels. Teaching in the ENSA is in French, and each school publishes its own requirements for international candidates, including the level of French and any portfolio or interview.

Costs

The schools of architecture are public, but they do not apply the standard university tariff. Campus France notes that institutions under the Ministry of Culture, including those for architecture, charge different tuition rates and advises checking the fees on each school's website. The private École Spéciale d'Architecture sets its own fees.

Recognition and careers

The DEEA and DEA carry the grades of licence and master, which places them in the European degree framework. Recognition for professional practice outside France depends on the rules of each country, so students who plan to work elsewhere should ask the professional body there before enrolling.

The ministry lists the typical employers of DEEA holders: architecture, urban planning, interior architecture and design offices, engineering consultancies, construction companies and development agencies. Holders of the DEA can also work for the State or local authorities, practise interior architecture or act as advisers.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become an architect in France?

Five years for the diplôme d'État d'architecte (three for the DEEA and two for the DEA), plus one year for the HMONP if you want to practise in your own name.

Can I study architecture at a French university?

The state diplomas are awarded by the 20 national schools of architecture and by two institutions with equivalent degrees, the École Spéciale d'Architecture and INSA Strasbourg. Universities take part through joint degrees and doctorates.

How do international students apply?

For the first year, through the DAP procedure, which is mandatory for non-European students. Registration for 2027-28 closes on 15 December 2026.

What is the HMONP?

It is the one-year qualification, taken after the DEA, that allows an architect to register with the Ordre des architectes and take responsibility for building projects.