Design Schools and Programs in France

Design Studies in France

Design in France covers graphic design, product design, spatial and interior design, fashion and digital design. It is taught in three kinds of institution: public schools of applied arts under the Ministry of Education, public schools of art and design under the Ministry of Culture, and private schools that award their own qualifications.

SpainExchange lists three schools in France with design programmes, all in Paris and all specialised in fashion: MOD'SPE Paris, International Fashion Academy (IFA Paris) and Parsons Paris.

Public diplomas in design

The main national diploma after secondary school is the DN MADe (diplôme national des métiers d'art et du design). It lasts six semesters, gives 180 ECTS credits and confers the grade of licence, the French bachelor's level. It is awarded in one of fourteen specialisms, among them graphic design, space, object, fashion, digital, animation and materials, and it includes a compulsory work placement of 12 to 16 weeks. Campus France names four public schools for these studies: Boulle, Olivier de Serres, Duperré and Estienne.

After the DN MADe, the DSAA (diplôme supérieur des arts appliqués, specialism design) adds 120 ECTS credits and is worth the grade of master.

The second public route runs through the art and design schools overseen by the Ministry of Culture: a network of 44 institutions with more than 11,000 students, according to the ministry. Their studies are organised in two steps of three and five years. The diplomas, the DNA and the DNSEP, exist with a design option and confer the grades of licence and master. The network includes specialised schools such as ENSCI – Les Ateliers in Paris.

Private schools and their qualifications

Private schools use names such as "Bachelor" and "MBA" for three-year and five-year programmes. These are the school's own qualifications. Campus France explains that the value of a French qualification is guaranteed by the State when it is a national diploma, a diploma certified by the ministry ("diplôme visé") or a title registered in the RNCP, the national directory of professional certifications. Ask each school which of these applies to the programme you want.

MOD'SPE Paris, with campuses in Paris and Lille, teaches fashion from the first year after secondary school to five years of higher education; its design track consists of a Bachelor Fashion Création followed by an MBA in artistic direction. IFA Paris describes itself as a private higher education institution established in Paris for over 40 years. It offers a three-year Bachelor Fashion Design and two-year specialised MBAs, taught in French or in English, and presents its two fields of study as RNCP-certified. Parsons Paris is the Paris campus of the New York design school Parsons School of Design.

Admission and language

Design programmes are selective. Campus France says that schools of art and applied arts admit students on the basis of a file, a competitive entry exam, an interview or a combination of these; a portfolio of work is commonly part of the file. The route depends on the diploma:

• DN MADe: open to holders of the French baccalauréat or an equivalent secondary diploma; applications go through the Parcoursup platform
• DSAA: the head of the school decides on the basis of an application file, a portfolio of work and, in some cases, an interview
• Art and design schools: the CampusArt platform covers about one hundred institutions with a single file. For entry in 2027-28, registration runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, and the filing fee is charged only if you are accepted
• Students who live in one of the 75 countries and territories covered by the "Études en France" procedure must also use that platform, which leads to the visa application

Public diplomas are generally taught in French. Some private schools teach in English: IFA Paris offers its programmes in both languages. Check the level of French each school requires.

Costs

At public institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education, the 2026-27 tuition fee for a bachelor's-level programme is €178 per year for students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland and €2,902 for other students, according to Campus France. Schools under the Ministry of Culture charge different rates, published on each school's website. Private institutions are more expensive: Campus France puts annual fees in most cases at approximately €6,000 to €18,000.

Recognition and careers

The DN MADe, DSAA, DNA and DNSEP carry ECTS credits and the grades of licence or master, which makes further study in other European countries easier. Recognition outside Europe depends on each country's rules.

The DN MADe is designed to lead to work in the design and production of objects, interactive products and services, and in the crafts. In fashion, the fields in which the three listed schools specialise, typical roles are stylist, pattern maker, collection director and artistic director.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DN MADe?

It is the French national diploma in crafts and design. It takes three years, gives 180 ECTS credits and confers the grade of licence. Applications are made through Parcoursup.

Is a "Bachelor" from a private design school an official degree?

Not necessarily. It is the school's own qualification unless the programme is a national diploma, a diploma certified by the ministry or a title registered in the RNCP. Ask the school which status the programme has.

Can I study design in France in English?

Yes, at some private schools. IFA Paris, for example, teaches its programmes in French or in English. Public diplomas such as the DN MADe are generally taught in French.