Fine Arts Schools and Programs in France

Fine Arts Studies in France

Fine arts in France can be studied in two different settings. Public art schools (écoles supérieures d'art), supervised by the Ministry of Culture, train artists through studio practice and award their own national diplomas. Universities teach the subject as arts plastiques, a more theoretical degree within the standard licence and master's structure. The two routes differ in admission, teaching and cost, so the first decision is which one fits your plans.

SpainExchange lists four institutions in France with fine arts programmes: two in Paris, one in Saint-Denis, next to Paris, and one in Metz.

Art schools: DNA and DNSEP

According to the Ministry of Culture, its network of art schools has 44 institutions with more than 11,000 students, spread across the country, including two overseas. The national association of these schools, ANdÉA, lists 43 public schools of art and design on its website in 2026. Among them are the Beaux-Arts de Paris, the Villa Arson in Nice and the École Supérieure d'Art de Lorraine, which has a site in Metz.

Studies are organised in two steps, of three and five years:

• DNA (diplôme national d'art), after three years, with the grade of licence (bachelor's level)
• DNSEP (diplôme national supérieur d'expression plastique), after five years, with the grade of master

Both exist in an art option, alongside design and communication options. The ministry describes the teaching as an education in art through art, with a constant dialogue between practice and theory, given by artists, theorists and culture professionals.

Universities: arts plastiques

At a university, the licence takes six semesters (180 ECTS credits) and the master's degree four more (120 ECTS credits). The Université Paris 8 Vincennes - Saint-Denis, for example, has a department of arts plastiques within its faculty of arts, philosophy and aesthetics, next to departments of photography, cinema, and arts and image technologies, and offers a master's degree in arts plastiques. The Université de Lorraine, also in the list, has its campuses in Metz and Nancy.

The list also includes two private institutions. The American University of Paris, which teaches mainly in English, offers a Fine Arts major that introduces drawing, painting and sculpture and the materials and techniques of earlier masters. Parsons Paris is the Paris campus of the New York school Parsons School of Design. Ask each school which qualification it awards and how it is recognised in the country where you plan to work.

Admission and language

Art schools are selective. Campus France says that they admit students by examining a file, by a competitive entry exam, by interview or by a combination of these. A portfolio of personal work is commonly part of the file. International candidates can apply online through CampusArt, which covers about one hundred institutions, from preparatory classes to the doctorate, 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.

University entry works differently. Anyone with a secondary school diploma that gives access to university can apply for the first year. Non-European students use the DAP (demande d'admission préalable), open from 1 October to 15 December 2026 for entry in 2027-28. Residents of the 75 countries and territories covered by "Études en France" must use that platform for either route; CampusArt does not replace it.

Public art schools and universities teach in French, and each sets the level of French it requires.

Costs

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

Careers

A fine arts qualification does not lead to one profession. Graduates work as artists, illustrators, photographers, printmakers, set designers, 3D and animation artists or art teachers, and in galleries, museums and cultural organisations. The DNSEP, with the grade of master, gives access to further study and research, including post-diploma programmes in the art schools.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an art school and a university arts degree in France?

Art schools are selective, studio-based and award the DNA and the DNSEP. Universities are open to holders of a secondary school diploma and award the licence and master's degree in arts plastiques, with more theory.

Are the DNA and the DNSEP recognised degrees?

Yes. They are national diplomas. The Ministry of Culture states that the diplomas awarded by the art schools after three and five years confer the grades of licence and master.

Do I need a portfolio?

For art schools, usually: admission is based on a file, an entry exam or an interview. University admission to the first year is based on your secondary school diploma.

Can I study fine arts in France in English?

At private institutions such as the American University of Paris, yes. Public art schools and universities teach in French.