Theatre, Performing Arts Schools and Programs in France

Theatre, Performing Arts Studies in France

Theatre and the performing arts are studied in France along two routes. Universities teach the history, theory and analysis of theatre, dance and film, with practical workshops, in a bachelor's degree called licence Arts du spectacle. Practical training for actors and directors takes place in conservatoires and national drama schools, which admit students by competitive audition. SpainExchange lists 6 schools in France for theatre and performing arts, most of them public universities.

How the degree is organised

The university route follows the European three-cycle structure. According to Campus France, a bachelor's degree (licence) takes six semesters and gives 180 ECTS credits, and a master's degree takes four more semesters and 120 ECTS credits. The licence Arts du spectacle is a national degree, and each university shapes it differently:

• Université de Poitiers: a three-year licence of 180 credits covering both cinema and theatre, with a choice between a cinema track and a theatre track in the third year. Students take part in a collective creative project, such as making a short film or staging a play.
• Université de Lorraine (Metz): the licence explores theatre, cinema and dance through history, aesthetics, economics and sociology. In the third year students choose between live performance, cinema and cultural project management. The campus has its own university theatre, the Espace Bernard-Marie Koltès.
• Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès: the licence Arts du spectacle has a track in theatre and visual studies and a track in dance and circus. It lasts three years in Toulouse and includes compulsory internships. Graduates can continue to the master's degree Arts de la scène et du spectacle vivant.

The practical route is separate. The Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (CNSAD), part of Université PSL, offers three cycles in line with the bachelor's-master's-doctorate structure. Its three-year first cycle leads to the DNSPC, the national higher professional diploma for actors, which can be combined with a licence. The Toulouse programme presents the national competitive entrance exams of schools such as CNSAD, ENSATT and TNS to students who want to move on to acting training, and has an agreement with the regional conservatoire for students who follow both courses.

The American University of Paris offers a minor in Theater and Performance within its undergraduate degrees, with courses such as Theater in Paris and Acting in French.

Admission and language

Teaching at the public universities is in French. The Université de Poitiers asks international students for a French certificate at level C1 for this licence. Requirements differ between universities, and each institution decides whether to accept an applicant.

European students apply for the first year through the Parcoursup platform. Non-European students file a preliminary request for admission (DAP); for the 2027-28 academic year, registration opens on 1 October 2026 and closes on 15 December 2026. Residents of the 75 countries and territories covered by the Etudes en France procedure apply through that platform. For arts schools, Campus France runs the CampusArt platform. Art schools are selective: admission is by application file, competitive entrance exam, interview or a combination of these. CNSAD holds its own entrance competitions and has a separate selection for international candidates.

Tuition fees

Public universities charge nationally set fees. For the 2026-27 academic year, according to Campus France, students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland pay €178 per year for a bachelor's degree and €255 per year for a master's degree. Students from other countries pay €2,902 and €3,950 per year unless an exemption applies. Schools under the Ministry of Culture, which include the performing arts schools, charge different rates, and private institutions set their own fees.

Where to study

The listed schools are spread across the country, with one each in Toulouse, Poitiers, Metz, Paris, Avignon and Ugine. Besides the universities described above, the list includes Avignon Université and the Lycée René Perrin in Ugine, in the Alps. Their current theatre courses should be checked with the schools directly.

Qualification and careers

The licence and the master's degree are national degrees. They are academic qualifications and do not replace stage training. The universities name careers around the stage as well as on it. Poitiers lists assistant director, set designer, lighting designer, sound designer and stage manager, together with jobs in administration, production and programming. Toulouse lists assistant director, production assistant, cultural organiser and festival manager. Poitiers has its own master's degree for assistant directors in theatre and film.

Frequently asked questions

Can I train as an actor at a French university?

University degrees in Arts du spectacle combine theory with workshops. Professional acting training is given by conservatoires and national schools such as CNSAD, which admit students through competitive entrance exams.

What level of French do I need?

The courses at public universities are in French. The Université de Poitiers asks international students for a certificate at level C1 for its licence Arts du spectacle; other universities set their own level.

How much does a theatre degree cost in France?

At public universities in 2026-27, EU, EEA and Swiss students pay €178 per year for a bachelor's degree and €255 for a master's degree. Other students pay €2,902 and €3,950 per year unless they are exempt. Ministry of Culture schools charge different rates.