International
3rd year Bachelor
Degree : DN MADE : National Diploma in Fine Arts, Crafts and Design
Prerequisites : 2 years of undergraduate studies in digital design, space design or product design
Admission : Application website
Location : Nantes
Teaching language: English
Our International Bachelors in design
This undergraduate studies program in one year welcomes international students who have completed two years of design studies and wish to obtain a French Diploma, recognized by the French Ministry of Higher Education. This diploma is called DN MADE: National Diploma in Fine Art and Design.
3 International Bachelors in design
You can join the 3rd year of our Bachelors as an international student, if you have completed 2 years of undergraduate studies in digital design, space design or product design. The first two years of our Bachelors are entirely taught in French, therefore students holding a high school diploma and a French level B2 may join the first year.
The 3rd year of this program is taught in an international class, with students from all over the world, offering the opportunity to:
- Follow a program taught in English.
- Cooperate in a cross-cultural context with international students on group projects
- Collaborate on group projects supervised by professional designers,
L’École de design Nantes Atlantique offers 3 different specialties for this 3rd year taught within an international class:
- Digital Media Design
- Interior Design
- Industrial Design
Bachelor in Digital Media Design
Within this program, the digital designer is involved in the various phases of the design of a digital interactive product or service, from information architecture and scripting to the creation of mock-ups or functional prototypes, including the graphic definition of interfaces and the user experience.
It is specifically tailored for students with an academic background in Graphic Design, UI/UX Design or
Multimedia Design.
The completion of this 3rd year program leads to the obtention of DN MADE, Major in Digital Design, Interface Design and Digital Media specialty with a minor in Graphic Design.
This DN MADE is registered with the RNCP at level 6 - RNCP 36949 (published on October 12, 2022).
Bachelor in Industrial design
This program offers a specialization in the fields of industrial design. Product design is a design activity concerning consumer goods (household appliances, cars, furniture, packaging, homeware, etc), as well as capital goods (professional equipment, tools, public transport, street furniture, etc.), whether they are manufactured on an industrial scale or by craft production.
It is specifically tailored for students with an academic background in Product Design or Industrial Design.
The completion of this 3rd year program leads to the obtention of DN MADE, Major in Object Design, Industrial Product Design specialty with a minor Materials.
This DN MADE is registered with the RNCP at level 6 - RNCP 36 950 (published on October 12, 2022).
Bachelor in Interior design
This program proposes a specialization in the design of spaces in all fields: public or private, collective or individual, perennial or temporary; through projects concerning housing, commercial spaces, work or leisure spaces.
It is specifically tailored for students with an academic background in Space Design, Interior Design or Scenography.
The completion of this 3rd year program leads to the obtention of DN MADE, Major in Space Design, Residential architecture and retail specialty, with a Minor Object.
This DN MADE is registered with the RNCP at level 6 - RNCP 36941 (published on October 12, 2022).
These programs are organized around 4 poles:
- General lessons
- Cross-disciplinary lessons
- Practical & professional lessons
- Professionalization
Throughout the year, students work on various workshops, including an international workshop supervised by teachers from our partner schools. They must also develop a personal project, which will be the subject of a final thesis defense.
These programs promote links between design and creation and production and manufacturing. Depending on the speciality, holders of this degree can work as design assistants in a design studio, in agencies, in SME/SMIs, work as freelancers or access a job as a craftsman-designer mastering advanced techniques.
Program
Courses: 816 h per year
- 24 hours of classes per week over 34 weeks, for a total of 816 hours
- The main objective of the 1st semester is research on a subject chosen by the student; this research is fed by the various courses and projects, and leads to a thesis presented at the end of the semester.
- The 2nd semester is centered on a personal project, fostered by all the lessons and contributions of the semester.
- The project is presented during a defense at the end of the semester.
General lessons
- Philosophy and Humanities
Cross-disciplinary lessons
- Tools for expression and creative exploration
- Technology and Materials
- Tools and digital language
- English Language
- Economic and legal context
Cross-curricular courses allow the acquisition of fundamental knowledge, knowledge tools and specific methods to the different sectors relating to the design field.
Practical & professional lessons
- Techniques and skills
- Practical implementation of the project
- Project communication and mediation
- Workshops
Practical and professional lessons lead students to discover the different phases of a design project and allow them to acquire methodological tools, as well as technical and creative know-how.
Professionalization
- Optional internship
- Professionalization path and further learning
Optional classes (for exchange students)
- French Language and Culture
- Illustration or Wordpress
- After Effects or Photography
All classes and workshops are conducted in English. Therefore a basic command of this language is recommended.
60 credits per year
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a points system developed by the European Union to facilitate the mobility of students in Europe.
The DN MADE, National Diploma in Fine Arts, Crafts and Design is a state-controlled degree and leads to the award of a bachelor degree after three years of studies.
The student defends the dissertation at the end of January before a jury of 4 people, then at the end of June the final project is defended before a jury of 4 people.
Admission requirements
For non-exchange students
This program is open to all applicants who completed 2 years of undergraduate studies equivalent to 120 ECTS in the field of design corresponding to that desired for this third year (digital media design / industrial design / interior design).
It is possible to apply before actually having completed the required level of studies or ECTS. However, admission will only take effect once the degree is obtained or the credits have been validated.
Once accepted, students remain eligible for registration for one year.
Final admission will only take effect when the necessary visa is obtained, if applicable.
For exchange students
Only students from one of our partner schools can join the school as an exchange student.
English
All classes and workshops are conducted in English. Therefore a basic command of this language is recommended. If you are not a native English speaker, we ask that you provide proof of your English proficiency (minimum 600 points at the TOEIC test or equivalent). If you are not in possession of such a certificate, you may take an oral assessment during the interview.
French
While not mandatory for the international class, a certain command of French language is recommended for daily life in France and integration purposes. You can provide any certificate of French language you may already have or you can indicate your current level of French using the CEFR self assessment grid.
However, students wishing to continue their studies at the master’s level in one of the programs taught in French will need a good command of both spoken and written French.
Places limited – Subject to availability
Application can only be done online on our application website.
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will open in November 2025.
Applications can only be submitted online via our application website.
- Opening date: November 17, 2025
- Closing date: August (Subject to availability)
- Response time: within two weeks of submitting a complete application
Documents for application:
- Résumé (CV);
- Portfolio;
- Reports of the last two years of study in design;
- Copies of degrees and certificates;
- Copy of your identity card or passport;
- Cover letter (letter of intent);
- English certification (optional)
Application file review and online interview
Admission results within 48 hours after the interview
- French students and European Union students: €8,900 per year.
- Non-European Union students: €9,900 per year
+ CVEC (Student and campus life contribution): contribution set at just under €105
The school itself does not offer any scholarship. However, according to your country of residence and your particular situation, different possibilities may be available to finance your studies in France: government grants, funding granted by international organizations and NGOs, private fellowships...
Campus France has a scholarship search engine which may help you identify a scholarship available in your situation (country of residence, degree being prepared etc.).
Start of the 2026-2027 academic year: September 2026
This dates are provided for information purposes only and are subject to change.
For more information to help you to prepare your arrival & life in Nantes:
Teaching staff
Deputy Executive Director
Stéphane Gouret
Head of undergraduate studies
Nathalie Templier
Head of program
Luc Montessinos
Job prospects and further education
After the DN MADE, that confers a state recognized undergraduate degree, it is possible to opt for further studies or to enter the world of work.
Continuing your studies at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique
Students having successfully completed this undergraduate program may continue their studies at a postgraduate level in one of our international masters "Design, Strategy and Innovation".
This program trains designers who work in companies or agencies, as well as creators who are able to develop their practice as freelancers or within collective or collaborative structures.
There are many areas of application:
- Service design
- Web applications
- Mobile applications
This program trains designers who work in companies or agencies, as well as creators who are able to develop their practice as freelancers or within collective or collaborative structures.
After this program, graduates are qualified to pursue careers as product designers, product design assistants in agencies or in-house, or freelance designers.
After this program, students will work in the fields of design, scenography, interior architecture, construction, landscaping, and art more broadly.
Examples of possible careers after our International Bachelor in Interior design:
- Space designer
- Assistant scenographer
- Assistant interior architect
Contact
- Do you have a question about admissions or these programs?
Contact us at international-admission@lecolededesign.com or call us at +33 (0)2 51 13 50 70.
- Do you have a question about exchange semesters?
Contact us at incoming@lecolededesign.com
Contact us!
A question about this program?
Degree : DN MADE : National Diploma in Fine Arts, Crafts and Design
Prerequisites : 2 years of undergraduate studies in digital design, space design or product design
Admission : Application website
Location : Nantes
Teaching language: English
International
3rd year Bachelor