
International Design Strategy
Le Studio France
Degree: Diplôme de design Bac +5 : Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree
Prerequisites: 3 years of undergraduate studies in design
Admissions: On our application site
Location: Nantes
Teaching language: English
Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree
An immersive experience into the reality of design in France
This program leads to the master’s level degree (Diplôme de design) certified by the French Ministry of Higher Education.
International Design Strategy in France
This postgraduate program in two years entirely taught in English encourages the exploration of French culture in an applied interdisciplinary context and offers a great opportunity to carry out design projects in a multicultural context. It allows a good integration and a better approach of the methodology as taught at school through design practices.
It welcomes students from various nationalities and design backgrounds and encourages a cross-cultural approach to design and collaborations that will enhance the creativity of the students.
Topics covered
Within this program, students work on projects linked to the 3 main topics: interculturality, international and interdisciplinarity.
They work in design management projects, linked to european partners or projects proposed by the school's Design Labs.
Examples of workshops:
The URBAN GREEN international workshop, dedicated to the design of spaces and products in a context of urban greening. This workshop was organised as part of a BIP (Blended Intensive Programme), a mobility scheme offered by the Erasmus+ programme, with students from L'École de design Nantes Atlantique, Oslo Metropolitan University (Norway) and the Design Faculty of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
The "Practical Oriented Systemic Design" workshop, launched in partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway, to gain a better understanding of systemic design. Find out more
Program objectives
In addition to offering a truly international experience, this program teaches you to manage a project from the definition of the design problem to the final presentation in front of a client, organizing your work and your team efficiently.
You will have the opportunity to hone your skills through inspiring design projects. The goal is to prepare adaptable and well-rounded design professionals who can address a wide range of design projects in a fast-changing world.
With several projects carried out every year in close collaboration with companies or institutions as well as a 4-to 6-month internship during the second year, international design strategy program is aimed at building up experience of real work situations in the design field. A one-year long end of study project and thesis will also allow students to better define their identity and values as designers.
This program is also an opportunity to update your skills. Part of the curriculum is composed of elective courses and projects that will enable students to customize courses to their needs.
Curriculum
The 'International design strategy' program
The 'International Design Strategy' program offers a fantastic opportunity to discover and understand other cultures, and to evolve in an intercultural context.
By the end of the program, students will be able to support companies in developing their innovation strategies in a global world.
This program, established over two years, is organized in two years validated by 30 ECTS each.
Le Diplôme de design Bac +5 is awarded by the final jury to students who have obtained:
1. a minimum score of 800 points at the TOEIC test;
2. a score greater than or equal to 10/20, which breaks down as follows:
- For 40%, mark attributed to continuous monitoring,
- For 60%, mark obtained at the final defense relating to the student's path (end-of-study project, internship and any other element chosen by the student).
This course must be completed in its entirety to obtain certification and cannot be broken down into blocks. The course is taken as a whole and not in modules. Please contact us for information on bridges and equivalences.
This Master's level degree program RNCP level 7 - RNCP36106 (published on 07-01-2022) is approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, which confers the grade of Master.
Admission requirements
This program is open to all applicants who either:
- Hold a Bachelor’s Degree in design,
- Have completed three years of undergraduate studies in design, equating to at least 180 ECTS credits
You may apply before actually receiving the degree or having completed your undergraduate studies.
However, admission will only take effect once the degree is obtained or the undergraduate credits have been validated.
Applicants whose level we assess to be insufficient may be recommended to follow a semester or a full year in our 3rd Year of DN MADE / International Class before entering the master’s level degree program.
Final admission will only take effect when the necessary visa is obtained, if applicable.
English
If you are not a native English speaker, we ask that you provide proof of your English proficiency (minimum level of 700 points at the TOEIC test or equivalent).
The Master’s level degree program being subject to the validation of 800 points in the TOEIC, you will be required to take the TOEIC exam during the course.
French
While not mandatory for the programs taught in English, a certain command of French language is recommended for daily life in France and integration purposes.
Programme subject to availability of places
Applications are open from November to June 2025 for the academic year 2025-2026
Applications are organised into 9 admission sessions:
- November session: registrations until November 29, 2024
- December session: registrations until December 20, 2024
- January session: registrations from January 1 to January 31, 2025
- February session: registrations from February 1 to 28, 2025
- March session: registrations from March 1 to March 31, 2025
- April session: registrations from April 1 to 30, 2025
- May session: registrations from May 1 to 31, 2025
- June session: registrations from June 1 to 30, 2025
- July session: registrations from July 1 to 25, 2025
1. Online application and payment of the application fees (€50);
2. Upload all the required documents for application;
3. Application review and online interview if your application file is accepted;
4. Publication of the admissions results at the end of each admission session: Admissions results are sent by email.
Admission results within 15 days.
- 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 €103
CVEC website
The school itself does not offer 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 etc.
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.).
Academic calendar
The academic year runs from the beginning of September to the beginning of July for all our programs.
Academic Calendar 2025/2026 will start on:
- 1st year / semester 1: September 2025
- 1st year / semester 2: February 2026
- 2nd year: September 2025
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 Studying in Nantes
Final admission will only take effect when the necessary visa is obtained, if applicable. For more information about the visa to help you to prepare for your arrival in Nantes, consult the item Procedures for international students on the page Studying in Nantes
Teaching staff
Head of program
Jérôme Héno
Assistant Head of program
Caroline Chirache
Job prospects and further education
This program trains students to become global players who can converse fluently in English and possibly even local, French language, understanding the context of another country, and most of all, steep themselves in the ability to design for clients and employers from other cultures. It is a living experience that will change its participants, often opening up unexpected, exciting international career opportunities.
As all our postgraduate studies, this program leads to the Master’s level degree in design, certified by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and registered in the Registre National des Certifications Professionnelles (the French directory for vocational qualifications or RNCP) as a Level 7 Master’s level degree.
This program must be completed in its entirety to obtain certification and cannot be broken down into blocks. The course is taken as a whole and not in modules. Please contact us for information on equivalences.
The Master’s level degree confers the "Grade de master", and you can pursue your education at a PhD level.
Contact
- Do you have a question about admissions to the Master's level degree program? Contact us at international-admission@lecolededesign.com or on +33(0)2 51 13 50 70
- Do you have a question about an academic exchange semester? Write to the International Relations Department at incoming@lecolededesign.com
- Do you have a question about disability? Consult the school's social policy
A question about this program?
A question about this program? Contact us!
Degree: Diplôme de design Bac +5 : Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree
Prerequisites: 3 years of undergraduate studies in design
Admissions: On our application site
Location: Nantes
Teaching language: English