
Postgraduate studies in City Design
Degree: Diplôme de design Bac +5: Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree
Prerequisites: 3 years of undergraduate studies in design
Admissions: On our application website
Location: Nantes
Teaching language: French
Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree
This program enables students to work around the built environment and mobility and use their technical skills to become a designer project manager.
This program leads to the Master’s level degree (Diplôme de design) certified by the French Ministry of Higher Education.
A Master's level degree program in City Design
Our postgraduate studies in City Design explore the concept of accessibility and co-design to create sustainable and innovative spaces, products and services, in all areas of application. It is based on a human-centered and participatory approach, within a universal design (Design for all).
This Master's level degree program is taught within the school's City Design Lab which explores the various issues linked to territories and cities, in particular their spatial, social, environmental and economic transformation and regeneration.
It uses design to explore the major issues affecting the territory and city of tomorrow.
Main themes
- Sustainable projects management
- Conception technics focused on the user
- Architecture
- Public space
- Spatial design for event management
- Furniture
Other pathways
The two years of the City Design Master's program are taught in French.
This program is entirely taught in French. If you hold a bachelor degree in design and are interested in a program taught in English in Nantes, we suggest you Le Studio France “International Design Strategy” program.
Curriculum
The Master's degree is is made up of a 3-year undergraduate program combining creativity, collaboration and collective intelligence, and a 2-year postgraduate program focusing on the strategic dimension of design (project management, diversification of learning contexts, cross-disciplinary approach, in-depth study, etc.).
The Master's program of this degree covers the 4th and 5th years of the program.
The two years of the City Design Master's program are taught in French.
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).
More information on validation of the Master's level degree
Courses take place at L'École de design Nantes Atlantique. It is made up of workshops and theoretical courses with an experiential teaching method. Each student receives individual support throughout the course.
Admission requirements
This program is open to all applicants who either:
- hold a Bachelor’s Degree in design, or
- 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 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 600 points at the TOEIC test or equivalent).
The Master’s level degree being subject to the validation of 800 points in the TOEIC, you will be required to take the TOEIC exam during the course.
French
A French level equivalent to 4/B2 assessed by a TCF1 or DELF2 test is required to join the program.
Application can only be done online on our application website
Applications are organized 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
The two years of the City Design Master's program are taught in French.
1. Online application and payment of the application fees (€50);
2.Uploading all the required 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)
3. Application file review and interview;
4. If your application is accepted, you will be asked to electronically sign a teaching contract & to proceed to the first payment of the tuition fees to confirm your enrollment.
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 €103 per year
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.).
- 4th year: February 2026 (semester 8)
- 5th year: September 2025
These dates are given for information only and may be subject to change.
For more information to help you to prepare your arrival & life in Nantes Studying in Nantes.
Double degree
During their fifth year, students enrolled in postgraduate studies taught in French in Nantes can prepare a double degree to improve certain skills.
Teaching staff
Director of the City Design Lab
Sophie Eberhardt,
Head of program
Anaïs Jacquard
Teachers:
- Emmanuel Alouche - interior architect, project manager and specialist in circular design
- Julien Dupont - scenographic architect, in charge of monitoring apprenticeship students, teaching assignments and projects
- Emmanuelle Gangloff - doctorate in urban planning and scenography, project and dissertation manager, specialist in the construction of territories
- Jean-Yves Guillet - product designer, project manager and urban design specialist
- Clémentine Laurent-Polz - HMONP architect, project manager and specialist in accessibility and circular design
- Stéphanie Le Carluer - architect HMONP, project and brief manager, specialist in environmental demands
- Julie Legrand - consultant in cultural mediation and accessibility, accessibility workshop leader
- Frédérique Letourneux - doctorate in journalism, approach to surveys, fieldwork, projects and briefs
- Chantal Mac Gowan - English and TOEIC teacher, English courses and TOEIC preparation
- Aurore Merlet - lawyer specialising in construction law, in charge of the legal department
- Anne-Gaëlle Person - specialist in mobility, regional planning and equipment
- Giulia Sola - space and naval designer, in charge of partnership projects
- Arnaud Surzur - senior lecturer in law, in charge of the legal department
Job prospects and further education
- Working space
- Housing environment
- Public space
- Spatial design for event management
- Furniture
- Signage
- Scenography
- New urban services
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.
The Master’s level degree confers the "Grade de master", and you can pursue your education at a PhD level.
- Laura Martin - Project Manager Interior designer at Morning
- Tanguy Prigent - Lead Product Designer at Alstom (Design department)
- Laura Pasquier - Architect Designer at junya.ishigami+associates (Tokyo, Japon)
Partners
Bouygues immobilier, EDF, Toyota Mobility Foundation, Stellantis, Lacroix, La Poste, SNCF...
Icam, Centrale Nantes, Nantes Université, OSLO MET, HTW (Berlin), University of Plymouth...
French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Brest Ville & Métropole, Nantes Métropole, SAMOA, CAPEB, ID4Mobility, APF France TechLab...
Contact
Do you have a question about admissions to this master's level degree program? Contact us at international-admission@lecolededesign.com
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 website
Location: Nantes
Teaching language: French