Transphere project, an asynchronous communication service to promote the link between astronauts and their loved onesCharles SIMON / Transphere / Asynchronous communication service to promote the link between astronauts and their loved ones

Postgraduate studies in Digital Design

Taught in French Nantes
Diplôme visé contrôlé par l'ÉtatLabel - Diplôme conférant grade de master contrôle par l'État
Updated on 03.02.25
Informations

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

Modality

Location: Nantes

Teaching language: French

Postgraduate studies / Master's level degree

The Digital Design master's level degree program aims to explore the impact of digital innovation on our life experiences and 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 digital design

Our postgraduate studies in Digital Design explore the concept of tangibility and materiality of the information for the conception of innovative products and services, in every area. It is based on hybridization between objects, environments and information systems.

This master's level degree program is taught in the school's Digital Design Lab, which focuses on UX Design and digital innovation. The Design Lab creates hybrid devices for 4 types of design: 

  • Design of connected objects: physical spaces, furniture, connected objects or environments;
  • Interactive design: immersive & augmented environments, augmented realities, mixed realities, natural gestural interfaces, Artificial Intelligence, robotics;
  • Digital design inspired by life: biomimicry, complex living systems, the intelligence of other systems, interspecies approaches;
  • Artificial intelligence design: machine learning and predictive machine learning models, chatbots, computer vision, neural networks & deep learning.
    Sabo project by Robin Exbrayat at Laval VirtualStand presenting the Sabo project imagined by Robin Exbrayat at Laval Virtual

    Main themes

    • Digital service design
    • Transformation of cognitive and ergonomic models
    • Ludic applications and games
    • Research into multisensory interfaces
    • Information and digital flow management systems
    • Designing with and for artificial intelligence

    Other pathways

    The two years of the Digital Design master's program are taught in French.

    Apply

    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. 

     

    Multisensory electronic musical instrument inspired by the Peacock for the Plum projectPlum / Pierre Fontaine, Mathis Freudenberger & Vinssent Lasèque /Multisensory electronic musical instrument inspired by the Peacock
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    Curriculum

    The Master's level degree consists of 3 years of undergraduate study combining creativity, collaboration and collective emulation, and 2 years of postgraduate study 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 Digital Design master's program are taught in French.

    Discover the program

    Obtaining the master's level degree

    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 degree

    Teaching methods

    Courses take place on the premises of 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
    Academic requirements

    This program is open to all applicants who either:

    • hold a Bachelor’s Degree in design or equivalent, or

    • have completed at least three years of undergraduate studies in design or equivalent, 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.




    Language requirements

    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.

    How to apply?

    Applications 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 Digital Design master's program are taught in French.

    Apply

    Selection process

    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 15 days.

    Tuition fees
    • 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 academic year.

    CVEC website

    Scholarships

    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.).

    Preparing your life in Nantes

    Course start dates:

    • 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.

    Our Double degrees

    Teaching staff

    Head of program
    Frédérique Krupa, Director of the Digital Design Lab

    Educational Coordinator
    Arnaud Le Roi

    Job prospects and further education
    Areas of application
    • Innovative design tools
    • Applications for therapeutic use
    • Gaming products
    • All services and applications offering new ways of interacting and representational systems in a three-dimensional environment.
    Master’s level degree in design

    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.

    Further education

    The Master’s level degree confers the "Grade de master", and you can pursue your education at a PhD level.

    Some Alumni stories
    • Gabriel Martzloff - Product Design Prototyper at Meta Reality Labs
    • Morgane Sanglier - Senior Visual Designer at Google
    • Mélie Ling - Innovation Lab Manager at RATP Group
    • Mikael Queric - Sr Group Design manager at Adobe 3D&i
    • Marie Guillaud-Blaise - Lead Designer Experience at Renault Group

     

    Partners
    Industries
    • Airbus
    • Crédit Mutuel Arkéa
    • Décathlon
    • Orange
    • SNCF
    • Stellantis
    • Thalès...
    Competitiveness clusters and associations
    • Le Lieu Unique
    • AFP France Handicap / IEM La Marrière
    • Muséum de Nantes
    • Stéréolux
    • Trempolino...
    Contact

    Do you have a question about admissions to this master's level degree program? Contact us at international-admission@lecolededesign.com 

    About this program

    A question about this program? Contact us!

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    Discover some of the many projects carried out by students from L'École de design Nantes Atlantique.
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    Postgraduate studies in Digital Design

    Taught in French Nantes
    Diplôme visé contrôlé par l'ÉtatLabel - Diplôme conférant grade de master contrôle par l'État