Coming to Nantes
as an exchange student
Since 1999, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has been developing an ambitious strategy of international outreach. About 150 foreign students are welcomed to Nantes each year, from partner schools around the world, for a full semester, in the 3rd year of the Bachelor program, or during the 1st semester of our international master in Designer, Strategy and Innovation at Le Studio France.
L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, an international design school
Venturing out of your comfort zone, experiencing a new culture, assimilating other codes... The international experience offered by L'École de design Nantes Atlantique allows future designers to combine openness to others, curiosity, pragmatism and interculturality. In a globalized world, where the stakes often transcend borders, living an immersive 6-month experience here in Nantes is a wonderful opportunity to further one's training as a designer.
In recognition of its international dimension, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique holds:
- the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) for the period 2021-2027, and is thus part of the Erasmus+ program, a European Union program promoting student mobility in higher education;
- the 2-star Bienvenue en France, attesting to the quality of the welcome given to its international students.
How the exchange works
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has concluded an exchange agreement with more than 120 partner institutions, spread over 4 continents and 36 countries. In the framework of the exchange:
- About 150 international students, from these partner schools only, are hosted in Nantes for a semester. Incoming international students benefit from French as a foreign language classes throughout the semester to help them integrate more easily to life in France
- At the same time, students from L'École de design Nantes Atlantique are welcomed in these establishments for an international experience.
Programs available to foreign exchange students in Nantes
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique offers foreign students programs with an international focus, taught in English and with a mix of students. The following programs are available for one semester:
Year 3 DN MADE: international class
To join this class, students must have completed at least two years in one of the following fields: product design, interior architecture, scenography, interactive design or multimedia.
Exchange students enrolled in one of these programs will have to take mandatory courses and choose optional courses to validate 30 ECTS credits. Depending on their background, students will have to choose between these three programs:
For students of space design, interior design and scenography
The Bachelor in Interior Design focuses on the design of any permanent space (commercial architecture, interior architecture, public areas) or temporary space (scenography, events) with a user-centered approach.
Consult the course description for the 1st semester and the 2nd semester
Photo credit: Claire Lucas / Invit’oit / A greenhouse to meet people in your neighborhood / Diploma project
For students of product or industrial design
The Bachelor in Industrial Design focuses on the industrial aspect of design. Based on industrial know-how, the design of innovative products is put at the service of the user, their environment and their expectations.
Consult the course description for the 1st semester and the 2nd semester
Photo credit: José Castelazo / Hope / An eco-responsible object to enhance coral surviability / Diploma project
For students of graphic design, interactive design or multimedia
Based on a user-centered design approach, the Bachelor in Digital Media Design offers services that respond to needs in the field of digital media (web, interactive terminals, video, animation, computer graphics, etc.). Students who do not have evidence of digital media projects in their portfolio cannot be accepted for this option.
Consult the course description for the 1st semester and the 2nd semester
Photo credit: Ila Bisht / Draglist / An app to overcome procrastination / diploma project
International Master in Design, Strategy and Innovation
Foreign exchange students can also join the first semester (September to January) of the first year of this Master's program (Le Studio France) at L'École de design Nantes Atlantique.
To join this program, candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields: product design, graphic design, interior architecture, scenography, interactive design. This first semester of the Master's program encourages the exploration of French culture in an applied interdisciplinary context.
Apply for a semester exchange program at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique
Here is all the information you need to apply for a semester abroad:
Prerequisites
Only students from one of our partner schools can join the school as an exchange student.
- To join the 3rd year of the International Bachelor, candidates must have completed at least two years in one of the following fields: product design, interior architecture, scenography, interactive design or multimedia.
- To join the International Master in Design, Strategy and Innovation, candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields: product design, graphic design, interior architecture, scenography, interactive design.
The duration of the exchange program is one semester only :
- The 3rd year program is available in both semesters (September to January & February to June)
- The Master program (First year of Master) is only available in Autumn semester (September to January)
Procedure
-
Nomation and application deadline (Autumn semester): May 10th
-
Nomation and application deadline (Spring semester): November 10th
- Applicants are first selected by their home institution, whose international relations department must send an email to Orianne Besnard, International Relations Coordinator at L'École de design Nantes Atlantique, at the following address: incoming@lecolededesign.com
- L'École de design Nantes Atlantique sends a nomination form by email to be filled in by the home institution (this email is sent in September for the spring semester, and in February for the fall semester,
- The partner school fills out the form,
- The nominated students and their respective schools will receive an email, in the days following the nomination, containing the link to the application platform of L'École de design Nantes Atlantique, as well as the connection details of each student,
- Students complete and submit their application. The following documents must be uploaded to the application platform:
- Curriculum Vitae,
- Passport or ID card,,
- Portfolio showing some of their creations and work.
- Students receive a response 3 weeks after the application deadline,
- The selected students receive an email with their official acceptance letter and practical information (list of courses, instructions for the learning agreement, exact start dates, etc.).
Selection
Due to the limited number of places available, it is not possible to accept all applicants for an exchange semester.
If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, a selection will be made by the program manager, on the basis of the quality of the application. Students will receive a reply to their application within 3 weeks of the application deadline.
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique welcomes applications from students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and considers them under the same academic conditions as other students. Applicants are asked to specify any special requirements when submitting their application. To find out more about the school's social policy, visit this page.
Timeline
Semester 1 / 2026-2027
- Information Days (compulsory): September 7th to 11th, 2026
- Classes begin: September 14th, 2026
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End of Semester 1 for exchange students: 15 January, 2027
Semester 2 / 2026-2027
- Information Days (compulsory): From February 1st to 5th, 2027
- Classes begin: February 8th, 2027
- End of Semester 2 for exchange students: June 11, 2027
Semester 1
- Information Days (compulsory): September 21th to 25th, 2026
- Classes begin: September 28th, 2026
-
End of Semester 1 for exchange students: January 18th, 2027
"
It was inspiring to be with the best students from all around the world. Managing with a mixed batch of people with different languages, backgrounds and thought processes was new and challenging.
"
Contact
For any questions or additional information, please contact Orianne Besnard, international
relations coordinator, at: incoming@lecolededesign.com
of the school
A major player in higher education, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique, an establishment of the Nantes St-Nazaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was founded in 1988.
All you need to know to study design in Nantes
For 25 years, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has enabled future French designers to train abroad and future international designers to train in Nantes.