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What are the admission procedures for entering the first year?
You must make an appointment (on the site or by phone) and come in with the requested documents. The interview will last at least an hour, because we want to take the time to get to know you, to understand your project and to explain ours.
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Is there a preferred baccalaureate (high school diploma) to enter École de Condé?
There is preferred baccalaureate to enter the school. What matters is your energy, desire to learn, curiosity and open-mindedness. The learning methods are quite different from high school. Whatever your starting point, what is essential is that you must enlist the skills you've already acquired, and push yourself to learn new ones.
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Should I go through Parcoursup to register for the École de Condé?
No, our admission process involves a face-to-face interview, so that we can get to know you, and understand what drives you. We therefore propose that we carry out this interview at the same time as the Parcoursup step from now on. Following your interview, you will have an answer within a week. This will allow you to build your course of study, without waiting for the response from Parcoursup. Of course, if you are admitted to school, you must have obtained your baccalaureate (high school diploma).
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How does the admission interview work?
It is above all an encounter. We take the time to understand your personal, artistic and academic background, so that we can have a clearer picture of you on the whole. What matters is your project and its compatibility with ours. If they do not seem compatible, we will not hesitate to say it. We will recommend you other courses that may be of interest to you, even at others school, if necessary. Studies in Design, Photography, Illustration, Animation and Heritage Restoration are absolutely fascinating, but they require energy, commitment and open-mindedness. It's important to be aware of this before you go down the road.
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Do I need to have good grades?
Good grades are an asset because they show signs of acquired skills, culture and solid work methods in place. Nevertheless, many students prove to be excellent after a lacklustre school career, beginning when they are motivated by their course and take their own career path in hand. In addition to this, the qualities required for design, photography, illustration, animation or heritage restoration are not always practised in secondary education: creativity, imagination, risk-taking, collaborative capacity, initiative, etc. The educational methods are very different, centred on projects, the ability to think and collaborate and to answer to abstraction and materials. With this in mind, we can indeed trust profiles who are less academic.
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Do I already need to be good at drawing?
The level in drawing of students at the beginning of the year varies greatly. Some are already advanced, whereas others are just beginning. Don't worry - our teachers know how to manage these various situations and by the end of the year, the levels will balance out. Drawing must be learnt. And you have your whole life to learn!
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Do I have to do the visual arts option?
The visual arts option helps students acquire a well-rounded art culture, and provides a very good doorway to other types of art. This being said, it is not mandatory in order to enter the school.
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Do you work hands-on or with a computer?
Hands-on experience is essential to become familiar with the sensitive aspect of these trades and to learn how to manage many different tools and techniques. This is what is privileged in the preparatory year or in heritage restoration. In the upper years, depending on the curriculum, the computer will take a more prominent place, without removing the sensitive and tactile aspect, which is very important!
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How do I know if I have enough talent to succeed in art school?
It's not so much a question of talent as of determination and work. As well as curiosity, methods and open-mindedness. If you really want it, you will always achieve it. Our students prove it to us every year!
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Should I buy equipment? Should I buy a computer?
Equipment, yes, but not too much, and not too early! A basic list will be given when you register, depending on the section you choose. The rest of the needs will be indicated by instructors as you progress throughout the academic year. The same applies to the laptop in design, photo, illustration or animation, which will only be required in the second year. The choice of computer (Mac or PC) will depend on the speciality chosen.
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What is the difference between the Preparatory Year of École de Condé and the Bachelor Year 1?
There is none - the first year of the Bachelor's is, in fact, the Preparatory Year. In the case of a preparatory year completed in another school, only the admission interview and file examination will allow us decide the level and the skills that were acquired, compared to the level reached by our students.
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What is the difference between a school of applied art (or design and graphic arts) and an art school?
A Beaux-Arts type art school trains its students to be visual artists, that is, artists. They will work in the field of contemporary art and their work will be exposed in galleries. A school of applied art or design and graphic arts trains students who will become professionals - with clients and technical constraints, budgets and time. Which does not mean less creativity, as constraints are a very effective engine for creation. They often work in a team, or at least in relation with other trades.
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Are there opportunities?
Design is a very important lever for innovation. Designers - whatever their field of activity is (graphic design, interior design, product or fashion) - fit very well in the work world. Similarly, in the field of graphic arts and image, illustrators and photographers work as freelancers for a client. Their training allows them to work in the related fields of visual communication and moving pictures. Animation and video games, meanwhile, is a real industry with many job opportunities. Finally, École de Condé is one of the few schools that train a limited number of students in the profession of Heritage Restorer.
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Is there a lot of work throughout the studies?
The preparatory year, which is the first year of the Bachelor is a year that requires a lot of commitment. However, it is generally loved by students because it is exciting and opens many new horizons! Then, students get into the habit of working and manage to handle all the instructor demands, thanks to a good work method, motivation and increased maturity.
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Are internships planned in the courses? Can you help us find an internship?
An internship period is planned during each school year, starting in the second year of the Bachelor's. In the Master's degree, students intern for 32 weeks, 12 of which must be completed abroad. At the end of their studies, students from École de Condé will have completed a year of professional experience. Students look for internships themselves (finding an internship is a great exercise in learning how to find a job). Naturally, they are guided by the school in this process (help with creating a CV, website, training for interviews if necessary, access to the database of partner companies, corporate forums, etc.).
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Do you have apprenticeship courses?
We prefer traditional studies, which are more adapted to our professions. Besides a high level of expertise, these professions require culture, reflection, and the development of creative identity. A company is less able to transmit this. Professional experience is provided throughout the studies in dedicated internship periods - including those abroad. These various internships represent cumulatively throughout the schooling, a whole year of professional experience. The diversity of internships, in various companies, including the compulsory 2 weeks abroad during the Master's courses, represent as many extra opportunities to acquire experience, and opportunities for students to enrich their networks.
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What are the admission procedures for someone who is already in a Bachelor’s (year 2 and 3)?
This is possible if you have already started an equivalent course at another school. You must make an appointment and come in with the requested items. You will present your portfolio during the interview and we will study it. We take very few students already enrolled in a Bachelor's , so we do advise you apply as soon as possible so that you have a chance of joining the School. Certain baccalaureate diplomas, in particular the STD2A (Science and Technology of Design and Applied Arts) can be used to directly enter the second year, depending on your level.
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What are the admission procedures for entering the a Master’s course?
You must have completed a course equivalent to our Bachelor's , that is, justification of 3 years in the field (Design, Illustration, Animation, Photography, Heritage Restoration). You must then make an appointment and come with the requested items, including your portfolio. The result will be given to you a week or so later.
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Are there any scholarships?
Supporting and enabling the emergence of new talent is one of the stated goals in the École de Condé educational project. This is why a system of scholarships for internal excellence exists. It concerns the most deserving students at the end of their Bachelor's .
