Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture & Design
Duration: 3 years
Degree: Certified Interior Architect - Designer, RNCP Level 7
Dates: The first-year intake starts around September 15 and the academic year ends at the end of May
Objectives of the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture & Design
1st Year
- Build a foundational understanding of design culture
- Explore projects in various design fields
- Develop a personal creative profile
2nd Year
- Analyze volume and spatial design
- Represent a project visually and graphically
- Understand fundamental principles and stakes of architectural design
3rd Year
- Master professional project methodology
- Develop a project from concept to technical execution
- Broaden the types of projects and areas of intervention
How is the program structured?
1st Year – Preparatory Year
The first year is a foundation year, helping students establish the base of their creative approach. You’ll explore design fundamentals through drawing, experimentation, and concept development. The curriculum includes technical courses (drawing, volume, digital tools, etc.) and professional culture courses (art history, color semiotics, etc.). The year also includes a personal project in the second semester and collaborative workshops. Students choose four optional modules from photography, video, printmaking, modeling, and trend observatory.
2nd Year
In the second year, you begin to explore how to lead projects in interior architecture and design. Through real-life case studies, you’ll develop a user-centered, context-aware creative process. The curriculum combines hands-on projects and workshops with courses in digital design, visual representation methods, plastic research, and architectural history. A two-month internship and a study trip are also part of the year.
3rd Year
The third year helps you step into the role of project lead in interior architecture and design. You’ll tackle more complex and varied projects grounded in professional reality. In addition to projects and workshops, you’ll explore advanced subjects such as eco-design, graphic design, and AutoCAD software. The year includes a second study trip and a two-month internship. This final year prepares you to continue your studies in the Master’s in Interior Architecture & Design.
A program rooted in hands-on learning
The Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture & Design at ESAM Design is built around hands-on learning.
Throughout the three years, you’ll work on real-world projects. From personal assignments and team workshops to internships, you will constantly apply what you learn in practice.
You will also have access to the Gennevilliers Faclab, where you can experiment and bring your ideas to life using professional tools.
This experiential approach helps you shape your personal design method, understand the realities of your future profession, and master the tools and processes of the field. It reinforces your professionalism and boosts your employability through practical experience.
Admission requirements
The program is open to students at various academic levels. You can enter the first year right after high school or join directly in the second or third year.
To start in the first (preparatory) year, admission is based on an application and a motivation interview, held between October and July. Final admission is confirmed upon receiving your high school diploma.
If you’ve already started studies elsewhere and wish to continue without restarting the full program, that’s possible under certain conditions. You’ll first take a one-day remote equivalency exam, followed by a motivation interview and a portfolio review with the academic team.
To join the second or third year, you must be a student in a DN MADE (space design) program or enrolled in an architecture or fine arts school.
The role of international experience
International opportunities are central to the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture & Design.
Starting in the second year, you can study abroad for a semester through Erasmus at one of our 17 partner institutions in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, or Turkey. We also have non-Erasmus partners in Israel and China.
Study trips are organized in the second and third years to explore architecture and culture in various European cities. These include visits to design studios, museums, and schools of interior architecture and design.
International exposure enriches your education by introducing you to new perspectives and design practices. These experiences stimulate creativity, foster critical thinking, and develop open-mindedness—qualities that are highly valued in the field.
Subjects taught
The Bachelor’s program provides comprehensive training to shape a creative, technically skilled, and industry-ready profile.
Each year includes technical instruction:
1st Year
- Academic drawing
- Analytical drawing
- Observational drawing
- Color research
- Volume
- Digital tools
2nd Year
- Representation techniques
- Digital tools
- Volume
- Technology and materials
- Typography and layout
3rd Year
- Rough sketches
- AutoCAD
- 3D digital modeling
- Technology and materials
- Eco-design
- Graphic design
You’ll also take professional culture courses:
1st Year
- Design approaches
- Color semiotics
- Art history
- English
- Optional workshop: printmaking, photography, modeling, or trend observatory
2nd Year
- Plastic research
- Architectural history
- Design history
- English
- Optional workshop: printmaking, photography, modeling, or trend observatory
3rd Year
- Concept modeling
- Design theory and project analysis
- English
This well-rounded program builds a solid foundation for developing expertise in interior architecture and design.
From the very first year, drawing classes help sharpen your analytical eye, observation skills, and visual expression.
You’ll learn to design coherent, functional, and meaningful spaces through courses in digital tools and 3D modeling. Technical and materials courses guide you in making the best choices when realizing your ideas.
Your creativity will be nurtured by professional culture subjects, where you’ll explore major movements in design and architecture history.