Introduction

The five-year interior design degree offered by the Académie Charpentier (RNCP38011 Level 7 qualification, recognized by the French government) has for over 80 years embodied the excellence and creative standards of the Académie Charpentier, which trains inventive, meticulous, and dedicated professionals capable of envisioning and transforming the spaces of tomorrow.

At this intimate school, students develop their vision of spatial design through concrete and challenging projects, guided by practicing professionals. True to its artistic heritage, the Academy fosters an approach that is firmly focused on contemporary social issues and sustainability.

Jobs and Careers

From interior design to set design, graduates of the Académie Charpentier become professionals in design and interior architecture who are capable of creating vibrant, sustainable, and meaningful spaces.

Thanks to a rigorous training program grounded in the realities of the profession, they go on to work at architecture firms, engineering firms, design studios, brands, galleries, or cultural institutions, or launch their own independent practices.

Overall employment rate at six months in 2021: 86%, in 2022: 85%

Employment rate in the target occupation at six months in 2021: 56%, in 2022: 62%

There is a partial equivalence:

- between Module 1 of our certification and Module 1 of the RNCP36573 "Global Designer" certification (
) - between Module 2 of our certification and Module 2 of the RNCP36573 "Global Designer" certification.

Certification does not involve a sequence of courses or a bridge program.

Examples of careers

  • Interior Designer
  • Project Manager at a Design Agency
  • Agency Employee
  • Assistant Project Manager
  • Designer of private and public spaces
  • Interior Designer
  • Interior Design Project Manager

Examples of careers

  • Interior Designer
  • Space Designer
  • Set Designer
  • Exhibition Booth Builder
  • Retail Designer
  • Event Designer
  • Concept Store Designer

Examples of careers

  • Environmental Designer
  • Sustainable Development Consultant
  • Designer and eco-designer

Examples of careers

  • Housing Designer
  • Interior Designer
  • Interior Designer
  • Interior Designer
  • Home Stager

Examples of careers

  • Exhibition Designer
  • Designer for cultural institutions
  • Creator of artistic spaces

Examples of careers

  • Freelance Designer
  • Studio or Agency Founder
Interior Design and Architecture Professionals at Work

Why choose this program?

  • Official RNCP 38011 Level 7 certification —a guarantee of professional recognition and employability.
  • Small class sizes that allow for individualized attention and close monitoring of each student's progress.
  • Support from professionals: workshops, hands-on projects, internships, and conferences, all of which help students transition into the professional world.
  • A comprehensive program combining technical skills, creativity, environmental awareness, and an understanding of contemporary issues in spatial design.
  • Successful entry into the workforce, thanks to practical training that is closely tied to the world of design (interior architecture, scenography, commercial and cultural design, etc.).
model
Modern Executive Interior Design Degree

Program Details

4th-Year Courses

  • Second Cycle - 4th Year / 60 ECTS credits - Semesters 7 and 8 
  • A YEAR OF CREATIVITY AND PROJECTS
  • 308 class hours 

Goals for the 4th year: to “integrate” knowledge and synthesize it. This year serves as a preview of what constitutes a high-quality project in the professional world, with a greater degree of autonomy.

Skills

  • Learn to integrate and synthesize knowledge.
  • Develop a project-oriented culture.
  • Expand your knowledge in the professional world.
  • Mandatory 6-month internship: Upon completion, students must defend a professional report to earn credit for a competency module of the interior designer certification (RNCP 38011 BC03: preparing and coordinating the execution of an interior design project)

Credits

Course Title Credits
  SEMESTER 7 SEMESTER 8
ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS    
Object Design 3  
Overall Design 3  
Light 4  
VISUAL COMMUNICATION AND PROJECT PRESENTATION TOOLS    
Volumetric representation 3  
Software for Enhancing AutoCAD / Rhino 3  
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN THE HUMANITIES    
Writing and Layout Workshops   5
Methodology 2  
PROJECT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP    
Materials Techniques and Application 3  
Initials / Partnership Project / Overall Design 10  
Defense of the Internship Report   25
TOTAL 30 30

5th-Grade Classes

  • SECOND CYCLE - 5th Year / 60 ECTS credits – Semesters 9 and 10 
  • GRADUATION YEAR AND COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM
  • 416 hours of preparation for the diploma

Well-versed in the interplay between ethics and aesthetics, as well as between creative choice and its place within a social, economic, or cultural context,fifth-yearstudents develop a personal project for their degree, which they will present to a professional jurycomposed of leading figures from the worlds of design and interior architecture, as well as artists, journalists, and representatives of various institutions.

Goal for the 5th year: to earn two competency blocks—RNCP38011BC01: Analyze and Study an Interior Architecture Project, and RNCP38011BC02: Design an Interior Architecture Project—in order to qualify for the diploma.


Credits

Course Title Credits
     
PERSONAL PROJECT SEMESTER 9 SEMESTER 10
Theoretical Section: The Thesis 10  
- Explorations, familiarization with the research field    
- Historical and Conceptual Contextualization    
- Project Objectives and Schedule    
- Editorial, visual, and abstract design   4
     
Plastic Component: The Project    
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE 12 10
- Setting Priorities and Objectives    
- Research on issues in the visual arts    
- Resolution, staging    
DESIGN 8 6
- Design Challenges    
- Project Definition    
- Design and Feasibility    
     
PRESENTATION OF THE PERSONAL PROJECT    
FORMAL PRESENTATION   6
- Artistic and Educational Aspects    
ORAL PRESENTATION                 4
- Argumentation and Persuasion    
TOTAL 30 30

The key moments

  • The Final Project - As the final stage of the program, the 5th year allows each student to carry out a comprehensive personal project under the guidance of three faculty advisors. This project combines a thesis, research, and a coherent, contemporary architectural design.
  • Personal Project Defense - A highlight of the program, the defense allows students to present and defend their personal project before a demanding panel of professionals, including interior architects, designers, artists, journalists, and representatives from cultural institutions. This is a true exercise in synthesis and presentation, marking the culmination of their academic journey and their entry into the professional world.
student working on a model
illustration of nature and biodiversity
Adults Working Together

In a nutshell

  • 300 ECTS
  • Duration: 5 years (10 semesters)
  • Start of the school year: September or a delayed start in January for first-year students
  • Tuition: 9,800 € per year + 490 € enrollment fee for the first year
  • Admission: High school graduates from all tracks + parallel admission into the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year
  • Internships: 2 months at the end of the 2nd year + 6 months during the 4th year
  • 5th Grade Personal Project Presentation
Modern Executive Interior Design Degree

Testimonial

This fifth year marks an important milestone, as the historical research and the thesis project progress in tandem. It is a period of research and creation that requires careful thought and genuine personal commitment. The college provides a stimulating environment for exchange, where discussions with faculty and fellow students help the project move forward and enrich the overall process.

Abir Khelifa Lemmouchi

Are you interested in the interior design degree program at the Académie Charpentier?