Architecture Schools in France

Architecture teaching in France is organised in 23 higher-education establishments according to the Ministry of Culture: 21 public national schools of architecture (ENSA) under the Ministry of Culture, two others whose diplomas the Ministry recognises as equivalent (INSA Strasbourg, public, and the private École spéciale d’architecture in Paris), plus the École de Chaillot (Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine) for the specialisation diploma (DSA) in architecture and heritage. Studies follow three cycles on the licence-master-doctorate model: a three-year first cycle (DEEA, licence grade), a two-year second cycle (DEA, master grade) and a three-year doctorate awarded jointly with universities. A separate one-year course, the HMONP, follows the master-level diploma. Students apply to the first year through Parcoursup (file review plus a compulsory interview); applicants who are not eligible for Parcoursup use a separate foreign-applicant procedure. Teaching is mainly in French.

Source: culture.gouv.fr/thematiques/architecture/formations-rec

Diplôme d’études en architecture (DEEA) – licence grade (first cycle, 3 years)

First cycle taught in the ENSA, conferring the licence grade; the Ministry describes it as giving the bases of architectural culture and design processes. Holders are described as suited to preparatory or supporting roles in practices and related firms. Source

Diplôme d’État d’architecte (DEA) – master grade (second cycle, 2 years)

Second cycle conferring the master grade; a research-oriented route exists that adds a “recherche” mention to the DEA. The Ministry states the DEA gives access to design and advisory roles as an employee, but not to registration in one’s own name by itself. Source

Habilitation à la maîtrise d’œuvre en son nom propre (HMONP) – one year, after the DEA

A complementary professionalising training of one year that can be taken at any time in professional life: at least 150 hours of theory and at least six months of professional placement. It is open to holders of the DEA or an equivalent diploma and allows registration on the Ordre des architectes roll. Not recorded as a separate degree program in this directory. Source

Doctorat en architecture (third cycle, 3 years)

Awarded jointly with universities; the ENSA host doctoral students in research units attached to university doctoral schools. Doctoral programs are not yet recorded school by school in this directory. Source

DSA and DPEA – post-master specialisation diplomas

Diplômes de spécialisation et d’approfondissement en architecture (national diplomas, four mentions: urban project, project ownership, major risks, heritage) and school-specific diplomas (DPEA). The École de Chaillot prepares mainly the DSA “architecture et patrimoine”. Not recorded as programs here. Source

Ministère de la Culture

Supervisory ministry of the 21 ENSA (public administrative establishments under its tutelle); exercises pedagogical and scientific supervision over the architecture programs and ensures unity of their contents. Co-accredits the ENSA with the ministry in charge of higher education to deliver the licence and master grades; recognises the INSA Strasbourg and ESA diplomas as equivalent to the ENSA diplomas.

Ministère chargé de l’Enseignement supérieur

Co-accreditation of the ENSA to deliver programs conforming to the licence-master-doctorate scheme (joint with the Ministry of Culture); supervises INSA Strasbourg.

HCERES (Haut conseil de l’évaluation de la recherche et de l’enseignement supérieur)

Periodic evaluation of the schools, which the Ministry describes as a condition of their accreditation to deliver the licence and master grades. It evaluates institutions; it is not a professional registration body.

Ordre des architectes (regional councils / Conseil national de l’Ordre des architectes, CNOA)

Keeps the roll (tableau) on which a holder of the DEA and the HMONP registers in order to use the title of architect and take on project-management responsibility in one’s own name, per the Ministry of Culture. The CNOA’s own website could not be reached from the research machine, so its role is described from the Ministry pages only.

According to the Ministry of Culture, to use the title of architect one must hold the diplôme d’État d’architecte (ADE) and the HMONP, provide professional civil-liability insurance, respect the code of ethics and be registered on the regional roll (tableau) of the Ordre des architectes. French law requires recourse to an architect registered on the roll for building projects subject to a building permit, with an exemption for a private person building or altering a private building for themselves under 150 m² of floor area. The DEA alone does not give the right to register. Foreign architecture degrees are not assessed here. Source

No degree on this site automatically permits anyone to practise as an architect, and nothing here is visa, work-permit or credit-transfer advice.

Teaching languages. Teaching in the ENSA is mainly in French and the schools ask non-exempt foreign applicants for French-language certification (TCF / DELF / DALF). ENSA Paris-Malaquais presents an English-language track (“Yes, we CAN!”, from September 2025) with some courses and exams in English; several schools run international double masters with partner universities, which are not recorded as separate programs here. No other fully English-taught DEEA/DEA was confirmed.

Admissions and portfolios. First-year entry for holders of the French baccalauréat or equivalent goes through Parcoursup: file review on school results followed by a compulsory interview with a jury for admissible candidates. Non-EU applicants without a French baccalauréat who live abroad use a foreign-applicant file (DAP) and a French-language test; applicants already in France use the school-run platform. The private ESA runs its own selection (file, portfolio and online interview). Applicants should check each school’s own calendar. Source

• Ministry of Culture: architecture training in France (ENSA, cycles, diplomas)
• Ministry of Culture: the 21 ENSA with addresses and websites
• Ministry of Culture: pre-registration procedures (Parcoursup, DAP, Taïga)
• Parcoursup