THE CAD

The College of Art & Design (CAD) is a privately run college of design located in Brussels. Founded in 1961, the CAD is one of the few art colleges in continental Europe to offer a practice-based education in the fields of interior architecture, design, communication, graphic & digital design, art direction, UX design, motion design and 3D image design.

The CAD is basically a school for creative people.

Practice is the basis of its teaching method.

The CAD is the only design school in Belgium with an Anglo-Saxon teaching style based on practice.

The teaching method is ‘Anglo-Saxon’ – that is to say it is based on practice. There are almost no theoretical classes. Students are guided by expert professionals, who are both active and renowned in their sector. Students undertake tasks and exercises that are very close to those they will confront in their future professional life.

50 professionals to teach 160 students.

Teaching is based on the students’ initial ideas. This method is very motivating because students are faced with the real problems of their future jobs, from their very first year. This method requires very close supervision, and is one of the great strengths of the CAD: ± 160 students are supervised by ± 50 teachers.

The CAD is a college that has a rich human dimension. Classes are made up of a small number of students, which ensures a personalised follow-up and an informal atmosphere that’s very appreciated by our students, who feel supported.

Internships in the professional environment from the first year.

Our students do many internships in companies and do so throughout their studies (almost a full year of internships is done over a 5-year programme). These successive internships allow students not only to be confronted with the reality of their future professional environments but also to orient themselves little by little towards the precise sector and type of agency/ design office that will suit them later on.

In order to prepare its students for international careers, 100% of CAD courses are taught in English.

24 nationalities are represented among CAD students.

Classes are taught in English. The goal of the CAD is for its graduates to be multilingual and to be able to practice their future profession all over the world.

An international mentality is also developed through study trips as well as workshops, abroad and in Brussels, with guests from other European schools. Finally, the many internships that students do, some of which must be completed abroad, make the CAD a unique place to study, by opening up to the world. The CAD has been a member of the CUMULUS Association since 2013. It brings together some 250 public and private art schools worldwide (http://www.cumulusassociation.org) and aims to help its members organise international workshops.

98% of CAD graduates find a job at home or abroad in less than 4 months.

The double degree

In France, Switzerland and Belgium, private institutions cannot use the words Bachelor or Master to describe their programmes. We therefore use the terms 1° CYCLE (3 years – 180 ECTS) and 2° CYCLE (2 years – 120 ECTS). Note that these diplomas are equivalent to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, but are not state-approved diplomas.

In Switzerland as in Belgium, the state does not recognize private diplomas. In France, on the other hand, the best schools can obtain recognition by the state of some private diplomas.

This is why the CAD offers a master’s double degree in collaboration with the Ecole de Design de Nantes. Students receive a diploma from the CAD, a school renowned in professional circles as providing top quality training by the best professionals in Europe, as well as a diploma from Nantes, conferring a master’s degree, approved by the State.

PROGRAMME AND COURSE CALENDAR

Download here the academic calendar

3 Programmes: Cycle 1 – 3 years

At the CAD, all courses are taught in English. Throughout the duration of the programme there are many opportunities for international experiences.

Please note: Workshops and stays abroad are subject to current COVID constraints

1st year

• Summer school: 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of September
• Start of the academic year: the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October
• 1st term: every Friday there are cultural visits in Belgium and also to France, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany
• Easter study trip to New York, Chicago or a major European city such as Berlin, Barcelona or Madrid, for example

2nd year

• Start of the academic year: the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October
• Easter study trip to New York, Chicago or a major European city such as Berlin, Barcelona or Madrid, for example

3rd year

• Start of the academic year: the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October
• Workshop in Shanghai (China), Pune (India) or São Paulo (Brazil) during the Easter period
• 2 international multidisciplinary workshops with guest students from the UK, France and/or Italy

3 Programmes (Cycle 2 – 2 years) in partnership with the NANTES School of Design

4th year

• 3-month internship abroad. Our students often go to the USA, South America, Northern Europe, China and Australia
• Start of the academic year: the Monday after the All Saints’ holiday
• 2nd semester abroad: choice of 4 “studios”: São Paulo (Brazil), Shanghai (China), Pune (India), and Nantes (France)

5th year

• Start of the academic year: the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October
• 2 internships of 3 months abroad between February and September
• Double graduation ceremony in September in Nantes

3 Specialisations

Courses are taught in English. These programmes are open to students pursuing their studies and to professionals wishing to specialise in a specific field.

• Start of the academic year: the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October
• CAD courses 2 x ½ days per week (6 hours) from October to June. This rhythm is compatible with a part-time job or with an internship in a company
• End of the course in June with delivery of an specialisation certificate
• Possible extension with a professional internship of 3 months in a company from July to the end of September

EMPLOYMENT & OPPORTUNITIES

98% of our students find a job within 4 months. Find out more about their career paths:

The CAD prepares its students for the business world from the first year of study by incorporating internships throughout the course. Lasting a minimum of one week in the first year, internships grow longer over the years to reach a minimum of 3 months in the fifth year.

During the Postgraduate cycle (cycle 2) CAD students can also go to India, Brazil, or China for an academic semester. These three big countries offer great opportunities for expatriate candidates.

For 60 years now, the CAD has been recognized by professionals, in Belgium and abroad, as a centre of excellence.

Where are our alumni now:

The alumni of the CAD are mainly found in Belgium and France (75%). A quarter of them work in other European countries and in the rest of the world (Lebanon, Morocco, Vietnam, China, etc.)

• Belgium: 58%
• France: 17%
• Rest of Europe: 11%
• Rest of the world: 14%

Our former students are now working in architectural or interior design firms, advertising agencies, design firms and companies specialized in graphic identity. More recently, the school has opened up to fashion and styling agencies.

Most represented companies:

• Communications agencies
• Design agencies
• Graphic studios
• Architecture firms
• Businesses of all types
• Institutions
• Media

A large number of former students are also freelancers, a common practice in the creative sector, whether in Belgium or abroad.

Brussels, the administrative capital of Europe, is a very international city. English is spoken widely, including in some companies located in Belgium. The CAD courses, entirely conducted in English, are an important asset for our students when integrating a company.

Preparation module for the professional world:

A specialized module during the Postgraduate course (cycle 2) prepares students for the professional world and the administrative procedures required for being self-employed. During this same period, students take 160 hours of business management including courses in accounting, taxation, entrepreneurship, law, professional ethics and more.