During the Cycle 1 in Digital Design and Communication at the CAD in Brussels, students have the opportunity to discover all aspects of digital communication. From graphic design to video and photography, the world of communication will no longer hold any secrets for you.

The worlds of communication and advertising have changed a lot. Internet, social media and now connected objects, have changed the ways of communicating. The relationships between the clients of advertising agencies (advertisers) and their own customers (consumers) have also evolved.

Indeed, in the digital world, a new discipline called UX (for User Experience) design aims to increase the satisfaction of users of a product or service by improving the usability, accessibility and pleasure provided by the interaction with this product/service.

At CAD, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to our students so that they can be operational in all areas related to digital communication. Together with our professors—true experts in their respective fields—we are committed to offering a curriculum that makes this Cycle in Design a reference in Brussels.

Our teaching is based on the practice of many tools and technologies that meet the needs of today’s companies and startups. Thus, your cycle’s degree in communication and digital design at the CAD will open many opportunities in the professional world.

WHY IS TRAINING IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN MORE INTERESTING THAN EVER?

Today’s advertising agencies and its creatives must be able to offer a global communication, to create advertising concepts and then adapt them to all new media. The creative plays the role of art director to create a new brand identity, imagine a new logo, develop a new packaging, create interfaces of websites and connected objects, mobile applications … in line with the real needs of consumers.

Finally, there is a growing demand for motion design specialists. This new communication tool consists of animating graphic elements (images, photos, illustrations, typography, video …) with sound. These animations are used for advertising films, animations of interfaces (web, mobile …), video productions (music clips, movie credits, …) or to create graphic universes in various fields (visual identities, video games, …).

CHOOSE CAD FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

CAD is an international institution. Courses are taught in English, offering our students the opportunity to obtain internships abroad. They can take part in international workshops and to become familiar with other cultures thanks to the visits and cultural trips organized each year.

Our students, as part of the double degree program with the Nantes School of Design, can spend a semester in one of the studios in France, Brazil, India or China. After this experience, they will be all the more encouraged to pursue international careers all over the world (USA, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China… and in various European countries).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

The CAD is an international institution. Courses are taught in English, giving our students the opportunity to obtain internships abroad, to take part in international workshops and to familiarise themselves with other cultures thanks to the visits and cultural trips organised each year. Our students, as part of the double degree with the Nantes School of Design, can spend a semester in one of the studios in France, Brazil, India or China. After this experience, they will be all the more encouraged to pursue international careers throughout the world (USA, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China… and in various European countries).

DIGITAL DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION : PROGRAM

The following is a non-exhaustive list of course modules that CAD students have the opportunity to take for design studies :

MAIN CLASSES

  • Advertising conception
  • Graphic design
  • Digital design
  • Art direction
  • Motion design
  • UX/UI design
  • Layout & storyboard
  • Packaging
  • Digital strategy
  • Digital illustration
  • Photography
  • Multidisciplinary workshops

COURSES SCHEDULE

BEGINNING OF CLASSES

Classes begin late September. A Summer School is organized in September (3-week courses in both Drawing and English) for those whose levels in drawing and/or English need improvement. The decision to participate in these courses or not is made by the direction during the interview process.

YEARLY SCHEDULE

The 3 years are divided in 9 quarters of 3 months each:

  • Year 1 – Q1: October – November – December
  • Year 1 – Q2: January – February – March
  • Year 1 – Q3: April – May – June
  • Year 2 – Q4: October – November – December
  • Year 2 – Q5: January – February – March
  • Year 2 – Q6: April – May – June
  • Year 3 – Q7: October – November – December
  • Year 3 – Q8: January – February – March
  • Year 3 – Q9: April – May – June

Year 1

  • Summer school: 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of September,
  • Start of Academic Year, last Monday of September,
  • During the first quarter: every Friday, cultural visits in Belgium, France, Great Britain, Netherlands and Germany,
  • 2-week internship in the sales or marketing department of a big company during the Easter break,
  • 1-week study trip during the Easter break: one year in USA (New-York or Chicago), one year in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid…

Year 2

  • Start of Academic Year, last Monday of September,
  • 3-week internship in a communication agency during the Easter break,
  • Study trip during the Easter break: one year in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid…, one year in USA (New-York or Chicago),
  • One international multidisciplinary workshop with guest students coming from the UK, France and/or Italy.

Year 3

  • 4-week internship in an agency during the summer holidays,
  • Start of Academic Year, last Monday of September,
  • 2-week multicultural and multidisciplinary workshop in Shanghai during the Easter break,
  • Two international multidisciplinary workshops with guest students coming from the UK, France and/or Italy during Q2.

HOW DO I JOIN THE CAD?

TUITION

The tuition fees for the Undergraduates B1/B2/B3 programs and the double degrees M1/M2 are 9,000 EUR per year (8,700 EUR + 300 EUR registration fee*) and are to be paid as follows:
  • 300 EUR + 2,900 EUR i.e. 3,200 EUR (first third of costs) upon registration,
  • 2,900 EUR (second third of the costs) for June 30,
  • 2,900 EUR (third third of costs) for 15 September.

For international transfers, bank fees are at the charge of the payer.

Note however that there is a staggered payment possible for some residents (upon acceptance and subjects to a surcharge of 300 EUR).

Those tuition fees don’t involve the cultural visits and study trips.

*Registration fees: this amount covers the general administrative costs as well as individual insurance (taken out by the CAD) in case of accident at the school.

Bank details of the CAD
– BNP Paribas Fortis : IBAN BE93 0017 2185 3767 – BIC GEBABEBB
– ING : IBAN BE45 3631 3208 9889 – BIC BBRUBEBB
– Belfius : IBAN BE85 0689 3121 7306 – BIC GKCCBEBB

Remarks
– The CAD does not accept checks. Tuition fees must be paid into one of the school’s bank accounts. For international transfers, bank charges are at the expense of the originator.
– Tuition fees remain as announced at the time of registration for the entire program (except for repeaters in the first year if the price increases) unless inflation exceeds 5% per year, in which case the fees will be indexed.
– Since the number of students admitted each year is limited, the full tuition is due even in case of withdrawal or exclusion from the course.

CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

In Belgium, private schools can’t deliver states diploma.

The awarded degrees are certificates which may correspond with Bachelor’s degrees and are credited with 60 ECTS per year.

The CAD ‘s graduates who choose the MDes receive a double certificate: one of the CAD and one of Ecole de Design de Nantes (“Diplôme visé contrôlé par l’Etat”).