During Cycle 1 of Interior Architecture & Design at the CAD, students have the opportunity to learn all facets of the profession. Interior architecture, design and decoration will no longer hold any secrets after the three-year course at our college.

In our Interior Architecture and Design curriculum, we help students become talented professionals in their field. Our cycle is designed to provide a solid foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as internship opportunities to confirm the practical knowledge that students have acquired during the CAD shared modules.

During their studies, students will take courses in technical drawing, interior design, and many other subjects related to interior architecture and design. We work with a team of experienced professors who are passionate about sharing their expertise and know-how with our students.

WHY STUDY INTERIOR DESIGN AT THE CAD?

The professions of interior architect and designer have evolved considerably in recent years. These professionals must be able to work with public, commercial and private spaces, design furniture and accessories, imagine exhibitions, conceive cultural events and more.

On the other hand, a complementarity between interior architects and designers has developed over time. Indeed, growing technical, technological and regulatory constraints are increasingly keeping architects busy. As a result, some of the tasks they formerly undertook are now entrusted to interior architects. They now have the same level of education (5 years) and work independently or in collaboration with others.

In addition to their observational skills and their ability to find and synthesize information, designers are first and foremost creative. Once a project has been designed, they must manage the various tradespeople, subcontractors or manufacturers involved, and control prices, deadlines and quality. Creativity and rigour are the keys to future success!

The CAD teaches its students to tackle all aspects of the profession. This richness and openness to the realities of the profession allow our students to find very good internships during their studies, and to rapidly obtain professional commitments once they graduate.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

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 become familiar with other cultures through visits and cultural trips organised each year.
In the framework of the double degree with the ECOLE de DESIGN de NANTES, this programme allows you to go abroad to France, India, Brazil or China for a semester of study in one of the destinations proposed by our partner.
These experiences allow our students to pursue international careers all over the world (USA, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China… and in different European countries).

OVERVIEW OF COURSES OFFERED TO CAD STUDENTS

The objective of the CAD is to offer students a variety of courses in line with the needs of the industries they will apply for. They will work on concrete projects that will allow them to understand all the stages of designing spaces.

All of our teaching modules are presented by industry professionals who share the latest trends and professional practices with our students. Our curriculum allows students to work with confidence in any interior design agency and, for example, become an interior decorator.

MAIN CLASSES

  • Interior architecture
  • Product and furniture design
  • Scenography
  • C.A.O. (computer-aided design): Autocad, Sketch up, Rhino, Revit, Photoshop, Illustrator etc
  • Organic architecture
  • Digital architecture
  • History of architecture, furniture and design
  • Photography – Audiovisual – Graphic design
  • Feng Shui – Colours
  • Multidisciplinary workshops

COURSES SCHEDULE

BEGINNING OF CLASSES

Classes begin on October 3rd for first year students. A Summer School is organized from September 12th (a 3-week course in both drawing and English classes) for those whose levels in drawing and/or English need improving. The decision to participate in these courses or not is made by the school directors during the interview process.

YEARLY SCHEDULE

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

Download the annual academic calendar

  • Q1: October – November – December
  • Q2: January – February – March
  • Q3: April – May – June

Year 1

  • Summer school: last 3 weeks of September
  • Start of Academic Year: classes begin on the first Monday of October for the first year students
  • During the first quarter: every Friday, there are cultural visits in Belgium, and also to France, Great Britain, Netherlands and Germany
  • Two 1-week internships during the Easter break: one in a carpenter’s workshop and one in a structural works company
  • 1-week study trip during the Easter break: one year it’s in the USA (New York or Chicago), one year it’s in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona or Madrid for example

Year 2

  • Start of Academic Year: Classes begin on October 5th
  • One 2-week internship during the Easter break with a general contractor
  • 1-week study trip during the Easter break: one year it’s in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona or  Madrid, one year it’s in the USA (New York or Chicago)
  • One international multidisciplinary workshop with guest students coming from the UK, France and/or Italy during Q2

Year 3

  • One 4-week professional internship in an (interior) architecture or design office
  • Start of Academic Year: the last Monday of September
  • One 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

HOW CAN I APPLY TO 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 (1st third of costs) upon registration
  • 2,900 EUR (2nd third of costs) paid by June 30th
  • 2,900 EUR (Final third of costs) paid by September 15th

For international transfers, bank fees are payable by the sender.

A staggered payment plan is possible for some residents (upon acceptance and subject to a surcharge of 300 EUR).

Tuition fees do not include cultural visits and study trips.

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

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 bank cheques. 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 programme (except for students repeating 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 fee is due even in case of withdrawal or exclusion from the course.

Online registration

CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

In Belgium, private schools can’t deliver state diplomas.

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

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