The Foundation Year is designed to prepare you for undergraduate studies in Fashion Design and, more broadly, for higher education in art and design. This year enables you to experiment and get familiar with a wide range of artistic disciplines, explore techniques and practices, and develop your creative skills.

Audience

Open to students who have graduated from high school (Baccalaureate or equivalent).

B2 level of English required

Practical information

Format:: Full time
Duration:: 8 months (September to May)
Next intake:: September 2025
Tuition fees:: for academic year 2025/2026; EU students: €12,400
Non EU students: €16,800
Thanks to the generosity of the IFM Foundation, need-based scholarships are available for EU students under 30 years of age on September 1 of the academic year.
Language:: English
Location:: Institut Français de la Mode; 34 quai d'Austerlitz, 75013 Paris

Audience

Open to students who have graduated from high school (Baccalaureate or equivalent).

B2 level of English required

Program

The Foundation Year is a course designed to expose you to a wide range of artistic disciplines, develop your creative maturity and provide you with the skills needed to apply for undergraduate studies in art, design or fashion. A theoretical approach allows you to delve deeper into historical and cultural aspects.

Conceived as a laboratory packed with ideas, culture, practice, exploration and research, the Foundation Year is a defining year, opening up a wide range of opportunities to strengthen each student's personality and creative range, giving you a head start in your chosen degree.

Under the guidance of IFM faculty, professionals and artists, you will have all the tools you need to help you build a high-quality portfolio.

Objectives

Develop your creative maturity by deepening your understanding of artistic disciplines
Broaden your range of artistic expression by practicing in a variety of disciplinary, cultural and artistic fields
Learn how to build a portfolio and understand the codes and forms for presenting an idea or creative concept, including the search for iconographic references, both physical and digital

Program

The course includes creative workshops (visual arts, image, photography, 3D, graphic design, fashion), theoretical teaching to provide context for the various creative disciplines, and courses focusing on the formal aspects (oral, written, visual) of personal and research work.

The year is structured around themes as diverse as:

architecture and the body
performance
notions of representation (identity vs. object)
everyday life
how the immediate environment becomes a source of inspiration and observation
...

The aim is to combine 3D research with cultural and societal reflection.

At the end of the course, the focus is on building up your digital and printed portfolio.

Teaching methods

From the end of September to May, the course is made up of 4 modules of 5 weeks each, including:

creative workshops (fashion, visual arts, image, photography, 3D, graphic design, etc.)
theoretical courses (contextualisation and conceptualisation of the various creative disciplines)
formal methodology courses (oral, written, visual)
personal work and research

Campus

Our Austerlitz campus is located at Les Docks - Cité de la Mode et du Design on the bank of the famous Seine river. Students have access to state-of-the-art workshops, a fully equipped Fab Lab, a knit workshop, a leather workshop, a photographic studio and a C.A.D laboratory.

Entirely dedicated to the fashion, design and creation sectors, our analog and digital Library has one of the most unique collections in Europe.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees for academic year 2025/2026:

EU students: €12,400

Non-EU students: €16,800

Non-refundable application fee: €30

Upon admission into the program, the selected candidates will need to pay a deposit to confirm their spot in the program (€4,000 for EU students and €6,000 for non EU students). These amounts may be adjusted for the recipients of an IFM Foundation need-based scholarship.

Scholarships

Thanks to the sponsorship of company members of Institut Français de la Mode's Foundation, need-based scholarships are available for EU citizens under 30 years of age on September 1 of the academic year and who do not benefit from an individual training leave.

To apply for a scholarship, please complete the scholarship application form downloadable from the application website and submit it with the application form. No applications will be accepted after you have submitted your application form. Scholarship applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please consult the “frequently asked questions” section if you are completing a scholarship application.

How to apply

The application platform will open on 25 January 2025.

Admissions requirements

The programme is open to students who have completed their secondary education (baccalauréat or equivalent). As the course is taught in English, a B2 level is required.

You can only apply for the programme once a year, and no more than twice.

Admissions process

The admissions process consists of two steps, firstly the submission of a detailed online application file (including your creative file) and secondly, for selected candidates, an online interview.

There is a non-refundable €30 application fee.

Language tests

The program is delivered in English, therefore all applicants are required to submit one of the following English language test score reports (no other tests will be accepted):

TOEFL iBT: minimum score 80
IELTS Academic or General: minimum score of 6
CAMBRIDGE: minimum score of 169
PTE Pearson Academic: minimum score of 59

Test scores are mandatory and must be submitted before the application deadline. They must be no older than 2 years at the application deadline of the round you choose to apply for.

Applicants may be exempted to provide an English test score report if:

They have lived for the last 3 years in a country where English is the FIRST official language
They are preparing or hold an IB (International Baccalaureate), A-level, GSCE or OIB
They are native English speakers

Required documents

You will find below the list of documents to be collected, which should be scanned and uploaded in PDF format to your application profile:

A recent and detailed curriculum vitae
A passport photo
A copy of your identity document
Each diploma obtained. If you do not have a degree, please leave this section blank.
Transcripts of your last year of secondary school and any subsequent years (if you have undertaken undergraduate studies or a preparatory course). If you are a student in an art school or in a foundation course, this transcript is mandatory.
Your creative file* (see section below)
Your English language test if applicable (see section above).
Your scholarship application (if applicable)

Your application will not be considered if some of these documents are missing.

Content of the creative file

Based on the expression “Give me Five”, you will present:

5 hand drawings
5 collages made by you
5 photos taken by you
5 iconic clothes
5 movies
5 songs
5 books
5 young fashion designers

The format of your creative file is open. Feel free to interpret it however you see fit. Your understanding and interpretation will provide interesting insights.

We cannot advise you on the content of your creative file and what should appear in it, as it is a reflection of your own personal expression.

Please be creative and unique and pay particular attention to the layout and graphic presentation of your creative file.

Save your file as a pdf that should not exceed 10 MB.

Personal statement

You will be required to write a personal statement (500 words maximum) as follows:

To better understand what motivates you to apply for this Foundation course, write a personal statement about who you are and what drives you as a creative person and human being.

This statement is NOT a document to upload, you will have to write it in your application profile.

Application sessions

You will find below the calendar of application sessions.

You can choose the session you wish to apply for, but you can only apply for one session. Please note, however, that as the number of places is limited to 28, it is recommended that you apply for the first session.

We also strongly advise non-EU students to apply for the first session in anticipation of the processing times for visa applications.

Session 1 - February 2025

Application deadline: 27 February 2025 (until 11 :59 pm)
Notification of eligibility: 17 March 2025 at the latest
Online interviews: Friday 28 March 2025

Session 2 - June 2025

Application deadline : 19 June 2025 (until 11 :59 pm)
Notification of eligibility : 4 July 2025 at the latest
Online interviews: Friday 11 July 2025

Frequently asked questions

Application process

I don't have an artistic background, is that a problem?

We do not require any technical or drawing skills. All you need to do is submit a creative file, which will help the selection committee to assess your potential and what drives your creativity.

I have downloaded the requested documents and paid the application fee. Can I change my application if I want to replace a document?

Once the application fee has been paid and ALL the required documents have been uploaded, your application is considered complete and can no longer be modified (even if it is finalized before the deadline).

To avoid any problems, please upload your creative file last (before or after payment).

My application has not been accepted. Can I find out why? Can I appeal?

The Admissions Committee's decisions are final and, given the number of applications, no reasons will be provided.

My application has not been selected; can I try again in another session?

No. You can choose your session, but you can only apply once a year, and only twice.

Can I apply for the Foundation Year and the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design in the same year?

Yes, but if you apply for the Foundation Year during the first admissions session and your application is unsuccessful, it is very unlikely that your application will be accepted for the Bachelor of Arts, as the requirements for this programme are even higher.

On the other hand, if your application is accepted and you also receive a positive response for the Bachelor, you will be able to accept our offer for the Bachelor of Arts and your place on the Foundation Year will be offered to a candidate on the waiting list.

Finally, if your application for the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design is unsuccessful, you can try applying for the final Foundation Year admissions session.

I have paid my application fees but the payment does not appear on my application profile.

In this case, we would ask you to wait 36 hours after payment, as international payments may take some time to be processed.

If your payment does not appear after this time, please check with your bank that the transfer has been debited and contact us via your application profile.

Please do not contact us before the 36-hour deadline. If possible, we recommend that you pay your application fees a few days before the deadline to avoid any problems.

I can't pay my application fees with my bank card. What should I do?

Our credit card payment system accepts all international credit cards. We invite you to check that there are no incidents on your bank account, that you have not reached the payment limit and to try to pay with another card.

If it still doesn't work, please wait 24 hours before trying again.

If you are still having problems (and only if you have followed all the above steps without success), please contact us via your application profile.

Financing your studies

What are the conditions of payment of the tuition fees?

Payment is made annually. Once admitted, you will need to confirm your place by paying a deposit (4,000 € for EU nationals or 6,000 € for non-EU nationals). The remaining tuition fees for the year can be paid in full in September or in two instalments (September and December).

Do you offer student loans?

As a school, we do not offer student loans.

If you are a French citizen, you can take out a student loan with your bank or your parents' bank.

If you're a European citizen, French banks can grant you a student loan under certain conditions.

If you are non-European, you will have to finance your studies from your country of origin. It will not be possible to take out a student loan in France.

Do you have any partner banks?

Yes, Société Générale and Caisse d'Epargne are partners of the Institut Français de la Mode.

Under certain conditions, our students can open an account at two specific branches, whose contact details will be sent to them once admission has been confirmed.

Both banks offer state-guaranteed loans.

Please note, however, that student loans will only be granted to French and European citizens (subject to residency conditions).

I wish to take out a loan, I don't have a guarantor. Can I still borrow?

Yes, if you are French or European (and you’ve been living in France for 5 years), there is a state-guaranteed student loan.

Please note, however, that the number of state-guaranteed student loans granted per year is limited. It is therefore advisable to apply for one as early as possible, as soon as you receive confirmation of admission.

You'll find all the information you need about this loan here: https://www.service-public.fr/...

Scholarships

Where can I download the scholarship application form?

You can download the grant application from your application profile, in the "application questionnaire" section, question "financing your studies" by clicking on "Institut Français de la Mode need-based scholarships". You will need to upload it with the supporting documents at the last stage of validating your application.

Can applying for a scholarship be detrimental to my application?

No. The scholarship application has no impact on the selection process.

When will we be informed of the scholarship award committee's decision?

You will be notified of the scholarship award committee's decision at the same time as your admission results.

What supporting documents should I include with my scholarship application?

The scholarship application must be completed and accompanied by the following supporting documents:

Parents' complete tax notice for 2023 income (in France, this is the 2024 tax notice).
If the parents are divorced or separated, you must attach the complete tax notices of both parents.
Full copy of the family record book (parents and siblings).

All documents must be translated into French or English and certified by competent authorities. All applications including untranslated supporting documents will be rejected.

The completed application and supporting documents must be merged into a single pdf document and uploaded in the dedicated section. The scholarship application must be submitted simultaneously as the application form.

Any incomplete or late document will be rejected without any possibility of appeal.

What are the criteria for financial independence?

To be considered financially independent, a candidate must no longer have been a student for at least 3 years as of September 1, 2025 AND must have been in possession of his/her own tax return for at least 2 years. Both conditions must be met to be considered financially independent. If not, you will need to provide us with both your parents' incomes. If you are not independent and do not provide the required information, your application will be rejected.

I did not send my scholarship application with my application. Can I apply for a scholarship later?

No, scholarship applications must be complete and uploaded with the application. No subsequent applications will be considered.

I'm not European, can I apply for a scholarship?

No, Institut Français de la Mode scholarships are reserved for citizens of European Union member states.

Applicants with refugee status in France or benefiting from subsidiary protection may also apply for a scholarship.

Practical information

Do I need a visa for France?

If you are a citizen of the European Economic Area, your national ID or passport is enough. For students outside the European Economic Area, a student visa is necessary (Visa VLS-TS). French law demands that you have “sufficient means” at your disposal to study without having to work. For visa application information and the necessary documents, please refer to the CampusFrance website. IFM sends the official acceptance letter, necessary to start your visa application after the non-refundable deposit has been paid.

Does IFM have a Campus? Dormitories?

Institut Français de la Mode is a nonresidential campus, offering on three levels, 9 000 m2 of classrooms, design studios, knitwear and leather workshops, a fab lab, a Photo Studio and a documentation center.

There is no on-campus Housing, however our academic support teams will transfer offers from landlords.

Once accepted, all students receive a “student handbook” where tips, suggestions and partnerships are presented.

Students can also refer to the www.ciup.fr for specific information about student dormitory-type housing.