Information for International Students
Language
Courses are conducted in French. Foreign applicants must possess good working knowledge of French in order to benefit from their studies at ESAG/Penninghen.
Nevertheless, English is spoken by students and professors, and selected French student tutors are available to help foreign exchange students communicate during course sessions.
Administrative Regulations
Residency off school premises. Student Social Security Coverage. Identification cards for all students.
School Calendar
Courses begin during the last two weeks of September and end at the beginning of June to allow for the selective entrance examinations to art schools of higher education.
School holidays correspond to the Zone C calendar set by the National Ministry of Education.
Accommodation
Students must find their own studio flats or rooms. Even within the framework of international exchange, housing cannot be provided by the School. List of recommended addresses.
A list of student residences may be obtained upon request from the secretarial office.
Classified ads
Personals (for accommodation, material…) may be posted in the school via the ESAG/Penninghen secretarial office.
Restaurants
University restaurants and other necessary conveniences are within the vicinity of the School.
Health and Accident Insurance
Except for exempted students, matriculation in the Student Social Security Regime is mandatory for all students under the age of 28, beginning on the registration date and throughout the entire academic year (1 October to 30 September of the following year)
For students leaving to study abroad
French or European students must contact LMDE or SMEREP (French Student Social Security centers) to obtain the European Health Insurance Card (CEAM), delivered in general within 2 weeks.
Students who wish to study outside Europe may find all information concerning administrative procedures on the following websites:
- LMDE: www.lmde.com
- LMDE offers its members a “LMDE International Package”, which covers all eventualities during studies or training periods abroad.
- SMEREP:www.smerep.fr
- SMEREP offers the formula 3World Pass”, which covers all eventualities during studies or placements abroad.
For foreign students entering ESAG on an exchange programme
In order to receive foreign students under the best conditions, the LMDE Social Security Center has set information on their website in foreign languages. These documents are intended as explanation of the social coverage system to incoming students.
- http://www.smerep.fr/secu-etudiante/etudiants-etrangers
- http://www.lmde.com/index.php?id=8 (last arrow)
Computer Facilities
A number of computers and a printing room are available to students. Exchange students also have access to School materials and equipment. There is a charge for printing and colour photocopies. It is recommended to have a personal laptop.
Access to Internet and WIFI is available free of charge throughout the School.
Follow-up of student results on Internet
A personal security code enables every student and parent to access details concerning course grades, schedules, and attendance records throughout the year.
Intranet
The ESAG/Penninghen Intranet is a security work platform for use by professors, students, and administrative staff: project spaces for each workshop, in-house publications, online courses, media consulting (reviews, literature, exhibitions…), online broadcasts, archives of works, follow –up of projects from a distance, mailing lists, photos of workshops, news of the School…
Student Mailbox
Each student has access to a personal mailbox, at the address penninghen.fr
Software utilized in courses
–on Mac and PC:
Adobe Master CollectionCS4 comprising: Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Flash, DreamWeaver, After Effects.
–on PC only:
Autocad 2008, 3Dstudio max 9, Vray.
Photo Studio and Lab
Black and white silver halide photography
Colour digital photography, colour printing A3 format
Documentation Center and Media Room
On the fourth floor of the School, a library is open to all students and professors, for consulting books, periodicals, and documents.
Drawing Materials
A list of basic materials for the first year is given students upon registration.
Field Trips and Study Visits
Students may have the opportunity to visit sites of interest and professional colloquiums. Field trips are organized by graphic design and architecture professors: visits to Venice, to various construction sites, factories, printers, exhibitions, museums…

