ensa Nantes
ensa Nantes is a French public national architecture school offering undergraduate through doctoral programs in architecture, urban planning, naval architecture, and scenography, serving students, working professionals, and international learners across its Nantes and Mauritius campuses.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ensa Nantes does
ensa Nantes (formally the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes) is a French public national higher education and research institution specializing in architecture, operating under the dual supervision of the French Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It is one of 20 national ENSA architecture schools and holds statutory authority to confer the Diplôme d'État d'architecte, the state-recognized professional qualification for architects in France. The school's main campus is located at 6 quai François Mitterrand in Nantes in a building designed by Pritzker Prize winners Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, with an additional international satellite campus in Mauritius offering Bachelor and Master of Architecture and Urbanism programs.
The institution delivers a comprehensive portfolio structured around the three-year Diplôme d'études en architecture (Licence, 180 ECTS) and two-year Diplôme d'État d'architecte (Master, 300 ECTS total), supplemented by the HMONP professional habilitation for independent practice, two specialized DPEA diplomas (Architecture navale and Scénographe — the latter being the only French program covering all scenography professions), dual-degree programs with engineering and urban planning, two joint master's programs (with Université de Nantes and École Centrale Nantes), and a doctoral program conducted through the AAU-CRENAU research laboratory. Continuing education (Formation Professionnelle Continue) targets working professionals on a biennial cohort basis. Research output includes the Coraulis VR platform for comparative urban space design, computer vision research on pedestrian perception of urban environments, and doctoral work on AI-assisted scientific mediation.
ensa Nantes operates as a non-commercial public establishment with revenue derived primarily from state budget allocations, supplemented by modest student tuition (€543/year for first-year students, €23/year for scholarship holders), specialized program fees (€2,020–€3,450/year for DPEA programs), continuing education fees (€945/year, CPF-eligible), and professional services through the Espace Pro division (space and equipment rentals, apprenticeship tax). The institution distributes its services through direct institutional enrollment via the national Parcoursup platform, Campus France for international students from 73 countries, direct competitive examinations for continuing education, and partnerships with Brazilian, Argentine, Guinean, and South African institutions for international workshops and exchanges.
ensa Nantes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ensa Nantes
- Legal name
- École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes
- Website
- https://nantes.archi.fr
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ensa Nantes is a French public national architecture school offering undergraduate through doctoral programs in architecture, urban planning, naval architecture, and scenography, serving students, working professionals, and international learners across its Nantes and Mauritius campuses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ensa Nantes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architecture Schools (within Arts & Design institutions) (EDAHAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)
Keywords
Where ensa Nantes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ensa Nantes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Higher Education Funding: As a French public national higher education and research institution, ensa Nantes receives government funding through the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Revenue comes from state budget allocations for public educational services.
- Professional Continuing Education Fees: Professionals pay annual fees for continuing education programs: 945€ per year for first three years and 688€ for the fourth year (2025 rates). CPF (professional training account) is mobilizable for these programs.
- Specialized Program Tuition: DPEA Architecture navale costs 3450€ per year plus approximately 1000€ in indirect costs for travel and equipment. DPEA Scénographe costs 2020€ per year (2025-26 and 2026-27 rates). These programs are outside RNCP and not eligible for CROUS scholarships.
- Initial Education Fees: First-year license students pay 543€ in tuition fees (2025-2026), with reduced fees of 23€ for scholarship holders. Students in the formation initiale path pay these standard French higher education fees.
- Professional Services and Space Rental: The school offers venue and equipment rental services to professionals and organizations through its 'Espace Pro' division, generating additional revenue from the professional community.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | First-year architecture license tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | DPEA Architecture navale annual fees |
| Subscription | Annual | DPEA Scénographe annual fees |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Continuing Education (FPC) fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
ensa Nantes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ensa Nantes is a French national public architecture school offering state-recognized architecture education, including the three-year Licence, two-year Diplôme d'État d'architecte (master's level), the HMONP professional habilitation for independent practice, specialized DPEA diplomas in naval architecture and scenography, dual-degree programs, joint research master's in urban planning, and doctoral research through the AAU-CRENAU laboratory. Programs are delivered on campuses in Nantes and Mauritius, with continuing education for working professionals.
Product overview
ENSA Nantes is a French national architectural school offering a comprehensive educational portfolio structured around core architecture degrees and specialized programs. The institution delivers a three-year Licence (Diplôme d'études en architecture) and two-year Master (Diplôme d'État d'architecte) forming the primary architecture qualification pathway, supplemented by the professional HMONP habilitation for independent practice. Specialized programs include the unique DPEA Scénographe (only French program covering all scenography disciplines) and internationally-recognized DPEA Architecture navale. The school offers dual-degree options with engineering and urban planning, two joint research master's programs (Villes et Territoires with University of Nantes; Villes et Environnements Urbains with École Centrale Nantes), and a doctoral research program through the AAU-CRENAU laboratory. International operations include a Mauritius campus and global partnership network. Digital services include the online student handbook (Livret de l'étudiant) and research tools such as the Coraulis VR platform for architectural visualization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Diplôme d'études en architecture (Licence)
- Diplôme d'État d'architecte (Master)
- HMONP (Habilitation à la maîtrise d'œuvre en son nom propre)
- Master Villes et Territoires
- Master Villes et Environnements Urbains
- DPEA Architecture navale
- DPEA Scénographe
- Formation professionnelle continue (Continuing Education)
- Double Cursus Architecte Ingénieur
- Double Cursus Architecte Urbaniste
- Doctorat en architecture
- ENSA Nantes-Mauritius Campus
- Livret de l'étudiant (Student Handbook)
- Coraulis VR Platform
- Espace Pro - Venue and Equipment Rental
Quantifiable outcome
- Co-habilitated Master program accredited by APERAU
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ensa Nantes
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
ensa Nantes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
ensa Nantes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UNICAP (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco)coreensa Nantes signed a cooperation agreement with UNICAP (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco) in Brazil on April 19, 2022, during a delegation visit from Recife. The partnership was established in the context of the FICOL program carried by Nantes Métropole and Samoa. It includes joint workshops and academic exchange activities.
- City of RecifeminorPartnership with the city of Recife in Brazil under the FICOL program. The delegation participated in collective workshops using VR Coraulis tool and comparative public space design exercises between Nantes and Recife.
- Nantes Universitécoreensa Nantes is a founding member of Nantes Université, the University of Nantes's restructuring initiative effective January 1, 2022. This positions the architecture school within a larger university alliance for interdisciplinary collaboration.
- École Centrale NantescoreCo-tutorship of Master 2 Villes et Environnements Urbains with École Centrale Nantes. This partnership combines engineering and architectural approaches to urban environments and sustainability.
- Université de Nantes (Faculté de droit et IGARUN)coreMaster Villes et Territoires is co-habilitated with Université de Nantes (Faculté de droit et sciences politiques et IGARUN), providing interdisciplinary urban planning education.
- APERAU (Association pour la Promotion de l'Enseignement et de la Recherche en Aménagement et Urbanisme)coreMaster Villes et Territoires is accredited by APERAU, recognizing quality standards in urban planning and territorial development education across French-speaking institutions.
- Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE)minorensa Nantes is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, the association of elite French graduate schools, providing networking and recognition benefits.
- Nantes MétropoleminorCollaboration through the FICOL program with Nantes Métropole for international city partnerships, including the Recife cooperation initiative.
- Université Nelson Mandela (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)minorInternational workshop partner from 2016-2017 under the 'Apprendre de(puis) l'ailleurs' international atelier, creating cross-cultural learning experiences with architecture students from South Africa.
- ISAU (Institut Supérieur d'Architecture de Conakry, Guinea)minorWorkshop partner for the Conakry-Samaya project in Guinea, involving joint student fieldwork and urban studies in West Africa.
- Argentine Universities PartnershipminorDPEA Scénographe partnership with two Argentine universities for international workshops and scenography education exchange.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ensa Nantes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ENSA Paris-La Villette: Another of the 20 French ENSAs, located in Paris. Operates under identical regulatory and funding framework as ensa Nantes, with overlapping curriculum (licence, master, HMONP) and shared research laboratory affiliations.
- ENSA Lyon: French national architecture school under the same Ministry of Culture oversight. Comparable in scale, program breadth, and research activity through its affiliated laboratory.
- ENSA Paris-Belleville: One of the 20 French national architecture schools (ENSA), offering the same state-recognized Diplôme d'État d'architecte pathway. Most direct comparable in terms of program structure, regulatory framework, and student admission process via Parcoursup.
- ENSA Bordeaux: French national architecture school in Bordeaux. Direct peer in state-recognized degree delivery, research activity, and continuing education programs under the ENSA network.
- ENSA Marseille: French national architecture school in Marseille offering the standard ENSA program portfolio. Direct peer in terms of state-recognized architecture education, government funding, and HMONP habilitation delivery.
- ENSA Versailles: French national architecture school near Paris. Comparable in offering the Diplôme d'État d'architecte pathway and post-professional HMONP habilitation under the same regulatory framework.
- ENSA Strasbourg: French ENSA offering the standard architecture diploma pathway with research specialization. Directly comparable on regulatory framework, tuition structure, and continuing education programs.
- ENSA Toulouse: French ENSA offering architecture degrees with research specializations. Direct peer in terms of state-funded higher education model and standard program portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) - School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering: Swiss federal institution offering architecture programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Comparable as a peer architecture school with strong research focus, but operates within a larger multidisciplinary university with significantly greater international prestige and resources.
- Architectural Association School of Architecture: Internationally renowned private architecture school in London offering comparable architecture degrees at undergraduate and graduate levels. Comparable as a peer in architecture education but operates as a private institution with significantly higher tuition and global brand recognition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ensa Nantes social profiles
Digital presenceensa Nantes compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ensa Nantes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ensa Nantes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ensa Nantes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ensa Nantes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ensa Nantes
What does ensa Nantes do?
ensa Nantes is a French national public architecture school offering state-recognized architecture education, including the three-year Licence, two-year Diplôme d'État d'architecte (master's level), the HMONP professional habilitation for independent practice, specialized DPEA diplomas in naval architecture and scenography, dual-degree programs, joint research master's in urban planning, and doctoral research through the AAU-CRENAU laboratory. Programs are delivered on campuses in Nantes and Mauritius, with continuing education for working professionals.
Is ensa Nantes a public or private company?
ensa Nantes is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was ensa Nantes founded?
ensa Nantes was founded in 1969. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ensa Nantes based?
ensa Nantes is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does ensa Nantes make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Higher Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are professional Continuing Education Fees, specialized Program Tuition, initial Education Fees and professional Services and Space Rental.
Who are ensa Nantes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ENSA Paris-La Villette, ENSA Lyon, ENSA Paris-Belleville, ENSA Bordeaux, ENSA Marseille, ENSA Versailles, ENSA Strasbourg and ENSA Toulouse. Broad incumbents are École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) - School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architectural Association School of Architecture.
Does ensa Nantes have an API?
No public API is recorded for ensa Nantes.
What industry is ensa Nantes in?
ensa Nantes's product category is Architecture Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAJAG, Architecture Schools (within Arts & Design institutions), with a secondary code of EDAAALAG, Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8700.