ESMOD does not require a portfolio for first-year entry. After the application and a €95 fee, the school sets a task: a mood board and a piece to make, with a creative and explanatory study. An interview with the ESMOD team follows, where language level is also assessed; no certificate is needed. A decision comes within a month. Applications for 2027/28 open on 1 October 2026; the first year in Paris costs €15,350 plus €1,080 for the teaching pack.
- City
- Paris
- Award
- “Styliste Designer Mode” bachelor’s, RNCP certification
- Length
- 3 years
- Language
- French or English
- Selection
- Mood board, made piece, interview
- Fee
- €15,350 + €1,080 in the first year
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How admission works
- 01
Application and fee
After choosing the programme and paying €95, the applicant receives access to the MYESMOD platform to complete the application.
- 02
Documents
Passport, the last three transcripts and diplomas with official translation where needed, a CV and a motivation letter. A baccalauréat, the IB or an equivalent is required, with no particular specialism.
- 03
The creative task
A mood board and a piece to make, with a creative and explanatory study. The school’s own example: a piece assembled from set components.
- 04
The interview
Once the file is complete, an interview with the ESMOD team, which also assesses language. The final decision within a month.
- 05
Dates
Applications open in mid-September of the preceding year (for 2027/28, from 1 October 2026); ESMOD advises applying in good time, as classes are formed as applications arrive.
What this means for an international applicant
ESMOD is one of the few routes where a piece has to be made at the admission stage, and one of the most accessible for an applicant without a portfolio. The school values sewing and drawing but does not require them: the task tests how an applicant thinks in material.
There is no language certificate, but the level is assessed at interview, so the applicant needs to speak confidently about their work in the language of the track. The school’s partner concierge services help international students with visas and housing.
What the task tests
The mood board shows where ideas come from; the piece shows how they become material; the explanatory study shows whether the applicant can explain the path between them.
The task arrives after the application rather than being published in advance, so the preparation is skill rather than a ready answer: it helps to have tried assembling a piece and describing the process.
How much ESMOD costs
The “Styliste Designer Mode” bachelor’s at ESMOD Paris for 2027/28: €15,350 a year plus €1,080 for the teaching pack in the first year. Fees are lower at ESMOD’s other French campuses.
The application fee is €95.
Common mistakes
- Spending months on a portfolio ESMOD does not ask for.
- Leaving the application until spring without checking whether the chosen class still has places.
- Not preparing to discuss the work at an interview that also tests language.
Who it suits
- An applicant who enjoys working with their hands and is ready to make a piece at the admission stage.
- Those without a portfolio who have time in the autumn to complete the task.
- If cultural range and research matter more, compare ESMOD with IFM.
How this school compares: portfolio, set tasks, interview, language and fees at 13 schools in Italy, the UK, France and the US in the EDMONT Fashion Admissions Matrix.Fashion Admissions Matrix 2027