The Free Mover program allows international students enrolled in non-partner universities to join Strate for a semester or an academic year, outside of institutional exchange agreements.
It offers the opportunity to join a design program in Paris or Lyon, develop skills in an international environment, and benefit from the academic and professional expertise of Strate, France's top design school (QS Ranking 2026).
Two formats are available:
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Coursework immersion: Join our regular curriculum through two distinct tracks:
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Design Prototyping Track (Year 2, semester 1 only):
Hands-on, workshop-oriented focus on advanced 3D modeling (Fusion 360, Rhino 3D) and AI workflows (taught in French). -
General Curriculum Track (Year 2: semester 1, semester 2 or full year - Year 3: semester 1 only):
Development of core design skills in Year 2 (60 ECTS) or choose a major in Year 3 (120 ECTS) across Product, Space, Brand Identity, Interaction, or Mobility (taught in French or English, depending on the track).
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Supervised research (1 semester or full year):
Conduct of applied design research within Strate Research lab across 3 core themes (AI in education, socio-technological transitions, or assistive tech), supplemented by up to 3 Master-level courses taught in English.
Free Mover Program Eligibility
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Students from non-partner universities
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Applicants must be officially enrolled in a degree program at their home university. The research track is generally more suited to post Bachelor or Master’s-level students, given the level of autonomy it requires.
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Priority is given to undergraduate students but some of our Industrial Design programs can also welcome free movers.
Admission Requirements
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Portfolio (coursework track) or research project proposal (research track), to be validated by a Strate supervisor before acceptance
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Academic transcripts and any university diplomas obtained
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Language proficiency: English (B2) or French (C1), depending on instruction language, courses are taught in French in Lyon; in English and French in Paris, depending on the program
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Motivation letter explaining your interest and goals
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One-minute introduction video (English or French)
Application process
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Document submission: portfolio, academic records, motivation letter and introduction video
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Interview: for the research track, this also confirms supervisor availability and project feasibility
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Acceptance: successful applicants receive an acceptance letter with enrolment details
Application deadline:
Semester 1 (Fall-Winter): June 1st
Semester 2 (Spring-Summer): November 1st
Practical Information
At the end of their studies at Strate, free movers receive a certificate indicating the ECTS credits they have earned. It is their responsibility to verify whether their home university accepts these ECTS credits.
Coursework immersion: €6,590 per semester (€12,590 for the full academic year)
Research internship: €5,000 per semester
Application fees are charged once per academic year.
Paris Admissions : contact Costanza Marinelli
Lyon Admissions : contact Mégane Martins