Breaking into the world of video, film sets, or digital production doesn’t necessarily mean moving to Paris right away. In Champagne-Ardenne, access to careers in video and audio is supported by short, career-focused programs.
For students seeking hands-on experience with equipment, technical rigor, and a quick transition into the workforce, three leading pathways stand out: the HND (two years after high school), the Bachelor of Technology (three years after high school) and the Bachelor’s Degree (three years after high school).
The HND in Audiovisual Professions: The Standard in On-Set and Post-Production
The HND in Audiovisual Professions is a national technical degree that provides training in the essential professional skills required on film sets, in broadcast control rooms, or in editing studios.
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle High School (Reims)
- Status: Private, operating under a partnership agreement with the government
- Admission: Parcoursup (HND), followed by selection based on application materials and an interview for the Bachelor’s program.
Equipped with a film set, technical dressing rooms, and multicamera control rooms, the school offers the BTS program through four specializations:
- “Production Management” Option: This option is dedicated to the administrative, legal, financial, and logistical oversight essential for managing teams and staying within a film shoot’s budget.
- “Sound” Option: This option provides training in sound recording on film sets, sound design, as well as editing, mixing, and audio broadcasting.
- “Equipment Engineering and Operations” Option: This option prepares students to deploy, maintain, and secure technical equipment to ensure the compliance of broadcast signals and streams.
- “Editing and Post-Production” Option: This option involves designing the visual rhythm of a film, assembling the shots, and finalizing the digital compositing in accordance with the director’s vision.
The high school also offers the opportunity to continue your education with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Editing. This third year of specialized study focuses on narrative formats (fiction, music videos, documentaries) and helps students build a professional portfolio before entering the industry.
The Bachelor of Technology in Multimédia and the Internet: Video and Digital Versatility at a public University
The Bachelor of Technology in Multimedia and Internet Professions, combines audiovisual production techniques with web and new media technologies.
Available at the national tuition rate (with full tuition waiver for scholarship recipients), this three-year public program trains students in a wide range of skills: screenwriting, camera operation, audio recording, editing, color grading, motion design, and online distribution strategy. In Champagne-Ardenne, two Institutes of Technology offer this program through the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
1. University Institute of Technology of Reims
- Status: Public (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne)
- Admission: Parcoursup
At its Reims campus, the Institute of Technology offers, among other programs, the Digital Creation track. This program is specifically designed for visual creators, combining video production, graphic animation, compositing, and transmedia storytelling, all supplemented by mandatory internships at agencies or companies.
2. University Institute of Technology of Troyes
- Status: Public (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne)
- Admission: Parcoursup
The Troyes University Institute of Technology focuses on the production of standalone and interactive audiovisual content. Students learn to manage a complete video production workflow (from scriptwriting to online distribution), while taking into account the technical constraints of the web and social media.
The University Track: Film Culture and Analysis
Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (Reims)
- Education: Bachelor of Arts
- Status: Public
- Admission: Parcoursup
The University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne offers a Bachelor of Arts degree focused on film history, film aesthetics, film analysis, and screenwriting. Less hands-on and more reflective than the HND or the Bachelor of Technology programs, it provides the general knowledge necessary for directing and serves as an ideal springboard for applying to national film schools (La Fémis, Louis-Lumière, INSAS) or pursuing a master’s degree.
To get a real sense of what a school is like before making a final decision, the easiest thing to do is attend their open houses. This is often the best way to get a feel for the atmosphere and see if the program truly meets your needs.