Every year, the National Heritage Institute welcomes international trainees, who may be students or heritage professionals, to follow all or part of a training course given in French. 

These international trainees are selected on the basis of their application.

Full heritage curator training programme (18 months)

Recruitment of heritage curators for the State, the local civil service and the City of Paris is based on a competitive entrance examination. This competition is also open to nationals of European Union Member States, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, who hold a bachelor's degree. 

Upon conclusion of this competitive examination, curatorial students follow an 18-month training course at the National Heritage Institute before being awarded degree status.

The Inp also offers students and heritage professionals of all nationalities the opportunity to complete the entire 18-month training program, based on application only, and thus prepare for the international diploma in heritage curator studies.
Download the application file (PDF)

Training of students in heritage conservation-restoration

The training of heritage conservators-restorers lasts 5 years and is based on a competitive admission process. The entrance examination for the first year of the Master's program is open to students of all nationalities who have passed the baccalaureate, a high school certificate.  Direct admission into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year is also offered to candidates of any nationality under 35 years of age, holding a degree and able to demonstrate their achievements in conservation-restoration. The complete training of heritage conservators-restorers leads to a master's degree in conservation-restoration.

International students can integrate, upon application, this training for a term or semester, particularly within the framework of the Erasmus program.
Download the application file (PDF)

Applications can be sent throughout the year.

Short-term training for professionals in heritage curator studies or in conservation (2 months)

The Inp offers international heritage professionals a short two-month training course that takes place every year, usually in May and June. This personalized training is organized according to the trainee's needs, offering access to the courses of the graduating classes of curatorial or conservation students, to continuing education sessions, but also to individual learning exchanges with French heritage professionals. A detailed certificate of training is awarded at the end of the two months.
Download the application file (PDF)

Funding

Funding Professionals or international students must be able to fully finance their stay by paying for their international travel tickets, administrative procedures (visa, etc.), accommodation, food and local transport costs, as well as their social security coverage (health, civil liability and repatriation).  However, assistance is possible, upon application and under certain conditions.

For candidates for the long training period (18 months) of curator studies :

• Scholarships from the French Government

Managed by the organization Campus France, these scholarships are most often granted within the framework of a cooperation agreement between Inp and an international institution, through the French embassy. Candidates must contact the Cooperation and Cultural Action Department of the French Embassy or French Consulate in their country of residence to find out their eligibility. These scholarships also include the reservation and payment cover of accommodation, transport and social security costs.

For candidates of the short-term training course (2 months) of curators or restorers :

• Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and Communication, "Residence Culture" program

This scholarship is awarded, based on application, to candidates working in the domain of culture and exercising service or project responsibilities in their country of origin. For the total duration of the stay, the grant amounts to 1,500 euros per month (up to a maximum of 3 months) with coverage of the scholarship holder's social security costs. 

• Heritage Scholarship

The Department of European and International Affairs of the Directorate General of Heritage and Architecture may exceptionally offer financial support to a student for one to two months.  Financial participation of the Inp :

• Registration to the various courses is free of charge for all students.
• The Inp partially covers catering costs and internship travel within the Île-de-France region for international trainees who follow the complete heritage curator training course (18 months).

Join our LinkedIn groups

In response to a demand from former international interns hosted at INP, two international LinkedIn groups were created. The first "international Inp alumni" reserved for international professionals who have participated in short or longer training sessions, as well as ERASMUS alumni, the second "Inp Afrique patrimoines" open to former international trainees as well as to any interested heritage professional. The two groups aim to keep a link between international trainees and the Inp and to promote the exchange of information and ideas.

Join our « Inp alumni international » group 

Join our « Inp Afrique patrimoines » group