A school at the heart of creative innovation
Located in the dynamic Bassins à Flot district, ESMA Bordeaux offers a modern study environment designed to stimulate creativity and teamwork. The campus covers 12,500 m2 and boasts professional facilities, including drawing rooms, classrooms, a studio, top-of-the-range computer workstations, filming and post-production equipment and student accommodation.
ESMA is located in the heart of a thriving district, with a mix of creative start-ups, cultural venues and third places, making it part of a veritable ecosystem dedicated to innovation and image. It’s a strategic location for making the most of your training while opening up to the professional world.
Courses at ESMA Bordeaux
ESMA Bordeaux offers a comprehensive range of courses geared towards the creative industries and the entertainment sector. The courses combine artistic learning, technical mastery and professional immersion.
Prep Entertainment
A preparatory year to explore the fundamentals of drawing, volume and visual storytelling. It enables students to confirm their career plans and acquire the solid grounding they need before embarking on a course in 3D Animation, Video Games or Concept Art Illustration in an optimal learning environment.
3D Animation & Special Effects
A 5-year course, validated by a Level 7 RNCP qualification (Bac+5), covering the entire production chain of a 3D animated film: storyboarding, modelling, animation, lighting, compositing, etc. The final year of the 3D Animation & Special Effects Professional Cycle is dedicated to the creation of a collective short film, presented in front of an international jury of professionals, a real springboard for showcasing your artistic vision and gaining access to the most prestigious festivals.
Video Game
A 4-year vocational course to become a Game Artist, Level Designer or Technical Artist, combining theory and practice to master every stage in the creation of a video game: from ideation to production, via game design, prototyping, development and right through to game promotion.
A top-of-the-range campus dedicated to video games and 3D animation
ESMA Bordeaux welcomes its students to a new-generation 12,500 m² campus, due to open in 2023 in a district undergoing major change.
This ambitious site meets the standards of the creative industries and offers a learning environment that is innovative, comfortable and eco-responsible.
Students studying 3D animation and video games work in conditions similar to those found in professional studios. Animation studios, state-of-the-art computer rooms, high-performance workstations equipped with essential software such as Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine and Unity: everything you need to master the tools and techniques of digital production.
The campus also includes sound studios, drawing workshops and professional filming equipment, which are essential for both animation and video game design projects. Video games students benefit from an environment conducive to the creation of AAA or independent games, where game design, programming and artistic direction come together.
To encourage collaboration and well-being, the campus also has coworking spaces, a gym, a green terrace and shared gardens. Each space has been designed to stimulate creativity, strengthen cohesion and support students in their future careers, whether in 3D animation, VFX or video games.
Student accommodation integrated into our campus
ESMA Bordeaux offers student accommodation directly on campus, in partnership with Artemisia, a specialist in student accommodation.
This integrated residence offers optimum comfort for students who want to live on site, just a stone’s throw from classrooms, studios and creative spaces.
The accommodation offered by Artemisia is modern, functional and adapted to student life, with fully-equipped individual studios or shared solutions. Living on campus is also an excellent way of integrating quickly, forging links with other students and playing a full part in the school’s community life.
In addition, ESMA Bordeaux is ideally located close to a number of private student residences, shared accommodation and independent studio flats, in a dynamic, well-connected area undergoing major change.
Train in 3D animation and video games at one of the best schools in the world
Bordeaux, a creative and connected metropolis.
With over 30,000 jobs in the cultural and creative industries, Bordeaux is a city with a bright future in animation, VFX and video games. The city is home to a number of animation and special effects production studios, including SolidAnim and Backlight Studio, as well as major players in the video game industry.
A springboard to employment and major international studios.
Training at ESMA Bordeaux enables students to develop skills that are directly sought after by major international studios. Thanks to the alumni network and strong links with the studios, students can quickly join prestigious structures in France or abroad.
Whether in 3D animation, VFX or video games, our students acquire a high level of expertise and practical skills that will help them join the most demanding studios.
Bordeaux, a dynamic and inspiring student city
Ranked as one of the best student cities in France, Bordeaux has an appealing balance of quality of life, cultural wealth and accessibility. As the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, it attracts thousands of students every year thanks to its warm atmosphere, remarkable architectural heritage and numerous artistic and festive events.
Whether it’s a stroll along the banks of the Garonne, a stroll through the lively streets of Chartrons, an open-air concert or an eclectic range of festivals, the city offers a stimulating environment, conducive to personal development as much as to meeting new people.
The ESMA Bordeaux campus is ideally located, less than 2 km from the Saint-Jean train station, close to the boulevards, quays and Simone Veil bridge. Getting around is easy thanks to a dense public transport network (trams, buses) and a city designed with cyclists in mind. Bordeaux-Mérignac airport provides easy access to major French and European cities.
Bordeaux combines urban energy, openness to the world and a pleasant living environment: a real plus for successful studies.