The Best Design Schools in Europe

ENSCI Les Ateliers

• Founded in 1982 and located in Paris, France, the French National Institute for Advanced Studies in Industrial Design -- or, ENSCI -- is the only national college in France dedicated exclusively to design. With a total of only 215 students, both undergraduate and graduate, admission is intensely competitive. The school focuses intensely on industrial design, with a specific emphasis on innovation within in the industry.

  ENSCI - Les Ateliers
  48 rue St Sabin
  75011 Paris, France
  +01 49 23 12 12
  Ensci.com

Delft University of Technology

• Located in Delft, The Netherlands, the school is the country's largest technical university. The school houses eight main programs, of which one is industrial design. Over 15000 students attend the school at one time, of which approximately 1800 are members of the design program. Founded in 1842 by King William II, the school now performs client work for the large European firms Philips and P&G.

  Technische Universiteit Delft
  Stevinweg 1
  2628 CN Delft, Netherlands
  +015 2789111
  Tudelft.nl

Polytechnic University of Milan

• Located in Milan, Italy Polytechnic University is country's largest technical university with over 38,000 students. Of the 17 departments, the most popular are Department of Industrial Design, Arts, Communication and Fashion.The school is intensely competitive. Only approximately 55 percent of students finish their courses in the normal time; most must take an additional year or two to receive their degree.

  Politecnico di Milano
  Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32
  I-20133 Milano, Italia
  +39 02 2399 2250
  English.polimi.it

Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design

• Based in London, England, this college is part of the University of the Arts London. Composed of union of two schools -- Central School of Art and Design, founded in 1894 and Saint Martins School of Art, founded in 1854 -- the school currently has over 3700 students. It has many famous alumni, including the musician PJ Harvey and the installation artist Rebecca Horn. In 1998 it received the Queen's Anniversary Prize in recognition of its contributions.

  Central St Martins College Of Art
  Southampton Row
  London WC1B 4AP, United Kingdom
  +020 75147023
  Csm.arts.ac.uk

Umea Institute of Design

• The Umea Institute of Design is tiny college, with a little more than 200 students, located within the Faculty of Science and Technology at Umea University. The school offers a bachelor's degree in industrial design and two-year master's degrees in advanced product design, interaction design and transport design. It was founded in 1989 and has since become ranked as one of the top industrial design schools in the world.

  Umeå Institute of Design
  --stra Strandgatan 30
  Umeå Municipality, Sweden
  +090-786 66 97
  Dh.umu.se

University of Art and Design Helsinki

• Located in Helsinki, Finland, this school is home to approximately 600 undergraduates and 1200 graduate students. Founded in 1871, it is the largest school devoted solely for art and design students in Scandinavia.

  Aalto University
  School of Art and Design
  Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki
  PB 31000, 00076 Aalto
  +358 09 47 001
  Taik.fi/