Free Movers - Overview
The Free Mover pathway at ASFORED is designed for international students who wish to complete part of their higher education in France, outside of a formal exchange agreement. It allows students to join ASFORED for one semester or one academic year, while remaining enrolled in their home institution.
This pathway offers an academically structured experience at Master’s level, within a school specialised in publishing, editorial practices and cultural content industries. Free movers benefit from the same academic environment, teaching standards and professional exposure as degree-seeking students, while following a modular and adaptable curriculum.
Areas of Specialization
ASFORED offers Free Mover programmes built around specific editorial fields, allowing students to develop in-depth expertise in a defined publishing ecosystem. Each specialisation is grounded in the professional realities of the sector and connected to contemporary cultural and creative industries.
The programmes currently focus on graphic publishing, with dedicated pathways in Manga Publishing and in Comics and Graphic Novel Publishing. Each pathway addresses distinct editorial traditions, markets and production models, while sharing a common academic and methodological foundation.
Programme Content
The Free Mover programmes are structured around selected competence blocks drawn from the RNCP 40153 certification, corresponding to the Master’s level in the French and European frameworks. Teaching focuses on editorial strategy, project development, production workflows, rights management and market positioning, with a strong emphasis on applied learning.
Students engage in editorial analysis, project-based work and professional case studies related to their chosen specialisation. The curriculum is designed to combine conceptual understanding with practical application, enabling students to develop both academic insight and professional skills in publishing and content management.
Academic Organisation
Free Mover programmes are offered at Master’s level and may be followed over one semester or one academic year, depending on the student’s academic objectives and home university requirements. The academic workload is aligned with European higher education standards and corresponds to either 30 or 60 ECTS credits.
Teaching is delivered in English or French, while immersing students in the French and European publishing environments. Academic documentation, including course descriptions, learning outcomes and assessment criteria, is provided to ensure transparency and facilitate credit recognition by partner institutions.
Teaching Methods
Pedagogy at ASFORED is based on a balance between academic instruction and professional practice. Courses combine lectures, seminars and workshops led by experienced lecturers and publishing professionals. Students work individually and in groups on editorial projects that reflect real-world publishing contexts.
Professional engagement is an integral part of the learning experience, allowing students to understand industry expectations, workflows and standards, while developing analytical, organisational and creative skills.
Assessment and Academic Validation
Assessment methods are designed to reflect the nature of editorial work and academic learning at Master’s level. Students are evaluated through written assignments, project deliverables and oral presentations, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of both theoretical understanding and applied competencies.
At the end of the programme, students receive an official academic transcript indicating the validated courses and the corresponding ECTS credits. This documentation is intended to support academic recognition and credit transfer procedures at the student’s home institution.
Admissions
The Free Mover pathway is open to international students enrolled in a higher education institution abroad. Applicants are expected to have completed undergraduate studies or to demonstrate an academic background compatible with graduate-level studies.
Admission is based on the review of academic records and motivation. ASFORED supports applicants throughout the process and works in coordination with Campus France Free Mover procedures when required.
Studying in Paris
Joining ASFORED as a Free Mover provides students with the opportunity to study in Paris, one of the world’s major cultural and publishing capitals. The city offers a unique environment combining academic life, cultural institutions and creative industries.
Students benefit from immersion in a dynamic cultural ecosystem closely connected to publishing, literature, comics and visual storytelling, while experiencing academic life in an international context.