Work-study Master 2 · September 2026 intake
Artisan of Storytelling
through Text and Image
This 5th year, taken as a work-study apprenticeship, allows students to specialise and leads to a Master 2 degree, awarded through a partnership between Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA) and École Méliès.
The programme
Overview
Work-study Master 2
A 5th year to specialise
The Master 2 Artisan of Storytelling through Text and Image (Artisan du récit par le texte et l'image, ARTI) is a 5th year taken as a work-study apprenticeship. It leads to a Master 2 degree, awarded through a partnership between Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA) and École Méliès.
The programme combines traditional methods and the latest technologies, at the crossroads of text, storytelling and digital imagery.
- Degree
- Master 2
- Certification
- RNCP 39494
- Contract
- One-year apprenticeship
- Classes
- 14 weeks + 1 revision week
Key facts
- Title
- Master 2 Artisan of Storytelling through Text and Image (Artisan du récit par le texte et l'image, ARTI)
- Degree
- Master 2, RNCP 39494
- Awarded by
- Partnership between Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA) and École Méliès
- Format
- Work-study, under an apprenticeship contract
- Duration
- 1 year, from 21 September 2026 to 20 September 2027
- Audience
- Master's students who have already completed 4 years of training
- Admission
- Open only to students of École Méliès, UPEC and INA who have completed 4 years in the field of digital image creation
- Tracks
- 2 tracks to choose from in September 2026, 3 options in September 2027
- Training centre (CFA)
- UPEC.CFA
- Contact
- f.petitta@ecolemelies.fr · +33 1 48 90 86 23
Options
3 options available
- Storytelling through digital imagery
- Art direction and literary adaptation
- Character staging and animation (September 2027 intake)
September 2026 intake: 2 tracks to choose from, “Leading the art direction of a literary adaptation project” and “Storytelling through digital imagery”. The “Character staging and animation” option opens in September 2027.
École Méliès
École Méliès (a non-profit association under the French law of 1901) was founded in 1999 by its Managing Director, Franck Petitta, in the very place where the father of cinematographic art and visual effects ended his life.
Its teaching is built on learning the fundamentals through the observation of the living world: it helps reveal talent, free creative abilities and develop each student's skills.
A place where images are created, it trains more than 300 students to become true Artisans of the Image, entrepreneurs of their own lives. École Méliès is a member of RECA and a France 2030 laureate.
Curriculum & careers
Curriculum by option
Core curriculum
- Narratology and visual grammar
- Practical production management workshop
- Script doctor workshop
- English: TOEIC preparation
Storytelling through digital imagery
- Scripting story worlds
- Scene previsualisation
- Virtual environment design
- Character creation and animation
- Visual effects and compositing
- Project finalisation
Art direction and literary adaptation
- Storytelling fundamentals
- Applied art direction workshop
- Character, environment and prop design
- Professional graphic tools and techniques
- Scenography and spatial staging of literary worlds
- Adaptation project based on a literary work, comic or illustration
- Seminars and masterclasses with professionals
Character staging and animation (September 2027 intake)
- Design and characterise characters, refine character animation skills
- Analyse and reproduce character behaviour
- Build a character animation scene
Project images
Careers
Target roles
Sectors
- Advertising
- Audiovisual production
- Film production
- Creative studio
- Video game production
Calendar & admission
Audience & admission
Audience
Master's students who have already completed 4 years of training.
Admission requirements
Open only to students of École Méliès, UPEC and INA who have completed 4 years in the field of digital image creation.
Apprenticeship contract
The apprenticeship contract lasts 1 year, from 21 September 2026 to 20 September 2027.
Class periods 2026-2027
| Period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 21 September to Friday 23 October 2026 | 5 weeks |
| 2 | Monday 11 January to Friday 12 February 2027 | 5 weeks |
| 3 | Monday 10 May to Friday 4 June 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Revision | Monday 13 to Friday 17 September 2027 | Revision week |
The rest of the time, apprentices are in the company, except for the revision week and the day of the final jury in mid-September 2027.
Companies: hire an apprentice
The benefits for your company
- Recruit your future employees. Work-study is an opportunity to invest in tomorrow's talent and, potentially, your future employees. Once they graduate, these apprentices can be hired as full employees, already well integrated into the company.
- A broad and innovative programme. Apprentices follow a programme that combines traditional methods and the latest technologies, at the crossroads of text, storytelling and digital imagery.
- Motivated, operational students. Apprentices are motivated and passionate. Over their 4 years of training, they have led various projects that gave them solid skills in art direction, storytelling and image creation.
- Strengthen your brand image. By working with École Méliès, a member of RECA and a France 2030 laureate, you strengthen your reputation and your brand image.
- Cost-effective recruitment. Your company may be exempt from certain social security contributions when hiring work-study apprentices. France offers various forms of support to companies that hire work-study students.
Apprentice pay · 2026
Apprentices are paid a percentage of the SMIC (French national minimum wage) depending on their age and level of study. The company receives a hiring grant and an exemption from certain social security contributions.
| Age | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 – 17 | 27 % of the SMIC €492.22 | 39 % of the SMIC €710.99 | 55 % of the SMIC €1,002.68 |
| 18 – 20 | 43 % of the SMIC €783.91 | 51 % of the SMIC €929.75 | 67 % of the SMIC €1,221.44 |
| 21 – 25 | 53 % of the SMIC €966.22 | 61 % of the SMIC €1,112.06 | 78 % of the SMIC €1,421.98 |
| 26 and over | 100 % of the SMIC: €1,823.06 | ||
Hiring grants
For any contract signed before 1 January 2027:
For an apprentice preparing a vocational degree or qualification at level ≤ 7 (Master, DEA, DESS, engineering degree).
Please note (2025 Finance Act): since 1 July 2025, employers of apprentices preparing a degree at level 6 or above must pay a mandatory contribution of €750 per contract (remaining cost).
Responsible training centre (CFA)
- Organisation
- UPEC.CFA
- CFA UAI number
- 0941111X
- CFA SIRET number
- 19941111700013
- Address
- 61, avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil cedex, France
Frequently asked questions
Master 2 Artisan of Storytelling: your questions
What is the Master 2 Artisan of Storytelling through Text and Image?
It is a 5th year taken as a work-study apprenticeship that allows students to specialise and leads to a Master 2 degree (RNCP 39494), awarded through a partnership between Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA) and École Méliès. Its French title is “Artisan du récit par le texte et l'image” (ARTI).
Who can join this work-study Master 2?
The Master 2 is aimed at Master's students who have already completed 4 years of training. It is open only to students of École Méliès, UPEC and INA who have completed 4 years in the field of digital image creation.
Which tracks does the Master 2 offer?
In September 2026, students choose between 2 tracks: leading the art direction of a literary adaptation project, and storytelling through digital imagery. In September 2027, 3 options are available: storytelling through digital imagery, art direction and literary adaptation, and character staging and animation. All share a core curriculum: narratology and visual grammar, a practical production management workshop, a script doctor workshop, and English with TOEIC preparation.
How is the work-study schedule organised?
The apprenticeship contract lasts 1 year, from 21 September 2026 to 20 September 2027. Classes run from 21 September to 23 October 2026 (5 weeks), from 11 January to 12 February 2027 (5 weeks) and from 10 May to 4 June 2027 (4 weeks), followed by a revision week from 13 to 17 September 2027. The rest of the time, apprentices are in the company, except for the revision week and the day of the final jury in mid-September 2027.
What careers does the Master 2 lead to?
The Master 2 prepares students for roles as character animator, storyboard artist, art director and director, in advertising, audiovisual production, film production, creative studios and video game production.
How much is an apprentice paid?
Apprentices are paid a percentage of the SMIC (French national minimum wage) depending on their age and level of study. In 2026, pay ranges from 27 % of the SMIC (€492.22) for a 16 to 17 year-old apprentice in year 1 to 100 % of the SMIC (€1,823.06) from age 26.
What support is available to companies hiring an apprentice?
For any contract signed before 1 January 2027, the hiring grant is €2,000 for companies with fewer than 250 employees (exceptional grant) and €750 for companies with 250 employees or more, for an apprentice preparing a degree at level ≤ 7. The company also benefits from an exemption from certain social security contributions. Since 1 July 2025 (2025 Finance Act), employers of apprentices preparing a degree at level 6 or above must pay a mandatory contribution of €750 per contract.
Which training centre (CFA) is responsible for the Master 2?
The responsible training centre is UPEC.CFA (UAI number 0941111X, SIRET number 19941111700013), 61, avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil cedex, France.
How can a company contact École Méliès to hire an apprentice?
By email at f.petitta@ecolemelies.fr, by phone on +33 1 48 90 86 23, or at École Méliès, 26 avenue Guy Môquet, 94310 Orly, France.
Recruit your future Artisan of the Image
Contact us for more information.
26 avenue Guy Môquet · 94310 Orly, France
